C. Larkin Co.

We had been shopping for a farmhouse table for many months but nothing we found was the right combination of size, price and quality. We liked tables we saw at the Pottery Barn like the Benchwright table but couldn’t find the right quality or size. Then we saw what appeared to be a perfect table here on Custom Made, so we asked for bids. Chris had a reasonable bid and a shipping date in only six weeks.

I should have known better after seeing the Initial drawing. However, the next day on 9/27 we put down a deposit. Nothing happened, so on 10/18 I asked where the stain samples were. After several promises we finally get a stain sample on 11/21, and then they only sent one, like what am I supposed to compare this too? The project due date was November 8th, and they can't even get a stain sample to us by then. Of course we missed having it for our Thanksgiving dinner. But for sure we'd have it by Christmas, right?

Custom Made notifies us that the table ready to ship on 12/13/2017. I ask for pictures, and no, the table is NOT done. It doesn't show the metal turnbuckles and the legs are too close to the end to allow chairs. Not exactly like the original table either, several other nice features are missing too. So we withhold payment. Christopher now says the turnbuckles are "are coming". So Christmas comes and goes and finally the table ships on January 4th. Using Pilot Freight, the delivery was made on January 21st. 57 DAYS LATE

So, we finally take delivery and to our horror upon opening it we see runs all down the edge of the table! Apparently, when they stained the bottom of the table, gobs of finish and stain ran down the edges and was never cleaned up. How you don't inspect a 400# table prior to shipping it across the country I don't know. I called Chris and he says he can't see it and denies any issue. I send more pictures and finally he says they are urethane drips and he's going to send some product to handle the problem, we are not to touch it. He says he will also send stain and urethane. It's now January 21st.

Time goes on and on, he claims he has to order product, then he claims they sent him the wrong color. Finally A MONTH later the package arrives. This package we waited a month for is several sheets of sandpaper and a small can of Minwax stain. I don't know if I should laugh or cry! I could have bought all this a month ago at Home Depot!

Meanwhile, while we were waiting for the repair package we examined the legs and found many other issues. They used unmatched, hideously mis-colored filler all over on the base to fill holes and damaged wood. There are six legs and not one of them is the same height. One has a piece of scrap wood attached to it to help even things out. There are several joints, but they mis-cut the wood so that there is a huge 3/8" gap in one joint. They provided tiny 5/8" wide predrilled metal mending brackets and eight sheet rock screws to attached the legs to this 300# table top. (Chris said the tensioning rods would supply the support, the same rods he would have omitted if we hadn't asked for images first) Most of the base turned out black, not mahogany, since the wood he chose is black underneath. There are also large sections with wood rot they tried to disguise. And everywhere you look there are lots of more runs along with gunk buried everywhere under the finish.

So we have been working with Chris for some dispensation, since he will not take back a return. Although their site says "returns quickly accepted for quality reasons", he claims all these issues are normal since this is a rustic table. He's never taken responsibility for any issues.

Never once did Chris say he was sorry. To him, being almost 60 days late was OK. Having the table show up with runs all down the edges, that was OK. Having to wait another month for fix-it supplies only to find out it was sandpaper and common stain that could have bought at Home Depot, that was OK. Nothing was his fault, nothing was worth the time or courtesy to even say that he was sorry.

So in my opinion, if you want to order from a cold, uncaring hack without the customer service skills to understand what your project should look like or the carpentry skills to execute your design then please have at it. Meanwhile we are working with our credit company on a full charge back.

General disappointment. I originally went with this maker because he said he could make it out of 16/4 hardwood - which is vey thick. I created the proposa mid January 2017 and received item July 2017. He kept on saying he'd have it out by certain times like April and I waited patiently. It wasn't worth the wait. I think Christopher probably handles everything himself. My advice would to have someone manage the communication and scheduling. He wasn't honest with his timeline nor did he deliver what I wanted. Had that been the case, I could have found someone local to build my table. 16/4 wood is hard to find in white oak but that is no excuse. I want to continue to support local artisans and craftspeople but surely there's a better way to do that.

Chris was great and the table turned out awesome.

Christopher made us a beautiful custom bookcase (10' wide x 8' tall) distressed solid white oak, with barn doors and built in baseboard radiator covers. We are extremely pleased. We spoke over the phone a few times and used text messaging to confirm that we were on the same page with the design. He was always easy to reach and very responsive. He mailed a very carefully drawn/professional drawing before starting to build it, and his assistant personally came to our house to install the bookcase. Thanks Chris!