Know Your Consumer Rights

I wasn't quite sure where to post this, so if this doesn't count as business or finance, feel free to move me...

I’m looking for some insight regarding my rights in a specific situation involving delayed delivery of items I purchased.

About a month and a half ago, I ordered some furniture from a showroom in Cleveland. They told me it would take roughly a month. Once that month passed, the store called to say the furniture had arrived. I went in the very next day (November 15th) to settle the payment, making sure to double-check that everything was indeed in stock and ready to go—and they assured me it was all there. Delivery was scheduled for Tuesday, November 18th, which is when it finally showed up. However, one wardrobe was missing. The delivery driver noted this clearly on the delivery receipt, explaining that they simply didn't have it in the warehouse. I called the store immediately; they acknowledged the issue, offered an apology, and claimed they had already ordered the missing piece, promising it would arrive by the end of the week. Well, Friday afternoon (November 21st) rolled around and I hadn't heard a peep about the wardrobe. When I followed up, I was met by a rather unpleasant woman at the shop who claimed she had no idea what I was talking about. She said she’d have to check and promised to call me back on Monday. It’s now well past that, and I haven't heard anything. If they don't reach out after business hours, I fully intend to head down to the showroom in person to demand an update.

The shop in question is Paul's, located right near that high-rise over in downtown. In the meantime, I've actually heard from several other people who were just as frustrated by their lack of service and general negligence.

What are my actual rights here if the wardrobe still hasn't arrived? And more importantly, how can I pressure them to speed things up? I've been living without a functional wardrobe for ten days now. Thanks in advance for any help.

So, what, you're just going to head over to IKEA (or whatever) and pick out furniture there?
Look, Paul is a total cheapskate—the biggest one I know—but he’s got a massive customer base and keeps busy. I don't expect any kind of speed from a guy like that. If I want a groveling salesperson and $3333 extra cash left in my wallet, I'm staying far away from Paul. But if I'm willing to compromise and I'm tight on funds, then yeah, I go to Paul...
IBM, the distributor for Farnell is Altpro, and we're talking high-end, expensive gear here. This supposedly "renowned" company they represent basically ghosted me on a product for three months after I already paid for an ADC $833. It’s like ordering a simple printer connector for your PC and being told it's out of stock in the States...
What am I supposed to do about it?
I finally got it, but only after waiting three long months...
There's never a guarantee you won't run into this with the top-tier companies, but honestly, when someone is moving 100 pieces of furniture a day, it feels like these kinds of screw-ups happen to them way more often...

Jerry Wright6

Oh, great. So I guess it's my fault if the sales staff are rude, dismissive, and look you right in the eye while lying through their teeth???

Look, if I'm buying budget furniture, I'm fully prepared for the quality to be a bit hit-or-miss. Honestly, I was actually pleasantly surprised when they told me the delivery would arrive right on schedule—I half expected them to need more time.

What I didn't sign up for was having some woman stare me down, chewing on a donut, and flatly stating, "Yeah, everything's here, the order is complete," only for it to turn out—once my credit card had already cleared—that an entire cabinet is missing. It’s just... nonsensical.

Anyway, thanks for the tip. I am certainly not setting foot in that shop again. It's a little insulting when someone tries to talk to you with a mouth full of food.

By the way, did that wardrobe ever show up?
Still waiting on an answer regarding consumer rights here.
I started a new thread on this forum hoping someone might actually have some insight. What's the deal with the Consumer Protection Act anyway?

Thanks for asking, but no, my wardrobe hasn't arrived yet.

I reached out to ConsumerProtection.org and they shot back this response: "We recommend you contact the local branch of the Federal Trade Commission at the Boardwalk to file a formal complaint. This appears to be a violation of sales terms under Article 7, Section 2 of the Consumer Protection Act, as the seller established a binding delivery deadline which they have now failed to meet."

I'm heading down there today to see what can actually be done about it. Honestly, I've had quite enough of the sheer rudeness and the constant lying. Perhaps you might want to reach out to the FTC office in your own area as well, just to see what your options are.

vrabac said:Oh, great. So it's my fault if the sales staff is rude, dismissive, and lies straight to my face???

Look, if I buy budget furniture, I expect lower quality. Period. Honestly, I was actually pleasantly surprised when they told me the delivery would arrive right on schedule—I fully expected a delay.

What I didn't expect was for some woman to stare me down, chew her donut, and tell me "Yeah, everything's here, order is complete," only for me to pay the bill and find out a wardrobe is missing. That’s just plain insane.

Thanks for the tip, Enivey. I am definitely not going back there. It’s pretty insulting to be spoken to by someone with a mouthful of food.

That wasn't my point. Your personal experience is a completely different matter...
My point was about the sheer volume of work and the price points of these types of companies. You can expect a certain level of service based on what you pay (which won't be top-tier)...
Though that isn't a universal rule...
For instance, check out that thread on Reddit where people are absolutely floored by the service they received for next to nothing...

Jerry Wright6

I’m honestly not sure if there's any point in posting here on a thread that’s ten years old—mods, if you could just move this to a more recent discussion if one exists (and maybe let me know once it's moved, please 😁), I'd appreciate it.

So, I picked up some fruit snack squares from Kellogg's and found some black stuff inside them—pretty sure it’s mold. Since this isn't exactly the shopkeeper's fault, but rather something went wrong at the factory level, I'm wondering what my next move should be.

I actually reached out to the consumer protection groups, but they just pointed me toward the inspectors, who then told me to contact the manufacturer... basically, it's just a big circle of people pointing fingers while I'm left standing here looking foolish.

Does anyone know if I'm actually entitled to any kind of compensation? (Not that I can say for sure how many of these bad snack bars I've already eaten, since I didn't notice the dark spots until I'd already bitten into them.

jadedrifter2 said:I’m honestly not sure if there's any point in posting here on a thread that’s ten years old—mods, if you could just move this to a more recent discussion if one exists (and maybe let me know once it's moved, please 😁), I'd appreciate it.

So, I picked up some fruit snack squares from Kellogg's and found some black stuff inside them—pretty sure it’s mold. Since this isn't exactly the shopkeeper's fault, but rather something went wrong at the factory level, I'm wondering what my next move should be.

I actually reached out to the consumer protection groups, but they just pointed me toward the inspectors, who then told me to contact the manufacturer... basically, it's just a big circle of people pointing fingers while I'm left standing here looking foolish.

Does anyone know if I'm actually entitled to any kind of compensation? (Not that I can say for sure how many of these bad snack bars I've already eaten, since I didn't notice the dark spots until I'd already bitten into them.

You should give Kellogg's a call; I'm sure they have a consumer hotline set up for exactly this kind of thing.

A few years back, I ran into the exact same issue with some Kraft chocolate croissants. I opened a package that was still factory-sealed, only to find the croissants inside were completely covered in mold. The expiration date was perfectly fine—it wasn't even close to being out of date.

So, I called the Kraft consumer relations line and let them know about what I'd bought.
They were incredibly apologetic and asked if I could mail the packaging back to them for inspection.
I did just that.
Along with their formal apology letter, they actually sent a whole box of various Kraft products straight to my house! 😁 👍

jadedrifter2 said:I’m honestly not sure if there's any point in posting here on a thread that’s ten years old—mods, if you could just move this to a more recent discussion if one exists (and maybe let me know once it's moved, please 😁), I'd appreciate it.

So, I picked up some fruit snack squares from Kellogg's and found some black stuff inside them—pretty sure it’s mold. Since this isn't exactly the shopkeeper's fault, but rather something went wrong at the factory level, I'm wondering what my next move should be.

I actually reached out to the consumer protection groups, but they just pointed me toward the inspectors, who then told me to contact the manufacturer... basically, it's just a big circle of people pointing fingers while I'm left standing here looking foolish.

Does anyone know if I'm actually entitled to any kind of compensation? (Not that I can say for sure how many of these bad snack bars I've already eaten, since I didn't notice the dark spots until I'd already bitten into them.

Who even cares about a few cookies.....

Just mail that box of cookies—make sure to include the slip with the batch number (it might be printed directly on the packaging now, I can't say for certain)—to the manufacturer's address, and they'll send you a fresh box via mail along with an apology, and occasionally a little extra product too.
It actually works for our American manufacturers....

I was actually kind of surprised that Kellogg's doesn't have a dedicated consumer hotline listed... all they provide are just various department numbers 😕

The wafer cookies are packed in a bag—it’ll be quite an experience trying to break them up in this heat...

How does one even ship stuff like this, considering it's food? Can I just grab any random box at the Post Office, or is there a specific way to do it? Could I maybe use FedEx or something similar?

Not really sure where to vent about this, so I'm just dropping it here...

So, we went ahead and bought some hardwood flooring based on the sample they had sitting out in the showroom. We even dropped a $30,000 deposit upfront, only for the actual wood to show up looking—in my humble opinion—like a completely different species in terms of quality, finish, and color compared to what we actually ordered. Now the salesman is relentlessly hovering over us, trying to talk us into sticking with it by promising they can just polish it to look like the display model and swearing the color is identical...
What’s the move here? And am I crazy, or can you guys see the massive difference too?

What's the actual difference we're talking about here?? Maybe post a photo—or just drop a link if the company has a website—of the display model versus what was actually bought, just so we can compare them side-by-side

Which flooring are you referring to, and what kind of price point are we looking at?

jadedrifter2 said:What's the actual difference we're talking about here?? Maybe post a photo—or just drop a link if the company has a website—of the display model versus what was actually bought, just so we can compare them side-by-side

Which flooring are you referring to, and what kind of price point are we looking at?

I already attached a photo to my message 😕 basically, this is how the sample looked at the store compared to what we ended up buying..

The quality of this photo is pretty rough, but you can still make out the difference in texture and color. Honestly, I wouldn't settle for the second option even if my life depended on it. Though, I suppose I might reconsider if they threw a 50% discount my way—that other flooring isn't actually that terrible 😬

Maybe try uploading a larger photo next time... which one is the actual flooring you bought versus just the sample, the left or the right? Also, what kind of hardwood are we looking at—what species, how was it finished? And what did it run you? The more details you can throw my way, the better I'll be able to give you an honest assessment of the situation

jadedrifter2 said:Maybe try uploading a larger photo next time... which one is the actual flooring you bought versus just the sample, the left or the right? Also, what kind of hardwood are we looking at—what species, how was it finished? And what did it run you? The more details you can throw my way, the better I'll be able to give you an honest assessment of the situation

here’s the high-res version 😉

http://i42.tinypic.com/30lmjgz.jpg

it was supposed to be steamed oak with an oil finish and a high polish... but instead, we got this absolute disaster. the photo doesn't even do it justice, but honestly, if you felt the difference between these two pieces, it would be night and day.
first, he tries to gaslight us into thinking it's the exact same stuff, claiming he'll just "polish it up" a bit for us... then, when he comes back for the second time, he starts making excuses, acting like he doesn't know anything, yet still insists that the floor needs a final polish after installation.. obviously, none of this bullshit was mentioned when we paid the deposit. on top of all that, about 30% of the planks were only half a meter long when they were supposed to be between 6 and 10 feet long... again, totally unmentioned at the start. the flooring showed up without any actual packaging, just tied together with some cheap plastic straps. because they were stacked so poorly during transit, the edges of some boards turned this weird shade—like they'd been sitting out in the California sun or something.
that polished sample he supposedly made for us is the one on the left in the picture, and trust me, it feels nothing like the mess on the right that we actually ordered.

the price per square foot was $297...

Charles Wells71 said:here’s the high-res version 😉

http://i42.tinypic.com/30lmjgz.jpg

it was supposed to be steamed oak with an oil finish and a high polish... but instead, we got this absolute disaster. the photo doesn't even do it justice, but honestly, if you felt the difference between these two pieces, it would be night and day.
first, he tries to gaslight us into thinking it's the exact same stuff, claiming he'll just "polish it up" a bit for us... then, when he comes back for the second time, he starts making excuses, acting like he doesn't know anything, yet still insists that the floor needs a final polish after installation.. obviously, none of this bullshit was mentioned when we paid the deposit. on top of all that, about 30% of the planks were only half a meter long when they were supposed to be between 6 and 10 feet long... again, totally unmentioned at the start. the flooring showed up without any actual packaging, just tied together with some cheap plastic straps. because they were stacked so poorly during transit, the edges of some boards turned this weird shade—like they'd been sitting out in the California sun or something.
that polished sample he supposedly made for us is the one on the left in the picture, and trust me, it feels nothing like the mess on the right that we actually ordered.

the price per square foot was $297...

I don't get the whole "I didn't know" excuse
Why does it have to be those specific lengths? You can find premium brands like Bruce or even bamboo and exotic hardwoods for way less money...

Charles Wells71 said:here’s the high-res version 😉

http://i42.tinypic.com/30lmjgz.jpg

it was supposed to be steamed oak with an oil finish and a high polish... but instead, we got this absolute disaster. the photo doesn't even do it justice, but honestly, if you felt the difference between these two pieces, it would be night and day.
first, he tries to gaslight us into thinking it's the exact same stuff, claiming he'll just "polish it up" a bit for us... then, when he comes back for the second time, he starts making excuses, acting like he doesn't know anything, yet still insists that the floor needs a final polish after installation.. obviously, none of this bullshit was mentioned when we paid the deposit. on top of all that, about 30% of the planks were only half a meter long when they were supposed to be between 6 and 10 feet long... again, totally unmentioned at the start. the flooring showed up without any actual packaging, just tied together with some cheap plastic straps. because they were stacked so poorly during transit, the edges of some boards turned this weird shade—like they'd been sitting out in the California sun or something.
that polished sample he supposedly made for us is the one on the left in the picture, and trust me, it feels nothing like the mess on the right that we actually ordered.

the price per square foot was $297...

😲😲...good grief. Was this somehow custom-made specifically for you guys regarding the dimensions?? You could get way, way better high-end flooring for much less money!

The price tag is insane... honestly, if I were you, I'd be asking for a refund. If he won't budge, call the Better Business Bureau immediately... sent you a DM

jadedrifter2 said:I don't get the whole "I didn't know" excuse
Why does it have to be those specific lengths? You can find premium brands like Bruce or even bamboo and exotic hardwoods for way less money...

😲😲...good grief. Was this somehow custom-made specifically for you guys regarding the dimensions?? You could get way, way better high-end flooring for much less money!

The price tag is insane... honestly, if I were you, I'd be asking for a refund. If he won't budge, call the Better Business Bureau immediately... sent you a DM

The whole reason we went with this specific type is because of those long planks—it’s built with nine layers, which is basically its only selling point right now... everything is about 21mm thick and 20cm wide..
The wood itself looks amazing, though; it's steamed oak with that reddish tint we were looking for, just like the sample we saw at Home Depot...

jadedrifter2 said:I don't get the whole "I didn't know" excuse
Why does it have to be those specific lengths? You can find premium brands like Bruce or even bamboo and exotic hardwoods for way less money...

😲😲...good grief. Was this somehow custom-made specifically for you guys regarding the dimensions?? You could get way, way better high-end flooring for much less money!

The price tag is insane... honestly, if I were you, I'd be asking for a refund. If he won't budge, call the Better Business Bureau immediately... sent you a DM

Well, obviously the price is huge... but that's the "cash discount" price for you..🙂
MAYBE HE THINKS WE'RE EASY TARGETS... BUT HE'LL BE HANDING THAT MONEY BACK ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!

Oh, and one more thing... when we asked to see the product specs, he suddenly couldn't find them, claiming they were left with the shipping company... even though he was bragging earlier about how he could show us the paperwork whenever he wanted. Total joke.

Looks like you got stuck with some cheap junk that obviously fell off the back of a truck—someone's trying to make a quick buck off you. Take it back and get your money back. Honestly, I’d rather just go with laminate from $10 than deal with this headache.
All that cash spent and not even a decent spec sheet. What a joke.

Look, you have to understand that there is a massive difference between raw lumber and finished flooring. It’s night and day.

So—if he’s showing you a polished, oiled floor in the showroom, don't expect it to look identical to the raw material I’d be hauling over to install for you.😉

Regarding the color: if it looks too pale, we can always tone it down a bit. If it’s looking too red for your taste, I can add more oil. Honestly, natural oak doesn't even come out red on its own, so we usually have to stain it anyway—you could practically make it neon orange if you really wanted to...

The one thing I can't fix, though, is the grade. If you opted for Grade 1 or Grade 2, you shouldn't be seeing heavy knots, insect holes, or major imperfections.

And listen, if he signed off on a delivery range of 0.5 to 2 feet, that doesn't mean every single plank is going to be two feet long. If that were the case, I'd basically be sawing through half a tree just to get three planks! Finding top-tier, premium wood is hard enough in standard lengths, let alone in extra-long pieces...

Unless he actually signed a document explicitly stating, "We will deliver planks between 2 and 3 feet long," I wouldn't go expecting much on that front.

Edit: You end up cutting the flooring at the edges anyway. Having about 30% shorter planks is perfectly fine, provided the room you're working in isn't longer than, say, 50 feet. You're going to have to cut them regardless.