City Lights Design Showroom

It's been interesting to read the reviews posted so far. People either love or hate this place, so here is my story for what it's worth. I recently remodeled my home and my contractor recommended City Lights. Everything was just dandy as we went through the ordering process and they took my deposit money. I ordered a complicated lighting set-up for my living and kitchen areas. In addition, I ordered several other stand alone lighting fixtures. The sales person assured me that everything would be taken care of and all the multiple facets of the lighting design would come together as planned. When the order came in, it was very piecemeal, as some others have written about. There were many delays and I had to make multiple trips back and forth to the showroom. There was something wrong with every single light I ordered - broken shades, mis-matched shades, wrong finish, missing critical pieces, wrong accessories for the lighting design, the list was endless. The sales person was completely un-responsive to my complaints and tried to charge me re-stocking fees for items that were either mis-ordered or had to be re-ordered. My contractor was so furious with this whole ordeal that he dropped City Lights from his preferred vendor list. After all, he was the one who recommended them to me and their terrible service made him look bad. That should tell you something. Pros: nice showroom Cons: Mistake-prone ordering and delivery; worst customer service more

It's been interesting to read the reviews posted so far. People either love or hate this place, so here is my story for what it's worth. I recently remodeled my home and my contractor recommended City Lights. Everything was just dandy as we went through the ordering process and they took my deposit money. I ordered a complicated lighting set-up for my living and kitchen areas. In addition, I ordered several other stand alone lighting fixtures. The sales person assured me that everything would be taken care of and all the multiple facets of the lighting design would come together as planned. When the order came in, it was very piecemeal, as some others have written about. There were many delays and I had to make multiple trips back and forth to the showroom. There was something wrong with every single light I ordered - broken shades, mis-matched shades, wrong finish, missing critical pieces, wrong accessories for the lighting design, the list was endless. The sales person was completely un-responsive to my complaints and tried to charge me re-stocking fees for items that were either mis-ordered or had to be re-ordered. My contractor was so furious with this whole ordeal that he dropped City Lights from his preferred vendor list. After all, he was the one who recommended them to me and their terrible service made him look bad. That should tell you something. Pros: nice showroom Cons: Mistake-prone ordering and delivery; worst customer service more

I agree with the reviews regarding the customer service. Not one person spoke to us or smiled at us when we were there. We also were able to find the exact same lights at another area lighting store for a much lower price. Not worth the trip! Cons: terrible customer service, prices too high more

I agree with the reviews regarding the customer service. Not one person spoke to us or smiled at us when we were there. We also were able to find the exact same lights at another area lighting store for a much lower price. Not worth the trip! Cons: terrible customer service, prices too high more

I have to say I am stunned to see any negative remarks in regards to City Lights. I have never had a bad experience, the selection is great and the customer service is wonderful. We built a house a couple years ago and told the man we were working with our style and he found us exactly what we were looking for. Never did we feel he was pushing a sale or pointing us in a wrong direction. Our lights are of great quality and the prices were great. After we built, we now have a lifetime dicount with them. Since then, I have purchsed furniture, more lights a new ceiling fan and artwork. Pros: Excellent Customer Sevice, Great Lights more

I have to say I am stunned to see any negative remarks in regards to City Lights. I have never had a bad experience, the selection is great and the customer service is wonderful. We built a house a couple years ago and told the man we were working with our style and he found us exactly what we were looking for. Never did we feel he was pushing a sale or pointing us in a wrong direction. Our lights are of great quality and the prices were great. After we built, we now have a lifetime dicount with them. Since then, I have purchsed furniture, more lights a new ceiling fan and artwork. Pros: Excellent Customer Sevice, Great Lights more

I agree with many of you, who have commented on their customer service. City Lights has some nice lights, but it's too bad that they are not that friendly when something goes wrong. My husband bought some lights for me for my birthday. Ironically, I was delivering our second child at that time. We were informed that the 2nd light was in from delivery (after ordering it via phone). We were then told we have to pay for delivery and it was on our order sheet. I told them that we ordered the second one via phone and were never told of this. We paid for delivery and I emailed them about my disappointment of their service, though. Unfortunately, I never heard back. Not even ""I'm sorry that you experienced this with us"". Pros: nice lights Cons: very poor customer service...disappointed with how we were treated. more

I agree with many of you, who have commented on their customer service. City Lights has some nice lights, but it's too bad that they are not that friendly when something goes wrong. My husband bought some lights for me for my birthday. Ironically, I was delivering our second child at that time. We were informed that the 2nd light was in from delivery (after ordering it via phone). We were then told we have to pay for delivery and it was on our order sheet. I told them that we ordered the second one via phone and were never told of this. We paid for delivery and I emailed them about my disappointment of their service, though. Unfortunately, I never heard back. Not even ""I'm sorry that you experienced this with us"". Pros: nice lights Cons: very poor customer service...disappointed with how we were treated. more

I was amazed that City Lights had any positive reviews. I am so irritated with their customer service that I have amazed all who know me because they thinkI am a pushover and chide me to be more aggresive. I ordered 5 lights from them and have had to run back and forth between the store and my home more than 15 times to order and pick up my order because each light came in piecemeal. Each time you pick up you have to go into store, wait for help , wait for them to call the warehouse, then drive to the back and wait for for item. They have not put in orders when I requested and also charged me a 25% restocking fee when I returned a item. I am upset about that restocking fee because the order form has a place with a box to check and a customer signature line for the customer to acknowledge this policy, neither of which was done. I asked twice to have manager call me, he never has and am still waiting for a call back on a damaged light that needs a replacement from 3 days ago. Pros: Good Products Cons: Poor service and promised delivery time not accurate more

I was amazed that City Lights had any positive reviews. I am so irritated with their customer service that I have amazed all who know me because they thinkI am a pushover and chide me to be more aggresive. I ordered 5 lights from them and have had to run back and forth between the store and my home more than 15 times to order and pick up my order because each light came in piecemeal. Each time you pick up you have to go into store, wait for help , wait for them to call the warehouse, then drive to the back and wait for for item. They have not put in orders when I requested and also charged me a 25% restocking fee when I returned a item. I am upset about that restocking fee because the order form has a place with a box to check and a customer signature line for the customer to acknowledge this policy, neither of which was done. I asked twice to have manager call me, he never has and am still waiting for a call back on a damaged light that needs a replacement from 3 days ago. Pros: Good Products Cons: Poor service and promised delivery time not accurate more

I was rather surprised to see a negative review on CityLights. Having purchased lighting from CityLights for the past 10 years I have found their service and selection to be excellent and their prices to be fair--either the same or less than competitors. I have referred many friends to this store and they have all been extremely happy with their experience. Pros: excellent consultants and awesome selection Cons: might be overwhelming as there is so much to choose from more

I was rather surprised to see a negative review on CityLights. Having purchased lighting from CityLights for the past 10 years I have found their service and selection to be excellent and their prices to be fair--either the same or less than competitors. I have referred many friends to this store and they have all been extremely happy with their experience. Pros: excellent consultants and awesome selection Cons: might be overwhelming as there is so much to choose from more

I've driven past City Lights so many times and finally stopped in since we were in the market for some new and interesting lighting. To my amazement we found more than what we were looking for, and also awsome help. It was a pleasure to work with someone who was knowledgable and as excited about our new lights as we were. She explained all the particulars, if we were to return anything but we knew that wasn't going to happen since we were having all of the lights we purchased shipped to our new house in Ohio. Everything arrived in perfect condition, went perfect and the shipping charges were a fraction of what we thought they would be. Believe me, when back in Milwaukee we will be checking out City Lights & Fans for new stuff. They know what they're doing, and their showroom is beautiful. Pros: Fabulous showroom / Knowledgable staff Cons: Too much to choose from more

I've driven past City Lights so many times and finally stopped in since we were in the market for some new and interesting lighting. To my amazement we found more than what we were looking for, and also awsome help. It was a pleasure to work with someone who was knowledgable and as excited about our new lights as we were. She explained all the particulars, if we were to return anything but we knew that wasn't going to happen since we were having all of the lights we purchased shipped to our new house in Ohio. Everything arrived in perfect condition, went perfect and the shipping charges were a fraction of what we thought they would be. Believe me, when back in Milwaukee we will be checking out City Lights & Fans for new stuff. They know what they're doing, and their showroom is beautiful. Pros: Fabulous showroom / Knowledgable staff Cons: Too much to choose from more

I too am surprised at the negative comments regarding City Lights and Fans. I have been a customer of City Lights and Fans for over 12 years and have found my experience to be exceptional. I have built two homes in those twelve years and have purchased all of my indoor as well as well as the outdoor light fixtures. I find the sales staff to be very informed as well as experienced. The cost of the selections they showed me were in line with the quality of the homes we had built. I have never received a item damaged. I was promptly given two replacement light bulbs when they were absent from the box which was sent from the company which they had been ordered through. Also, I found BBC lighting to be more expensive for the exact same product. Pros: beautiful showroom, informed staff, extensive product availability Cons: too many beautiful things to choose from more

I too am surprised at the negative comments regarding City Lights and Fans. I have been a customer of City Lights and Fans for over 12 years and have found my experience to be exceptional. I have built two homes in those twelve years and have purchased all of my indoor as well as well as the outdoor light fixtures. I find the sales staff to be very informed as well as experienced. The cost of the selections they showed me were in line with the quality of the homes we had built. I have never received a item damaged. I was promptly given two replacement light bulbs when they were absent from the box which was sent from the company which they had been ordered through. Also, I found BBC lighting to be more expensive for the exact same product. Pros: beautiful showroom, informed staff, extensive product availability Cons: too many beautiful things to choose from more

I was very shocked to see a negative review posted regarding City Lights Design Showroom. My wife and I, our family, and many friends have been doing business with City Lights for years and have yet to experience any of the actions claimed by the author of the obviously prejudiced review. Does it not seem like a bitter competitor rather than an honest customer wrote it? more

I was very shocked to see a negative review posted regarding City Lights Design Showroom. My wife and I, our family, and many friends have been doing business with City Lights for years and have yet to experience any of the actions claimed by the author of the obviously prejudiced review. Does it not seem like a bitter competitor rather than an honest customer wrote it? more

Be very careful about shopping at City Lights. They have a beautiful showroom, but that's about it. The sales people will tell you that they are ""Lighting Consultants"", but all they will try to do is sell you the most expensive lights regardless of whether it is best for your home. Their return policy is terrible. Items that you have them order from a catalog (nonstock) are nonrefundable. Items that you buy from their showroom (in stock) are subject to a 25% restocking fee if you try to return them and then you are only given a store credit for the remainder. So, if you get bad advice from one of their ""consultants"" about a light that turns out to be the wrong size or shape for your home, you are out of luck. If you order multiple lights and fixtures, you are likely to encounter multiple errors - broken glass shades, missing parts or lightbulbs, etc. There does not appear to be any quality control at their warehouse - items are not cross-checked before they are delivered to your home. This means that you will have to make multiple trips back to their showroom in order to get everything right. Management is completely unresponsive to customer complaints. They require you to put 50% down when you make an order and then pay the remainder before they will deliver the items or let you pick them up. Since they already have your money, why should they do anything to make you happy? My advice - go to their showroom, see the lights you want, get the catalog numbers and then go buy them from BBC Lighting. BBC doesn't have much in the way of a showroom, but they can get any light you want and they are always less expensive. Pros: Nice showroom Cons: Customer service, Unresponsive management, Uninformed Sales Personnel more

Be very careful about shopping at City Lights. They have a beautiful showroom, but that's about it. The sales people will tell you that they are ""Lighting Consultants"", but all they will try to do is sell you the most expensive lights regardless of whether it is best for your home. Their return policy is terrible. Items that you have them order from a catalog (nonstock) are nonrefundable. Items that you buy from their showroom (in stock) are subject to a 25% restocking fee if you try to return them and then you are only given a store credit for the remainder. So, if you get bad advice from one of their ""consultants"" about a light that turns out to be the wrong size or shape for your home, you are out of luck. If you order multiple lights and fixtures, you are likely to encounter multiple errors - broken glass shades, missing parts or lightbulbs, etc. There does not appear to be any quality control at their warehouse - items are not cross-checked before they are delivered to your home. This means that you will have to make multiple trips back to their showroom in order to get everything right. Management is completely unresponsive to customer complaints. They require you to put 50% down when you make an order and then pay the remainder before they will deliver the items or let you pick them up. Since they already have your money, why should they do anything to make you happy? My advice - go to their showroom, see the lights you want, get the catalog numbers and then go buy them from BBC Lighting. BBC doesn't have much in the way of a showroom, but they can get any light you want and they are always less expensive. Pros: Nice showroom Cons: Customer service, Unresponsive management, Uninformed Sales Personnel more