Design Stores
Phil'z 20th Century Design
It seems everyone sells reproduction Eames recliners (personally I think we can point to Frasier), but not everywhere has an Eames Sofa Compact (Phil'z does -- $2995). For square footage, Phil'z 20th Century Design isn't quite in the same league as the Queen West Antique Centre, but it does go on and on, and back and around. Lots to see and covet.
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THIS IS FROM PERSON EXPERIENCE:
Phil'z disengenuous work ethic makes it impossible to hold him accountable for selling cheap knock-offs at designer prices. I had TWO pieces come apart at the seams whichl has refused to replace or repair.
He does not warrantee his sales, he squabbles over "blame" and even became verbally abusive.
SHOP ELSEWHERE.
The woman there, who I found out was Phil's wife, was somewhat pushy about the lamp, but when I told her I live close by and might be back to buy it, she turned into a complete bitch. I asked her about something else, and she literally sneered at me and said, that's a "haute couture, high-end piece", "It's for people who know what they want. If you can't decide on the lamp, I don't think that piece is for you." I couldn't believe it!!
I like to support small businesses and nice people. I wouldn't spend a dime in there because of the attitude of the owners, not to mention the inventory of over-priced knock-offs.
I've recounted this bizarre story to several friends who ALL had similar experiences. That woman is a stuck-up, wierd nutcase.
I heard the husband is a jerk. Stay away!!
what's wrong with these stores? impersonal and nasty...yuck...i'd rather buy on ebay...
When we got to the store and I fell in love for them. So, we decided to wait untill we would be in a better financial position to get them. Recently moved, there's always something more urgent to get than a coffee table and a beautiful bookshelf.
Then, both Phil and his wife, played the game "if you don't get them now, you might loose them. We had somebody interested last week", "we won't get pieces like this from California again soon". We gave them a $500 deposit (about 25%) with the promise to keep them for us and back in a month or two with the rest $1500.
Well, we finished the transaction and got what we wanted, with a tiny discount for the purchase of the two pieces, I have to say. Everybody happy.
And when I went back to the store a few days later, to my surprise, I saw the same pieces they sold us as unique and difficult to get. So, we got other pieces than the ones at the store (they had them in the warehouse), the ones that were so unique and worth so much.
Beautiful, honest move Mr. Phil
She didn't care that her product was putting our health in danger and was preventing us from being at ease in our home.
The shelves are now on our balcony as we can no loner bare to have them inside because it was causing us severe headaches, and we are going to have to start a legal procedure to ger her to take them back.
don't do business with this woman you will regret it. She has no scruples and is pretty much heartless.
Sarastan
Go across the street
www.studiopazo.com
satisfaction. Maybe cynthia and phil will smarten up a bit and realize they are on borrowed time. With all the other stores offering product they should perhaps improve their people skills and not act like such "ASSHOLES" . Probably not though. Maybe bankruptcy is the only lesson they will at some point!!!
The woman had been very snooty in the past but Saturday she was there with man I am assuming is her husband and was very nice. Which I found surprising.
We had made a purchase at Philz about a year before. We were treated like children instead of clients, followed around like we were going to either shoplift or break something and only treated with slight some gratitude once she saw our credit card.
If you are into vintage finds just know that you can find anything in Philz anywhere else in the city (really in the same area) for less than half the price and you'll be treated with some respect.
Philz gets a "don't shop" from me.
While exploring Leslieville, I came across Phil'z and went in for a look. The shop was empty except for the owners who went to great pains to ignore my presence. Finally, I attempted to break the ice and said "hi", to which the response was an annoyed "yes?".
I continued to peruse the shop and came across an impressive large painting. Phil's wife came towards me, stopped about fifteen feet short and commented "lovely, isn't it?". When I asked if it was a local artist she simply sneered, said "no" and then stared at me.
Frustrated, I told her that that was an opportunity to tell me something, anything about the piece. I turned out that she didn't know a thing about it. Then she got bored and walked away. Charming.
With the abundance of great vintage design shops in Toronto, I don't think I'll ever feel the need to darken Phil'z doorstep again. I will, however, make sure to tell all my design colleagues to stay far away.
They seem totally disinterested in customers. The prices are insale and the selection looks good but...
Look around, plenty of other shops.
The only reason I ever returned was because I was taking friends around to "cool shops" in Leslieville and they wanted to go (despite my efforts to change their mind). But, completely true to form, that cow managed to make everyone feel like backwoods hicks. That bitch is such a stuck-up bully that she needs to get her head examined. I am waiting for the day that they go tits up.
As we were leaving I turned to ask where they get their furniture from, he and his wife refused to make eye contact and said we get it from all over the world in a very snooty voice. I then mumbled, well that was a nice encounter now wasn't it.... All I can say is that Phil is an A-HOLE and I hope his store goes bankrupt. Clearly I am not the only one to feel this way - that makes me happy :)
These people are beyond a doubt the most miserable, condescending shop owners I've ever met in Toronto - give your money to owners who enjoy being alive and don't despise your very existence before, during and after you've paid them!
If anyone saw the table I'm talking about and knows where I might find another rare piece like that, please post info!
After failing to seek help from a store owner, you can call the consumer rights office and file a formal complaint. They will direct you on the best course of action for your particular case.
http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/Pages/Complaint_Steps_to_File.aspx
AND
If the vendor didn't disclose some information about a product as in the mold issue in one of these posts, the buyer has one year to exercise their rights
"Consumer agreements must disclose all details If a company isn’t delivering on its contract with you, or if you encounter an aspect of the deal the company was required to disclose by law but didn’t, you have the right to cancel within one year."
All people who've had bad experiences with these fake and deceptive merchants should report them to the Better Business Bureau, the Consumer Rights Agency, and whatever other area their complaint may fall under for retribution and justice. Many many vendors, store owners etc., bank on us the consumers not knowing our rights! Wake up and report them. It will only take minutes out of your schedules!
PEACE
Case in point. They agreed to hold the sofa and chairs (a set) for me for one day and we agreed that I would come in first thing in the morning with full payment in hand. I arrived at 11 am, which is their advertised opening time, however the owner, Cynthia didn't arrive and open until 11:30 and I had to wait around a half hour till she showed up.
Despite promising to hold the set for me in the day between placing the hold and arriving with the full cash, she had sold the chairs to - she kept repeating - SARAH RICHARDSON.
Then to add insult to injury Cynthia lied and said it was the shop worker who sold it not knowing there was a hold on it.
All of us fully aware that my initial hold was arranged with the shop worker who placed the hold for me in the first place.
Business is built on trust - Philz is not trustworthy and I wasted a morning honouring my side of the bargain. Bad business bad karma not nice people.
We are an auction company that will be featuring beautiful frosted glass lighting,circa 1960 in geometric shapes for Hotel-Convention-Banquet spaces. Auction this month-hundreds of pieces-pennies on the dollar!
Contact John. 416-912-9090
just posted this on kijiji... cool set.
I'm a buyer for tv/film and with the amount of revenue I brought him he would not only not give a discount he would raise the price for me. not only that. every item has fallen apart either ON SET or before making it to set! Everything in the store has not been properly treated. PLEASE BE WARNED to not even look in this store... you will fall in love with many other items elsewhere!!! save your time and money!
james