Bloody SCS! Wish I'd have read the reviews before buying....

dan_m2k

Hi all

When we moved house after a lengthy period of rennovation we found that our nice old next sofa wouldn't fit in the house in no way shape or form, as it doesn't come apart. So being eager to move into out first home, we went to our local retail park sofa hunting (me led by the missus, you understand).

We chose one from SCS which seemed good for the price and got it for £900 inc delivery for one of these "Prague" sofas. Seemed great value.

It turned up about 6-7 weeks later (an extra two weeks to what they quoted, but hey). It was delivered by two blokes from a removals company (who were sub contracted out to) who delivered it and left - no set up or 'dressing' as they call it.

We've been away a lot the last few weeks and have only got to enjoying the sofa in the last week or so. Now only 4 weeks later part of the sofa has started to sag - it's the frame under where you sit that appears to not give enough support when you're sat on it compared to the other sections of the sofa. The other sections seems fine.

I called the store, and their call centre and they just give the 'we will get an upholsterer out who will determine a repair...' answer without consideration to the fact it's only a few weeks old. I've been in touch with consumer direct and written a stiff letter (14 days to sort out or court under Sale of Goods Act etc) but I can't believe they are just towing the line and seemingly trying to drag the whole process out (14 days for this and that).

The lady from consumer direct says I could *try* rejecting the goods and see where I got but the store manager reckons being here four weeks indicates my acceptance. I also wondered if we have any recourse as we paid by credit card?

To be honest, I'd prefer a refund and not go near this bunch of ****** again, but I'm feeliing a bit fraught to think clearly - anyone got any suggestions please?

vicshippers

I would say (unfortunately) that the manager is right - they would have to assume that after 4 weeks, you accept the sofa (in terms of distance selling). If it's not fit for purpose then that's a different argument.

You have to give them the chance to repair first, and then if it's still not right you can ask for a replacement. Frustratingly, these things do take time.

dan_m2k

It is soo frustraiting - though I feel that any claim or rejection would definately be as it's "not fit for purpose".

dan_m2k

Well, the upholsterer has been round from SCS and he claims it's like that by design!

Basically half of the sofa is supposedly designed as a bit just to put your feet on and is just supported by webbing - i.e. it has no springs under half the sofa.

To say we're dissapointed is an understatement - and I'm guessing we've got no recourse?!

love_my_2_boys

There are independent bodies you can contact and ask them to come out end evaluate the sofa

http://www.dancoruk.com/b2c~consultancy.aspx

If the upholsterer they sent works for them then maybe he/she was a bit biased? ~I wouldn't accept it
Hope you get the result your looking for

dan_m2k

Well, yes, the "independent" upholsterer turned up in an SCS van and overalls, hmm, I wonder who pays his wages!

I'm actually planning on going by the store and having a look and feel of the sofa they have on display to see if that's the same as mine and then base my complaint on that if it's not.

love_my_2_boys

let us know how you get on

kelloggs36

Are they any relation to DFS? If so, they will try anything to get out of sorting your problem out. A few years ago, I bought a sofa and had it professionally cleaned (by the people they recommended on the insurance certificate). It totally ruined the whole suite - it bleached it in places. The cleaning company said it had never happened before, and long story short, it turned out there was a fault in the fabric - which DFS wouldn't accept. They said that my argument was with the cleaning company - it went back and forth for about a year. Eventually I got new covers (which is what I wanted anyway) and it has been fine since - although I put covers in the washing machine now!!!

vicshippers

SCS and DFS are not linked at all

dan_m2k

Well. I went back to the SCS store where we purchased it this morning.

Surprise number one: the independent upholsterer's van was outside and he was inside looking at a sofa. Very independent.

Surprise number two: As I was sure I wouldn't have bought something knowing part of it "wasn't designed to be sat on" I posed as a buyer interested in the sofa we've got and I asked a few cursory questions as to how it was designed and if the entire sofa was designed to be sat on and had springs all the way around. The sales guy confirmed "it's sprung all the way around..." and "its all designed to be sat on". Luckily my phone was in my hand with the voice recorder activated.

The deputy store manager was the only one in of any authority at the time and she said that the recording proved nothing and the head office would disregard it.

Now I'm feeling like I've got a case as they're pretty blatant in how they're misdescribing it at the point of sale and secondly that also because part of something that you buy to sit on it turns out isn't designed for that purpose!

I'm unsure now of which route to take, mind you

Purpledaisy_2

But you didnt ask them questions when you purchased yours ? So what relevance does that have to your problems ?

Was the shop floor model the same as yours ?