Complaint Review: Sofa Design/ Flexsteel Gallery - San Diego California

Just to get this "off my chest"...

I worked for Sofa Design for a total of 6 months. During that time period-- I was constantly "Shocked" -- at the unethical business practices that I saw in the store... particularly by the female owner named Lorie.

One of the main things that I witnessed was the Unfair Gouging of Prices in their Retail Store. They are one of the only stores in the San Diego area that is deemed a "Flexsteel Gallery"-- and since they have a "monopoly"-- they are choosing to completely Over Price their products... way beyond and above what the Flexsteel Representative feels is a fair price. I know this-- because their representative visited the store-- and would just "shake his head"-- and mention that the particular sofas that they are selling-- are not "moving"-- because they are so rediculously priced. Sometimes well above an extra quarter above what they should be selling for.

I also witnessed a great many Unscrupulous Gouging tactics that I saw the owner (Lorie) perform. Basically the pricing is based on a figure that is arbitrarily "drawn up" by the sales associates at the front desk. All "designer price books" are to be kept well AWAY FROM any clients-- so as to be able to go up---or go down -- on any prices that are quoted to the customer. They guarded these pricing books like they were the Hope Diamond. No one was to see the fine print in these books-- except the designer who was actually ringing the sale.

I witnessed many accounts where the owner would seriously Gouge the client-- when she felt like the client could afford to pay more.

When I resigned...

I was told that another employee had made the mistake of overcharging a client. She had already shown the clients the incorrect figures-- and they had approved the purchase. Just before ringing the sale-- the salesperson went to the owner (Lorie) to ask what to do about the overcharge... and Lorie threw a fit-- saying that she was not to admit that there was an over-pay. So--- the sale went through--- for more than a hundred dollars over and above what the actual cost of the sofa was.

Later-- this salesperson finally put two and two together-- and realized that she didn't want to work for such an unethical business.I saw a number of transactions like this in their store.

They are very Unscrupulous... and are ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY. Don't be fooled -- otherwise.

As an Employee---

They grossly under-pay their staff. The owners, Antonio and Lorie-- out and out LIED about the sales commissions that were possible to make as a designer in the store. They stated that it would be fairly EASY to make over a $50,000-$60,000 commissioned salary the first year.

The truth of the matter...

Sofa Design gets a lot of "repeat business"--- so you have sales people who have been working that store for over 10 years that are receiving over 70% of the business. It is VERY DIFFICULT to come on board as a new person and make a decent living.

In fact-- while I was there...

I actually was able to qualify for "Food Stamps"-- based on the fact that they were only paying about $60.00 per day.... and it was so very difficult to make sales when you were pitted against their other sales people who were so entrenched in the store.

They also had a huge Bully-- who was a designer there. Literally ran off 3 designers because of her bitterness towards new sales associates that had any background in Design at all. Her name is Mary.... and is totally a demon to work with as an associate. Acts great towards her clients-- but is a very tough playing sales person who will do ANYTHING to make herself look better... and boost new sales associates OUT. I should have filed a suit with them over this. I feel that I was unfairly Harassed by this woman.... and have the other two designers who will openly admit to the same treatment. It was appauling.

When I called a meeting with the owners and mentioned her unfair treatment to me-- (and the other 2 designers).... I was fired. The two owners would rather have an unscrupulous bully running their sales department--- than to have a fair playing field for all of the designers. They were totally disgusting.

Not only that...

Lorie-- the female owner....

Dresses like a complete Prostitute. I was often shocked to see how "unprofessional" she would dress. People would literally "walk away from the selling table" when she would come up in her thigh high boots, low cut tops, and skirts that barely covered "the essentials". Her lack of taste in appropriate business attire--- is only topped by her consistently poor business ethics in the ability to constantly gouge the clients who were trusting her to come up with a "fair price".

I am disgusted with them....

Truly a Disgusting bunch of people here.

I advise doing business elsewhere... although there are some nice designers and other employees....

You can't trust the owners here-- and Mary is nothing but a witch with a broomstick a mile long.

Annonymous san diego ex garden member

San Diego, California
U.S.A.