Seeking Advice: Should I Ask for a Refund? (Not Happy with a Painting Ordered Online)

LXW8200 on 03/05/2020 - 10:21
Last edited 03/05/2020 - 12:44 by 1 other user

Hi Everyone,

Firstly - thanks for stopping by the thread and kudos to you if you've voted in the poll.

My husband and I recently spent $350 on a painting and aren't very happy with what we've received compared to what we saw and ordered online.

The seller stated that each painting is individually handcrafted to your specific size and orientation, not all paintings can be exactly the same and therefore an acceptable degree of variation should be expected.

We've reached out to the seller and they've advised that our painting is within the 10% variance and they can't refund us.

What are your thoughts?

https://ibb.co/yg9tSL7

Link to website:

https://www.united-interiors.com.au/united-artworks/painting…

Poll Options expired

  • 57
    The painting you've received is acceptable (within 10% of the original)
  • 27
    No Way, what you've received is a different painting (greater than 10%)
  • 3
    Cut your losses and move on
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Comments

  • apsilon on 03/05/2020 - 10:33
    +8

    Looks essentially the same to me. Are you really annoyed with the look or the fact the $350 one is now on sale for $210?

    • XW8200 on 03/05/2020 - 10:35
      +1

      Definite up vote here :D - yep it's annoying but these things happen. Definitely cut my losses on the difference :p

      Edit ** Ok new side by side image uploaded - what about now? https://ibb.co/HLS8yY1

  • bobbified on 03/05/2020 - 10:33
    +19

    The one they showed and the one you received were definitely painted by two different 2-yr-olds! lol

    • John Kimble on 03/05/2020 - 10:45
      +1

      This is an example where we should have the ability to upvote more than once! 😂

  • barozgain on 03/05/2020 - 10:35
    +3

    I always knew my Dog can earn me a fortune with just a little bit of ink on his paws

  • John Kimble on 03/05/2020 - 10:42
    +5

    I'm no art expert, but I can definitely see differences (most notably the ones circled in red on my second link; to me they look like when a child just presses a brush down on the canvas), but how do you calculate 10%???

    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/190487/79303/photogrid…

    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/190487/79304/screensho…

    • XW8200 on 03/05/2020 - 10:45

      Thanks John, i've uploaded a new link to a side by side image too and have asked the seller to provide an overview of how they calculate the variance. Thanks so much for your post.

      • John Kimble on 03/05/2020 - 10:48

        No worries, I suggest you lay yours down and take a photo from straight on, then put them side by side. The differences would be much easier to highlight.

        • XW8200 on 03/05/2020 - 10:49

          Great idea. We're trying to keep the packaging in tact as the seller has asked us to do so whilst they 'work with the production team for a resolution'. Might be able to carefully remove it, however the poll isn't going the way I thought it would :(

          • John Kimble on 03/05/2020 - 10:53

            @XW8200: You can leave it on, just take a photo straight on, not at an angle.

            Or lay it landscape leaning on the wall so you can take a photo that's more straight/square on.

            • XW8200 on 03/05/2020 - 11:02
              +1

              @John Kimble: Husband did it :D - i've updated the description and it's easier to see the differences now. Thanks John.

  • Almost Banned on 03/05/2020 - 11:50
    +2

    I would suggest the one you received is done by a significantly less experienced hand.
    It looks much less polished and more clumsy - but I have no idea what % crappier I would describe it as…

    • John Kimble on 03/05/2020 - 12:04
      +1

      So a 4 year old vs a 6 year old? :p

    • [Deactivated] on 03/05/2020 - 12:17
      +1

      Paintings, especially abstract and decorative pieces are judged on colour, texture, contrast, proportion and arrangement.

      See the dots in the viewer's right, they significantly diminish the entire piece because instead of a fluffy cloud canvas, you have thought bubbles drifting upward.

      That's just one of the many subtle disparities but I'd argue it is many % points crappier. If I was granted unlimited judicial power, my first judgement would be to call this 29% crappier.

      Having said that, mass produced handmade decorations will vary so whilst it isn't the quality the buyer has hoped for, it is the outcome one should reasonably expect.

  • ihbh on 03/05/2020 - 12:12
    +2

    The one you received has many strong strokes at the bottom which don't exist in the original. Furthermore, there are far fewer blended layers in your one throughout the painting - suggesting a quick and dirty copy (that is, less time taken and hence should be much cheaper).

  • jjjaar on 03/05/2020 - 13:16
    +3

    While the layout is slightly different, in an acceptable way, the techniques and brush strokes used are completely different and definitely look like someone has rushed it or a person with a different skill set has done it. I wouldn’t keep it.

  • Tech5 on 03/05/2020 - 13:54
    +1

    The image depicted is pretty accurate, but the technique looks completely different and possibly rushed

    • [Deactivated] on 03/05/2020 - 16:50

      These are made in replica mills.

      Cheap paint, minimal layering, different brush strokes, different brushes and often, layers are added before the previous one has dried.

  • zombrex on 03/05/2020 - 14:10
    +2

    Both paintings look like junk in my opinion.
    What a waste of $350.
    For that amount of money you could by a unique painting from a
    local art society that isn't just random cloud like blotches.

  • sim777 on 03/05/2020 - 14:23

    Personally would be upset if I received that and paid $350. Subjectively does not come close to a 10% variance but not sure how they/you would go about fighting that claim?

  • MagicMushroom on 03/05/2020 - 14:52

    not all paintings can be exactly the same and therefore an acceptable degree of variation should be expected.

    If this is the case, I would expect the seller to add a few more photos showing the variation of paintings. I would go for a full refund.

  • pegaxs on 03/05/2020 - 15:38
    +1

    To me, the one you received looks like a school teacher handed out a postcard and asked everyone in art class to paint it. It's "similar" but nowhere the same. I think it's way outside the 10% variance.

  • brokenglish on 03/05/2020 - 20:33

    Should've spent the money to vectorise/upscale the original painting image and then print it yourself.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/05/2020 - 21:13

      You can't print texture or variable sheen.

  • ego22 on 03/05/2020 - 21:37

    EXACTLY 19% variance on that one..

  • [Deactivated] on 03/05/2020 - 22:15

    The original painting has some artistic merit. The one you've received less so.Why are there white lines and what looks like creases on your one? The technique they've used leaves a lot to be desired.

    Push for a refund.

    Edit : Next time check the reviews before buying.

    Painting colours were not as advertised
    published 9 months ago

    I ordered an original painting from their photos. Very disappointed with quality and colours.
    Be very wary ordering from their photos - you may not get what you ordered. I would not use them again

    • thatonethere on 04/05/2020 - 07:58

      heh. If we used productreview to vet every purchase you would buy nothing!

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