When it comes to Italian furniture, many people associate it with style, elegance, romance, and sophistication. As a result, imported Italian furniture is highly sought after by consumers. Recently, Ms. Ye, a customer from Beijing, shared her experience with the media about a problematic purchase of a set of "GIORGETTI" sofas from an European and American home shopping mall in Lecong Palace, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province. She spent 200,000 yuan on the furniture but soon encountered serious issues, raising concerns about both product quality and the authenticity of the import documentation.
Ms. Ye recalls that on May 2, 2014, she saw the GIORGETTI sofa at the mall and was assured by the salesperson that it was genuinely imported. After signing a purchase agreement, she paid a deposit of 100,000 yuan, with the remaining amount due upon delivery on November 22, 2014. The salesperson, Liu Cui, promised that the sofa would come with proper documents such as invoices, quality inspection reports, and import declarations. However, when the sofa arrived on January 25, 2023, she was unable to obtain any of these documents. The delivery staff claimed they had no responsibility for the paperwork, and despite repeated requests, the merchant failed to provide the necessary papers.
Within 20 days of receiving the sofa, Ms. Ye noticed significant issues. The sponge padding did not rebound properly after sitting, requiring constant beating to restore its shape. When she contacted the company, they sent two staff members to inspect the sofa and offered to fix it. She refused and requested a return, which was denied. Later, the mall proposed replacing the sofa with a new one from the Italian manufacturer and provided a new customs declaration. However, the document lacked a customs number and official seal, and much of it was handwritten. Upon consulting the General Administration of Customs, she learned that a legitimate customs declaration should have a unique number and official markings, leading her to suspect the product’s origin.
She then filed a complaint with the Shunde District Market Supervision Bureau, accusing the mall of selling counterfeit imported furniture. In response, the company stated that the sofa was indeed imported and had been declared through Shunde Customs, along with a product certificate and origin certificate. They also claimed that the customs declaration was downloaded from an online system and did not require a physical seal.
The dispute escalated, and the market supervision bureau attempted mediation, but no agreement was reached. Ms. Ye remains determined to pursue legal action if necessary, while the merchant insists the sofa is genuine and hopes to resolve the issue amicably.
Legal expert Zhu Kefei from Beijing Contemporary Law Firm emphasized that merchants must provide clear and complete documentation for imported furniture, including certificates of origin, product certifications, and valid customs declarations. He warned that altered or incomplete documents could be deemed invalid in court, putting the seller at a disadvantage. He advised consumers to be cautious, ask detailed questions, and ensure all contractual terms are clearly defined and documented to avoid future disputes.
For those interested in the Chinese furniture industry, more information can be found on the official website of Xianghe Furniture City.
Original Pu Sponge,Kitchen Cleaning Pu Sponge,Scrub With Pu Sponge,Pu Sponge Scrub Sponge Pad
Puyang Maikefu Commodity Co., LTD , https://www.maikefufoam.com