MIWA98040

In December 2007, we ordered furniture from Colleen Malek of Malek Design. When the furniture finally arrived (months after it was expected), it was poor-quality knock-off furniture, not at all the high-quality we had seen in the store, or what we had been promised. We tried for months to resolve it informally, without success, and finally had to go to binding arbitration through the Better Business Bureau. The arbitrator agreed with us that the furniture was of poor quality and ordered Malek to replace the furniture. Malek is now well beyond the April 2009 delivery deadline date and, apparently, does not intend to replace the furniture--which means we have lost close to $10,000. We now know others who have had similar bad experiences with Colleen Malek. A few have filed their own complaints with the BBB. Although the BBB has posted information regarding the various unresolved complaints against Malek Design and has now given the company an "F" rating, we fear that Malek will start a new design firm, with a new name, and will find a new crop of victims. Be warned: We would never recommend Colleen Malek or Malek Design for any interior design work.