Bye Bye, Benzdesign Studio!

This is not a negative review of Benzdesign Studio. Just sharing our experience with the company and why we dropped them from our shortlist of IDs.

BenzDesign Studio is the very first interior design firm we approached when we decided to start planning for our new home. We were not experienced in any way, we went to them simply because their shop is right at our doorstep.

Our first meeting went well. Johnson, the design consultant, told us he would email us a quotation about a week later. After the meeting, we went home to do research and checked out the company. We were delighted to read many extremely positive reviews from Renotalk Forum.

We waited patiently for Johnson to get back to us. In the meantime, we also shopped around and asked for quotation via Renotalk Forum. Time passed, we were contacted by various ID firms and have even gotten quotations from several of them, except BenzDesign.

Since forummers sang praises fervently of Benson Lo, the owner of BenzDesign Studio. We decided to contact the "Legendary Benson" himself. When I called his handphone, it was picked up by a lady who informed us that Benson was with a customer and she would get him to return my call. So, we waited.

Whenever we walked pass the shop, we would take a curious peep. According to my father-in-law, their business is pretty good. He sees them work until very late every night. They must be very busy. After waiting in vain for the return call from Benson, we sent Johnson a reminder email. The young chap replied promptly, explaining that he had been tied up with several project lately and would get back to us with the renovation quotation.

Another 2 weeks passed, we still hear no news from Johnson. I think it's time to give up on them. Frankly, my husband and I were quite ready to sign with BenzDesign because they were highly raved. Their location is also a very attractive factor. Just imagine, if we were to need rectification for anything during the renovation process, we could just go downstair and pop into their shop anytime. So convenient.

However, our very brief experience with them suggests otherwise. I suppose we can pop into their shop again and demand a quotation but what is the point? If they cannot even deliver a quotation within a reasonable period of time, what can I expect if we were to work together on our home renovation?

Ironically, it seemed that we are more desperate about giving them business than they are to get our business. True but no more. We prefer IDs who value professionalism by delivering what they promised and show sincerity in taking care of their clients.

Bye bye, BenzDesign Studio!