Where to buy real Oak furniture

Malcolm,_Essex

beware: I used oakfurnitureland co uk recently.They have a big showroom at Lakeside retail park, (Essex). But beware, I now have NO furniture yet have spent £150.

Do not fall into the expensive trap that I did.

Their furniture appears to be of excellent quality and most aspects of their operation are very good, including the delivery (apart from the fact that they do not deliver at weekends).

I purchased four matching items including a wardrobe. I was a little concerned if the wardrobe would fit up my staircase, but the salesman assured me that the base separated from the upper part, making it much smaller. (They do not sell flat-pack, it's quality pre-assembled furniture).

Now I did read the T&C's. Delivery was free. If I was not satisfied I had let them know within seven days and I would get a full refund. However I had to pay return transports costs.

I did of course measure my staircase and the wardrobe, but it is rather a complex 3D problem. I have two bends in my staircase. I thought that the Wardrobe would just fit up the staircase.

The delivery guys arrived and said they were not sure that it would,but they would try. Even with all their experience, they said the only real wayfor them to tell was to try it. They told me that the only way for me to be certain would be to have a cardboard box the same size as the wardrobe and try it out! (I had no such box). Anyway they tried and it did not fit.

(Do note that most of their furniture is big and well-built. However it looks smaller in their big showroom than it probably will in your house.)

It was pointless having any of the matching range of furniture that I had also ordered, if I could not have the wardrobe (I would have to buy a smaller/different style one).

Now I accept that the T&C's said it was my responsibility if it did not fit through the doors or up the stairs. It also said that I had to pay the return costs. What I did not appreciate the size of the return fee - I had to pay £150 to send the items back.(The fees were in the small print and on their website, somewhere).

I have now spent £150 with oakfurniture land and yet have NO furniture. My colleagues, family and friends cannot believe that I could spend so much money with them and have nothing to show for it.

It’s a strange policy, because I will never use them again.I don’t think any of my colleagues, family and friends will be using them either. It’s hardly a good advertisement, is it. A more reasonable return's fee or even the cost off a future purchase would be fairer.

I did contact customer services but they were very very slow to respond and effectively said "bad luck, it was all in the T&C's".