BUYING FURNITURE? KNOW THE STORE'S RETURN POLICY AND YOUR DELIVERY RIGHTS

Subject: BUYING FURNITURE? KNOW THE STORE'S RETURN POLICY AND YOUR DELIVERY RIGHTS
Date: 11/2/2005 4:24:27 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: MyNYC@nyc.gov
Reply To: msngrprdb2-1.5riyq.6bsr.rs.0.5jpw9.-nc2thg@popcsms.csc.nycnet
To: reysmontj@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)





Wednesday, November 2, 2005

BUYING FURNITURE?
KNOW THE STORE'S RETURN POLICY AND YOUR DELIVERY RIGHTS

Every year the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) receives hundreds of consumer complaints about furniture stores. New Yorkers spend hundreds, often thousands of dollars of their hard-earned money on new dining room sets, sofas, and more. Sometimes the items never arrive, or they're broke, or not what was ordered. The DCA's staff mediators secured more than $100,000 in restitution last year for aggrieved consumers.

By law, furniture retailers within the five boroughs cannot sell used items as new or run deceptive promotions. They also must either post a clear refund policy or give consumers a full refund within 20 days, and must comply with agreed-upon delivery dates and times.

The DCA recently cited four major furniture retailers for violations of the Consumer Protection Law. Read the press release for more information on what penalties SLEEPY'S, JENNIFER CONVERTIBLES, CALIDAD, and VIVA CASA could face.

Here are some tips for consumers who buy furniture in NYC:

If the merchandise is not delivered by the delivery date, consumers have a right to:
Cancel with a full refund
Get a new delivery date
Receive a credit, or
Select different merchandise.

**This does not apply to "custom made" furniture, or if the delivery failure was caused by the consumer.


Refund Policies - Know Before You Buy: Stores can set the conditions of their own refund policy, but it must be posted clearly and conspicuously near the cash register or point of purchase. If a refund policy is not posted, by law consumers have a right to a full refund within twenty days.


Damaged goods: If the items that are delivered are damaged, consumers do not have to - and should not - accept or sign for the delivery. Once the delivery is refused for damaged furniture, you cannot be held liable for payment.


Never pay the full amount before delivery.


Be wary of catalog and Internet sales: Catalogs and websites only show what items may look like, but don't allow consumers to test the quality. If ordering from a website, be sure to purchase from a reputable business, and one that has a physical store location or showroom.


Check the complaint history of a business: Call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK) to check on a furniture store's complaint history with the DCA.

To file a complaint, call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK) or visit the DCA online at www.NYC.gov/consumers.

Sincerely,

The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs



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