Studioshade 

DO NOT USE THESE CROOKS!

Andrew Valk (just Google the name) is behind yet another scam artist business and swindling people out of their hard earned cash, including me.

See Consumer Affairs website if you need any more convincing.

We enquired about the installation of a motorised shade awning at our property in Prahran. We were visited by a man who called himself Jake. Jake offered a vastly discounted price on a particular awning and told us there was only two left in stock at the discount price and we would need to be fast to secure the product so cheaply. He said if we were unsure, we could at least pay a simple, fully refundable $500 and that would secure the product. He explained we could change our mind at any time and the deposit would be refunded "no questions asked".

We naively believed that our deposit would be refunded if our circumstances changed or if we simply changed our mind. The receipt that we received even had a paragraph stating that we could cancel at any time prior to installation (see attachment).

A few days after paying the deposit, we realised that our bathroom renos were going to cost more than expected, so we contacted StudioShade Australia to cancel and request a refund of our deposit.

"No problem at all" was the response. (see attachment) Admin would process it. A few days passed and no refund, I enquired again...and again...and again. Each time we were told that the refund would happen. Finally the admin staff (Brodie Coxon) stopped replying. So I message the salesman Jake. Jake kept saying that the refund would happen. He would investigate. This went on for a few days and then he simply blocked me so I could not enquire about our refund any more.

I have called StudioShade Australia. They employ an answering service and the staff there always have an excuse why you can't speak to a manager or anyone in the accounts department. They always take your contact details and say that someone will contact you. You'll never receive a call.

AVOID STUDIOSHADE AUSTRALIA AT ALL COSTS.

if you look at the positive reviews for StudioShade Australia that you'll find on the internet, the vast majority of the profiles that have anything positive to say about this company are recently created profiles. In other words, they create fake profiles to keep their Google review rating above one star. That is all they deserve. In fact, if I could give them zero stars if I would.

They have simply stolen our deposit and refuse to refund.

They are the very worst kind of business.

Google them, you'll find articles describing why they are to be avoided. DODGY AF.

Please note, they were previously known as Studio Shade Australia. But had to change their name.