one guy's perfect Chris story
Leslie
Melbourne, Australia
#6 Mar 3, 2014
I journeyed out to the Brooklyn Navy Yards on October 5th of last year and met Chris Cloutier.
We chatted a bit and I presented my poster. He remarked that it was in good condition and also mentioned that it had been a slow week so he was glad of the business.
He sent me a Paypal invoice which I paid while in his shop,$300 to back and $100 to ship via Fedex to Australia.
I waited a month and on November 6th sent the following email;
"Hi Chris, How're things? I'm just touching base to see how things are going with the Island of the Fish People backing. Can't wait to see it."
He wrote back saying, "Hi leslie, I have it ready to back mnext- i was delayed for 3 weeks because we lost the use of water here. but its fixed now. i may be able to ship this posters in about a week, chris"
Waited two weeks and wrote on 24th November, "Hi Chris, Just wanted to see if you've managed to get this one done yet."
No reply.
Another week and a half, 5th December, "Hi Chris, I haven't had a response to my last email. If you could let me know how things are progressing it'd be appreciated."
No reply. Left a couple of voicemails and after the busyness of the Christmas period, sent another email on Jan 3rd, "Hi Chris, I haven't had any response to any of my emails and voicemails. Can you please let me know what is going on with this job?"
No reply. Figuring I wasn't going to get a reply or my poster at this point I enlisted the help of my cousin's wife who works in a law firm in Manhattan.One of her colleagues sent a letter to Chris. I'm not too sure what the contents of the letter were but it was sufficient to be able to get him on the phone with the attorney within a few days. According to the attorney he said he was sorry, that he was having medical problems, that the poster was 80% done and would ship express on Monday 20th January. He also promised he would get in touch with me.
On the 18th January he wrote, "Hello Leslie, work progresses on the posters. should ship early next week.chris cloutier."
20th January comes and goes. On the 1st February I write "Hi Chris, Has this shipped yet?"
He replies "Hi Leslie,the poster ISLAND OF THE FISH PEOPL is ready to ship and will go out Monday via USPS. Can you confirm your shipping address and phone please? Thanks"
Despite having given him all this info when I dropped the poster off in October, I sent it through again. Then silence again.
11th February, "Hi Chris, Do you have a tracking number for this?"
No reply.
21st February, "Seriously Chris, are you sending this or planning to try and steal it and my money? I'll give you 72 hours to send me a tracking number for this package or I'll assume the latter is the case and proceed accordingly. I have been more than reasonable in regard to this matter."
The next day "Dear Leslie, FED EX INTL ECONOMY Tracking number is 79799453**** being picked up by fed ex today thanks for your patience. Chris"
The tracking number turned out to be valid although I didn't really believe it until I opened the packing tube today, 4th March. 5 months from drop off to delivery.
So how was it? Well, if I didn't happen to own a few linen backed posters already I might assume this is as good as linen backing gets and resign myself to the flaws. From a few feet back it displays ok but what really bugs me is are the vertical foldlines which are still pretty prominent. They are raised up which I assume is due to lack of burnishing. It's pretty frustrating as this is one of the primary reasons for linen backing in the first place.
Some extra creases have even been introduced along the bottom.
Along the upper left hand side, something small was left between canvas and poster. Not sure what exactly but it feels like half a paperclip. Almost tempted to cut it open to find out.
In addition there are three thins cuts in the poster now.
How the guy stays in business without changing his or the business name is anyone's guess.