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Natuzzi Furniture / Product Warranty, Customer Service

 
Natuzzi Furniture / Product Warranty, Customer Service

I purchased a Natuzzi leather sofa in July of 2003 from Indoor Furniture in Columbia, MD. The sofa was fine for about 2.5 years until one day I heard some creaking going on underneath the seat. Several days later, while I was sitting on it, more creaking and then a snap, and the whole seat fell through. On further inspection, one of the main wood support pieces underneath the seat had fractured on a rift along its length. It was clear that the piece of wood was defective. In 2.5 years, the sofa received light use - I don't have kids, I weigh 175 lbs, and I probably only sit on it 3-4 times/week. Out of a $2000 sofa, I expect more. I've gotten more out of IKEA furniture at 1/4 the price.


So I called Indoor Furniture and they referred me to Natuzzi since the store only provided warranty support for 1 year while Natuzzi supposedly covers the rest of the 10 years. First, Natuzzi wanted the product ID number, which was supposed to be affixed to the bottom of the sofa - it wasn't. It took over an hour of talking to someone on the phone and flipping the sofa over and over to determine this. I was eventually told that they could proceed without this number as long as I had photos and my receipt. After sending these later that day, I got an email reply stating that they got my materials, will review my submission and then contact me soon with how they will proceed. 2 weeks went by with nothing. I started calling and got the same response, "We're working on it." I thought, "How hard is it to look at 3 pictures and a receipt?" Finally, during the 3rd week, one of my calls was fruitful, "We're waiting on your receipt. That's the holdup." I faxed my reciept 3 weeks previous and had called 4 times since then, and they're finally telling me they don't have the receipt!!??!! Trying to remain calm, I refax it. And guess what? That's right, nothing!! I wait a few days and I call again - several times. Finally they tell me that they're waiting on the product ID number - the same one it took an hour to determine at the outset that it wasn't there!!! Aaaaargh!!! Frustration city!!! It was at this point that I knew that I was dealing with a completely incompetent customer service dept. If they were this bad at keeping track of their own customer data, it seemed probable to me that they were not going to be very good at following through on their warranty. I was right...


After several more back and forth calls between them, myself and Indoor, Natuzzi finally tells me that they will not cover their product because Indoor informed them that I bought the $2000 sofa on a good sale (to Natuzzi - a "clearance") and it was an "in-stock" item at the store (to Natuzzi - a "floor model"). It was not a floor model, it was from the warehouse - nobody sat on it there. And who cares how much I paid for it - that shouldn't affect the warranty! I repeatedly tried to explain this, but they couldn't seem to grasp the concept, or more likely they realized that they had found their "out." Additionally, the bill of sale did not, in any way, state the fact that there was no warranty. But y'know, those are details - who cares what information the buyer is given, right? In my opinion, it’s a total BS excuse and a hack job implementation - something I didn't expect from a company that clearly markets itself as high-end.


So I'm not sure what's worse, that they used the fact that I bought their product on sale and a "language technicality" to not cover their defective sofa, or the fact that it took them OVER A MONTH of my repeated hounding for them to tell me this!!! I shudder to think how long it would have gone on had I not called them repeatedly to get something going. Its like they don't realize the necessity of quickness in customer service - as if its just no big deal that people are sitting around with busted Natuzzi stuff in their house for a month - let 'em wait. Let me tell you, there is nothing like having a broken sofa in your living room when company comes over...


My summary: stay away from Natuzzi. They feature inept customer service, make sub-par furniture and then will use any excuse to weasel their way out of making good on their warranty.


Tim Baier

Baltimore, MD

From: Message Author (click here to email author)
Date: Monday, 15-May-06 09:22:06 CDT

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sharon furbert
8 Middle terrace hamilton Bermuda hm15
hamilton, hm15

Ijust purchase a sofa loveseat & chaise from Huffman Koos New York store. The padding in the seating which is foam is so soft when you sit on it it sinks in. this is not what i saw in the Huffman Koos show room and not what i wanted. I sat on the sofa and it was very firm. I need to know why this leather living room set is so cheap to what i saw in the store. I Talked to the manager he says to email natuzzi. The legs are not even in the same alignment with the other one left leg is in the front more then the right leg i am very unhappy with this purchase. The stiching along the sides has crinkles in the leather it does not look like a brand new italian sofa set very cheap. The manager now says to me that what the store has in stock is not the exact same as a custom made sofa. the salesman wayne said i will get the exact same sofa set to what i saw in the store this sofa set looks like it came from an upholstery store not a factory. The store salesman said Natuzzi is a good quality sofa thats what i though i was getting not so. I would advised any one who wants to purchase a natuzzi Editions sofa set not to The quality is very poor to much money for the poor quality that they claim is very high end. So in other words they are now saying to me after they took my money i should have brough what i saw in the store not a custom made sofa.

From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)
Date: Monday, 03-Oct-11 12:48:33 CDT

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My husband is presently trying to repair a broken frame. This is our third Natuzzi purchase...........when will we learn???????????Supposably the cushions are never supposed to break down, not the case! Why are they considered to be the best leather furniture company? What are good leather furniture suppliers in Canada????

From: Message Author (click here to email author)
Date: Tuesday, 23-Aug-11 08:49:29 CDT

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Me too I bought a brand new Natuzzi designer couch in Las Vegas in April 2009 where I lived and it immediately started to sink in the middle cushion and squeek . Its pretty but a Natuzzi that is made that cheep . Original price was $2400 I should have kept my Lane leather sofa recliner as it was still in excellent shape 8 years after . Just thought it was time to by all new for my new life move to Vegas. HA!

From: Message Author (click here to email author)
Date: Sunday, 12-Jun-11 00:33:31 CDT

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Our Natuzzi sofa has a broken support beam too! I tried to contact Sears, where we purchased it from, and at first it sounded like we were getting somewhere and they were going to send a furniture "doctor" to fix it. Then when she asked if I was at the same address and I said we had moved, she said that it was no longer under warranty! According to her, moving voids the 10 year manufacturer warranty! It isn't covered under the Sears warranty anymore because we bought it 5 years ago. But seriously, the warranty is void because we moved 2 years ago? Not cool!


Yet another way Natuzzi has gotten out of fixing their defective products!

From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)
Date: Wednesday, 23-Mar-11 16:00:29 CDT

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I would have a bigger problem with the retailer who you gave your money to...isn't their job to service you after the purchase. I hate when retailers blow me off and tell me to contact the manufacturer. I expect service from the retailer and they can work out the bill with the manufacturer. Otherwise I will save some money and buy it directly from the manufacturer.

From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)
Date: Friday, 11-Mar-11 15:15:59 CST

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Same thing happen to us about 3 years after I bought the sofa. We made a $,2000+ investment as well. Thank you for saving me all that time that I was about to spend trying to get this sofa fix through Natuzzi warranty.


Now that I know I'm stuck with a busted sofa, I'll have to try to fix myself or take it to our local sofa doctor.


For others out there DO NOT BUY NATUZZI! If a slick rick sales rep tries to sell you one at the furniture store...slap him/her on the head.



From: Message Author (click here to email author)
Date: Monday, 24-Jan-11 10:52:59 CST

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I purchased a sofa and chair 4 years ago, and the frame broke on mine as well (right in the middle). 5 service calls later and it is still broke to this day.


So much for a 10 year warranty.

From: Message Author (click here to email author)
Date: Monday, 11-Jan-10 08:52:30 CST

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Same thing happened to our sofa -- main support broke in the middle of the sofa (right on their advertise "extra leg support"). It happened about a year after we got it; but, since it was a floor model at a Sears outlet, we weren't even going to try to get anyone to fix it.


Meanwhile, my little Bauhaus looks as good as the day we got it and it's 4 years old.

From: Message Author (click here to email author)
Date: Friday, 14-Mar-08 19:01:31 CDT

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