Sofa Showcase ripoff fraudulent deceptive company the business that doesn't give a dam Eatontown New Jersey

Sofa Showcase ripped us off, too, I don't even know where to begin...We ordered a special-order sectional on December 31, 2001 and was told that it would be delivered within 8 - 12 weeks, which would mean delivery the week of March 18th. Furthermore, upon ordering, the salesman indicated that if we paid in full today, we would recieve 15% off. Since that amounts to a considerable amount of money, we went for it and put it on our American Express card.

Well, March 18th came and went and I let it go for a few days...By April 2nd, I started making phone calls. It took four calls before I received a phone call back, and the person who called said that they were still waiting to hear back from the manufacturer for a delivery date. By April 10th, I was still being told that the sofa was being worked on and they told me to call back in 2 weeks. Two weeks and then a few more unanswered phone calls (sound familiar?)....finally on April 23rd my husband gets through to someone and they tell him that the manufacturer has run out of the fabric so there will be a delay but it will delivered end of May.

Unsatisfied with that response, we visited the Eatontown store that evening and spoke to our original salesman and presented him with a log I've kept of the events, a complaint I downloaded from the Better Business Bureau and our contract...he informed us the manager, Shaya, is in between 10 am and 5 pm and right in front of us left a copy of everything on his desk, along with our phone # and a request to call us.

April 24th, no message or indication of a phone call from Shaya. Later that evening, we called the Eatontown store and a salesman indicated that the mystical Shaya is not in and he has no idea if and or when he will be in.

At this stage, we decided we no longer wanted the sofa and we did not want to deal with this company. We contacted American Express with our complaint and requested a refund. We were granted a temporary refund and they launched an investigation. Well, our refund was rescinded because Sofa Showcase faxed them a copy of our contract which, in fact, does state that customer is entitled to a full refund only if the furniture is not delivered by June 30, 2002 (6 months after order date).

So on, June 30th comes and goes and no sofa. July 1st, we contact American Express again and place the same complaint and we are again issued a temporary credit while the matter is investigated. July 26th I learn that Sofa Showcase has filed Chapter 11 and that no refunds will be made.

We alerted American Express to the bankruptcy and they continue to look into the matter. However, as of the date of my writing this complaint, I have not permanently have a credit back and it remains unknown if I will...yet, I still need a sofa, so in the meantime I'll have to spend more money on another sofa! This place was unbelievable!!! The way they treated their customers, I should have seen it coming. Obviously, they did see their bankruptcy coming and that is why they offered us 15% off so they could swindle us out of money up front!

Jennifer
Keyport, New Jersey