Paint guy knowingly gave me the wrong color...
#1
02-13-09, 07:07 PM
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Paint guy knowingly gave me the wrong color...
Heres the deal, I went to lowes and after many failed attempts at trying to color match anything from a pair of shoes to a thong the nice guy behind the counter custom mixed a color for me....the problem? It was primer, but no biggie really as I would definatly need a tinted primer anyways and he said that I would just need to bring the can back with me and have someone use the numbers to recreate the color in paint form.
So I went back the next day and the guy didnt even look at the numbers instead he put a blob of paint on a piece of paper and tried to color match it. The computer told him it was way off but he mixed it anyways saying "I never listen to that thing, just trust me" the whole time he was mixing my gallons he was joking around like "You have no faith" and "dont be so tense" and "I'm never wrong" but when I said "and if you are?" in a joking manner he didnt say anything.
Well when I saw the paint as he was putting the swipe on the top of the can it looked a little dark but the lighting was also WAY different. I got the paint home painted a wall and let it dry. The color is WAY off, like its in the same family, theyre just estranged. I'm mad cuz it warned him it was wrong and he thought he was smarter.
What do I do now? Do I go back and complain? I have 60 bucks worth of paint that I cant use, and now need to spend another 60 on the RIGHT color.
And what should I do about that wall? The right color will be lighter and brighter, so I only see a couple of options...about 8 coats of primer...or sand the top layer of paint off [the wall itself has 3 previous layers of primer, and a layer of paint not including the botched top color]
So I went back the next day and the guy didnt even look at the numbers instead he put a blob of paint on a piece of paper and tried to color match it. The computer told him it was way off but he mixed it anyways saying "I never listen to that thing, just trust me" the whole time he was mixing my gallons he was joking around like "You have no faith" and "dont be so tense" and "I'm never wrong" but when I said "and if you are?" in a joking manner he didnt say anything.
Well when I saw the paint as he was putting the swipe on the top of the can it looked a little dark but the lighting was also WAY different. I got the paint home painted a wall and let it dry. The color is WAY off, like its in the same family, theyre just estranged. I'm mad cuz it warned him it was wrong and he thought he was smarter.
What do I do now? Do I go back and complain? I have 60 bucks worth of paint that I cant use, and now need to spend another 60 on the RIGHT color.
And what should I do about that wall? The right color will be lighter and brighter, so I only see a couple of options...about 8 coats of primer...or sand the top layer of paint off [the wall itself has 3 previous layers of primer, and a layer of paint not including the botched top color]
#2
02-13-09, 10:24 PM
You asked the store to match the paint to a swatch of the primer color - and it didn't match.
Take it back and show them it doesn't match, and have them match it this time. It doesn't matter that you thought it was a match - it in fact, wasn't a match.
Bring the primer swatch in, and bring the paint in and let them see for themselves.
The primer formula won't reproduce a match in the finish paint. It will be too weak (at a minimum), and maybe off too depending on the whiteness of the primer and the whiteness of the finish paint base.
What to do about the wall?
Paint it with the correct color. It won't take eight coats. It will probably take two.
Why so many coats of primer and paint on that wall already?
Take it back and show them it doesn't match, and have them match it this time. It doesn't matter that you thought it was a match - it in fact, wasn't a match.
Bring the primer swatch in, and bring the paint in and let them see for themselves.
The primer formula won't reproduce a match in the finish paint. It will be too weak (at a minimum), and maybe off too depending on the whiteness of the primer and the whiteness of the finish paint base.
What to do about the wall?
Paint it with the correct color. It won't take eight coats. It will probably take two.
Why so many coats of primer and paint on that wall already?
#3
02-14-09, 04:56 AM
It's rare for there to be a need for more than 1 coat of primer. Quality paint should cover any area that is off a shade or two with no problems.
Custom tints are rarely returnable but in your case it should be. Hopefully you will get a sympathic ear when you present your case.
This is just one of many reasons, I prefer to buy my coatings at the local paint store. The odds of this happening would be a lot less.
Custom tints are rarely returnable but in your case it should be. Hopefully you will get a sympathic ear when you present your case.
This is just one of many reasons, I prefer to buy my coatings at the local paint store. The odds of this happening would be a lot less.
#4
02-14-09, 05:52 AM
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To answer the "why so much primer" question....
Heres how my wall is layered working from the drywall and ending on the top coat.
Primer-EggShell Paint-White Primer-Pink Tinted Primer-Ugly Messed up Pink Paint.
When I primed the wall the first time I hadnt decided on a color so I didnt think I'd need a tinted primer, thats why theres 2 coats right on top of the other.
Heres how my wall is layered working from the drywall and ending on the top coat.
Primer-EggShell Paint-White Primer-Pink Tinted Primer-Ugly Messed up Pink Paint.
When I primed the wall the first time I hadnt decided on a color so I didnt think I'd need a tinted primer, thats why theres 2 coats right on top of the other.
#5
02-14-09, 08:19 AM
I have to agree with marksr, people really need to stop buying paint from lowes, and hd and expect things to go perfect. Im not saying that it never does, but your better of going to a paint store (sherwin williams). lowes paint people also collect carts and work in different departments. They take a little test to qualify to work in the paint department, but the paint stores only deal with paint and they can give much better service and advice. Any who, Lowes is pretty good on making things right with there customers, so explain the situation with a store manager and they should fix it
#6
02-14-09, 10:00 AM
I can't add but so much to what has been said here but I will say that this is a lesson for anyone thinking of buying paint at a big box store.the minute someone said the same frmula to tint a primer would work as the formula for the top coat you were in trouble.
As someone in hardware retail I can tell you you have a very good case for a full refund on your purchase and if you don't get it,in cash not store credit and 100% of what you spent make a big stink,go to the manager and even above that if you have to.
I work for an Ace Hardware and can tell you that you'd get the refund no problem at the stores I've been at.I can also tell you,though I can't speak for any other Ace stores,that the ones I've been associated with all had personel with paint knowledge apparently better than what you found at Lowe's.Ace has training programs etc all the time.It must be remembered that Lowe's,a national corporation,also has traing policies and this is an example of what they are and how much training the employees get.
When you hear a store employee say something that sounds questionable....go elsewhere.
As someone in hardware retail I can tell you you have a very good case for a full refund on your purchase and if you don't get it,in cash not store credit and 100% of what you spent make a big stink,go to the manager and even above that if you have to.
I work for an Ace Hardware and can tell you that you'd get the refund no problem at the stores I've been at.I can also tell you,though I can't speak for any other Ace stores,that the ones I've been associated with all had personel with paint knowledge apparently better than what you found at Lowe's.Ace has training programs etc all the time.It must be remembered that Lowe's,a national corporation,also has traing policies and this is an example of what they are and how much training the employees get.
When you hear a store employee say something that sounds questionable....go elsewhere.
#7
02-14-09, 11:45 AM
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I know I should have listened to everyone who said that you shouldn't buy from a big box store, but at the same time painting and stuff was a snap decision, within mins or making it I was buying my first color of paint which was perfect, not to mention it covered really well! But then again, its hard to mess up dark gray, I should have known from experience with photoshop that a good pink is hard to achieve, if there's not enough yellow in the mix it looks like, well...my wall.
The only places around me where I can buy paint are Home Depot, Lowes, and Sherwin Williams. From what I understand I should just get myself a cash refund and go to SW instead?
The only places around me where I can buy paint are Home Depot, Lowes, and Sherwin Williams. From what I understand I should just get myself a cash refund and go to SW instead?
#8
02-14-09, 04:37 PM
I'd go to SWP but remember, they also sell cheap paint so be sure to stick with their mid grade or better. Their better paints should cover better and as already stated, the help will be better too!
#9
03-02-09, 09:39 AM
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A telltale sign of this scenaria is an "Oops Paint Cart." A cart full of previous mistakes, a good colorist just doesn't make them. HD has a large one.......
Billy
Billy
#10
03-02-09, 12:23 PM
Originally Posted by Bigg_Billy
A telltale sign of this scenaria is an "Oops Paint Cart." A cart full of previous mistakes, a good colorist just doesn't make them. HD has a large one.......
Billy
Billy
#11
03-02-09, 12:41 PM
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Here in this small town of all places..we have a store that sells nothing but oops paint and some painting supplies. I stopped by one time but they were closed. Peering though the window I saw HD, ACE and SWP cans. They also had a ton of spray cans...expired maybe?
I don't know where they get them or how much they cost. It's sort of on the side of town I have no reason to go to very often, so haven't been back when they were open.
I don't know where they get them or how much they cost. It's sort of on the side of town I have no reason to go to very often, so haven't been back when they were open.
#12
03-03-09, 06:25 AM
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Originally Posted by spdavid
This is not a vaild way to judge paint retailers.ALL paint retail locations have one of these.Paint errors have many causes and many are not the saleshelp's fault.I've been doing this kind of work for many years and can tell you many "errors" are the customers and in recent years product defects have increased.HD may not have very good help or training but the real reason they have a large amount of error paint is volume.
Originally Posted by Gunguy45
Here in this small town of all places..we have a store that sells nothing but oops paint and some painting supplies. I stopped by one time but they were closed. Peering though the window I saw HD, ACE and SWP cans. They also had a ton of spray cans...expired maybe?
I don't know where they get them or how much they cost. It's sort of on the side of town I have no reason to go to very often, so haven't been back when they were open.
I don't know where they get them or how much they cost. It's sort of on the side of town I have no reason to go to very often, so haven't been back when they were open.
#13
03-03-09, 09:50 AM
Try working in a hardware store in a lower to middle income area....ooops paint lasts maybe a week after being mixed at most.
We sell it usually for 5 dollars a gallon so it goes quick and is all new product.
Any,such as odd colors etc,that linger is donated to charity usually within a month of mixing.
We sell it usually for 5 dollars a gallon so it goes quick and is all new product.
Any,such as odd colors etc,that linger is donated to charity usually within a month of mixing.
