Sale of goods and faulted goods.

[bomb]

Some advice required from the PH Massive please.....

I purchased an item of furniture a year ago. Its a high quality cabinet, ( or so we thought), and the top surface has now started to show faults on the wood finish.

The wood is starting to crack and you can feel the fault with your finger as its starting to deform.

Question : What can we do to get some repairs carried out ( reploishing or some sort of replacement ??)

Does the sale of goods act protect us at all, and should the supplier be expected to carry out remedial work. Should they charge for such work ??

The suppliers claim its down to humidity, but the atmosphere has always been 'normal' in a room that is shielded from direct sunlight. It has not been near any heaters or radiators etc. so the temperatures have not been extreme either. Similar furniture (from same manufacturer) in the same room is all OK.

advice greatfully received !

[Simpo Two]

Under 12 months is replace, repair or refund. But whether they will is another matter; they could say that wood is a natural product yadayada.

[bomb]

I have contacted the Citizens Avivice Bur. and they have told me how to approach the suppliers. Sale of Goods act 1979 and a letter with all the facts.....

Repair / replace or refund.

Watch this space.

[Road2Ruin]

I would be amazed if you had any luck. The argument is always that would is subject to atmospheric conditions, too humid or to arrid! The expensive oak furniture I just bought even noted this in the terms.

[Simpo Two]

Road2Ruin said:

I would be amazed if you had any luck. The argument is always that would is subject to atmospheric conditions, too humid or to arrid! The expensive oak furniture I just bought even noted this in the terms.

But the wood is sealed, is it not? You could argue that a piece of domestic furniture that is so poorly finished as to absorb damaging amounts of moisture in under a year in a domestic situation is not fit for purpose...?

Worth a letter with the right buzz phrases and mention you've consulted with the CAB, but if they still refuse that's probably as far as it can go.

[Blakeatron]

It does not matter what finish is applied to a timber product - it is not just moisture that effects wood - temperature being the biggest problem.

If the item is in direct sunlight the timber can shrink - where as the 'high quality finish' wont and so causes a problem. Same the other way if the item gets very cold.

We have this problem a lot when we work in holiday homes (non rental) where the houses are shut down and experience vast temperature changes.

To get around this we use a 'natural' product like oils and waxes to finish the item rather than a 'solid' finish like lacquers or french polish.

If it is indeed a high quality piece then the timber should be solid or have a thick veneer which is quite easily refinished for minimal outlay - we charge around £100 for a standard dining table top refinish.

Got any pics of the damage?

[Blakeatron]

Sorry didnt read all of your post about the room its in - out of interest what timber is it and solid or veneered?

You can simply get a bad bit of wood, something like a resin streak through it would not show up for a while after finishing.

[bomb]

Its not shown up too well on my camera, but the wood is starting to crack / deform. as noted above, its not lasted a year, and I would have expected it to last a lifetime.

Its not been subjected to any extremes of temps or humidity.