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MM I.

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3 Reviews by MM

  • Furniture Import Export Inc.

6/29/17

This review is based on a purchase made with Furniture Import & Export Inc as a vendor for Houzz. A similar, but more detailed review can be found for Houzz.com posted 06/28/2017.
This is a multi-part review, and we recommend you read all 4 parts:
1) TABLE - gorgeous in the picture, couldn't tell you in person. After cutting the tape on the box and removing packaging, it was clear that the table sides had shattered, so we never saw the table top. Looks like it was what I was expecting, though. However, the danger and mess of shattered mirror fragments were of great concern. (See Part 3 of this review)
2) CHAIRS - beautiful, with spring reinforcement in the seat and a firm cushion, we believe these would have lasted even with regular use. The "otter" color is lovely - not "dove" grey, and not "charcoal" either. They arrived in good condition, and they were easy to assemble with a 5mm allen wrench included (the legs are in the seat base). The table can be purchased separately for $977, and the FOUR chairs would absolutely be worth the remaining $600. (See Part 3 of this review.)
3) CUSTOMER SERVICE - Houzz has very nice customer service reps, but it was Furniture Import & Export, Inc that we were forced to (attempt) to work with for the return of damaged goods. (Houzz reps and supervisor just said, "They said..." or "They refuse..." for everything relating to the return.) The third party was sketchy (reps giving two different names and other questionable behaviors), and they were unreasonable about the return. Their position was that we should repack the shattered table, risking injury and the liability of the return freight persons potentially being injured by mirrored shards because we are not professional packers. We were told it was not a big deal and that we should run down to Home Depot and buy some tape and gloves to pack it back up. On top of it all, it is now 2 weeks later and the mirrored shards, table, and chairs (which WE were forced to un-assemble AND repackage for the return!) are still sitting in the living room. This vendor was unwilling to provide "white glove" delivery on a replacement (which we were willing to pay for), and ultimately, we were not willing to risk starting this nightmare over again. When we finally gave up on a replacement, we asked about refunding just the table and keeping the chairs, but they were only willing to refund a nominal portion of the total price, making the cost of 4 dining chairs close to $1,000, which felt like gouging.
4) PICK UP FOR THE RETURN It took more than FORTY HOURS and nearly THREE WEEKS of phone calls (and three-way calls with Furniture Import & Export Inc. and Houzz.com), to get this vendor to pick up the damaged table. Meanwhile, mirror shards are sitting in our home with our grandchildren and pet. Houzz finally negotiated for Furniture Import & Export Inc. to arrange pack up and pick up but the freight service missed a deadline pick-up window by 2 hours (and we missed our flight out of town). They sent one slim, older man alone. He arrived without packing tape or equipment (like a dolly) to move the table and asked us to help him move the 7-foot, 250+ pound table (we declined). Another hour until a second person arrived to help him. Still no packing tape or gloves. (Meanwhile they are in our home with potential liability.)
We have purchased many large and expensive items online, but this was our first experience with Furniture Import & Export Inc (and with Houzz who fronts for them). RUN FROM THIS VENDOR. IT IS NOT WORTH THE RISK (not to mention the disappointment over losing out on a product you fell in love with)! Whatever you do, be sure you check the condition INSIDE the boxes AT THE CURB before you sign/let the original delivery truck drive away, because otherwise you are at the mercy of Furniture Import & Export Inc (even when you are buying from Houzz.com!), which ends up being an unfair and awful experience. They have your money, you have a product that you cant use (and may even pose a safety hazard), and you cannot force them to come and take it back. We will not risk repeating this experience with either Furniture Import & Export Inc. or with Houzz/other Houzz sellers. If you must, pay with your Amex card so you can get your money back and put the ball in THEIR court to come pick up their products.

Tip for consumers:
Whatever you do, be sure you check the condition INSIDE the boxes AT THE CURB before you sign/let the original delivery truck drive away, because otherwise you are at their mercy (even via Houzz)! They have your money, you have a product that you can’t use (and may even pose a safety hazard), and you cannot force them to come and take it back. If you must, pay with your Amex card so you can get your money back and put the ball in THEIR court to come pick up the products.

  • Houzz

6/28/17

This review was originally posted at Houzz.com, but they REMOVED it and sent a note indicating it was about the product and not about Houzz itself WE DISAGREE COMPLETELY and find that removal to be misleading. We wonder how many others tried to provide REAL feedback to other potential purchasers and had their review MOVED, too.
This is a 4-part review, and we recommend you read all 4 parts:
1) TABLE - gorgeous in the picture, couldn't tell you in person. After cutting the tape on the box and removing packaging, it was clear that the table sides had shattered, so we never saw the table top. Looks like it was what I was expecting, though. However, the danger and mess of shattered mirror fragments were of great concern. (See Part 3 of this review)
2) CHAIRS - beautiful, with spring reinforcement in the seat and a firm cushion, we believe these would have lasted even with regular use. The "otter" color is lovely - not "dove" grey, and not "charcoal" either. They arrived in good condition, and they were easy to assemble with a 5mm allen wrench included (the legs are in the seat base). The table can be purchased separately elsewhere online for just under $1,100, and the FOUR chairs would absolutely be worth the remaining $577. (See Part 3 of this review.)
3) HOUZZ CUSTOMER SERVICE - Houzz has very nice customer service reps. Unfortunately, this set is fulfilled by a third party, and in the end, it was this third party that we were forced to deal. Houzz reps and supervisor really just said, "They said..." or "They refuse..." for everything relating to the return [SEE UPDATE BELOW]. Houzz said they could not re-ship the order with "white glove" service that would ensure we didn't start the whole issue over again with another shattered table, and ultimately we were not willing to risk starting this nightmare over again. When we finally gave up on a replacement, we asked about refunding just the table and keeping the chairs, but they were only willing to refund $500+ of the total price, making the cost of 4 dining chairs close to $1,000, which felt like gouging. (Houzz blamed this on the vendor, but they refused to see that that vendor IS Houzz for us, the consumer.) Of course, the friendly and amenable Houzz folks said that was all the third partys doing and they couldnt help it. That seems like very little customer service under the circumstances. (Everyone at Houzz remained friendly to talk to and genuinely concerned about the danger of shattered mirror for our grandchildren but offered no solutions other than full return of all items SOMEDAY, we are still waiting for pick up.) [UPDATE: HOUZZ DID ARRANGE PICK UP AFTER NEARLY 3 WEEKS AND PROCESSED A FULL REFUND WITHIN HOURS OF THE PICK UP. THIS WAS THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO AFTER THIS SAD EXPERIENCE. THANKS TO * AT HOUZZ FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH.]
4) VENDOR/SELLLER/THIRD PARTY The third party was sketchy (reps giving two different names and other questionable behaviors), and they were unreasonable about the return. Their position was that we should repack the shattered table, risking injury and the liability of the return freight persons potentially being injured by mirrored shards because we are not professional packers. We were told it was not a big deal and that we should run down to Home Depot and buy some tape and gloves to pack it back up. On top of it all, it is now 2 weeks later and the mirrored shards, table, and chairs (which WE were forced to unassemble AND repackage for the return!) are still sitting in the living room. This poses a danger for our grandkids, which Houzz reps seemed genuinely concerned about - yet here we are. [COPY OF UPDATE: HOUZZ DID ARRANGE PACK UP and PICK UP AFTER NEARLY 3 WEEKS AND PROCESSED A FULL REFUND WITHIN HOURS OF THE PICK UP. THIS WAS THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO AFTER THIS SAD EXPERIENCE. THANKS TO * AT HOUZZ FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH.]
We have purchased many large and expensive items online, but this was our first experience with HOUZZ. Hopefully, you have better luck with things, because the chairs are good quality and table would be beautiful in one piece (note: we cannot speak to quality of the table because it was never unpacked completely). Whatever you do, be sure you check the condition INSIDE the boxes AT THE CURB before you sign/let the original delivery truck drive away, because otherwise you are at the mercy of Houzz's VENDORS (Houzz takes no responsibility!) and at least in this case, that was unfair and an awful experience that we will not risk repeating with Houzz/Houzz sellers.

*Personal information redacted by admin

Tip for consumers:
You are not buying from Houzz - you are buying from a third party, and Houzz takes NO RESPONSIBILITY for anything that goes wrong. You should be researching the THIRD PARTY's REVIEWS to make your buying decision.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
  • Fanatics

2/28/17

We spent more than $300 in Superbowl LI gear and it is ALL (without a single exception) garbage. The NIKE logo means nothing (shame on you Nike)! The jersey is a glorified t-shirt ($130), the t-shirts ($26-37ea x4 shirts) are 99cent store quality and oddly sized, the pint glasses ($17 ea) are as cheap as they come with dangerous flaws on the lip surface- unusable (not that we would!), the window banner is thin enough to be see-through ($26), and the fitted cap ($27) is so large it, too, is mis-sized (explains why they sold out of SM). The auto decals came off the first day they were applied, and the Christmas ornaments are throw-aways. To top it all off, we waited more than 2 weeks, the shipments came 1 item to a box, and returns are $5 PER ITEM so we'd pay almost $50 in RETURN FEES even if it's all in the same return box. RUN! DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM THIS VENDOR - EVER!

Tip for consumers:
Customer Service said they would refund 100% no fees. They sent confirmations of "return received" showing refund amount credited, but the bank statement credits are short by $6.47 from THEIR OWN EMAILED AMOUNTS. Will we kick up another fuss over <$10? No. Does it still say "Buyer Beware"? Unfortunately, despite the refunds, we think it does. Use your own best judgment.

Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
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Nigel P. – Fanatics Rep

We are terribly sorry to hear about your less than satisfactory experience with Fanatics and we would appreciate the opportunity to make this right. We have waived the return label fees so you will not be charged and the items do not have to be returned seperately as they were all shipped from the same warehouse, only on separste shipping dates due to the championship geared purchase. Once the items are returned, we will process a refund right away and it will take 2-7 business days to reflect once processed. Please don't hesitate to reach via private message for more information. We apologize again for the inconvenience and hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Chastity

MM Has Earned 7 Votes

Mm I.'s review of Fanatics earned a Very Helpful vote

Mm I.'s review of Houzz earned 4 Very Helpful votes

Mm I.'s review of Furniture Import Export Inc. earned a Very Helpful vote

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