Distinctively Different Decor & More

I have a 100 year old house, so I'm always updating it. I have stained glass windows, so I wanted to make sure I don't mess up the design with the wrong curtains. I knew wanted to get some blue roman blinds in the dining room but needed help with the rest of the house. Since Bonita's store is near my home and I drive by it every day, I decided to go in for help.

I worked with Bonita about my need for blinds. I specifically asked about fees and was told the consultation was free.
I did not sign a contract with her or guarantee a sale. I was open about shopping around to find the best price.  
 
During the consultation, I asked how much it would cost for a whole house consultation. She quoted me $500, and I told her it was too much because it was money I could put into my house. We stuck with the original plan.  

After viewing the home, I went back to her store on another day to view fabrics. She didn't have any fabrics out to show me and seemed surprised that I showed up ready to look at them. I had limited time, and it was wasted by her picking out the fabrics and even walking away from me to wait on someone else. Eventually, I had to go so she came back to my house and brought a few fabrics. She picked out a fabric that I thought was too light, so I went back to the store to look at more. During this visit, we discussed prices. To make three small blinds for three small windows, she wanted over $1000 for silk material. I asked to look at faux silk next time.

I went back again for another appointment. She was prepared this time and had all her faux silk fabric out. I asked how much the price would be to use faux silk, and it was nearly the same amount. Bonita told me the cost is based on the labor, not the fabric. I asked if I found a fabric outside of her store would she make the blinds for me. She was really put off by this question and told me it would be about the same price and depend on if she likes the material. Pricing seemed arbitrary and unfair. After seeing samples in her store, I began to doubt her capabilities and the quality of her work.

I decided against using her service. After going through all this, I signed up for a sewing class for $35 to learn to make the blinds myself.

A couple of weeks ago, I got a bill in the mail from her for $275 stating how surprised she was that she didn't get a sale after all the time and effort spent helping me. If I didn't ask specifically about consultation fee, then I would be okay with paying this bill. However, I did ask. If she waives the consultation fee if you decide to use her, then she should have told me this at the time. It's extremely unprofessional to bill me retroactively.

I did not get any benefit from spending any time with her.

UPDATE/RESPONSE:

When Bonita came to my house for the free consultation, and I realized I would need to see fabrics, I asked her specifically what it would cost to continue with her and use her time.  She specifially stated there would be no charge as she considered all part of trying to make a sale.  At NO time did she mention "contingincy fee," as she is claiming now.  She seems to have a real talent for back-pedaling, in creating charges after the fact for not providing work, and for re-inventing how she presented business.  If she has a "contingency fee" as she now states, the time to have mentioned that would have been when I asked her specifially about her fees, and she did not. She could have provided information or a contract for me to sign, when I asked her about her fees, and she did neither.  At no time did I guarantee her any work.  Her hope or unspoken expectation of work in no way guarantees I have to give her business.  I tried hard to give this woman business, because I do not want to use my time to learn her trade and make my own blinds.

I asked Bonita about window treatments and she tried repeatedly to sell me paint, because of some arrangement she has with a paint company, where, as she explained, she gets something back from them for selling their paints.  I had to tell her several times I was not interested in painting, as I had JUST had the whole house painted.  She finally focused on window treatments.  We made an appointment for me to come by her shop, to narrow down the choices of fabrics, but when I arrived, she had nothing ready. She seemed surprised to see me. I had only so much time available before work, so I was surprised Bonita was totally unprepared.  I expected to walk in and find swatches pulled out. She used the time of my appointment to go around looking for swatches, and then went to help other customers during my appointment time. I thought that was unprofessional, but figured for a good outcome, I'd overlook that. Bonita selected a silk. When I heard the price, I asked to see faux silks and said specificallly I needed to lower the price. I had originally told her I would need to see all the swatches to make my choice (that was the purpose of my coming to her shop --- to narrow down the selection a bit so she would not have to bring so much to my house.)  So then, I had to go back to her shop and look at faux silks. This time she was prepared, which told me she knew how to prepare for a client visit, but just didn't prepare the first time I came.  When I selected a faux silk, I was completely surprised to hear the price would be about the same for that as for real silk.  Her original quote was so high, that I wanted to give her a competitive advantage...I really wanted her to do this work for me, because I did not want to have to do it myself...so I made sure she knew I was still shopping around...to give her an edge in being competitive with her pricing, to try to get my business. Yet as mentioned, she did not take that advantage and use it.  Her price for any fabric, regardless of the cost to her, was the same. That is not a fair way to do business. Since I made sure she knew I was still shopping around, there certainly was no reasonable expectationon her part that I would definitely give her business...that was just her hope...and certainly not a guarantee I had given her.  By that time, I was so desparate to get the work done in an affordable way, I asked her if she would make the blinds if I bought the fabric elsewhere.  She hestitatingly said she would, and then belittled the choice of fabric she knew I was considering from another source. Amazingly, she stated she would charge me the same fee even if I provided the fabric.  By then, I took the time to look closely at the samples of her work she has on display in her shop, and noticed the lines of her work are not crisp and clean; the quality of the work she has on display is really not so good. I decided against using her service, thanked her for her time, and said goodbye.  A few weeks later I received a bill from her stating how surprised she was that I did give her a sale, as she expected.  I say if she expected  a sale from the use of her time, she should have stated that when specifically askedabout her prices, priced fairly, taken the competitive advantage offered to her in letting her know I was still shopping around, and come through. She did not. Again, at NO point did I guarantee her a sale. She just wanted one, but not enough to work at getting it. It is extraordinarily poor form for her to back pedal and say I owe her money for not providing a service to me. It is extraordinarily poor form for her to say she told me about fees that she did not, when I specifically asked her about them.  It is extraordinarily poor form to say I guaranteed her work when I at no time did. She also stated that she was charging me because I benefited so much from spending time with her. I came to her asking about blue roman blinds for my dining room, and I am ending up with blue roman blinds f

It went excellent working with them. She did a job above and beyond what I expected of her. She listened to what I wanted and what my taste was. She also took my budget and made it work with in that. Her work is exceptional.