Complaint Review: Ashley Furniture Industries

I purchased office furniture (desk, file cabinets, bookshelves)manufactured by Ashley Furniture Industries from a local furniture store. It was ordered out of a catalog based on literature provided by Ashley Furniture. The literature clearly states that these products are made from "Birch veneers and hardwood solids" with "Walnut inlay"...

When received, I noticed all major boards are PARTICLE BOARD cores. There is no mention anywhere that this unit should contain anything other that real, solid wood. Also, manufacturing quality of one file cabinet was so poor that drawers wouldn't close & the cabinet wasn't square. Slides were mounted differently from left to right & you could see multiple screw holes where the factory "test fit" parts trying to figure out how to put it together. Very shoddy.

The store took back the one bad file cabinet since it was a manufacturing defect & Ashley would replace it (but only after a few weeks & an inspection to prove it was mfg defect), but they would not agree to take back the rest of the pieces since it was special order. The store stated Ashley wouldn't let them return the rest of the furniture just cause I didn't like it and therefore could not allow me to return it.

When I called Ashley, they were very unhelpful and one representative just stated "that's the way it is"... and told me that they don't need to put on literature it contains particle board. They are trying to put all responsability on the store, but if Ashley won't allow them to return it, then I can understand why the store won't take it back. Very deceptive marketing claims...

Roger
Redondo Beach, California
U.S.A.