PREMIER SHUTTERS & BLINDS

I used DeWayne and Premier Shutters and Blinds for a very large order on my new home. My biggest issue is that he was not up front and honest about where the shutters were coming from, that they weren't true composite shutters (which he was selling me) and how long it would take. When I asked at measure, "How long will it take to INSTALL?" He replied, "Four to six weeks, but it will be closer to four, not even close to six." I made my decision to use him based on the fact that he claimed I would have them in within 4 weeks. I also think he took advantage of me being a prior customer who had literally just moved in to a new home and needed someone to trust who could do the work fast. Weeks later I found out that the "composite" shutters I thought I was getting are in fact MDF which are cardboard glued together with formaldehyde and made in China. It's now past week 6 and I have not heard a definite time on install, let alone if they even are off the boat yet. True composite can be made in the U.S., take far less time to ship and are made with a polymer and wood pulp - and don't cost much more than DeWayne charged me for the cheap China version that is taking far too long. He knows how these are made. He told me that he has visited the China facility (this conversation occurred after about two weeks into the order when I asked about delivery and the story had changed - that's when he told me where they were coming from - after I wrote him a $2900 check that he cashed immediately after measure). I spoke to someone who is in the business and had even trained the person who trained DeWayne 18 years ago... He let me know the pricing he gets for those same Woodlore shutters (which he doesn't order anymore due to them being MDF), as well as his competitor's price on the cheaper MDF (Woodlore) which DeWayne sold me - their prices were less than Premier! DeWayne claimed at measure that I should not call anyone else for a bid because he knows what everyone pays and he is the best price (I found this to not be true of course). He also advertises that it's free install, which is a fabrication. He installs himself. I did the math and estimated that he charges $250 per window over his cost (for my job anyway). I'd say he's making a good amount on install and it's not free. Typical installer cost for a supplier is $3.50 a sq ft. 
There are so many sketchy things going with this interaction, yet instead of owning up to my inquiries, he pushed it back on me, claiming I am the only person who has ever "freaked out" about an order (I felt those words were unprofessional and untrue about the situation, and it took me two homes and a two orders to figure the game out). If "freaking out" to him is being a good consumer who wants the truth about a $5,000 order and what they are made of, as well as why the time-frame changed from promised, then so be it. You will also notice that the form he leaves at install has the measurements blacked out. That is a little trick so a homeowner cannot easily get other pricing based on his measure. I would advise everyone to get multiple bids and not use Premier, unless you want formaldehyde MDF-like shutters from China that take well over 6 weeks for install (I understand now that the truth for timing on china Woodlore shutters is 7-10 weeks; a far cry from the 4-6 I was sold at measure).

Friendly and personable owner.  Came out for estimate and didn't follow up to bother during the decision making process.  Ordered plantation shutters and the owner came to install paper temp window treatments.  He said the order would take 4-6 weeks to arrive.  Close to the 6 week mark I called to ask if they had heard from the provider and left a message which was not returned.  I called a week later and spoke to the owners wife who did not acknowledge my mention of no returned call, this turned me off to be honest.  She was responsive in the sense that she contacted the manufacturer immeaditely and called me back to set up an appointment for the day after the shutters were received.  The owner brought people with him the day of installation since I have 22 windows and much to my surprise they finished the job in just over 4 hours and it was pretty seamless.  They did such a good job I almost forgot about the mediocre communication, but for 7k I would have wanted a status check after the 5 week mark.