Review ofGelmar
Gelmar
2.8|20 reviews
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Renier T
1 reviews | Active since Member
04 Mar 2026, 19:06
False advertising
I visited the Gelmar Willow Bridge branch in Cape Town on 4 March 2026 to purchase a Fauxwood Venetian blind. The Gelmar March 2026 advertising brochure showed the various blinds on offer, with a side note that reads "trim your blind while you wait" No trimming price is shown anywhere on the brochure and I was not told about a fee to trim the blind when I asked to have the blind I wanted to buy trimmed. However, upon payment I was issued with a trimming fee invoice of R250 on top of the price of the blind I purchased. Furthermore, I was told that I will have to return the following day, as the trimming cannot be done while I wait as the brochure stated. I then asked to speak to the manager. The manager acknowledged that the advert in the brochure can be misleading, not showing any cost for trimming their blinds but that he could not do anything about it, and that he would take it up with their marketing department. I paid for the blind and the R250 trimming fee and left the store VERY unhappy for having to pay a trimming fee, and having to return to the store the following day to collect the blinds purchased.
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Replies (53)Gelmar's replyOfficial
05 Mar 2026, 06:36Hi Renier,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're very sorry to hear that your visit to our Willowbridge store left you feeling misled and frustrated.
You are correct that our recent leaflet mentioned “trim your blinds while you wait”. In retrospect, we recognise that the message should have included that a trimming fee applies and that, depending on store workload or the complexity of the trim, the service may not always be completed immediately.
We sincerely apologise for this lack of clarity, as our intention is always to ensure that customers have clear expectations before making a purchase.
Blind trimming is a service offered in-store for selected products, and, in many cases, it can be done while customers wait. However, this is not always possible. Following feedback like yours, we have already taken steps to clarify this communication both in-store and with our teams so that customers are better informed going forward.
We would really appreciate the opportunity to make this right for you. Please could you email us at social@gelmar.co.za with your contact details so that we can assist further.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. Feedback like this helps us improve.
Kind regards
The Gelmar Team
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're very sorry to hear that your visit to our Willowbridge store left you feeling misled and frustrated.
You are correct that our recent leaflet mentioned “trim your blinds while you wait”. In retrospect, we recognise that the message should have included that a trimming fee applies and that, depending on store workload or the complexity of the trim, the service may not always be completed immediately.
We sincerely apologise for this lack of clarity, as our intention is always to ensure that customers have clear expectations before making a purchase.
Blind trimming is a service offered in-store for selected products, and, in many cases, it can be done while customers wait. However, this is not always possible. Following feedback like yours, we have already taken steps to clarify this communication both in-store and with our teams so that customers are better informed going forward.
We would really appreciate the opportunity to make this right for you. Please could you email us at social@gelmar.co.za with your contact details so that we can assist further.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. Feedback like this helps us improve.
Kind regards
The Gelmar Team
Best regards,
Gelmar's reply05 Mar 2026, 06:36
Official
Hi Renier,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're very sorry to hear that your visit to our Willowbridge store left you feeling misled and frustrated.
You are correct that our recent leaflet mentioned “trim your blinds while you wait”. In retrospect, we recognise that the message should have included that a trimming fee applies and that, depending on store workload or the complexity of the trim, the service may not always be completed immediately.
We sincerely apologise for this lack of clarity, as our intention is always to ensure that customers have clear expectations before making a purchase.
Blind trimming is a service offered in-store for selected products, and, in many cases, it can be done while customers wait. However, this is not always possible. Following feedback like yours, we have already taken steps to clarify this communication both in-store and with our teams so that customers are better informed going forward.
We would really appreciate the opportunity to make this right for you. Please could you email us at social@gelmar.co.za with your contact details so that we can assist further.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. Feedback like this helps us improve.
Kind regards
The Gelmar Team
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're very sorry to hear that your visit to our Willowbridge store left you feeling misled and frustrated.
You are correct that our recent leaflet mentioned “trim your blinds while you wait”. In retrospect, we recognise that the message should have included that a trimming fee applies and that, depending on store workload or the complexity of the trim, the service may not always be completed immediately.
We sincerely apologise for this lack of clarity, as our intention is always to ensure that customers have clear expectations before making a purchase.
Blind trimming is a service offered in-store for selected products, and, in many cases, it can be done while customers wait. However, this is not always possible. Following feedback like yours, we have already taken steps to clarify this communication both in-store and with our teams so that customers are better informed going forward.
We would really appreciate the opportunity to make this right for you. Please could you email us at social@gelmar.co.za with your contact details so that we can assist further.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. Feedback like this helps us improve.
Kind regards
The Gelmar Team
Best regards,