The Framing Studio

Writing this review before I get my actual project back, and I’ll revise upwards at that time for great quality, but I want to give the definitive review on the LivingSocial deal plus the customer service here.
Bought the LivingSocial deal ($ 49 for $ 200 worth of framing) and trekked out to this little store with two identical prints to frame. The women behind the counter were generally helpful in suggesting frames and mats… and then we got to the pricing. Framing one print with a basic wooden frame, basic mat, and standard glass was quoted at about $ 300 (seems pretty steep) and then they knock off the LS $ 200 for a cost of about $ 100 for the first print, which is really $ 149. For the second print (I was already there) they asked me if I had another LivingSocial coupon and despite being tempted to buy another one on the spot I was honest and said no. Then she said since I had no coupon they could apply a 40% store discount which took the price for the second print from about $ 300 to about $ 180. So the LS deal saved me a whopping $ 31 on the first print — not nothing, but not an amazing deal.
I don’t understand the pricing model here and its not transparent at all what things cost in the store. It’s like you pick out your stuff and then they hold a finger into the air and throw out a number for the price. And why jack up the price so much to then have to give everybody a 40% discount so they don’t walk out? I have to believe there are better, cheaper framing options in DC.
Also, on customer service, I called back to check on my project after 6 days (the woman behind the counter originally said it should take a week or less) and the guy who picked up first said he needed my project number because it was «too slow to look it up by your name.» Then after looking up the project he said that it wasn’t ready and «maybe would be ready by the middle of next week.» Very irritating, as others have said.

Typical bait and switch…
I reached out to this place way before I knew a Living Social deal was out there. They wrote me back and quoted me «about $ 400.00» to frame a poster sized print that I have. I then saw the deal on L.S. and purchased it. It was for $ 200 worth of Framing Services for $ 49.00. So, I’m thinking that I can get my print framed for about $ 249.00 (My $ 49 which was worth $ 200 plus $ 200 out of pocket would equal $ 249.00).
I go to their store in person and they verbally quoted me $ 580.00 to frame my print. So, I ask how that could be when they told me over e-​mail that it was «about $ 400.00». They say that it must be their 40% discount! So, they re-​calculate my total with the new 40% discount and it works out to be about $ 400.00 bucks.
It was then that I revealed that I had a deal through Living Social… which the salesperson informed me that it’s only good on the cost of the FULL price and cannot be used with the quoted amount of «about $ 400.00.»
So, I was disappointed to say the least.
I debated my options for a few then left the store. I plan on getting a refund through Living Social because I’m really not happy with how they pulled a bait and switch.
I will find somewhere else to spend my money.
Try to avoid if possible.
(Also, funny side note… Living Social automatically refunds you with Living Social dollars, not a real refund back to your credit card. Pretty sneaky. I’m calling them tomorrow to flip a lid over the phone and demand it’s credited back to my credit card)

Ditto previous respondent’s LivingSocial experience. Am now standing outside the store on a Saturday morning 10 minutes after this store was advertised as open and there is not a soul in sight.

This might seem heated, but that’s because I genuinely cannot stand liars. And this place is run by one.
What happened was, I got a groupon for $ 200 worth of framing for $ 50. I had a few things (diploma, small picture) that I wanted framed, and my boyfriend wanted poster frames for a few big fight posters. So I took it all in and the total came to over $ 700. I didn’t want to spend that much, even after the groupon discount, so I asked how much the posters alone were and the owner said $ 100/​each. I asked to remove them from the order and he said «You won’t find a better price anywhere!» Okay, maybe, but they’re not my posters and it seems high. This was for basic black wood frame, no matting, no mounting, and glass but not glare-​reducing glass. I should mention here that I’m aware that any business that doesn’t post its pricing structure anywhere, not even on your receipt, is obviously prone to be scammy. I get that. But there are limits.
The store offered another groupon for the same deal and I told my boyfriend to get it so he could get the posters done when I picked up my finished stuff, and it would be exactly the right amount for the purchase. And $ 50 for the two would be a great deal. So we go back in to do that, and he tells the person behind the counter (not the guy who helped me) that he wants, and I quote «whatever’s cheapest» for the frame, and plexiglass, not even real glass. She quotes him $ 330 APIECE. So I said, «wait, I was just here a couple of weeks ago, and got a nicer frame and glass and was quoted $ 100 each.» She says, «Who quoted you that price?» just as the guy who I worked with appears from the back of the store. Salvation!
«He did! You remember me, right? How I took it off at the end because I didn’t want to spend $ 200 on poster frames?»
«Of course!»
«Okay, can you fix this? Because now she’s saying it’s much more expensive for a less-​nice job.»
«…I didn’t quote you $ 200.»
«Yes, you did. You just said you remembered!»
«Okay, but he’s using a groupon. I was giving you a special deal because you weren’t using a groupon.»
«Yes I was, here’s my reciept. You can see where the groupon came off.»
«I don’t think that happened.»
«…What? You just said you remembered it.»
«It’s not true.»
«What isn’t true? What’s even happening? What are you denying?»
«You won’t get a better price than [looks at receipt she’s drawn up because all prices are complete spur-​of-​the-​moment fabrications in this place] $ 331 anywhere!»
«Are you kidding right now? That’s what you said about the $ 100/​each price.»
«I don’t think so. That was not the price.»
So … the guy is just a bald-​faced liar. Caught in a lie, he triples down. And like I said, all framing stores are kind of scammy because they don’t tell you the prices either upfront or on the receipt. But to act like a plexiglass and crummy plain black poster frame actually costs more than the diploma I got done, with an ornate frame and double matting? At least have some shame. Pretend it was a mixup and I’ll pretend you’re not a con artist. But don’t look me in my face and keep lying.
So if you don’t care about prices or being lied to, they actually did a nice job on my incredibly expensive framing job. But if you prefer to work with people who have even a quarter ounce of integrity, go somewhere else.

The problem with this place is two-​fold. First, the customer service is absolutely awful. I called to ask a question and the assistant could not help me. When I came to the store to drop off my picture for framing, the worker said «good thing you came now because in 15 minutes I have three back to back appointments» and proceeded to basically ignore me while I was trying to ask him questions about my selection. He made absolutely no suggestions on frames, didn’t even mention mating, and would not explain the different glass selections offered.
The other problem is that this place is insanely overpriced. Not one option in the store could be purchased for the price of the Living Social deal I bought (I spent $ 50 for $ 200 worth of merchandise). They charge over $ 200 for a basic black plastic-​looking frame that I could have bought at Target. Terrible service. Overpriced product. Never again.

This is the best frame store. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly and let you take your time. They help you pick the right frame, mat and glass. They make it easy! The picture is my mother sitting on the store ladder because she wanted to see the frames from another angle.

I went here on a living social deal. I had a photo of Vietnam that I wanted to frame for my parents. They were busy so I was told it would take two weeks, come back Dec. 20 for pickup. Fine, no problem.
I get there two weeks later and they’ve used a cheaper, plain mat in place of the nicer, textured one I had paid for. They tried to tell me to come back next week for it to be fixed. The mat I had chosen wasn’t in stock. No, I can’t; I live in Gaithersburg and work in Columbia. It’s not exactly convenient for me to make all these multiple trips. Also, I have to pay for parking each time I go to your shop. After much talking and convincing, they agreed to fix it then and there. I could either get a $ 20 refund (though I’m sure the actual difference was more, since they price mats, frames, and glass by dimensions) or go with a textured silk mat that was in stock. The silk mat was pricier, but they offered to not charge me for the upgrade since it was their mistake in the first place. It took about 15 – 20 minutes they told me, so I went to Starbucks across the street for hot chocolate (it was cold, rainy, and miserable that day) and free wi-​fi to wait. It was ready when I got back, and they offered to validate my parking. They don’t have any signs advertising that; you have to ask.
Now the artwork looks beautiful in its cherry frame with black accent and nice, textured mat. I’m very happy with the final product.