Patriot Furniture deceptive practices & fraud Waco Texas

On Aug. 25, 2007 we purchased a living rm. set & 2 tables from Patriot Furniture. Not until they had already run our credit card were we asked to sign the reciept where it stated "as is" no returns. We were aware that the furniture was on sale but not that these were the conditions. We inspected the merchandise, and added no damage found under the as-is clause.

We also purchase a furniture protectant, that we were told covered just about everything you can imagine, uneven wear, tears, and complete frame guarantee! We asked for a copy of the waranty at this time and were told it would be with the furniture on delivery.

Aug. 31, the furniture was delivered at 12:33 by 2 very impatient employees.
They had no sooner brought the furniture in when 1 went back out and started the truck while the other pull out a marker to color over some large white areas of paint transfer on the cocktail table. I started to inspect the furniture, starting with this damage and the deliverman said they were in a hurry.

I called Kathryn our salesperson as I wanted to return the table at once and was told to keep it until a replacement could be brought to us. This was to be done in less than a week. I also told her that the deliver people kept telling me they were in a hurry and didn't want to give me time to inspect for other damage. She told me to start a complaint form and let the delivery people go, that if I found further damage I could call her and she would add it to the form when they came in.

At 2:31 that day I called to say that we had found a staple on the side of the sofa, that someone had tried to hide or repair damage that was not on the furniture at the time of the sale. She said she would add this to the report, and someone would inspect it when they brought the new cocktail table.

We then completely covered the furniture, we were painting and did not want any accidents. 2 weeks later when it was uncovered there were about half a dozen pinhead size silverish sticky spots on the chair and loveseats. These were located on the side of the arms. I again contacted Kathryn.

At first she thought we'd spilled something on it until I explained the furniture had been covered. She then said it sounded like a manufacture problem and that I should contact Ashley.

I immediately contacted Ashley, only to be told that by applying the protectant Patriot had voided any and all manufacture waranties. So again I contacted Kathryn at Patriot. Who spoke to her manager, (while she never mentioned his name, she used male references) and at this time Patriot offered to omit telling Ashley that they had done anything to the furniture. Someone would be out when the table was delivered to inspect this too. She checked on the table and promised it would be delivered that Friday, in 4 days time.

A week went by and we had heard nothing so again I contacted or attempted to contact Kathryn. She was no longer employeed there and the current mgr. Connie had not a clue of any problems with our purchase. I had asked Patriot to pick up furniture when we found out they had voided warranty, and again asked her to pick it up. I told her we had found that Kathryn had lied about what the protectant covered. I took her through the sale from the first shock of finding out the furniture was "as-is", to all the delivery problems, and broken promises to inspect the damages.

Connie did finally have Richard come out and inspect the damages, he took quite a few picture of all the damage. He did not bring the new table because it was raining and he did not want to get it damaged. I had tired of waiting and used a soft cloth and water to remove the spots on chair and loveseat but whatever the supstance was changed the nap of the microfiber.

After Richard left I waited to here from them for almost a week, then contacted them. Connie thought Richard had already contacted me but had him call me. It was at this he told me that they were prepared to fix the sofa by replacing the entire arm of the sofa. And that if any other spots appeared on the other piece he needed to see them before I cleaned them. That the damage was too minor to warrant any action. I asked him to have Connie contact me.

Several days later, I contacted her. Richard had indicated that I was thrilled with their solution. To which I replied," had I wanted damaged furniture I would have bought it at a garage sale, I bought new undamaged, and I wanted new undamaged. Please come get there furniture"

On Oct. 31, I contacted my credit card carrier and had them hold payment. I followed their advice and both called Connie again and wrote her a letter asking that they pick up the furniture and why. I also filed a complaint with the BBB of Waco.

Nov. 13, the parts for the sofa arrive. At this time I indicated that they could pick up the furniture but that until the matter was settled I would not allow it to be returned to me. Nov. 17, the cocktail table finally came in, and again I told them that I could not allow delivery until matter was settled, to have Connie contact me. Which she has not, and I am beyond dealing with them.

They are currently refusing to pick up the furniture or to come up with a better offer than to do a major repair on it. They are fighting us both thru the credit card and BBB. After 2 1/2 mos. I am not open to retaining the furniture, I do not imagine the protectant warranty is any more valid than the manufactures if Patriot has anything to do with it.

My advice to anyone shopping for furniture is to stay away from Patriot, we were misled about the "sale" and Kathryn flatly lied about coverage of the protectant. We have been accused of not making our complaints in a timely manner, how much more timely could we have gotten. The delivery people were still on our property. I had to fill out the damage report with one sitting in the drivers seat of a running truck while the other paced at the passengers door.

I do have examples of what Kathryn indicated was covered by protectant warranty. It supposely covered furniture for a full 10 yrs., against worn piping, stress tears ( even if caused by children jumping on it) bald spots and any and all stains. I was told if it could not be repaired or cleaned it would be replaced..yeah right.

Cheated
Clifton, Texas
U.S.A.