apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I was buying Benj. Moore paints before Janovic bought out all their distributors (in the '80's), and at first I was really distraught, but Janovic very quickly reassured me with their knowledge and professionalism, and I happily used them for years. It's been a while since I no longer live in the city, though.
As an aside, Hunter Douglas just bought 3Form! Expect interesting things to happen soon!

I don't know. I wanted to use them and they insisted on sending around a man to measure my windows even though I said I had the measurements. They said they couldn't guarantee the work if they did it to my specifications. So a man came and measured. Then I got a call a week later and it turned out that he had forgotten to measure one side of a window so they wanted to send him back. Again, they said they couldn't accept my word on the missing measurement. Since I only wanted blinds for two windows, (yes, only two, and nothing complicated about them), I decided, at that point, to work with someone else. By then they had already charged my Am Ex the entire cost of the blinds, and there was more time expended on getting the charge removed. While I understand that everyone makes mistakes, I don't call that great service. I call it a big waste of time.

Some Janovic's are better than others. The one on 9th Ave in the low 50's is not so great; Their BM paint color strips always seem to be missing the color I want and the sales help are invisible most of the time. When they actually appear they are nice & helpful, though sometimes a bit confused. The one on the east side in the 60's (I think) is wonderful though.

I agree with Janice: some locations are better equipped. Nonetheless, there is no other place I'd go for paint. They are fabulous, patient, knowledgeable, and will do color consultations.

I had problems at the one on the East side in the 60's... they didn't put the lid on a paint can tight enough. It opened up (this has NEVER happened to me with paint before) and ruined my jacket, jeans and shoes. They gave me another gallon, but I was pissed.
The one in SoHo (Spring and 6th avenue I think) is my favorite. I definitely recommend it, and have opted to travel there rather than go to the (much) closer one in the 60's (I live in Harlem).

The Janovic on 6th and Spring did a fine job with my blinds. The paint staff, however, does not knock me out. I have been treated at times to surly service and ill-informed service. I don't really trust what they tell me. There is one old fellow who is an exception-- he treats you like it's 1957 and he owns the shop-- it's lovely, but I'm not entirely sure he's so up-to-date on the latest paint technology.

But compared to the atrocious attitude and ridiculously high prices at metropolitan hardware on Spring between Thompson and West Broadway, Janovic is a delight.

What kind of help do you need with paint - you choose your finish - you choose your colour - you pick the can off the shelf - why do you need staff in a paint shop???

fyi- Janovic, Benjamin Moore and Hunter Douglas are all Berkshire Hathoway / Warren Buffet companies, hence the fact that they're together.

I have an off topic question, can anyone who has replaced their interior doors please send me the names of the store (even if a website) they used. I need to change three doors as well as closet doors but haven't seen any that I truly like. I also wondered if the purchased doors came with high-gloss paint job, I'm trying to avoid going to Janovic to buy the paint. I'm trying to do a few inexpensive cosmetic changes as part of my cure. thanks!!

I rarely post comments of this sort, but just today I found myself embroiled in a customer service nightmare so beyond the pale that I feel that I have have no choice but to warn others away from using the Janovic store on 7th Avenue. I recently bought $150 worth of paint from this location. After spending hours applying an unsatisfactory first coat, I looked at the can and noticed that they had mixed the incorrect color. Instead of 1024, Tuscan Wind, they had mixed 1025, Chocolate Mousse. I brought the paint back to the store with the receipt and the color sample that I had originally presented to the clerk, with Tuscan Wind circled in ballpoint. I politely asked for a refund, or at least a store credit on the remaining three cans -- not counting the one already on the wall.

The store manager, Mark Troja, accused me of fabricating the whole story because "I just didn't like the color" and doctoring the circled paint sample after the fact. He refused me a refund, and claimed he would call a district manager on my behalf tomorrow. Fat chance. The clerk who committed the error, a woman named Adora, remained surly, silent, and mostly concerned with covering her own butt. The whole experience was humiliating, and a horrendous misjudgment of character on the part of the store manager.

I recommend that you go somewhere else for your paint. Should you choose not to follow this advice, at least do yourself the favor of making sure that the correct color was mixed. Do not expect any assistance from Janovic if anything goes wrong.

Happy to report that Janovic's management immediately remedied my complaint after I forwarded on the above comment. I'm sorry the whole incident took place, but it's refreshing to see a corporation where management takes a ground-level interest in their customers.

I just had the same experience as the poster above at the Gramercy store. I recently purchased several items and when checking out, specifically asked the cashier if the items were returnable, and was told in no uncertain terms that as long as they were in the original condition, the items were returnable.
Two weeks later now and went to return them (in the original condition), and was told by another employee who seemed to be "in charge" (although he wasn't the manager), that the items were not returnable. When I told him that the other employee, who was standing right next to him, told me that indeed they were returnable, he accused me of lying, and refused the refund. The cat seemed to have gotten the other guy's tongue, since he didn't utter a word. I have never received what I would call exceptional customer service at Janovic, but I was totally shocked by how I was treated on this occaision. I will be going to Vercesi around the corner for my future paint needs.

Well I love Janovic and Benjamin Moore Paint. I find the 4th avenue store at 10st to be extremely friendly and knowledgeable.

I prefer the Classic colors over the Color Previewer colors. They listen and are always helpful finding the right color for me.

I also recently found a little web site that will provide any Benjamin Moore Paint Color on a BIG square.

DrySamples.com was nervous at first, but they delivered and I have used them a couple of times. I find that the wet color samples are just not enough for my tastes.