Arghhh I need to vent! I ordered a sample pot from F&B on the 14th January, a week passed and I hadn't received it so I called them and they said it had been delivered and signed by someone I don't know. They then said they would send me another pot the next day. A couple of days passed and I received a 5lt tin, I stupidly thought they had sent it to me as compensation for the muck up so I put some on the walls. When I started washing the walls the paint strips I had put on just washed off so I called them again and they admitted they had sent the wrong paint and size, it was for garages or unplastered walls. The woman I spoke to credited my card for the sample pot and said she would send me another one that day. So I called today as it was a week since that conversation and still no paint!! I spoke to the same woman who argued and raised her voice saying I told her I didn't want another sample pot!

I am so mad, it has been a month tomorrow since I first ordered the paint! Their attitude seems to be "I don't know what else we can do!" Ummmm perhaps offer a credit towards a bigger tin?? My Husband just wanted to get Dulux paint for B&Q, it would have been a lot easier!!!

Hi,
You may be interested to know that Farrow & Ball are opening a shop on Northcote Rd in the next month. You may then be able to vent your frustrations in person.

Nothing wrong with Dulux they can match any Farrow & Ball Colour and is easier to touch up later for all those odd scratches that happen.

From Freindly Builder
http://www.gajaro.co.uk

Yes, can see why you're extremely annoyed Moops! That's really hopeless.

I've used lots of F&B (and Paint & Paper Libray) in my house but vowed never to again - it looks lovely and chalky matt but it's hard to wipe down as you need to do all the time when you have kids and expensive. I have to repaint the hallway and up the stairs each 6 months, it drives me nuts. I'm going for wipeable Dulux next time. Or, you can also get the Decorator's Mate paint shop on Streatham Hill to colour match F&B but in a wipeable finish.

I've had no problems with F and B customer service, but their paint is absolutely wretched! I thought I was alone in thinking this, but then I googled the phrase " Farrow and Ball paint is c**p" ( I was very cross and very bored......) and found all manner of links to professional decorators forums.
The general consensus seems to be that F&B paint is overpriced, impossible to lay off and most of the decorators prefer to get the colours matched at Dulux and use that instead, as the finish is far superior.
A really good alternative to F & B, along with the those already mentioned, is a company called Little Greene; they've been around since 1773 and have similar colours to F & B, but the quality is vastly superior. Several of the decorators on the forums I went on were really impressed with Little Greene.
http://www.thelittlegreene.com/

On a more economical note, I have Ivory and Restful from Homebase's Sanctuary range (which is really, really nice quality paint) in my drawing room and everyone thinks it is F & B, I kid you not!

Hi Moops,
I run a local decorating company- Paint the Town Green, and have been a long time disliker of Farrow and Ball for many reasons... Their paint isn't as practical as other paints either to apply or to clean (a lot of it isn't wipeable). They are also extremely expensive. But what bugs me most about them is their claim to be environmentally friendly.

We have our own colour chart of paint that is genuinely environmentally friendly whilst offering a similar style and range of colours. We can also colour match anything you find on other charts. Our paint has no toxic fumes, no smell, is manufactured in Iceland using hydro electric and geothermal power. Furthermore the factory regularly receives a green audit by the Icelandic government to ensure their manufacturing process is entirely environmentally friendly. Even furthermore, our paint is wipeable (we have it on the wall behind our hob - I've lost count of how many times I've cleaned bolognese off it!) and is cheaper than Farrow and Ball.

Don't waste any more of your precious time chasing Farrow and Ball...if you get in touch with me through our website www.paintthetowngreen.biz I'll GIVE you 5 ltrs of a colour of your choice!

Also worth mentioning that we've had a special offer running for NVN readers - if you book new work in with us before Friday 12th February you receive a 15% discount off quotes prices, so if you're quick....!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Phil

Hello Phil

Wow thank you so much for the generous offer, talk about a change from F&B! I have sent you a message on your website.

Moops

I'm no fan of Farrow & Ball but for my decorating clients who want a similar chalky flat matt finish, I recommend getting the colours mixed by Leylands in their flat matt base. Much cheaper and more durable than Farrow and Ball, but less shiny than if you get the colour mixed in Dulux.

Barbara Gwyer
Skirting Broads
07973 148794