Review: Blacks Furniture

[Ginny]

Black's Furniture is the worst place I ever did business and don't bother complaining to the BBB as they are in bed with them. They always favor Black's Furniture, that is why they told one customer they don't care if they tell the BBB.

The owner Wanda Cox is a greedy arrogant woman who could care less about customer service, it is the bottom line that counts with her.

Yes, the prices are good until you have a problem and that is where your problems begin as you will get no satisfaction.

[JOKE]

I 100% agree. They used deceptive sales practices with me. I have never dealt with a more arrogant person in my life. Once they have your money, they have no care what so ever what your issues are. Still waiting on the BBB, I don't have my hopes up. This will make or break my confindence in the BBB.

[Cyndi]

I agree that Black's Furniture is the worse place I have ever done business. I ordered furniture for my conservatory in May 2007 and it is now almost May 2008 and still no furniture. They keep telling me that it should arrive "next month". When I called them about cancellig my order, they threatened me with a restocking fee. They dont' even have the furniture and they want to charge me a restocking fee? Customer Service? No such thing. They could care less about the customer. Never again!!

[joke]

Not surprised,Wanda Cox failed to answer any of my complaints with the BBB. BBB sided with Miss. Cox even though she never responded to my issues. The Greesboro BBB ought to be investigated. I had faith in the BBB before, now I think it is a huge JOKE along with Black's Furniture and Wanda Cox. It is a shame to all other companies who legitimately strive to maintain a good rating with the BBB, that they share the same rating as Black's Furniture.

[Truth Hurts]

Ginny wrote:

Black's Furniture is the worst place I ever did business and don't bother complaining to the BBB as they are in bed with them. They always favor Black's Furniture, that is why they told one customer they don't care if they tell the BBB.
The owner Wanda Cox is a greedy arrogant woman who could care less about customer service, it is the bottom line that counts with her.
Yes, the prices are good until you have a problem and that is where your problems begin as you will get no satisfaction.

Response: Many People work at Black's Furniture and all clearly have a defined role in the business. Salespeople are required to maintain a consistent paperwork flow BEFORE anything can be ordered. This paperwork we called a "contract" requires a customer to sign that they have a complete understanding of how the special order process works. No order is ever placed without this signed contract. The purpose is to make certain a consumer understands what they are ordering and the terms of the contract as the product cannot be returned to the factory. Most furniture today is imported and use distribution centers instead of factories anyway. "Ginny"--Virginia Eckler wanted a chair to match her desk. One did not exist. Thus, SHE made the decision to order a chair from a different series and finish. She signed her agreement that it would be hers at the time of delivery. However, when that time came, she changed her mind. Then she manipulated people--saying the "salesperson" said one thing, the "warehouse manager" said something else, etc. Ms. Eckler even admitted that her husband wanted to keep it and use with his desk, but she wouldn't hear of it. The BBB listened to her complaint and based on the terms of the signed contract, sided with Black's Furniture. Ms. Eckler then appealed and asked for an in person arbitration. Black's Furniture invested in sending all three people involved to the meeting--sales, warehouse manager and customer service manager. While they were on time and respectful, "Ginny" was 30 minutes late and rude. The meeting started without her. An impartial arbitrator from the community heard the complaint and again, found in favor of Black's Furniture. "Ginny" is still angry, but not at herself as she should be. In her mind, it must be someone else's fault.
In all three cases, these consumers have a responsibility to be honest and upfront as well. Instead, a few stoop to printing untruths or misleading commentary on web sites instead of being responsible for their errors. Perhaps Ms. Eckler, Mr. Foley and Ms. Ortega need to spend more time reading the documents they sign instead of searching for websites to make themselves look like the victim when the issues are really their own fault.

[Truth Hurts]

JOKE wrote:

I 100% agree. They used deceptive sales practices with me. I have never dealt with a more arrogant person in my life. Once they have your money, they have no care what so ever what your issues are. Still waiting on the BBB, I don't have my hopes up. This will make or break my confindence in the BBB.

"Joke"--Mark Foley in Norton, Mass. is angry because he bought furniture that would not fit up his staircase without the removal of the railing. Black's contract clearly states that the assumption is made that the furniture will fit
where the customer wants it. Mr. Foley signed his contract without any notation of difficulties that might occur during the delivery. His main gripe is that he did not measure correctly and had to remove his stair railing to get the furniture into an upstairs room and expects Black's to pay for the restoration of his banister and railing due to his error in judgment.
Black's declined. "Joke"--Mr. Foley has yelled, cursed and did everything he could think of but be responsible for the contract he clearly signed.

In all three cases, these consumers have a responsibility to be honest and upfront as well. Instead, a few stoop to printing untruths or misleading commentary on web sites instead of being responsible for their errors. Perhaps Ms. Eckler, Mr. Foley and Ms. Ortega need to spend more time reading the documents they sign instead of searching for websites to make themselves look like the victim when the issues are really their own fault.

[Truth Hurts]

Cyndi wrote:

I agree that Black's Furniture is the worse place I have ever done business. I ordered furniture for my conservatory in May 2007 and it is now almost May 2008 and still no furniture. They keep telling me that it should arrive "next month". When I called them about cancellig my order, they threatened me with a restocking fee. They dont' even have the furniture and they want to charge me a restocking fee? Customer Service? No such thing. They could care less about the customer. Never again!!

"Cyndi"--Mrs. Mario Ortega, ordered furniture from China that came in wrong from the supplier of action.. It was reordered and she did wait a very long time. She was split-shipped all other product that was in at Black's expense and offered a refund. While the factory is unfortunate, it is part of doing business when the furniture comes from China. If they make a mistake it takes a LONG time to resolve. Customers like the import price, but the retailer is caught in the middle when it comes to waiting on the furniture to ship from overseas. Retailers like Black's don't manufacture the goods and can't change the course

In all three cases, these consumers have a responsibility to be honest and upfront as well. Instead, a few stoop to printing untruths or misleading commentary on web sites instead of being responsible for their errors. Perhaps Ms. Eckler, Mr. Foley and Ms. Ortega need to spend more time reading the documents they sign instead of searching for websites to make themselves look like the victim when the issues are really their own fault.

[sandblaster]

Black's is a nightmare to deal with. The sales people make all sorts of promise, when we pointed out our concerns with the discrepancies between what they promised and what was written in the contract they said, "don;t worry, we just write that to protect ourselves, your furniture will certainly come easily in time". Then when it doesn't (and it is their fault), they point to the contract and say they never promised anything. They are deceptive and frustrating. Don't go there!

[Curious]

I have purchased from Black's in the past and have been satisfied. However, I went recently to order a piece of furniture and found that they were selling everything off the floor. The showroom is two-thirds empty. Are they going out of business or just having money problems? No one seemed to know. I didn't place an order.

[David Curry]

All the High Point Discounters are grabbing for straws. Two of the big players Rose, Wood Armfield have gone under. Since most of the wooden furniture comes from overseas High Point is no longer the furniture capital of the world. Very little is made in the area anymore. Buy local and you'll be better off. The only real deals are from the showrooms which the dealers buy for about half off. You can save a little on that kind mechandise if you pick it up. But by the time they add in the cost for freight there really isn't much savings.

[Industry guru]

I like reading the blogs of my competitors as it sheds insight to my own organization. Clearly, several of the repsonses are from Black's Furniture. I like how the bloggers are called out. I'm sure the truth lies somewhere in between.

A mentor once told me "furniture is an emotional business". I've sold, delivered, and worked in a wharehouse. Customers have no idea what's involved in delivering expensive pieces of furniture to their homes. Between factory mistakes and delivery company damages its a wonder the industry is profitable at all. My hope hear is that "Curious" is wrong and Blacks is not going out of business. High Point has suffered loss after loss. Hopefully the leadership team at Blacks is able stay afloat in this economy.

Customers that feel slighted by their purchases should try a different retailer. I don't think they'll find their experiences much different. My guess is High Point will be out of the furniture business in the next five years. "David Curry" is right. 95% of furniture is made overseas nowdays. The only reason High Point retailers are able to offer lower prices than your hometown shop is they sell more volume at lower margins. As time goes on with less and less competition those economies of scale will diminish and High Point will fade into history as another American city that once had great industry.

Its not all doom and gloom. I'm learning Mandarin!

Industry Guru

[Karen in Fredericksburg]

My daughter had a bedroom set on order at Black's. The down payment was just refunded on her credit card. No contact from the company at all. Just the credit this week. Thank goodness. I recommended them to her.

[Disturbed in MA]

Karen,
very interesting. I have been trying to contact them for a week regarding my furniture order and have had no return calls or e-mails! hmmm...guess I'll check my statement! Hopefully I'm as lucky as your daughter if they are going out of business. Funny how they don't stop calling you to get the order in, and once they've got you they disappear!

[Get a credit now]

I would advise any of you who are waiting for furniture from Blacks to request a credit from your credit card now (hopefully you didn't pay cash. There is an article on www.furnituretoday.com regarding Blacks. I was not able to get in touch with anyone from Blacks nor would they return my calls. Good Luck!!

[Disturbed in MA]

Wow, yes, apparently they were on "vacation" last week. I'm hoping this wasn't a permanent vacation with my money! Luckily I did pay on credit and will probably dispute the charge since they will not return my calls or e-mails.

[Disturbed in MA]

I will now have to agree with "Get a credit now" 100%. I just spoke to a reputable source and Black's Furniture is going out of business. They have closed their doors and let all sales staff go!!!!!!!!!! Anyone who has an order with them should cancel it on your card now!

[Get a credit now]

Here is a link to the article from www.furnituretoday.com

Basically says they are no longer taking customer orders - only selling from the floor!?

http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/CA65800...

[elaine]

Karen in Fredericksburg wrote:

My daughter had a bedroom set on order at Black's. The down payment was just refunded on her credit card. No contact from the company at all. Just the credit this week. Thank goodness. I recommended them to her.

How did she get the credit? I just read the article and Black's attorney said that the owners are working on this... I'm afraid that I don't believe him. I only hope that I have to eat my words and get my money back.

[elaine]

7/25/08 --- Still no phone calls answered. No phone calls returned. No website. No furniture that I ordered. No order shipped. No $1000 deposit returned. Our manufacturer says that they won't ship to Black's. My order was put in months after their attorney said they all had been working on this. I am contacting the Better Business Bureau and the NC Attorney General's Office....

[elaine]

By the way, when I called random extension numbers again late Friday afternoon a "Cristina" answered the phone at Black's. I tried to ask her if they were going out of business. She wanted to know who told me that and said, if you read it in the paper that's a lie and hung up.