JC Licht

Well, I don’t know what happened to this place, but the staff is so freaking demoralized and disconnected it’s ridiculous. I entered the store several times to find the following:
1.A totally disinterested guy – arms crossed, dismissive short answers, moves like his job is guaranteed for life. This is the guy who will tint my primer grey without asking me anything about the color going over it, how dark, etc. Then when I return the following day for a matching gallon, he tells me that they can’t assure a match. The first can has no label because he just put «some» black into it and «it doesn’t really matter anyway, because it’s just primer». Oh really, well then why am I tinting it at all?
2. Some guy who appears to be the manager is often there. He can’t be bothered because it seems like he’s PERPETUALLY bothered. He seems to be under stress and giving stress; who can say why. He has a hard time looking at people and a question directed at him is scarcely entertained. His petulance is apparent in every glance. Dyspeptic.
3. One day there was a delightful older gentleman who knew a lot and was helpful. I only saw him once. Too knowledgeable.
4. Then there is a bright spot: this wonderful little birdlike lady who is a decorator. She comes and goes to different BM locations, so she’s there 1 out of 3 visits, but she welcomes me, she helps me, she tries to enlist these other folks to step up and be helpful. To no avail. Nor does the other young designer get many hours. Only the inattentive men seem to be on duty at all times. Oh no, not the helpful old guy, he’s not here. Where’s the old gentleman?
Sounds like a lot of detail right? Well, I’m opening a business. I was in there a thousand times for a thousand chips. I looked and looked and bought 6 cans of sample colors and various supplies. You might think someone would greet you when you enter? Um, that would be a clear NO.
Then finally came the day I was going to buy the paint. With only one more sample to try it was time to make my order. 2 gallons of primer and 13 gallons of paint. Over $ 500 plus samples and sundries.
Well, I did buy that paint, BUT NOT AT LICHT. These suckers broke the last straw when they would not even look for a piece of twine to tie my trunk closed. I’m in a paint store, and they can’t come up with a piece of twine? Will they try? Will anybody in this godforsaken place act like they care about anything? Nope.
Bye-​bye. I ran into some big dress slacks kind of guy who I had seen on the phone on my way out and give him an earful. I stomped off to another store to by my Benjamin Moore paint. They weren’t exactly Mayberry, but they managed to get it to me and my walls are done. Good-​bye Licht. I must say that in spite of your inattentiveness, my walls look FABULOUS. I’m glad I can get Benjamin Moore paint elsewhere.

This is our go-​to paint store in the area and we’ve always had good service from the employees there. I have even called with questions after starting a project and they have been very helpful with tips regarding application, etc. There is always some question that comes up when you’re dealing with an old home.
I do know the employees are on the quiet side, but I have never taken that as anything other than that. They do seem to always have a lot of repeat customers when we go in.

The paint colors here are nice, and unless you want to travel into the city, it’s kind-​of your best bet in the area. However, the customer service here, in my experience, has been awful. I’ve come here off and on during various home renovations, and I’m always shocked at how bad the service is. What’s more, the boys who work here seem to know very little about paint and color (!), and on top of that, I found their tone and way of speaking to customers very off-​putting.
One boy, who has been there for years, who I can only identify as having a long beard, is often sullen and uniformed. Just basic questions about the coding and categorization of the product they sell (PAINT) seem to baffle him.
In addition, buyer beware, the jars of paint «samples» they offer rarely look anything like the end product you buy. Hence defying the actual purpose of… a sample.
If you know the exact color you want, and you can get in and out quickly, I’d give it a shot. But if you’re looking for any kind of service, I’d go elsewhere.

The guys here really consult you on your best options for paint choices. I appreciate them helping me save money this way. I bought some custom Ben Moore colors and I love the fact that when I needed more, they had my colors stored in their system, no need to remember color names or paint types.