GAYTEE - Palmer Stained Glass

Took several months...that was OK.  I thought the total price would be $125 plus tax.  I thought it steep, but I liked the lamp, so I agreed.  Nothing in writing.  BIG mistake!  NO glass replacement needed, just positioning and reinforcement.  Went to pick up the lamp.   Tail of peacock still bent, flat although it had been reinforced.  Some holes in the leading.  I told them I didn't like the repair, so they offered to break it apart and redo it.  I thought it would look worse, so took it as it was.  Next, I got the bill.  It was $100 more than I thought it was going to be, $225 plus tax.  I could have told them to keep the lamp and walk out, but I just paid the bill.  I've learned a lesson here.  DON'T ever agree to a service without a written contract.  It just doesn't work.  Whether this was a scam to get an extra $100, or a sincere underestimate of the cost involved, I don't know.  What I do know is they did not fix the lamp satisfactorily and overcharged for their poor quality service.  

Initially I went to Gaytee to have a custom made stained glass lamp repaired.  The lamp had fallen off  a table and was in pretty bad shape.  My only and last hope was Gaytee.  I arrived, and was met immediately by staff.  She looked at the lamp and determined a cost effective way to repair it, with some pros and cons as well as a time line..  The major con was matching the existing glass, but stated they would try to get as close as possible. Another glass piece could possibly be repaired, but might need to be replaced. And them of course repairing the caning and sodder. 
Next we looked at the "Suncatcher", which again had fallen and broke a section.  Pros and cons - and timeline again. But she would do her best.
Lastly the consultation with another staff regarding two windows above a fireplace that I wanted stained glass instead of regular glass.  As I was planning to update windows with possible replacements.  Pros, cons,  options and timeline again.  An unknown option to me was suggested that I choose a replacement window that was "stained glass ready".   That way in the future I could have stained class easily inserted into a prepared window.
The lamp and Suncatcher was ready within a shorter time than expected.  The "matched" glass was perfect, I couldn't tell difference from original unless you knew.  The repaired glass, what a cost savings, is barely noticeable, unless you are looking for it.  the sodder and caning impeccable.  I was so very pleased at the high quality of work and the reasonable price.  The Suncatcher, again the repair and value exceeded expectations. Lastly, the consultation was a good start.  I have done research, ruled out art glass replacement windows and have found replacement windows that have option of stained class ready.  I looked at an actual install of stained glass inserted in "ready" windows. I plan on using the option of replacing my windows this year. Next year the stained glass will be installed.  I have high hopes and will have an update.

A neighbor recommended Gaytee to do the repair work, in addition to the local hardware store. I knew it was going to require custom work but wow was it expensive!! They were very prompt and scheduled us quickly (in a few days after quickly stopping by to take a look at it) and it looks great. I didn't have much of a reference for how much it would cost or who could do the work.

We had a broken pain of fancy beveled glass in our 1919 era front door. Gaytee was recommended to us by a friend who had had them replace some stained glass. They were remarkably quick- came right away when we called to take measurements. It took about a week and a half to get the glass, as they explained it had to be cut to order. It was expensive, but I can see why, and it looks great.

Very sweet older woman explained to me that we needed to use nothing more powerful than 25-watt bulbs because, due to the imported quality of the lamp, the glue was getting too hot and releasing from the top cap. It took about a week, but I wasn't in a rush. The cost to fix the lamp was about half what we paid for it, but worth it because we have a matching set. They also fix and do reproductions of transom windows and other custom stained glass windows, so we will be back when we're ready to fix our bowed 109-year-old glass transom window. She explained to me why our old window had bowed over the years, and that it is very possible to fix it and replace it back in the window. Overall, very informative and high-quality work. Price seems comparable to other places I phoned off Angie's List to get a rough over-the-phone quote before bringing it in.

Tom was excellent. After a friend slipped on the stairs and put his hand through my stained glass window on the landing, I thought it would be thousands to repair given that it was original to the house and 104 years old. Gaytee has been in the neighborhood nearly that long and has created a number of the windows for the houses, so I called them and they came out to give me an estimate. Imagine my surprise when he quoted me something like $20 per piece of glass plus $50 each for installation and removal (this was some time ago, and it wasn't a written quote, so I apologize if I'm a little off). Wow! We estimated that the total repair would be about $300 and when I was ready, I called John up to come and get the window. Since they are only a few blocks away, he came with his tools that afternoon, and took the window away. They didn't call me when the window was done, but when I called, it was ready, and he came back and installed it. You can hardly tell where the new glass is!