Michael’s Lamp Studio & Repair

OUCH, still stinging from the price gouging.
Bought a lamp part here in August that I saw sells for $ 4.95 online. Expected to pay a premium to find it locally, and since I was in a rush, was willing. When I was told the part on would be over $ 40. I was so dumbfounded I didn’t know how to respond. I asked why it was so expensive, and the salesman said it was rare… Just driving past this place reminds me how bad that experience was and is disheartening for this age of trying to support local business.

Michael’s has been my local «go-​to» store for a couple of decades. I’ve purchased new lamps, had old lamps repaired, bought numerous lampshades and searched for that elusive light bulb (and found it). My review now is because I walked in this week to look for replacement bedside table lamps bringing along one of my 15 year old lamps. TR suggested a great solution and I’m so impressed by it. Instead of new lamps, he recommended a different shaped lampshade, a shade riser and upping the wattage on the bulbs I was using. I now have two fabulously functional reading lamps for my tables and I don’t have to the change the décor in anyway. Instead of spending hundreds of $ on new lighting, I paid a fraction of the cost and the result is perfect. Thank you.

We have done all of our lamp repairs and lamp purchases here for several years. They have a large variety of lamps, shades, filials, etc. and are very helpful in making selections. Many items are unique. This is a locally owned business and they will sometimes give discounts. This is not a big box store but a somewhat idiosyncratic small business that is worth patronizing

I give them two stars for existing, if customer service is important to you then stay away! if you want to find the normal midwest fare of lamps and accessories and dont care about being treated indifferently then this store is for you! if you need an out of the box lamp problem solved then dont bother!

Compelled to write my very 1^st review. Bought a nearly $ 300 shade from somewhat helpful (very important: AT THE TIME OF SALE; not after) salesperson. Asked about return policy as I was not 100% confident the shade would be «The One» (& at that $$$$ that’s precisely what it should be), to which he replied something like: «O, yeah, we’re easy. Take a week …»
It wasn’t The One. Checked out policy on receipt: Return In 3 Days for cash refund; otherwise 7 days for an exchange. Just a tip: Do not make the mistake of going over those 3 days.
When returning it to the same salesperson I was met with an extremely cold and uncomfortable attitude. He barely made eye contact. The really funny thing? I went there planning on asking to peruse some catalogs to perhaps have them order another expensive shade. Except when he saw me entering the store with the shade it was as if the entire store went dark with his bad vibe that that was the last thing I was about to do.
The shade selection seemed to me a bit sparse as well. I will never set foot in their store again because if there is next to zero customer service that’s precisely what I’ll spend there or anywhere else.

Michael’s Lamp Studio is as good as it gets. I honestly love this place and the staff.
Michael’s is the type of place you expect to find in some small downtown place. It has a TON of hard to find lamp parts and bulbs. I stumbled in this place looking to find a rare bulb for this old Christmas decoration my grandma passed down. While I was there I saw one of the best selection of lamps and light pieces I have ever seen.
One of the quickest ways to change the look of a room is switching out the light fixtures. Take a walk through Michael’s and you will see endless possibilities.
In addition to their retail selection, their repair has been top rate as well. I’ve had two pieces fixed here and each one works better than when I first brought it in.
Support local business like Michael’s, you won’t be sorry.

I’ve been to Michael’s Lamps a couple times now and bought 4 lamp shades, two table lamps, and a floor lamp. All of which I really love.
They have a huge selection of lamp shades, some very unique and great fabrics. I found a one of a kind blue shade which is amazing — it was the only blue one in the store and wish they had more. (They did actually order another one which I found on a return visit.
Staff has been helpful and I’ve even got a lamp re-​wired there.
It’s worth checking out — particularly if you are looking for new shades! The prices are a little high but the quality is very good and they have occassional 20% off sales and take care of repeat customers.

I love this place. I had a lamp, that my late grandpa made for me, and my cats broke the base. While they didn’t have a similar replacement base, they suggested I hunt for one at thrift stores. Instead of finding a base, I found candle holders that looked just like it. They said the could make the candle holders look like the base. The lamp looks like the lamp my grandpa made, and I couldn’t be happier. The only reason this place didn’t get five stars is because it took longer than they said it would and when I called to check on the lamp, they never called back, but overall, it was great.

While they have a fabulous selection of lamps and lampshades here, the customer service, as a couple of previous posters have noted, is deplorable. I don’t know who the guy was the last time I was there to pick up a lamp I’d had repaired, but an attitude of superior snottiness drifted around him in a narcissistic miasma. It was a truly unpleasant interaction, and I don’t generally have those. I have avoided the place ever since.

12/​30/​2011
Ever since I bought the cool light bulb a worker here suggested, I have received tons of compliments!
—
So of course, right as I leave Piccadilly Prairie with a heavy lamp in my arms and waiting to cross the street, I turned around and saw a lamp store.
20% OFF ALL LAMP SHADES, a sign said.
When I walked in, a man with a shade in his hands told me I could put the lamp down. I browsed a few aisles and went back to the front. The man suggested a large lampshade for my lamp.
Eh, I thought. I told him I wanted the base to stand out. He took off the shade and put on a smaller, curvy one.
I asked if it would look okay if the lamp didn’t have a shade. «Maybe if you had a really cool bulb.» He turned around and took a black box from one of the shelves, unpacked a bulb, and screwed it onto the lamp. Another man behind the counter plugged in the lamp. Yes, it did look cool.
The man behind the counter said a round pendant might look good on that type of lamp. And it did!
I will come back to look at more pendants. And the clocks here are awesome — not the Target-​quality stuff that you stop liking after a year, but the classy French clocks that don’t make ticking sounds. Aaah.

Several months ago I bought a 1940’s lamp through a craigslist ad– it was the same kind my parents had, with the heavy iron base, the three «candles», and the huge 100−200−300 bulb in the middle. I love the amount of light those things put out! But it was in some rough shape– didn’t have the bowl-​shaped glass thingy, and when I went looking for a shade for it, Target just doesn’t have the kind that works.
So I stopped by Michael’s. The fellow who spoke with me gave me a range of options at different price points — from a full restoration of the lamp (rewire it, remove rust, paint it) to simply buying the diffuser (that’s the «bowl-​shaped glass thingy» I needed) and a lampshade that would sit on top.
I *will* say it’s not a cheap store. However, they do have sales on a fairly regular basis, so that can help. The lamp they helped me with now sits in our living room and does its lampy thing– and if the wiring needs to be redone or if I get sick of looking at the rust on the base and want to have that fixed, I know where I can take it and they’ll do quality work.
Yes, parking is tricky. On the other hand, if you do find a spot, Dunn Brothers coffee is just down the block, so you can get a good cuppa while you’re there.
I currently have another $ 20 craigslist-​found antique lamp that I’m having them *completely* restore. When I told the guy I wanted to buy a lampshade taking advantage of their current 20%-off sale, he said, «Oh, don’t worry about it. I’ll write it on the ticket so you can get the discount when you pick up the [restored] lamp.» That was pretty cool. So I may update this once they’ve finished with it, around early March or so.

I love this shop! They have a very elegant selection. I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted in any of the stores in L.A., but was referred to Michael’s by a friend who builds and designs multi million dollar homes in MN. The customer service was exceptional as were their prices! I was able to find exactly what I wanted and more and have it shipped. The lamps and chandelier I got are pieces of art that I will have for a lifetime!

I had purchased a couple of floor lamps from West elm a few years ago long before there was a store in Edina. I went the West Elm store to see if there might any sort of replacement lamp shades since current one had been broken by my cleaning lady and there was not. They don’t sell lamp shades separate either, but the woman I spoke with referred me to Michael’s Lamp Studio and I knew right were it was since I had driven by it a thousand times.
I parked up the the street and walked in. There was probably a half dozen people inside so I waited for someone to be free standing as if I was in need of help. The older man behind the counter began walk right past me toward a couple who were in the back of the store, but I said to him, «Can you help me?»
I had taken photos on my iphone of my current lamp in need of new lamp shades and I showed him the pictures and described the dimensions I needed and he said I am sure we have something that will be similar he then went down to into the basement like he was going to go find something in his inventory and he came back up empty handed. He completely ignored me and went about looking at a box on the floor full of junk then proceeded to talk to another customer and her lamp shade needs.
The story is very overrun with lamp shades and not many fixtures really and I was not about to go around the store looking for something since I do not know their inventory and there are signs posted asking to ask for help. So I just left, the guy clearly didn’t want to help me and would rather help the other customers. Not sure why my money is just as green as hers.
The guy could have said to look around or I don’t think you have what I needed something. What an idiot.
Stay away from this shop. I will be. The customer service is deplorable.