Should the installer/decorator have brought a steamer and steamed the wrinkles out

The installer absolutely should have steamed out the wrinkles. At least that's how it happened when I sold custom window treatments back in the 90s.

That was my thought too. It is a part of the finished product for it too look right.
Spending 1K for one window topper that's about 8 feet long is not cheap. If I bought ready made's I would definately have to iron them, so buying the drapes and install should include having them crisp and new looking.
I guess I need to call and have them come back to steam them. They have to come back for another treatment anyway, so it's not a special trip.
THanks for your response.
Sometimes I think I may be expecting too much from people.

I think I would have asked about the wrinkles when you stood back and surveyed the valance......"So, are you going to steam out those wrinkles or do they fall out in a day or so by themselves?" I always ask questions because I don't want to be irritated later. I'm stunned at how much they cost. Wow. Wow. Be sure to call them and remind them to bring their steamer when they install your other topper.

Red

Red - I did mention the wrinkles when they were installed. They felt they would fall out after hanging for awhile.
Well - they were pricey because the fabric was new - my sister checked on line and found it for $45-$59 a yard. They are lined and are box pleated. So there was probably quite a bit of labor in there to get the fabric pleated panels to match up. They are also velcroed to a couple of boards, so that board had to be made and installed too.

I did mention the wrinkles when they were installed. They felt they would fall out after hanging for awhile.

They should have looked perfect when the installer left. Especially at the price you paid!!

I agree with terriks. Even if they had been less expensive, no self-respecting installer would have left wrinkles on his/her handiwork. Plus, it's doubtful that the fabric in most toppers is long &/or heavy enough to pull out wrinkles, even if it's weighted.

I think people just play on my easy going nature, and figure if she doesn't complain, why do it right.
Same problem I had w/my builder. Though when I did complain, he just blew me off..
Someone please give me a backbone

Hey Jeannie, don't feel bad - I complained and complained and my findings with our renovation is that most all of the men doing the work in our apartment apparently are stuck in the stone age and automatically disregard women's opinions. If I raise my voice and pitch a mini-fit, that got results (but I hated doing it - raises my blood pressure!) or when I withheld payment until the job was done to my satisfaction, that got results, too. It was funny to see how differently they responded to my husband, however, on the extremely rare occasions he chose to get involved (only at my insistence.)

p.s. not to open a whole can of worms about social class and national origin, but suffice it to say that I have managed lots of men in a white collar job, one that requires at least a master's degree in a technical field, and none of them ever had an attitude toward me as a woman or a manager, or failed to do their jobs properly or treated me with disrespect. The workers in my renovation, however, clearly took a dim view of me ever suggesting things, like "Please cover the furniture before you paint the mouldings" - to which a painter actually told me, "oh, I don't need to, I'm neat." to which I replied, "That's great you are neat, now, cover the furniture!"

So, in your situation, after learning the lesson I here (the hard, hard way), I would have said, "That's quite wrinkled, please steam it out before leaving." And if they didn't bring a steamer, I would say, "Let's set a date and time right now for you to return." And don't worry if it is a separate trip for them. NOT YOUR PROBLEM! They should have come prepared.

Sorry for the rant. I had a million things similar to what you described go wrong over a period of many months and finally only the last few months figured out how to deal with people.

Good luck!

I agree with dandylandy. There is an art to this. It is not enough to mention the problem. You have to tell the workman the solution you want: The curtains are wrinkled and I would like you to steam them out before leaving.

Well - you guys have given me a new outlook on how to handle these types of situations. I guess I need to start being a bit bolder and give them the resolve to fixing what I am not satisfied with.
Though, I did semi try this w/my excess wallpaper, that the decorator ordered for me. She told me I would probably have 1 roll left, I have 2 rolls and enough for some minor repairs should I need it.
I asked her about returning it, she said it's discontinued and that it probably couldnt' be returned, I then asked her to call her rep. That was a couple of weeks ago, no response yet. I feel it was her that measured and ordered, what am I going to do w/2 extra rolls of expensive paper?

I believe I would have said...."but....they are wrinkled!"...she might have said, they will hang out"...to which I would reply"...Ok, but I am entertaining tomorrow and people will comment on my wrinkled new window toppers, I will be sure to tell them that you did them."
I fired one designer once because she measured for draperies at the tune of 31/2K for fabric. I found someone to make them, showed her what fabric I chose and the amount the designer said I needed, and the drapery maker pointed out that the designer was running the fabric across the width of the windows rather than up and down. the fabric was 120 wide....so I had a yard extra all along the length of the yardage. Yes I have a seam every 120 inches, but the fabric hangs correctly....and I saved $1000 on fabric!
Call her back and say I have stopped payment on my check until these toppers are right.
Linda c

Re: the extra rolls, I would call the manufacturer and ask if it's really discontinued. I'm not sure of the rules when it comes to wallpaper and returning it but if it can't be returned you could always sell it on ebay.

My guess is your designer is delaying the issue because what you're expecting as a credit on the wallpaper may not be what the designer actually paid.