Crown Solo One-coat gloss – Higher price for better quality? (Crown Paint)

Member Name: loulou6

Product:	Crown Paint
Date:	20/06/01 (1763 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: a nice range of colours

Disadvantages: doesn't do what it says on the tin, high VOC (see op), they try and wriggle out of refunding the price (as guaranteed on tin)

In a word – NO.

The claim ‘Guaranteed to cover in 1 coat or your money back’ was going to be tested hard. I needed a strong and durable paint for the wood in my VW Camper van, as I’m putting my baby up for sale soon, I needed it to dry reasonably quickly and I hoped that it would stop me having to give it a second coat. Unfortunately the usual good name of Crown proved me wrong.

The 750ml (or about 4’inches high) pot cost £7.49 from Gardiner Haskins (a really good homeware store). This gloss paint is supposed to cover 8sq.m on a smooth surface, without undercoat, be easy to wash out in hot water and washing powder, and it if required would be re-coatable in 16 hours. Unfortunately, I have to say that 2 out of the 4 promises failed. Because the ‘Silver Mine’ (or dark grey) didn’t cover adequately I had to do a re-coat and therefore it only covered about 6sq.m. And even though I left it 24 hours before needing the re-coat, it was still slightly tacky to the touch.

Now, be warned, if you try and to get your money back on this paint, be prepared for a few phone calls. I phoned their ‘Crown Technical Advice Service’ on 01254 704951 and after I explained what I was using it on and the size brush I was using I was told that I hadn’t ‘loaded the brush’ enough. When I mentioned that I used Crown paints all the time and never had a problem, they took my winge a little more seriously (what is it with blokes, don’t they think that women can do decorating?). They said that they would send someone around to ‘inspect the work’, but a week later I was still waiting.

I phoned them again and was told that no information had been taken from my last call and that I would have to put my complaint forward again. I decided against this as it was only £7.49 and told them that I just wouldn’t buy this type of paint from them again. An apology w
as given, but no refund – ah well, I had to learn from my mistake, and I hope you learn from my mistake too.

(Some info from the tin)

VOC (or Volatile Organic Compounds) content High (25% to 50%), these contribute to atmospheric pollution.

Summary: