Just Nailed A National Furniture Store Big Time

[rsmith6621]

My Wife and I have been looking for another end table and padded recliner for our bedroom so tonight we went down the street to a Nationally known furniture store to take a look(I will not mention here)

Well the salesperson approached us and was enthusiastic to make a sale. We showed her what we wanted an asked her if we could have by the 1st she left to take a look at the inventory and returned and said no it would be at least the 8th as the warehouse was out so they would have to order it direct from the factory so I spoke up and asked....where is the factory???....she said she didn't know but thought it was in Alabama so I got down on my knees and decided to look for any labels to help her out....none could be found including the chair. I then said why is there not a required fiber content label on the chair....no answer.....so I asked again if she could get specific information on the factory where these items are to be made. She left for a few minutes and I did a little more detective work on the end table and found "Made in China"burned into the wood and a very small label on the chairs cushion "En Hencho De Mexico".

When the women returned she said Dolthan GA for the chair and Lexington Ky for the table. I asked if she was sure she said yes so I asked her if she would write a statement to that effect on the receipt as a way to back up her statement. Her manager lurking came over and said no she could not. I then said holding seven one hundred $$$$ bills then you need to figure out why you are losing this sale.

I told my wife we are through and we both left....

[RB TexLa]

1. Glad to know your ass is too good to sit on something made by people in Mexico

or China.

[ret5hd]

4. You don't buy American with me.

[RayOfHope]

37. LOL!

I remember that thread.

[Celebration]

23. So you are fine with lying by a sales representative? n/t

[Quantess]

52. The salesperson probably didn't know.

Salespeople are trained to tell customers certain things; they are not always filled in on the gory details that they aren't told to highlight.

[Celebration]

56. give me a break!!

Are you okay with the salespeople being TRAINED to lie?

[AwakeAtLast]

28. I'm guessing he wouldn't do business with a dishonest company

But I'm only guessing. :shrug:

[TwixVoy]

42. Bull shit

"be at least the 8th as the warehouse was out so they would have to order it direct from the factory so I spoke up and asked....where is the factory??"

He needs to get his story right first. WTF was he asking them - WHERE the WAREHOUSE was or where it was MADE. Sounds to me like they thought he was asking WHERE THE WAREHOUSE was so he could get an idea of where it was being shipped from and possible arrival times. Hell that's what I thought he was trying to find out during the first half of his story.

[Ghost in the Machine]

43. Do you not know the difference between *factory* & *warehouse*?

""be at least the 8th as the warehouse was out so they would have to order it direct from the factory so I spoke up and asked....where is the factory??"

See? Where is the factory?

There are many warehouses in the US that store goods manufactured in a *factory* overseas...

:hi:

[TwixVoy]

44. Yes I DO know the difference

I wonder if the OP does.

At first he asked them where the WAREHOUSE was. More than likely that is the answer they gave him, and likely why it took them a little while to go and find out. I find it highly unlikely they were trying to make him believe this is where the damn thing was MADE.

And who the hell goes in to a major national seller of ANYTHING and expects to find something made state side? And then is upset when they find something made in Asia? It's like walking in to wal-mart and coming back posting here about how shocked you are you found a DVD player made in China. I have to wonder if the OP might be a little slow?

[tkmorris]

50. OMG really?

1) The OP never stated that he asked where the warehouse was. He said quite clearly that he asked where the factory was, presumably since that is where he was told they would ship from. The warehouse comes up only in the salesperson's statement that said warehouse did not have the product in stock.

2) Major furniture retailers do not resemble Walmart, in any way shape or form. For what it's worth, there is actually quite a bit of furniture still being made right here in the USA, it's one of the few products you can still say that about. Given your background I'd expect you to know that, but perhaps they don't sell any of it in your store, who knows.

3) "I have to wonder if the OP might be a little slow". What on earth brought that on? Why would you think such a thing is called for? I know this is the internet. I know that, unlike if we were all standing around having a little chat while waiting for the bus, no one can see you or even know who you are. No one can give you a withering stare and a quiet "Excuse me sir? WHAT did you just say to me?", but that doesn't mean it's OK to be a jackass, only that you can get away with it.

[TheDoorbellRang]

70. Actually, furniture is NOT mostly made in USA anymore

Upholstery is still mostly made here (or still was in 2005 when I retired from the furniture world), but most casegoods and occasional are now made elsewhere. One of the tricksy things that some companies do in order to still put "Made in USA" on their furniture is have the pieces made overseas and then assembled in the States.

Twenty years ago North Carolina was the furniture capital of America. We used to go visit the furniture factories around High Point when we'd go to the spring and fall markets. Now every major furniture maker I can think of makes their stuff overseas. Two exceptions are Mobel and Peters Revington, unless they've succumbed or gone out of business since 2005.

[Ghost in the Machine]

53. No, the OP asked where the *factory* was...

"she left to take a look at the inventory and returned and said no it would be at least the 8th as the warehouse was out so they would have to order it direct from the factory so I spoke up and asked....where is the factory???...."

The salesperson said that the *warehouse* was out of stock so they would have to order some from the *factory*...

I know.. it's late... :hi:

[Duppers]

61. reread the OP

What is YOUR problem??? not take your ritalin today or something? {not a slap at ADD folks here, self included.)

The OP stated: so I spoke up and asked....where is the factory???....


As a former salesperson in an upscale furniture I know that my employer did train store personel about details, including manufacturing, of the products we sold. Most designers knew a great deal about furniture lines and products from the start. But that was many yrs ago and we sold only top-of-the-line (mainly from NC) furniture. I know most of it is now imported; and as a result of those business decisions, the poor folks in NC are hurting.

[Mudoria]

68. Indeed, NC was home to some of the finest

furniture makers in the world. Those days are sadly over now. Most companies decided to move their operations to China or Mexico and even though the quality wasn't very good... "hey, we make more profit and they'll be back to replace this crap again in a few years"!

[AwakeAtLast]

57. Congratulations

I've been on DU for 4 1/2 years. You are the first person to curse at me. Over furniture.

[Duppers]

62. not his point!!

not the point at all. what a stupid statement!

balance of trade, national deficit, salve labor, integrity in advertising
ring any bells??????

(perhaps there's some sarcasm here that I'm missing?)

[ret5hd]

76. No, not sarcasm. Those are the comedy stylings of our own Andy Kaufman impersonators.

I keep waiting for a wrestling match challenge.

[MadMaddie]

2. I am going to kick this because more Americans need to do it

We have no idea what crap they are putting in the goods they are shipping here. We know that there is lax regulation and auditing...

Good for you and your wife I hope you find an American company (if one still exists) to buy your furniture).

K & R

[pimpbot]

3. Unfortunately for many, price is a factor

Eat dinner on the floor, or eat dinner on a cheap kitchen table made in china? Hmm, lemme guess which one people are going to choose.

If you are in the market for QUALITY furniture that will last forever, then by all means seek out some US handcrafted stuff. Unfortunately, many people cannot afford that.

I dont see what value there is in berating a sales clerk though. She probably didn't know and/or didn't care. Thats what you're gonna get at a national furniture store.

Why not take your $700 to a local mom n pop furniture store?

[eowyn_of_rohan]

29. OR go to a THRIFT STORE if you can't afford it

You can find good vintage AMERICAN made pieces. You can refinish, repaint, reupholster, if you want to, and make it your own. It is an excellent way to protest and fun!

[blue neen]

5. Good for you.

If I have to keep the furniture I have now for the entire rest of my life, then that is what I will do. The last item we bought was a bedroom suite made in the USA. There will be no Chinese furniture in this home. To be honest with you, I don't even like the looks of the Chinese furniture.

You could go online and check out some of the furniture manufacturers in the Carolina's. They will ship.

The very fact that this furniture store tried to deceive you is reason enough not to shop there.

[blue neen]

14. I found this website.

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/homedecor.html#Furniture

[Duppers]

63. here's another good website, strictly for NC furniture however

http://www.shopncfurniture.com/

[elleng]

34. But many of them have moved their 'manufacturers'

from u.s. to elsewhere, like China.

Surprised to learn this up front and personal from former neighbor who worked for one in NC, whose son is now doing the same: Manuf in China. Good luck finding any actually MADE in U.S.A.

AND its due to costs.

[a la izquierda]

6. Uh, it's Hecho en Mexico.

Might want to edit that, if you can.

[RB TexLa]

7. Awwww, don't go ruining things now, they know what they saw.

:)

[a la izquierda]

9. I was actually going to say...

that some of the nicest, most well-crafted furniture I've ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on--Oh yeah, made in Mexico...by actual Mexicans...of real wood. The carpentry is completely astounding.

I understand if you want to buy American, go to a mom and pop store, as someone suggested. Me, I quite like the style of furniture I can get in Mexico and considering I'm a broke grad student, I'll take it.

;)

[RB TexLa]

10. I was just commenting on whether or not such a tag was seen by the OP

I have no problem with buying things from the people who live in Mexico. You wouldn't know it from many on DU but they are just as good of human beings as Americans are.

[malaise]

12. That's hardly the point here

They lied about where both items were made.

[supernova]

8. Better yet, go to an Auction and buy an antique

The furntiture is very good quality and an investment. You can also have it reupholstered to whatever you want to match your decor.

[eleny]

13. I was wondering where upholstery fabric is made these days

Going to an upscale consignment shop could be another place to find good furniture.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

24. Hell, I've got solid mahogany furniture that's been in my family for decades.

I need to sell it.

Nobody is interested in buying it.

It's Heppelwhite style. Made in the 1940s. Made in the United States.

Solid mahogany. No veneers anywhere. Dovetail joints on the drawers.

I got a dining table and chairs. I got a china cabinet. I got a buffet.

:banghead:

[supernova]

25. Big Furniture is hardest to sell

It goes for cheap at auctions just because you have to think about how to cart that stuff away and get get it unloaded at your destination.

Sorry to tell you that. :P

Your furniture sounds lovely.

I use a set of mahogany empire bedroom furniture. Big old sleigh bed, a low chest of drawers and two tall chests of drawers. I'm guess they are 1890s or 1900. The suit was my maternal grandparents.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

32. Yep, I moved.

My folks dumped the furniture on me 20-something years ago, and now i'm moving into what was their house.

I've sold and given away unbelievable amounts of stuff. A friend of mine kept saying "Oh you can sell your Depression glass on eBay" and I didn't have the patience, and it didn't sell anyway. I took a lot of it to a charity thrift store.

[greyl]

11. Why not name the store? I can't think of a good reason not to.

That would be more along the lines of nailing them big time, as you put it.
Isn't there a moral imperative to make the name public?

[Hydra]

15. I love how people here defend the item in question because it's from somewhere else

Rather than dealing with the point that the store was lying about where it was coming from.

[Ilsa]

16. Good for you! Furniture manufacturers in NC, etc revolted against

Bushco and their "free market" crap that is driving them out of business.

[supernova]

20. They're having a hard time

like all manufacturing in this country.

Lots of furniture manufacturers didn't want o outsource, but they are getting immense pressure.

[Ilsa]

31. Yeah, I'm so afraid that is true. The only

furniture item we are in need of is a dining room table and chairs. I won't buy anything made outside the US, though, unless US manufacturing dries up completely.

Unfortunately, we need to wait to get a table.

[knitter4democracy]

59. Same here in Michigan.

Grand Rapids used to be the biggest furniture making city in the US. Not anymore, sadly.

[Earth_First]

17. ...and then you TOLD your wife you were both through and left.

do you TELL you wife to do most things?

Glad to hear that it was a MUTUAL decision to support the sale of an union-made American product rather than an imported product.

:sigh:

[Atman]

18. Gotta be Bob's. That's place is HORRIBLE.

And I swear their commercials are made in China. They're the worst ads on television.

I went to a Bob's once. Never again. It was worse than a used car dealership. We were swooped on by a sales rep. None of the mattresses they advertised were actually there, but they had lots of them that cost 10x more. The salesman practically followed us right to our car insisting he had other good deals if we'd just sit down with him for a minute. Bob's SUCKS.

.

[intheflow]

36. I don't think Bob's is nationwide.

One of the best things about moving to Denver from Massachusetts is that I don't have to listen to Bob's whiny voice telling me to "Come on down!" :puke:

[eleny]

65. "American Family Warehouse!"

You may have traded one ear worm for another. :rofl:

Jake Jabs - now there's a sales name for you.

[intheflow]

78. Um, that's "American Furniture Warehouse".

:P

And really, that jingle is Mozart compared to the whiny, nasally voice of Bob from Bob's Furniture. Really, it's like fingernails on a chalkboard listening to Bob. I'm sure whoever invented the mute button on tv remotes did so because they lived in Bob's Furniture territory.

...Though I do harbor a twisted desire to see those big cats run amok in one of the American Furniture Warehouse ads, clawing all the furniture to shreds.
:evilgrin:

[eleny]

80. See what I get for posting before my first cup of coffee of the day?

Oh, the big cats! I'd like to see some of the out takes of those ads.

:hi:

[Maine-ah]

19. check and see if your state prison has a store/show room

we have one (Maine State Prison Showroom) http://www.maine.gov/corrections/industries/index.html

[Lex]

21. So should we stay away from the super secret store or what?

:shrug:

[1776Forever]

22. It is NOT the people but the lack of process oversight that I question here!

Buying from Mexico or China right now is like lighting a match and burning the items to me. You never know what processes or materials were used in the processes! You don't know how many sweat shops or how many American made middle-class jobs were taken away for that matter. I salute you and I try to do the same thing - but we are not going to be able to do much until we start to support the small businesses that are trying to stay afloat in our towns!

:patriot: Nothing wrong with being a Patriot and supporting the middle-class in my book!

[xchrom]

26. lots of chains bring raw materials to produce furniture

into the country and produce all over the country and in mexico.

it can have multiple labels on it -- china for upholstery or the lumber or mdf that it's made from -- it can have made in mexico -- or north carolina.

[Mari333]

27. I would have done the same thing

if I could afford furniture. I have a lot of used stuff . nonetheless, I agree with what you did. :)

[peacetalksforall]

30. Your story reads as though you were upset at the lies. All of a sudden

other posters assumed you were upset because the items were from China and Mexico.

The confusion about the ethics of buying products from Mexico and China is confusing and there isn't one answer.

Now add this - it's possible that the wood for the item came from the U.S., was shipped to China, and the finished product shipped back.

Then, ask why the store hid the source?

Then consider that this chain? was trying to compete with Wal-Mart.

Yes, it is extremely confusing and we haven't even touched on why - the trade agreements.

I agree with the people who say that we can't condemn everything from Mexico or China and we can't deride Mexicans or the Chinese. We should focus on our own government who moved our jobs and factories, moved their profits off shore and registered their companies offshore to avoid long established legislation that protects the citizens. Our anger is misdirected.

Trade treaties for the profits of a few are at the heart of the matter.

The people in Mexico and China who make the items are not a fair target. Their countries in general are not a fair target. The targets are the manipulators in this country.

So, did you say no bacause they lied or did you say no because they lied and you didn't want to buy items from China and Mexico?

[alfredo]

33. Do you remember the brand name of the table? I live in Lexington and

can find if such a business is in Lexington.

[intheflow]

35. self-delete

posted in wrong place. :blush:

[madokie]

38. Several years ago we purchased a new kitchen table and chairs

It being made of white oak plus the price of it, I thought it would be made here in America but when I got it home I noticed a little gold oval tag stuck in an out of way place that said Taiwan on it. I was surprised because I just figured if it was made of white oak it had to come from here.

[JCMach1]

39. Do you know how many Mexicans live in Dalton, GA now?

I am quite seriously about that!

http://books.google.ae/books?id=V5YsPP7htRIC&pg=PA242&lpg=PA242&dq=mexican+community+dalton+georgia&source=web&ots=5e8H-enQBT&sig=se-DrECEB9cAJJIIq-K6lo_Px5g&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result

The OP is whacked... So, it's okay as long as the Mexicans live and work (some illegally) in Georgia but not in Juarez?

[Hawkeye-X]

40. UAE Google?

:eyes:

[JCMach1]

41. I live and work in the Emirates...

[orleans]

45. why are you protecting the fucking store?

drives me crazy

if i have a horrible doctor or dentist i wouldn't tell friends about the experience and then not tell them who it was -- i wouldn't want them to go through the same shit i did.

same thing with faulty products

same thing with stores.

if you don't inform people how the hell are they supposed to know where NOT to go?

[Kazak]

82. It was that one that sells items made in China and Mexico, right?

That's it, yeah! :eyes:

[deaniac21]

46. I bet they were devastated.

[LisaL]

48. Why exactly the people assume that sales clerks

are going to be upset? Unless the clerks make commission, I doubt they would care if the sale fell through.

[deaniac21]

51. Commission on 700 bucks = lunch.

[Skip Intro]

47. That poor salesperson. Had it been me, I'd have held the door open for you to leave.

[ConsAreLiars]

55. So you approve of lying to customers

and then get self-righteous and offended when they refuse to give you money. Typical, at least for a certain group of professional scammers. OMG, I lied to that sucker and got caught! I'm so so offended!

[malaise]

64. Bingo n/t

[Skip Intro]

69. Give me a break.

First off, I think it far more likely that the salesperson in question was working her behind off trying to make a mortgage than being part of some vast conspiracy to misinform some pushy customer who was evidently making a scene because he couldn't get his furniture delivered by a certain date. I sold furniture for a while for Rooms to Go. I didn't know the origins of any particular piece of furniture, and I'd bet this salesperson didn't either. She went to get the info at the insistence of his majesty, and came back with what I'd bet was info she was given and believed to be true. Demanding that she write out some sworn statement is ridiculous.

And I gotta wonder, would it really have made that much difference to the customer here where the crap came from had the store been able to deliver it by the date the customer wanted.

Parts and pieces come from all over to be put together for final retail presentation to the consumer. This whole story reads like belligerent customer harassing someone trying to make a living. And as I said, had it been me, I'd have been happy to escort this particular customer from my store.

[TheDoorbellRang]

71. She/he may not have realized they were lying

A lot of companies have the furniture pieces made overseas and then assembled in the USA, so they can still say it's "Made in USA." The salesperson may not have been apprised of that little fact.

We used to have people come in our furniture store wanting to buy American, too. I'd tell them hardly anything was still made in the states, but would show them the one or two vendors left who still did. Funny how their patriotism evaporated when they got to choose between a $10,000 American bedroom set or a $3000 Chinese one.

But hey, if it makes everyone feel all righteous to yell at the salesperson whose fault this so obviously is, by all means have at it.

[gardenista]

49. Your wife left with you even though you told her you were through?

Wow, what loyalty.

And I feel that when we are our better selves we do not bully salespeople in order to make a point.

[merh]

54. Buy Lane Furniture

it is very good, American made furniture.
http://www.lanefurniture.com/Corporate/CompanyHistory.asp?LHF=

[TheDoorbellRang]

73. Just their upholstery. The rest is now made overseas

It's still good stuff, tho.

[merh]

74. I didn't realize the other was made overseas.

It is good furniture.

[TheDoorbellRang]

75. They used to win style awards back in the 90's

Don't know if they have recently or not. I've got a Lane cedar-lined armoire from years ago that I really like.

Even if a company still advertises that they're "Made in USA" it may just mean the furniture is assembled here -- the pieces might still be made overseas. Most wood furniture is made overseas these days. :-(

[Kalyke]

58. Leave it to DU to go on and on about warehouse and factories

and asses sitting on foreign chairs instead of understanding the point: the poster wanted to buy American.

Geesch.

[EnviroBat]

60. Spot on.

I really don't know what's happened to this place. But it's being overrun with assholes lately. Ever since the end of the campaign, I've noticed the tide shifting here on DU. It's like the IQ level has dropped substantially. People missing the point, and attacking posters just to see who can stay highest on their "holier-than-thou" horse. It's become a bunch of knee-jerk, hand-wringing, word police, pansies. I guess that this place used to have a purpose, a goal, and now that it's been achieved, it's back to "lets just flame everybody without referencing the meaning of the OP, we're bored..."

Buy American, and boycott stores that deal primarily in foreign-made crap. And, yes, it IS CRAP. Not only that, but voice this loudly to the retailers so that the fucking message is received instead of sheepishly whipping out the credit card and buying it. We wonder what the fuck is wrong with our country. It's because of mealy-mouthed assholes like the ones on this thread, who just bend-over and take it, then run tho their therapist to complain about how unfair it all is.... No fucking wonder the republicans have been able to walk all over us for the last 8 years.


I think I got it...

[datasuspect]

66. you can make your own furniture

you really accomplished nothing. that was a mighty small thing to do to some retail clerk.

[Duppers]

67. she had to do what she was told

but I fully understand your problem with this kind of dishonesty.

[dansolo]

72. I don't understand the point of this post

You are basically saying that if they had the items in stock, you would have purchased it. You made a point about where the items were made only after they told you it wouldn't be immediately available. It sounds like if you had gotten your instant gratification, you wouldn't have cared where it was made.

[lib2DaBone]

77. Buy American...bring jobs home...American quality does not cost...it Pays

[Buns_of_Fire]

79. Giving a retail clerk a rough time to prove a point is not how I intend to spend my life.

If I've got a beef with a company's policies, I'm perfectly capable of contacting the head honchos directly, instead of giving grief to someone (also an American, I would assume) just trying to survive in today's economy. I don't care for Walmart's policies, but being an asshole to the Walmart cashier isn't going to change them.

[rsmith6621]

81. LETS ME CLARIFY THIS POST......

....Today after shopping three other major chains my wife and I bought the pieces we were looking for..the table is made in Manila and the chair in the USA......that was not the point of my post...


....To clarify it was more about honesty and product knowledge............the salespersons Manager was lurking and...the fact the manager after intervening still held to what he told his associate. I hoped that my showing them that I had the $$$ to buy the furniture that they might change their tune and find a dignified way to save their face like walk away for a moment and return with the correct answer....they did not so they lost the sale.....My wife and I found similar pieces at a competitor across the street...we will have them tomorrow.

After we purchase the pieces I decided that maybe I acted a little harsh so I went back to the store and found the sales manager and the associate and apologized with explanation and demonstration by showing them the "Made In" labels on both pieces.....I said cumulatively last night we both made errors that didn't help each other....I did not show them the labels before leaving thus not giving them another chance and they for not acknowledging their error.....the manager agreed with my assessment and after a little more conversation offered a customer service gift card for a future purchase.

I hope this clarify's the point of the post.