General Finishes
General Finishes Overview
The generated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
General Finishes has a 1.5 star rating from 6 customer reviews; sentiment is largely negative with complaints about shelf life, drying issues, and high price alongside reports of nonexistent customer service.
Key Takeaways for Future Customers
- Read General Finishes reviews for recurring reports of products drying up and inconsistent batches.
- Expect limited direct support; plan projects with contingencies for fast drying or repair.
- Consider price versus risk given reports of ruined pieces and product variability.
Negative Feedback / Risk Areas
- Many General Finishes customer complaints cite nonexistent customer service and unanswered contacts.
- Frequent reports of products setting up prematurely or drying unevenly, causing rework.
- Inconsistent batches and high price level increase refund and cancellation concerns.
Positive Feedback
Some users report the finish “works great” and long-term fans praise Arm‑R‑Seal performance despite recent quality and support issues.
The generated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
General Finishes has a 1.5 star rating from 6 customer reviews; sentiment is largely negative with complaints about shelf life, drying issues, and high price alongside reports of nonexistent customer service.
Key Takeaways for Future Customers
- Read General Finishes reviews for recurring reports of products drying up and inconsistent batches.
- Expect limited direct support; plan projects with contingencies for fast drying or repair.
- Consider price versus risk given reports of ruined pieces and product variability.
Negative Feedback / Risk Areas
- Many General Finishes customer complaints cite nonexistent customer service and unanswered contacts.
- Frequent reports of products setting up prematurely or drying unevenly, causing rework.
- Inconsistent batches and high price level increase refund and cancellation concerns.
Positive Feedback
Some users report the finish “works great” and long-term fans praise Arm‑R‑Seal performance despite recent quality and support issues.
Media from reviews
Turn one complaint into a collective action
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer |
Salem, South Carolina
General finishes Arm and Seal oil is completely dried up
Liked the product until it dried up - now can't use - very expensive product. Will never buy again or recommend. Do you have a lot of complaints about this happening?
- Works great
- Dried up and can no longer use
Preferred solution: Full refund
User's recommendation: I wouldn’t
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer |
Stuart, Florida
CUTOMER SERVICE
No response from customer service makes for poor business. I have been self employed for 46 years communication is an asset.
Denver, Colorado
Satin finish
Your bad product and terrible customer service happened. Terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible.
Preferred solution: A decent product without typing my grievance.
User's recommendation: I will never recommend
Fox River Grove, Illinois
Help with hard wax oil finish
I was putting on a second coat of the hard wax finish and had to leave the work. It has been 4 days since then, and the product has set up and is hard. What can I do to repair this area?
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerWant to get the ready to match system and have a direct person to speak with about the products.
- - I used to work at a company with direct rep contact.
- - I love products but opening an account with a new company is hard.
- - I can't speak with anyone.
I used to work for a company that had direct contact with a rep, and now I work for a different company. I loved the products and am trying to open an account with this new company, but it's hard since I can't actually speak with someone.
Preferred solution: A new account
User's recommendation: Have an actual person to speak with.
GF water based dead flat topcoat is awful to work with. It turns white when sanding, clumps in the corners and drys too quickly.
- - Dark specks are present.
- - It dries quickly and clumps.
- - A speck can't be wiped up.
- - No customer service; I won't buy General Finishes again.
The product has dark specks in it. It dries too quickly, clumps in corners, then turns white when I try sanding to clean up.
If even a speck inadvertently drops on another area of the wood, it is impossible to quickly wipe up without having to re-sand the whole area. Can't get customer service on the phone. Hate-hate this product.
It has ruined my furniture piece and cost me many, many hours of time. No more General Finishes products!
Preferred solution: Full refund
User's recommendation: Save yourself the time and frustration and buy a different product!
Arm-R-Seal Gloss change
- - Arm-R-Seal gloss oil has been used for 30 years.
- - Last pints thicker; lids changed; shelf life affected.
Have been using Arm-R-Seal gloss (oil) for 30 years - great product. I'm member of Villages Woodworkers Club in Florida.
Last 2 pints of Arm-R-Seal gloss was thicker than normal (lid # 118698). Use Blioxygen every time I close can.
Lids have changed. I think it has affected shelf life.
Dan Mayer
Not good that an expensive item like this does not have a customer service representative to answer questions.
- - The second tin of Java gel stain finishes shiny, not matte.
- - It has ruined my cabinet.
- - There is no live support to resolve issues.
I bought the Java gel stain to finish a project and the result of the second tin is very different. The original was a beautiful matte finish, the second is an ugly shiny finish.
It has ruined my cabinet and there is no one to help me. A live person to resolve issues like this would be the bare minimum for a company that charges a premium for its products.
Called & wrote email. No response
Have used & would like to continue using on wallpaper. Need to know if General Finishes has any concerns or a strong recommendation not to apply to wallpaper.
User's recommendation: You can use their products, just don't expect any actual customer service.
Poor drying
- - They want you to purchase their product, then charge to answer why it's not drying.
- - GF doesn't stand behind their product; Old Masters does.
They want you to purchase their product then want to charge you to answer question about their product. When it's not drying they want me to give them a credit card to answer a question as to why.
I gave them all the information that they asked for then wanted to charge money to answer why it's not drying. If GF doesn't stand behind their product Old Masters does.
User's recommendation: Don't bother with their CS.
Roseville, California
Need tech-support for General finishes high-performance flat water-based topcoat
- - No opportunity to speak with a representative about how the product works for first-time use.
- - The YouTube how-to videos did not address my questions.
I was disappointed not to be given the opportunity to speak to a representative about their product and how the product works best having never used it.non of the u tube how to video addressed my questions.
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerI am not a pissed off customer. I was just trying to get some tech support on how to best apply your one product. However you we sight is awful and your website is not manageable. .
- - I like your products and use them often.
- - I can't access online support for a quick question.
- - The support experience felt dismissive.
I like your products and use them often. However, I have a technical question and your online support, at least in terms of access, is treating me like an upset customer.
Which, by the way, I was not. But now I am. You promised to be mindful of customer needs, but I can't get access to you to ask a simple question.
So, I am left with a simple impression: you bought it, now figure out how to use it. And that sucks.
- Like product
- Customer service and tech support suck
Preferred solution: Technical support
User's recommendation: Don’t expect to get access to customer service or tech support with this company. It’s impossible.
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerNonexistent customer service
- - It's hard to reach the company with questions.
- - The phone message won't accept recorded questions and directs to the retailer.
They do not provide a phone number or email contact for questions about their products. They claim that all questions are answered in a FAQ, but they certainly are not.
It seems to be impossible to reach this company for a question. Their phone message doesn't accept recorded questions, and just refers you to their retailer for questions which, OF COURSE, the retailer cannot possibly answer.
- Nonexistent customer service - no way to contact the company
Preferred solution: A simple answer to an obvious question
User's recommendation: Minwax
Mount Vernon, New York
I need to know how much I buy gel stain for butcher block 24 x 96"
I was trying to get get in contact with costumer services for that I have about GF gel paint and I get get answers
User's recommendation: Horrible
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