I would try to find the old guy. If he is good then maybe he started his own business or went to a different showroom. Google him, ask those who recommended him, call other kitchen stores, etc.

Doesn't sound like you have any relationship to break up from.

Good luck

I agree with debrak. I'd try to find him and if you can't, go elsewhere. I"ve had so many problems with feeling I haven't been heard and if you can't be heard on day one, there will be more days like that, fer sure. Good luck!

Many people only buy ideal or "really good" appliances once in their adult life, so it's normal to move into this buying situation carefully. When I first started, I got treated terribly, so i ratcheted up the self-confidence scale (as publicly shown) and this changed everything. Sounds like you don't like to lead, so this may not apply to you. Sounds like you don't like to comparison shop. You can type out a list and email it to a few stores. Man oh man does that ever change things.

hth

**I have to break up with him, right? I have to start the process all over again, right?**

You just have to do what you were going to do: start ordering what you wanted, based on that design the other guy did. I hope you'll forgive me if I'm not fully understanding the situation (which I'm sure I'm not), but why do you need a showroom guy to help you do that? If I understand correctly, you got all the help you needed from the other guy to come up with a design and a bunch of products you wanted. Now you just need to order those things and get contractors to install them, right? And perhaps a GC to direct them?

I am with ideagirl... if they will not allow you to order what you want, then you break up and go elsewhere.
Is there management you can speak to? Is this the only guy working there as a salesman? What you may need to do is to work with another person in the same place. Your chemistry does not mesh with the new guy and you really don't need to stress over it.

In my office, if someone is unhappy with the agent they get initially, you had better believe that management would rather they switch agents than go to a competitor!

I love what davidro said about presenting confidence. If you seem too pliable, the aggressive ones out there will try to bend and twist you to get what they want from you. If you walk in and are self assured, they will respect you more. I am exceedingly polite with salespeople in all areas, but have a goal in mind and am not wishy washy. I ask for advice but ultimately trust my own judgment of whether the advice seems solid or is self serving. It also helps to come back here and to other forums here to double check. I feel that it is my job to be a well informed consumer and to avoid mistakes due to carelessness on my part. I will still make mistakes, but hopefully, they are fewer and less critical because I bother to do my homework.

it doesn't sound like a match. and if the guy starts with all the pressure, it's not going to change...espec. if he was so negative about the time and effort that was put into the plans. see if you can find the 1st guy and, if not, find someone else. you'll be much happier in the long run.

Thank you so much for all your support.
I'm going to try to find Old Guy, that's a great idea.
I thought of going to the management and explaining my concerns. My fear is, though, that when you are working with someone who feels like they're doing you a favour, they tend not to give you their best work.
So, I'll start looking again. And I'll be more assertive about my needs and my limits. After all, it's my money and my kitchen. If he wants to be michaelangelo, he'll have to do it on someone else's proverbial ceiling!!
And can I come here for ((hugs)) when I need them??

Yes, of course you can!!

(((((HUGS)))))

BTW, I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to go to the management, at least for a meeting. You have an architect, permits and an order to place. Upsell, pride in his own ideas and all nonwithstanding, New Guy is trying to lose them a customer. You're doing them the favor if you meet with them. If they got rid of Old Guy because his profit margin wasn't high enough they'll let you know (oh, he didn't really understand what we do, his work is all wrong, give New Guy a second chance, etc.). If it's just New Guy's trying to put his own mark on the project or inflate his commission, the manager will probably look at what you have and say that of course they can write your order. After all, the hardest part has already been done. That is the sale.

But if you feel sour about the whole thing, just forget them. And have another (((hug))).

Pllog is totally right. If you meet with management to explain how they can win your sale--that is, if you explain that you have a design and bunch of products that you want, and you simply want a salesman who will proceed with the sale instead of trying to strongarm you--then it is YOU doing THEM the favor, not the other way around. YOU are showing THEM how to make the sale that they of course want to make. There's no reason for you to feel like they're doing you a favor by selling you what you want to buy. That's their JOB.

And if they don't jump at the chance to sell you what you want, then you know that's not the showroom for you. But at least talking to them gives you a good chance of not wasting your time by starting over...

Definitely try to find your first salesman, and if he's set up shop elsewhere and can accommodate your proposal, fine. If this is not a viable option, you have a written proposal from a firm which they should honor, no discussion necessary, unless too much time has passed. The proposal should clearly spell out the valid timeframe, but I would still expect the company to honor their quote within a reasonable period beyond that date, e.g., if it took a couple of months to get all the permits and the quote was only valid for 30 days, I wouldn't act as if they had any reason not to honor their salesman's proposal. (((Hugs))) and lots of luck.

I agree with the previous advice.

You have the checkbook. You're in charge. And you can decide:

- Give me the old quote and old plan, with small touch-ups
- I'm going elsewhere

The narrative you've given is a classic--new guy wants to upsell by trashing somebody else's recommendation. Go to management and say, take the sale that's not as big as you want, or it's no sale.