The SAA Reviews 

this company won't allow me to cancel my annual subscription online. Since I don't live in the UK that means I have to make a long distance phone call. It's convenient to subscribe, but not clear that it's never ending unless I make a call. My phone plan doesn't allow long distance to their number. I will now have to block any future payment directly with my bank, which is a load of nonsense I could do without. I'm not impressed.

Before joining SAA, I asked publicly on their Facebook advert how to disable auto-renewal; my comment was removed. I then contacted SAA directly and was told they would manually switch off auto-renewal once my membership was active. On the day I joined, I requested this in writing and received written confirmation that auto-renewal had been cancelled and my payment details removed.

Despite this, SAA processed a renewal payment a year later without my authorisation. This contradicts their own written confirmation and constitutes an unauthorised charge. I have retained all evidence.

Given this breach of consent, I cannot trust their handling of customer payments and will not return. Prospective members should exercise caution.

Do not join this con artist business. Even if you cancel your membership they still take your money and blame it on "a technical error" Worst customer service

There was a time when this company was excellent! As time went on the company became more and more interested in other things and NOT art and NOT people. They state to help all artists, believe me this is totally untrue. They state inspire, that's a laugh!
The art materials are exceedingly overpriced and the service not very good either. I was heavily involved with the SAA and my experience is how I know these things. It has happened to others and it will happen again and again whilst promoting a false persona....those that know , know, and those that do not ,do not. I heard it from others before me, whilst in the SAA and whilst an ambassador and I defended the company......bad move. It's not about art or helping its just about m and p! Being involved with many art companies I can confidently and honestly state this is the worst company in numerous ways I have ever known! I expect this to be taken down, they are good at silencing you! No wonder they struggle periodically, if people knew the truth they would struggle more!

Very disappointed with the new changes. I’ve been a member for many years. However when I found how much it had changed I realised it wouldn’t be worth it when I can join others that offer more for less. Great shame. I won’t be renewing my membership in June sadly.

Over £100 more than elsewhere and not price matched. atch. I bought a watercolour set from yourselves last week but on the day it arrived I discovered that its for sale elsewhere for over £100 less. I emailed yourselves immediately including the details of the price elsewhere a few days ago but have not heard back at all and have not been given the refund of the price difference.

Also, your advert stated that the set included all of the colours that the company sold but it doesn't. 12 colours are missing. This was misleading. I have asked for this to be put right by sending me the 12 missing colours but have not received any response.

The company have since refunded me the difference but not given me the extra colours.

Got what I wanted on my order. It provides excellent quality paints and other artists materials and very reasonable prices.

Great value arrives quickly free delivery and staff always courteous always packed well too.

I have recently purchased, brushes, paints and some accessories, all of which were of excellent quality and a fair price. SAA are a good place to buy all your art materials.

I have been a member for many years and am very disappointed with the direction the organisation is taking. Existing members are loosing the free delivery on orders less than £25 and two issues of their magazine. The online shop does not appear to be as extensive either, although there is still some good value. However, new members are enticed with a professional watercolour set "worth £170.85"!! So much for loyalty!

Extremely disappointed to be paying for delivery charges for orders under £25 now. No hard copy catalogue to browse. Only 4 magazines a year now instead of 6. Membership has absolutelyno benefits for me and is most definitely no longer worth £45 annual membership.

Not free delivery for small items for members anymore. Confusing website . Not good.

Only 1 of the 2 items was delivered. Had I known the second item was not available I would have cancelled the order as I have now had to pay delivery costs from another company. SAA had an issue with stock control yet customer services did not want to know so I am out of pocket. I am still waiting to be reimbursed the cost of the unavailable item surely that takes seconds to sort out!

Wouldn't give 1 star, but it won't let me leave a review! My first time using them & I wish I hadn't. Ordered pastelmat board & pastelmat paper. It took ages to be delivered, because SAA hadn't got it out of the warehouse, as they had a clearance on! I eventually got my parcel, the pastelmat board was so bent & distorted, you could have made a wigwam out of it. The sheets of pastelmat were just as bad. I called customer service after sending them an email with pictures of my delivery. How can SAA send out such bad surfaces. Got a full refund, 3 weeks later, I'm now ordering from my usual supplier. Lesson learnt.

Ordered items 23rd May. Received email from Yodel on the 25th to tell me they received parcel and would let me know when it's on it's way. It is now the 1st June and I haven't received it. Over the past days I have contacted SAA via e mail firstly to chase Yodel and then request a refund. I have only received automated responses so now I have rung the customer service tel no and left a request for a refund, again an automated answer service. I haven't used SAA before and will not do so again.

Delivered exactly as required. Ease of ordering and peace of mind that the delivery would be exactly as required.
Carefully packaged to ensure safety of contents.

Super service, friendly, speedy and very well packaged. Could not be happier with the welcome and the purchases I've made. Thank you!

These Da Vinci Watercolour Brushes are my new favorites. They're durable, easy to handle, and the results are impressive. Great buy😃

Despite placing my order a week ago, I’m yet to receive confirmation that it has even been despatched yet. I have ordered and received supplies from elsewhere in this time! This is my first experience ordering from SAA and I will be avoiding them in the future.

My great granddaughter was thrilled with her paints and art book! Especially the gold paint!