iCanvasArtReviews 30

I got an e-mail telling me I could win an iPod, too. How can you decide the winner on a 3rd party site? That looks a little strange, iCanvasArt.

Anyway, my review:

If this was a review RIGHT after I took it out of the box: 5/4 without a doubt
If this is a real review after examining it and inquiring about a return or exchange: 2/4

I ordered a massive 61x41 giclee canvas print from iCA about a month ago.

- It came packaged well: uncovered, but with four styrofoam corners to isolate it in the middle of the box. Major props on the ingenious packaging, iCA!

- I was ecstatic with the quality until I closely examined it after hanging it.

- The hanging kit should be packaged in a sealed plastic bag, because somehow one of my screws managed to lodge itself at the bottom of the canvas, between the canvas itself and the frame. I'm just counting my blessings that it did not puncture the canvas during transit.

- The canvas itself is well-wrapped around the frame

- When I hung it on my wall, the bottom right corner is not flush with the wall, and I'm gonna say that it's more likely the frame of the canvas that isn't straight, not my wall. I hung the canvas on several different walls, used a level during the hanging process, and followed the instructions to the T (1/4 or 1/2 inch of the screws--whatever you indicate--are visible for the canvas to hang on), but it still resulted in this problem.

- The instructions might benefit from the addition of pictures or more details, because for the layman who has never hung a canvas print before, they are a little ambiguous.

- I noticed on the second day that there is a major flaw on my product that occurred during the printing process. While the majority of my image is black and white (save for the lower right), a small area has colors that are completely off and even has a big GREEN dot in the middle. I was furious when I discovered this (especially after paying so much), but when I contacted iCA and told them of the flaw, I was told that since the product was so large and shipping so costly, if I wanted the product replaced, I would have to pay the roughly $80 shipping. Maybe this isn't a problem for most, but I know that after investing in my artwork, my bank account was on its last legs, so now I am left with a sub-par product.

So, all in all, my experience with this company has been so-so. It's awesome that they have products at admittedly affordable prices, but it stinks that my investment is not what was shown or advertised. I know that my issues are not indicative of what iCA sends out to 99% of their customers, but it still stinks to be the 1% that gets a product with one or more mistakes, you know? Before I noticed the problems with my art, I was 100% set on buying another 61x41 giclee print soon after, but I can say now that this experience has definitely deterred me from paying that much again. I must say that MOST of this canvas print is AWESOME, and that's the reason it's still hanging on my wall, but I really just wish that the whole thing--what I paid for--was of the quality that I was shown.

I post here not to give iCA a bad name (I've actually recommended them to friends despite my experience because I understand it was a mistake), but to help others with potential purchases and give an honest account of my experience with this company.

Here are pictures for reference:

The green dot and miscoloring:
http://img.skitch.com/*******-ce29nhg94jd6xyj13x23h6ch6s.jpg

The right side away from the wall:
http://img.skitch.com/*******-cx5frewu9kxd2fb3r91p5a4dah.jpg