Monolisagram

Anyone interested in custom-embroidery work in the NW suburbs of Chicago, I strongly advise against using a company called Monolisagram in Bensenville. Instead, try EmbroidMe (embroidme-schaumburg.com) in Schaumburg. The combination of quality, service and price is exceptional. Ask for owner, Jeff Foy.



As for Monolisagram, I dealt directly with the owner, Chuck Howard to embroider 50 hats for my cycling team. I diligently researched the hat I wanted and brought Mr. Howard an actual sample at the time I placed the order. As is customary, I needed to leave a deposit so I gave him my credit card. Also standard is to sign an approval form once the job is ready to go. I’ve been a marketing professional for over 20 years and signed too many of these forms to count. The intent is to ensure the accuracy of things like the artwork, quantity and price. But through my experience, I build in an extra precaution and typically request to see an actual finished sample before producing the entire job. I did that in this case, but the request was ignored and when I went to pick up the hats, I immediately noticed that Mr. Howard had embroidered the wrong hat style. Now if this sounds like a “bait & switch”, technically it is. But I believe Mr. Howard’s mistake was an honest one. Unfortunately, his subsequent actions were anything but honorable. The hats were not the style I specified therefore I could not accept them, but I went out of my way to try and help him make up for his mistake by offering to sell them at my team’s bike shop. Unable to come to any resolution, I had no choice but to take my business elsewhere. Then without my authorization, he charged the entire order totaling over $1,200 to my credit card. After months of back & forth with my CC company, they washed their hands of it. Mr. Howard’s entire stance is that signed form that lists an “item number” for the hat. I doubt most consumers would know or even think to question an “item” or “SKU” number when an actual sample was provided. There has to be a good faith trust factor that the merchant is supplying the exact product that was specified unless informed otherwise. Instead, Mr. Howard hides behind his approval form. I’ve consulted 2 different attorneys who have said that while his actions are clearly underhanded, the fine print of the form allows his “bait & switch”, intentional or not, to be legal. So learn from my costly mistake and take your business to one that doesn’t just operate legally, but ethically.