11/08/07

Great furniture

by tde

I wanted pottery barn furniture but the size and color weren't right for me. I came in with the catalog and they were able to copy the bedroom I wanted in the stain I wanted. I was happy with the service and had no issues. The sales man was friendly and knowledgable about what I was getting( I had a choice of woods and knew nothing about them!). I am thrilled with my furniture and would buy again in an instant. I also liked their low key atmosphere with grand parents and kids in the showroom!

• Cons: wish they were open later.

02/10/07

Nice furniture, pleasant family and an assest to small business!

by 3guys

I have been purchasing from Mark for many years. I have been amazed at the patience shown when I couldn't make up my mind as well as the help that was offered when I needed it. I have been happy with the quality of the furniture from way back when I needed the "durable fabrics" when I had young children to the designer fabric for my office couch and in more recent years to my self designed slip cover sofa. I have enjoyed the family atmosphere and remember when it was Mrs. Friedman who helped me when I was a young mom and really counting my nickels. In more recent years it has been Mark and his sister who offered me design tips but who also reminded me that I had to live with it so it needed to be what I wanted. Good advice and not always given in retail. A nice place to go!

• Pros: good overal knowledge, warm and friendly
• Cons: the item you may need is not always there to see

12/07/06

Been recommending them for years

by tonyrs

We first bought from Mark Friedman 10 years ago when we spent quite a bit of time searching for just the right couch. At the time, they were on 4th street. We ended up purchasing from them, and had an excellent experience doing so, from price, to scheduling, to them delivering exactly what we ordered.

While we haven't been in the market for furniture in recent years, we've stopped in from time to time to browse, and haven't had the bad experiences expressed by other reviews here. That's not to say they didn't happen, just that we've had a better experience and have recommended them to friends to years as a result.

Recently, we were in the market for a specific piece and visited a number of showrooms on Lincoln, including Mark Friedman. They couldn't match the price of one of the other vendors as they didn't carry that specific manufacturer. However, they said that they used to carry that line, and while they had similar pieces from other manufacturers, they said that the price we were given for that line was an excellent value, so they recommended that we purchase from their competitor! That's not the kind of honesty you find very often nowadays. After reading some of the negative reviews here, I felt obligated to share our positive experience with Mark Friedman. After my experience, I'll definitely be going back -- expecially since we'll be needing new couches again soon :)

• Pros: Generally excellent prices for good-great quality pieces.
• Cons: Small showroom, need to decide based on catalog pictures (same as other stores though)

10/20/06

The worst customer service

by sd27

First of all, do not listen to their talk about when your furniture will be in. "Three weeks max, but probably less," means at least 4.5 until you see your furniture. Not only that, but they will not contact you to let you know where your furniture is or when it may be arriving. You have to call every day and HOPE that the actual person you worked with is in. Mark won't actually look up your furniture order himself. Quote: "that's between you and him." Ridiculous.

• Cons: rude to customers after placing orders, disorganized

08/28/06

Never Again

by mrbiginla

Not only did the couch we ordered come out looking fairly crappy with cushions not filled well, but the level of unprofessionalism we experienced was something I would have expected from a guy selling watches on a street corner.

We eventually worked things out, but I will never return as a customer after the way we were treated.

• Pros: Lot of options. Credit cards accepted now(not amex)
• Cons: Not great stuff at all. Horrible customer service

08/25/05

don't waste your time-

by zszs

don't waste your time getting a quote or doing business with these people. the salespeople were rude and could not even beat my best price. but they still wanted me to stop in at their business for their pitch.

08/15/03

Never again!

by smcgaraghan

This is not the place to shop for a custom-made piece of furniture! They made a great pitch to us to have a VERY basic piece of furniture custom-made to fit an unusual space in our home, but once we made our deposit, problems arose and worst of all, they were smug, unapologetic, and offered no customer service. The final price was twice their initial estimate; the time it took to make the piece also doubled (more than 6 weeks when we were originally told 3), and they assumed no responsibility for the multiple gliches with our order!

08/14/03

No-frills Santa Monica shop offers wholesale prices on a huge selection of chic furniture brands.

by Contributor

The Scene
Located in an area known for higher-end shopping, this family-owned store devotes its floor space to samples, fabric swatches and catalogue after catalogue of sofas, dining room sets and bedroom furniture. The friendly and knowledgeable staff, including Mark's parents, helps customers consider the overwhelming number of options. Some floor samples are available for purchase, but with the limitless amount of merchandise you can order, knowing what you want beforehand is the shopper's best asset.

The Goods
From established names such as Simmons Beautyrest and Lane, to trendier ones like Lazar and Barcalounger, Mark can order every furniture brand in the business. Customers used to paying retail at stores like Pampa and Pottery Barn can save serious dollars ($400 or more on brand-name furniture). Bring in a photo or the specs on something you admired elsewhere, and Mark will have it delivered to you within a few weeks.