Made to measure blinds - not as ordered.

DivaGirl

Can someone help - I've just moved into my first flat, and ordered 3 vertical blinds and 2 roller blinds from a company in the Internet, my family have done this before with great results but I (trying to save money) ordered from a different company.

The measuring guide and info was exactly the same as the one used previously so we knew exactly what to do and that the company should adjust to fit the recess of the window.

The thing is that when they came they had made 2 of the vertical runners to the exact measurements meaning they just wouldn't fit in the window gap with slats that sit on the window sill and the third wasn't even my order! And the 2 roller blinds didn't roll! I contacted the company who requested them back to "investigate" today they agreed to remake the runners but then said would reduce by 1mm but wouldn't replace the slats (I would need to pay) and that the measurements were correct it must have been my mistake.

What I need to know is do I have any rights because they are "made to measure"? I can't afford to loose nearly 200 quid and I don't think that 1mm adjustment is enough of a difference to have them fit and then pay to replace the slats because they haven't taken anything off the length. I've already had to buy one for the bathroom so I can shower because this has been going on for over a month.

What can I expect? I've lost all faith in this company and I've wasted so much time trying to get them to fix it.

Thanks for any help.

bris

You have rights if they are made incorrectly. If you made the mistake then no rights.


It's impossible to tell as we don't know the way they need the measurements done and what you gave them.


They usually have measurements for inside the window and outside so are you sure you gave the right ones?
Knowing the site might help as someone can take a look and see how it works.

DivaGirl

It's Unbeatable Blinds - you take 6 measurements 3 horizontal and 3 vertical and give the smallest of them each way they then knock a bit off to make it fit the recess. I've used other sites for my previous family home and it worked a dream so thought I'd try this company as I needed to save money - 2 roller blinds that don't roll and 3 verticals that don't quite fit in (they just fit to the wall you'd need to hammer them in!) nearly 200 quid later and 3 days holiday down I feel like I'm stuck with it all and I don't know if I have any rights because the consumer rights act keeps saying custom./personalised/made to measure have different rights but I can't find them!

takman

DivaGirl wrote: »

It's Unbeatable Blinds - you take 6 measurements 3 horizontal and 3 vertical and give the smallest of them each way they then knock a bit off to make it fit the recess.

Their website states you have two options (inside Recess or Exact Fitting) when ordering blinds. Considering you haven't mentioned choosing "inside the recess" have you just assumed this was what they did and didn't select the correct option?

Unbeatable_Blinds wrote:

Always make sure to use a steel measuring tape as this will give the most accurate results and decide before hand if you want to have Recess (inside the recess) or Exact (outside the recess) fitting

DivaGirl

No I chose recess fitting at ordering so they should have been adjusted.

Fosterdog

DivaGirl wrote: »

No I chose recess fitting at ordering so they should have been adjusted.

Why would they adjust them? If they made them to the exact measurements you gave then they have done it right. Some people prefer blinds to touch the sill others prefer a gap, I only have a 1cm gap for mine but my parents have closer to 1inch and prefer them higher.

If you wanted them shorter than the measurement you gave then you should have adjusted accordingly. If they don’t fit either you mis-measured or they made them bigger than the measurements you gave.

DoaM

Unless I'm misreading ... OP is saying the blinds are too WIDE for the recess, not too LONG? So the gap to the sill is irrelevant. (Too long = just don't drop them so far). It's the width of the blinds that's at issue here?

Le_Kirk

Three vertical blinds and two roller blinds as per the OP. Presumably either the vertical blinds are too long or the roller blinds are two wide. Perhaps OP, some measurements would help us all to help you.
Width of recess =
Width of roller blind =
Drop =
Length of vertical blind =

sheramber

Have you checked the measurements of the recess are what you put on the order form.

I say this because my husband ordered a blind for our shower room. When it came it was too big. When he checked the order form ha had written down the measurements wrong.

Did they make them to the measurements you sent?

molerat

For recess blinds they will manufacture the blind, including its gear, to fit inside the width dimension given. That should be the smallest of the three taken and no adjustments need to be made to that measurement by the buyer. I have ordered many vertical blinds and have never had a problem with fitting inside the accurate width given. OP needs to measure the blind including the gear and check with the measurement given, it should be about 10-20 mm less. Again they should manufacture the slats to fit inside the measurement given so unless the rail does not fit hard up against the top of the recess they should come about 10mm above the sill. Again OP needs to measure the total height of the assembly and check against the measurement given.

If it is OP's fault then adjusting is not a biggy. If they are proper stitched blinds then altering them should not be a major problem. I once measured some door blinds to the floor boards forgetting about fitting the carpet, a couple hours with a craft knife and a sewing machine soon had the 20 slats sorted. I also made my own replacement slats, they wanted the same price for short ones as long so bought long ones and got 4 out of each. Adjusting the header rail width is also not rocket science.

DoaM

Vertical blinds .. for some reason I had Venetian blinds in my mind. For vertical blinds the the length (drop) is of course important.