When it comes to Italian furniture, many people associate it with elegance, sophistication, and a touch of romance. However, the experience of Ms. Ye, a Beijing-based consumer, has raised serious concerns about the authenticity and quality of imported Italian furniture. In May 2014, she purchased a set of "GIORGETTI" sofas from a European and American home shopping mall in Lecong Palace, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, for a total of 200,000 yuan. Despite the high price and the salesperson's assurances that the product was genuinely imported, she later discovered several issues.
According to Ms. Ye, the purchase agreement included a deposit of 100,000 yuan, with the remaining amount paid upon delivery on November 22, 2014. The salesperson, Liu Cui, promised that the furniture was imported and would come with proper documentation, including invoices, factory quality reports, and import declarations. However, when the sofa arrived on January 25, 2023, she found that no such documents were provided. The delivery staff claimed they had no responsibility for the paperwork, and after multiple attempts to obtain them, the merchant still failed to provide any proof of importation.
Within just 20 days of receiving the sofa, Ms. Ye noticed serious problems. The sponge pad collapsed and could not rebound to its original shape, requiring frequent beating to restore its form. After contacting the merchant, they sent two staff members to inspect the sofa but only offered temporary fixes. She requested a return, which was denied.
Later, the mall contacted her again, offering to replace the sofa with a new one from the Italian manufacturer and provide an import declaration. However, the customs document lacked a customs number and official seal, and much of the content was handwritten. When she consulted the General Administration of Customs, the staff confirmed that a legitimate customs declaration should include a unique number and official stamp. This led her to suspect that the sofa was not truly imported.
Ms. Ye then filed a complaint with the Shunde District Market Supervision Bureau, accusing the mall of selling counterfeit imported furniture. The merchant, however, maintained that the sofa was originally imported and that all procedures were complete. They provided a letter stating that the goods had been declared through Shunde Customs and came with a certificate of origin and product quality assurance.
In response to the allegations, the company claimed that the customs declaration involved trade secrets and that the information was partially redacted. They also explained that online customs declarations are now printed without physical seals. Despite this, Ms. Ye remained skeptical and continued to push for resolution.
The dispute escalated further when the Shunde District Market Supervision Bureau attempted mediation, but no agreement was reached. Ms. Ye stated she was considering legal action, while the merchant expressed willingness to resolve the issue amicably.
Legal experts, such as lawyer Zhu Kefei from the Beijing Contemporary Law Firm, emphasized the importance of clear contracts and proper documentation when purchasing imported furniture. He pointed out that the altered customs declaration provided by the merchant could be deemed invalid in court, potentially leading to unfavorable outcomes for the seller. Zhu advised consumers to ask detailed questions about the product’s origin and ensure that all necessary documents are clearly outlined in the contract.
Ultimately, this case highlights the risks of purchasing high-end imported furniture and the need for transparency, proper documentation, and clear communication between buyers and sellers. Consumers are encouraged to remain vigilant and protect their rights by keeping all receipts and records.
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