My painted cabinets (which came from a small one man shop) don't have any flaws.

Oh no. Those look like the bookcase I painted outside on a breezy day!

#3 - OMG, is that a hair?! Not good.

The local rep of the manufacturer told me that they don't paint these in a cleanroom and that painted white cabinets will show "these". This is a company from Canada that received an Excellence Award. But they are "reminding" me that I might see these on the replacement items and they will not replace them again, that's just "nature" for painted natural product. They are only replacing those now for customer satisfaction. I feel like they think I should be happy that they are replacing those once...not happy at all...

I would not be happy with those. And I would wonder why they are not painting them in an appropriate space to control for dust and such. They should be.

I would not be happy with that. I've done better work with a can of spray paint.

They do not use a room controlled for dust? Wow. I would not accept this. I paint better and I don't even consider myself a good painter.

fiona - is there a showroom where you were able to view samples? I'd bet those didn't have the 'imperfections' they sent you.

javiwa: you are correct. the showroom sample cabinets or the small paint sample did not have any "imperfection".

Showroom samples should be (?) considered the standard and representative of what you should expect to receive, right? (I'm new to all of this, but this seems reasonable to me.) Did they acknowledge the flaws that you pictured, and have they indeed agreed to replace those?

Edit: Sorry, just reread your post again. Sounds like they're not 'covering' these flaws (but agreed to replace others) -- you should demand that these be replaced, too. I'm at the beginning phase of our cabinet project, so don't know what to expect in terms of timetables. But my feeling would be that as long as they addressed all your concerns, it'll be worth the wait...would prefer they got it done right rather than quickly.

There should not be pubes or bubbles in your paint!!

Wait for the replacements (and it is a long time but you should be able to use most of the kitchen in the meantime) and hope they're better. Good luck!

javiwa: they are replacing those for one time only because they said they drive for customer satisfaction but they think those are "typical" for painted cabinets and they will not replace the replacements if those come in with similar condition.

And I should note that they are not replacing the last picture cabinet (it is the biggest cabinet of the whole order since that's for the built-in ovens) because both the local rep and the KD cannot see that in person and claim that it must has to be view at a certain angle and cannot be seen looking straight at it. Although both my husband and I can see it up close but not from a distance so we didn't push for it.

They think it's typical for a stray hair to be embedded in the paint? That's unbelieveable.

LOL, Fori - so forward! :p

Well, let them know that if they consider that kind of condition to be acceptable, I am sure they won't mind if you post their work publicly on facebook with their company name attached to it, will they? Sorry I get a little aggressive when I see pube painting - sorry you are dealing with this!

Oh I would be showing my trashy redneck side if I received those for my cabinets; and I generally try really hard to keep that side hidden! :o

Two thoughts, no three. One, that is not acceptable. Two, so they are painting them where? in someone's garage? Three, stephan took the words out of my mouth. I had to threaten something similar once. Paid for a hand done piece of artwork as a gift. When they brought it to me it had pink spots on it in the background, like some kid spilled kool aid or something. Not real dark, but there.

Long story short she felt it was acceptable. So I said ok. I will take this inferior piece of artwork and let her hang it in her house, where very rich, influential people visit on a regular basis. And when they enquire about this piece, she can give them your name.

She was over promptly with my money. Worth a try if all doesn't end well.

Ok, so I wasn't being unreasonable on the paint quality. I want to check with everyone here since this is my first time buying painted cabinet and I don't know what is the appropriate expectation for paint quality as the local rep thinks those are "typical" for painting real wood. The local rep said he will call the factory today and see if they can expedite the replacement and I will wait and see how do the replacement look like before I proceed with stephanj recommendation.

No, you are not being unreasonable at all. Good grief that is bad!

In fact, I'd write them a nice detailed email (get this in writing) along with the pictures. Use the exact terminology that Fori used to describe what that looks like stuck in the paint. She is right on. That is exactly what it looks like! Oh, that is so nasty.... Eeeewww!

Tell them in no uncertain terms that the replacement cabinets better not have ANY of their nasty pubes on your cabinets as you will not accept them either.

I'm sorry, just the thought of that is completely grossing me out! Even if it is just a fiber or something, I couldn't deal with that image in my mind.

How can the kd and rep also not see all those tiny bumps on that last picture? I bet that feels really rough too. It almost looks like sand, but maybe it is just bubbles? I would not give up the fight so easily for that one to be replaced also.

Here is a thought. Could you have an independent inspector evaluate? I had to do this with a well known flooring company when they did the worst job on my tile floor. They tried everything they could to intimidate me, make me think that I was just being overly picky, that it was perfectly acceptable standards...Sound familiar? Well, I insisted on having an independent expert evaluate, not someone who worked for them. Well, long story short, I won that battle! So don't give up. I am so sorry you have to deal with this...

If you haven't paid yet, don't. Would you mind identifying the cabinet company?

My cabinets are painted and they have no blemishes or anything embedded in them. I painted our cabinets twice before our reno and I wouldn't have accepted that in my own work and I'm a nobody.

My cabinet company is also treating me like I'm unreasonable in expecting perfection. I'll share more as it plays out. Research your cabinet company THOROUGHLY before you enter a relationship with them.

Perfection......well that is a bit much to expect. Close to perfect, that's reasonable. There will be the occasional chip, rub mark, and other normal issues from humans handling and installing cabinets. Those should all be remedied by the touch up kit at the end of the install period. Unfortunately, your issues, Birchpoint, were neither normal. Minor, or at all acceptable.

Just a backyard quality paint job like above, that's just not normal Either with a manufactured cabinet. It's all too common with site built and finished cabinets though. I too would be curious about which manufacturer produced this. Not a cabinet shop, right?

Wow. As anal as I am, I do better painting in the front yard. And I have long hair and 5 cats. No pubes of any length in my paint.
Gotta say. If you email them, include the link to this post. I'm sure everyone is wondering which company NOT to use if they're choosing painted cabinets.
And, if they don't clean up their bad paint act, not only will you post their name, but the cost, and in the appliance board (since cabinets surround appliances), maybe the paint forum, so you can get more people screaming in indignation for you. i.e., Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc., are only the beginning of the pictures you can post.

Ok. done ranting. Unacceptable.

I was wiping my computer screen because I thought this was on it. Wow. And it's going to take them nine weeks to do that again. I guess they have to wait for the right weather conditions.

^^ LOL

At first I thought this was going to be another thread from someone complaining about about separating seams and joints in a painted wood cabinet (which are usual and acceptable as wood contracts and expands)....and then I saw the pictures. Wow.

Disgusting! Um what company is it so I know to avoid them when I choose my cabinets.

rebunky: local rep said they have state of the art air filtration system and rigid cleaning regimen to eliminate as much particle contamination as possible but it's impossible not to have some dust in the finish. And the said the standard with a natural product is that if a person looks at the finish in a normal fashion and it appears well done then it is acceptable. I cannot expect to get within a few inches of a painted product and not see something like this. He even said the most expensive cabinets in the world deal with this. I told him that my contractor painted my interior door at site and did not have this issue. I cannot accept the replacement to have the same issue. The tiny bumps are like sand, I don't know what to say when both of them are so firm that they can see those AT ALL. I will wait for the replacements to come and if those have the same issues, I might go with your recommendation of independent inspector. thanks for that suggestion!

BirchPoint: I did try to research for the longest time but since it's a Canadian company, I didn't find much review. I just saw there was a review posted on Jan 2015 on Houzz that could've stop me from ordering but I ordered back in last October. I was choosing between them and Dynasty by Omega.

live_wire_oak: It's a cabinet manufacturer company in Canada called Columbia Cabinets.

Replacements should get ship out on May 7th and I should get it about a week from that. I will keep everyone posted!!

I'm having major cabinet company regret also but I'm waiting to see how things ultimately work out before I totally vent on my company.

I did get Dynasty by Omega for 2 of my bathrooms and they are great cabinets --- I so wish I could have gotten them for my kitchen.

No, the most expensive cabinets in the world DO NOT ship from the factory looking like that.

Columbia's rep is repeating hogwash, and or the factory has been cheated by their vendor that set up their paint line if this is the best they can produce. None of which is acceptable at any level above minimum wage handyman painted cabinetry.

I hate to be a stick in the mud, but I don't see this ending well for you. Sounds like the players have neither the aptitude nor the desire to deliver a quality finish.

The local rep was nice and polite during the inspection at my house, I am not sure why later I got an email saying some items are under warranty but some items aren't and they are replacing those aren't under warranty this time for driving customer satisfaction but will only replace those once but not twice...at least they are being responsive. I still hope to resolve this with them in a nice way. Things happen, I feel that as long as they are standing behind their product and make thing works, then that's a good company.

Birch point which cabinets did you use?

Um, no. There is nothing state of the art happening there. I hope you get it fixed right.

Any company that deems that ''acceptable'' and is only replacing pieces due to a ''customer service concession'' is pretty far from ''a good company''. They're trying to intimidate you by making you feel like you're picky well above what most people would be. You're not unrealistic to not want trash and hair in your cabinets. If you were OK with that, you'd have hired fourth graders to paint the cabinets.

From their web site:

"All cabinets, finishes, and accessories are of the utmost quality and do
not leave our high tech manufacturing facility without first meeting
our stringent Quality Control criteria."

reviews on Houzz

What about the dealer, or where did you buy the cabinets?

Also, are you in Canada?

Have you paid the cabinets? If yes, how?

Hmmm, my bathroom vanity is from Columbia. It's stained, not painted, and although the stain turned out darker than I'd wanted, it's okay. I'm happy with the construction and finish otherwise.

They did forget to include the toe kick. Then they sent one that was damaged. It eventually arrived. My KD did all the legwork for me so I didn't have to deal with them directly.

It's hard to tell from my screen, but I'd guess that those bumps are either sawdust that did not get removed, contaminant from the application process or dirt, or possibly tiny bubbles from a chemical incompatibility in the paint/reducer or between the paint and some contaminant in the underlying substrate. The areas where there are darkened edges around nubs or exposed wood look like paint runs that were attempted to be sanded down rather than removed by a sharp edge (razor or very sharp chisel). Ask them if these are the cabinets they wish to display in showrooms as representatives of the quality of their products. Regardless of the quality of the carpentry of the cabinets and the quality of their materials, the only thing most customers notice is the finish. If the finish is poor, no one cares about the underlying quality. Finishing is an art unto itself, and clearly, this manufacturer doesn't get it. Between the lying and bad workmanship, take what you can get ASAP, because they won't last long.

Come on, you were upgraded to "Fiber-reinforced" paint at no extra charge, and you have the temerity to complain! Fie on you!
j/k
Casey

Just want to update everyone, I did got the replacement items and they were all very good! There were 28 items replaced including 3 cabinets. There were a few minor defects that I can do touch up with the kit when everything is done. Thanks all for all the support and comments!

That's great! There will always be a few dings (I keep telling myself) but what you had wasn't that! Glad they finally figured out how to paint for you. :P

Love a happy ending...congrats! Persistence pays off. :)

so happy to hear that.

@yeh_yeh How are your Columbia kitchen cabinets now after seven years? Our kitchen designer in the Bay Area wants us to order Columbia cabinets. They would also be white shaker.

@Dawn Gold, the cabinets held up very well! We are very OCD people so we do wipe clean/dry if we noticed we splash etc. One thing I learned which I don’t think it’s specific to Columbia cabinets but white painted cabinets in general is that the painted area that doesn’t get sun light turned slightly yellow. For example, the back side of the door and I have one cabinet that doesn’t get sunlight at all as it’s by the garage entry that ends in a hallway. But otherwise the cabinets still looks brand new!