Paint stirs brush with its maker

The 16-foot-wide metal sign outside Seth Allen's Evanston property gets right to the point: "This Landmark Home Defaced by Benjamin Moore Paint." It represents Allen's very public stance against Benjamin Moore ...

[Nick Ono]

Awww. Poor little rich man. He demands--and deserves!--the very best that money can buy. My wholesale sympathy to him...

[Debbie]

Sue, sue, sue! This privileged North Shore twit is yet another example of the declining civility of our generation, and how people will do all they can to get away from personal responsibility. Hey, why don't you sue the sun and rain as well (clearly they were contributors to this immense tragedy)? And how about the manafacturer of your car, which was used to drive to the store to buy the paint? As the BM spokeswoman said, I fully support your 1st Amendment right--to make an ignornant fool out of yourself. Good luck, buddy.

[Warren Must B Proud]

Boy Warren [Buffett] must be proud of his crack BM staff, the sign is drawing more attention to him than his purchases of Chinese steelmakers and his bets against the dollar.
And, you gotta love the game of Clue element...who is "removing" the banner. Does Berkshire Hathaway own a sign removal company too?

[Richard]

The Benjamin Moore company is more than just dishonest. They are the worst company to do business with out of all the paint companies. The sales reps will lie to the customer and retailer alike. They had rather protect their profits than worry about quality of the retailer or the product either one. The sales rep lied to me about the purchase of my paint store. I have banned him from every coming into my store. I threatened his supervisor with a criminal trespassing complaint if he ever showed up again.

Neither of these two liars ever agreed on their story to me.
Besides, most contractors have walked away from the Ben Moore line since Warren Buffet destroyed the company. There is a good reason that they are losing dealers and market share. Their product no longer has the quality it had years ago and the pricing has gone sky high.

Trust me, this man is being lied to by the sales rep and the big bosses. They need to settle this claim and write off the problem. Ben Moore cannot afford to lose any more customers.

[A-Pauled-In-Evan ston]

It is interesting that the sign at Ridge and Greenleaf is directly across the street from the home of a US congressman, Jan Shakowsky (D, IL). Very political.

One the other hand, most people have little sympathy for a guy who can afford to spend $16,000 on paint. That's a very nice house, and deserves to be painted. But the guy is a jerk, and we'd like to see come of his money go to CHARITY after all this noise.

[I M Cornfused]

I am having a little problem linking a member of Congress with a paint failure other than to say both fade over time.
Look, you can't challenge this guy's media savvy. He's leveraging to the max and even putting himself at risk in the process.
The facts appear to be very much on his side especially when you delve into his site and the reports therein.
Big Ben (actually quite small compared to the real big boys in the Biz) perfect...and this guy is aiming at any number of their weak spots. They have more than a few.
If the MOC helps out , so much the better -- especially if Ben is wrong -- but remember Warren's a DEM too.

[I M Cornfused]

I am having a little problem linking a member of Congress with a paint failure other than to say both fade over time.
Look, you can't challenge this guy's media savvy. He's leveraging to the max and even putting himself at risk in the process.
The facts appear to be very much on his side especially when you delve into his site and the reports therein.
Big Ben (actually quite small compared to the real big boys in the Biz) perfect...and this guy is aiming at any number of their weak spots. They have more than a few.
If the MOC helps out , so much the better -- especially if Ben is wrong -- but remember Warren's a DEM too.

[Seth]

I am the "north shore twit" who is suing Benjamin Moore. I am not a rich man, just someone who is trying to protect his home.

I am not excited about becoming a public figure, but if you want to understand why I have placed the sign and the website, you should try to litigate against a company as large as Benjamin Moore - they are satisfied to let the case drag on for years, costing me tens of thousands of Dollars. This isn't even a rounding error to Moore, but it is my childrens' college tuition to me.

Moore has an asymmetric advantage in litigation - money.

So I decided to gain an advantage of my own. Now it is not such an attractive thing for Moore to delay.

I encourage any cynics to read my website www.bmpaint.net and the laboratory reports. I am not looking for money.

[Seth]

I am not a wealthy man, I just have a big house, but in the last year I have donated until it hurt to the following charities: Il Pirg, Community Health (free doctors for poor people - I recommend it if you have no insurance), Chicago Business and Arts Council, WBEZ Public Radio, Meals on Wheels, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and these are just the first to come to mind. I invite you to tell me the charities that you are proud to support.

A-Pauled-In-Evanston wrote:

It is interesting that the sign at Ridge and Greenleaf is directly across the street from the home of a US congressman, Jan Shakowsky (D, IL). Very political.
One the other hand, most people have little sympathy for a guy who can afford to spend $16,000 on paint. That's a very nice house, and deserves to be painted. But the guy is a jerk, and we'd like to see come of his money go to CHARITY after all this noise.

[Jeffs pro]

seth ; I am not supprised at Benjamine Moores Behavior. Being a painting contractor myself I can tell you that in 2001 is when all the problems started with BM. THEY NEVER ACCEPT ANY BLAME . I have found them to be way overpriced & the quality these day's lacking.
Have you seen the new interior Aura ? at 48.00 a gallon they can stick it. They sell a life style not a good paint..
ps ; next outside paint job try Sherwin Williams Duration

[MARK]

Jeffs pro wrote:

seth ; I am not supprised at Benjamine Moores Behavior. Being a painting contractor myself I can tell you that in 2001 is when all the problems started with BM. THEY NEVER ACCEPT ANY BLAME . I have found them to be way overpriced & the quality these day's lacking.
Have you seen the new interior Aura ? at 48.00 a gallon they can stick it. They sell a life style not a good paint..
ps ; next outside paint job try Sherwin Williams Duration

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT I WOULD HATE TO SEE YOUR JOBS IF YOU REALY THINK SW PAINT OUTDOES BEN MOORE IN SHORT YOU ARE A HACK,GO BACK TO CUTTING GRASS

[Steve]

It was improper preparation and the wrong type
of paint. Seth, you should have consulted with
BM prior to painting. TO2 was not the culprit.
It should have been a latex coating and applied
at the correct thickness. Seth, again it was
improper preparation and pressure washing should
have not been the cleaning method. As far as
independent labs, they are not unbias either.
The paint contractor made numerous errors.
Sorry, Seth,but you need to take responsibility.