Maker&Son - Sydney, Australia Reviews 9

Maker and Son definitely have the most comfortable couches in the world. I thought maybe I would replace with a cheaper couch but my family refused to let me. Instead I re-covered and this couch will be good for another 10+ years! THE MOST COMFORTABLE couch ever!
The service from Maker and Son was excellent and I would definitely recommend.

They are incredibly comfortable sofas that are made exceptionally well. You just have to sit on them to know what sets them far apart from other sofas. As soon as we walked into the showroom we were greeted straight away, not pushy, left to enjoy but given lots of information on how they are made & why they cost what they cost. We got help with what would and wouldn't work fabric wise because we have kids and pets. Told us how to maintain them. They kept us updated on progress and delivery was smooth. Worth the wait for something we plan on having for a very long time.

My experience in New Zealand sounds very much like reviews elsewhere. The marketing was so impressive and I foolishly handed over the 50% deposit without question trusting they would deliver all they promised. Once they had my payment the service and communication dropped right off. It’s an out and out lie that they will keep you informed about your order every step of the way. Do not be fooled.
It has been over a year and the company has been liquidated. I contacted their supplier Maelstrom Design in Christchurch and fingers crossed they will complete the order in due course with the small percentage of our deposit and fabric they are holding. Maelstrom have been up-front and earnest so I hope this information may help others (although I still have no sofas yet).

In Melbourne, late last year I was asked to pay the balance of the furniture amounting to $17000 as it was ready for delivery. I did this not knowing the company had gone into liquidation - the fact they asked for this money while insolvent is probably illegal. They are now back trading in the UK owing their customers hundreds of thousands of dollars including leaving us $10k out of pocket. Do not go anywhere near Maker and Son.

Absolutely DO NOT BUY from this company. Deposit paid July 2022 - currently March 2023 and no response, no update, nothing as to when the sofas I ordered will be delivered. Company was liquidated and such a weird licensee model. Charging tens of thousands for sofas that cost them hundreds to make. Ridiculous. AVOID. AVOID. AVOID.

Initial dealings with the Australian team (now all redundant due to insolvency) were great.

We placed an order through Skye Jamieson and paid a 50% deposit by electronic funds transfer.

Updates in relation to our order slowed, and subsequently stopped entirely.

The next correspondence we received in relation to our order was a letter from PwC informing us of their appointment as joint and several liquidators of Maker&Son Australia Pty Ltd ACN 626 242 626 (a subsidiary of the UK entity MSOLD 1 Ltd (formerly Maker&Son Ltd), now in liquidation).

This was a surprise, to say the least, noting the Australian team had just months earlier affirmed their financial footing in Australia was strong, and that their manufacturing partner (Molmic) was making good progress.

I would implore anyone considering whether to do business with ‘Maker&Son’ to read the judgment of HHJ Worster in MSOLD 1 Ltd, Re [2022] EWHC 3015 (Ch) (18 November 2022).

His Honour’s judgment is freely and readily accessible from the BAILII.org database.

I am not usually one for online reviews. However, given the quantum of our deposit (which we will likely never see again), and noting that ‘Maker&Son’ (in whatever phoenixed form it now takes) continues to trade a business under the 'Maker&Son' name, I felt obliged to share my experience.

Would I do business with Maker&Son again? Not if it was the last company on earth.

EDIT 23/03/23: ‘Maker&Son’ have flagged my review (twice) for ‘harmful or illegal content’. I have responded to Trust Pilot with the particulars requested to verify my review, including a copy of my invoice. Our order was placed in joint names (me and my partner), as is visible on our invoice. I’ve also provided an email from Skye which attached that invoice. For good measure, I’ve also provided a copy of the ASIC Form 505 evidencing that the company I refer to above (ACN 626 242 626) is in fact in liquidation.

It is unclear to me what part of my review is considered a misrepresentation. I simply refer to a published judgment. If ‘Maker&Son’ dispute the facts as set out in that judgment, I wish them luck with their appeal.

EDIT 05/04/2023: ‘Maker&Son’ deleted its initial response to my review (accusing my review of being fake) shortly before it was marked as verified. ‘Maker&Son’ have just now replaced it with a new response. In the event they do this again, I’d like to preserve/highlight one exert in particular:

“There was some disruption to the production of our bespoke furniture for a small number of customers who ordered prior to Maker&Son being purchased in August 2022.”.

I placed my order on 6 September 2022.

Indeed, Olivia, I ‘have not received my order yet’, and I never will, because the ‘Maker&Son’ entity I ordered with is in liquidation.

I ordered a sofa in early July 2022, not long after the melbourne showroom opened, with delivery due in Nov. Customer Service advised when my fabric had apparently arrived from Italy and construction commenced. The delivery date moved to mid Dec and in mid Nov I was asked for final payment so delivery could be confirmed around Dec 20.
We were away and I advised we wanted delivery in mid Jan and that was agreed. We didn’t make the final payment just because we were busy and then I saw things start to unravel.
The Australian situation has been well handled by PwC and Molmic and they have kept us in the loop and honoured payments, which I really appreciate. In continuing the process with Molmic, and paying them 50% of the outstanding balance, it has become clear that construction of our sofa was still in the queue and never started. I wonder what Maker & Son were going to deliver to us in Jan or what story we would have been told. We are still 3-4 months from having our sofa but I feel confident Molmic will deliver. I loved the sofas in the Maker & Son showroom and am sad things have folded but it sounds like practical issues were problematic from the start.

DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY.

I received a letter today from Price Waterhouse informing me this company have gone into liquidation. The sofa and chair I ordered in early August will never arrive and the deposit I made will most likely never be replaced.

DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY THEY HAVE GONE INTO LIQUIDATION.

Maker & Son Australia

I’ve had a wonderful experience with the company from start to finish. It’s been an informed journey all the way.
From receiving my selected material, through to manufacturing stages.
For stunning pieces of furniture you do need to expect to wait.
The ladies I dealt with were extremely professional and friendly in particular Betty and Aimee.
They both did their best keeping me informed which I desperately needed being so close to Christmas.
I highly recommend this company for quality product and professionalism.
The sofas are so beautiful and comfortable to sit in. They are timeless pieces and will give my family years of joy.
I would have no hesitation recommending and using their services again for more sofa covers.
Be aware of the negative reviews online on this company are their overseas, US and UK operations. They have nothing to do with the Australian branch. The Australian branch is an independent operation.