Complaint Review: Derrick Spain Dba Reclaimed Leather - Spring Texas

On 1/11/22, we purchased 2 vintage Chesterfield leather wing chairs from Derrick Spain dba https://www.reclaimed-leather.com.  This company “imports vintage leather furniture directly from the UK.. Each piece goes through extensive inspection & light restoration…The result is a timeless piece to enjoy for years to come”. The 2 chairs were approx 47”x47”x32”.

Chairs were advertised & sold as “excellent condition… minor scuffs & scratches have been addressed by our in-house restoration process….hand dyeing each piece & new top coat to preserve its original patina”. Cost $4800, including $500 delivery to Midland Tx in a shipment that was going to Fort Stockton. Delivery was made 1/13 by a man hired by the Merchant. 

On 3/15, we contacted the Merchant via text & advised that the dye on the leather was rubbing off in many places on both chairs. I included photos.  Merchant claimed he had no idea what was going on & that this had never happened before.

Yes it has, per a review I found on his website.  I submitted more photos of additional areas where the dye was rubbing off the leather & the Merchant responded that “obviously the product he used was faulty” & the chairs would have to be redone. Merchant agreed to re-do, but said that WE must pay return shipping or just keep them as-is.  We argued that we had already paid for delivery to us & we did not believe we should pay return ship when it was the Merchant’s choice of faulty product/process that caused the dye to rub off the leather. 

Merchant again refused to pay for the shipping of the faulty merchandise back to him & said WE must pay return shipping or keep them as-is.  Shipping estimate to return chairs 470 miles vary from $400-1000 plus whatever boxing/packing is required by shipper. 

We filed a dispute for the original $4800 plus return shipping.  In the Merchant's dispute response, he claimed we had the chairs for 90 plus days before contacting him, untrue.  He claimed he sold us "USED furniture, despite the fact the he advertises his merchandise as "vintage leather furniture directly from the UK.. Each piece goes through extensive inspection & light restoration…The result is a timeless piece to enjoy for years to come”.

The 2 chairs were approx 47”x47”x32”. Chairs were advertised & sold as “excellent condition… minor scuffs & scratches have been addressed by our in-house restoration process….hand dyeing each piece & new top coat to preserve its original patina”. A far cry from "USED furniture".

 In his dispute response, the Merchant also claimed that we had contacted him about "scratches in the leather", which he believed that we did ourselves.  Also untrue. We have copies of texts that show that all we ever contacted him about was the dye rubbing off the leather.  

Merchant also claims that we have not shipped the chairs back at HIS expense, which is untrue, as he would not agree to return shipment unless WE paid for it.  BUYER BEWARE! The FAULTY product used was chosen by the Merchant and he admits the product he used was faulty.  Merchant will not fix unless we pay more $, even tho the error was his.

A consumer should not be expected to pay addl $$ to correct a Merchant’s error.  If you buy from this store, get something in advance in writing that states they will stand by their merchandise/work, pay to return defective goods, and refund! NOT AT ALL IMPRESSED.