To warn you all that Laura Ashley painted furniture is total crap and the company couldn't give a shit

[mycatlikestwiglets]

I bought nearly £3k of bedroom furniture from Laura Ashley last year (the "Clifton" range). We researched carefully what to buy and as we have loads of LA stuff we thought we were buying quality and the huge outlay would be worth it. After a debacle over damaged furniture being delivered the last items, a dressing table and stool, were finally delivered last September. So far so ok, until I noticed last week that the paint was cracking and peeling on the legs of the dressing table and stool.

I sent pictures to Laura Ashley last week after notifying them over the telephone of the issue (and surprise surprise, they tried to make up reasons immediately as to why it might have happened, asking if the furniture was near a heat source or a window - which it isn't). I received an email earlier this week saying the pictures had been referred to their "technicians" for analysis, and today I had the following message:

"I am now in receipt of our Technicians findings following the
inspection of the photographs that you have submitted.

I have been advised that they consider the issues that you have raised
as treatment after purchase and the legs look like they have been
saturated and this has resulted in the wood and paint cracking.
Whilst I do sympathise, unfortunately, Laura Ashley is unable to accept
responsibility on this occasion, as your furniture is not considered to
be at fault."

I am utterly fuming. The furniture has been sitting on my bedroom carpet, the wood is not split in any way and it certainly hasn't had a sniff of water. I'll be taking this to court if necessary because there's no way they're getting away with this. DO NOT BUY THIS FURNITURE

I must say when Isaw your heading I thought you were being over fussy. But those photographs. That is a disgrace. And it's very expensive.

Laura Ashley furniture is absolute crap, that's if they even deliver the right stuff! My mum had horrendous problems with a big order of the stuff too, broken backson the furniture, drawer runners missing on one set ?! Never, ever again.

Swedish but what a shoddy way to finish furniture which is expensive! I pain my own furniture as I can't afford new stuff from places like LA but it never does what the OPs has done!

yes why do their cushions shed so many feathers?

A friend of mine had a terrible time with LA over some furniture. She ended up shaming them on thief book page and something was done in the end. It was months of hassle preceding that though . Unacceptable.

I am only saying what I would do. I'm not telling the OP what to do - the OP clearly knows what they're going to do.

I highly recommend contacting Trading Standards and handing it over for them to deal with.
They are excellent!

Hope you get it sorted

Having issues with my new carpets ATM. They have been down 9 weeks and look dreadful.
If I get no joy I am going to trading Standards.
We got all our bedroom furniture for the 3'rooms made by a guy in the village. Pine. When I am bored of I will paint it :)

Has anyone had a sofa from next? Any good?

Dad bought two sofas from LA a few years back. They were on offer and really looked the part.
On taking delivery of them he noticed that on the reverse of the pad covers, was just a couple of inches of the fabric and the rest was just plain lining material.
He got straight onto customer services where he was browbeaten by an obnoxious man who was incredibly belittling.
He was fobbed off with all sorts of excuses yet the blurb that came with the sofas suggested regularly turning the pads over for even wear!
Yeah right?
Never got anywhere with them.
Trading Standards all the way.

Alemci
Your cushions shed feathers all the time because they haven't been made using feather proof ticking. I had the same problem , if you sew, make 'cushion covers ' and sew them closed, then put whatever covers you want on as usual. The ticking can be bought at most material shops or online , approx £6 ish a metre . Worth the work . I did mine about 8 years ago , not one feather has escaped since.

I have been wanting to buy a second hand Laura Ashley sofa or an M and S. After reading this, I will give them a wide berth.

Unfortunately I have heard similar nightmare stories about M & S sofas with customers stating they are trading on past glories.

Thanks for highlighting this OP and I wish you luck because your pictures are far worse than your description.

I may well try Trading Standards too if "Ryan" doesn't come through!

I should also point out that if I touch the paint more comes off as it's so loose - the legs would pretty much be stripped for at least 4" from the bottom but I've been trying to avoid my bedroom looking totally shoddy so left well alone for now.

Badvoc I bought my sofas from next eight years ago and they still look as good as new, v impressed with them!

Oh, I was going to buy our bed from Laura Ashley for our new house. I'm worried now!

Thanks dirty :)

I would normally be the first to recommend emailing the CEO with the sharp edge of your concerns but I wouldn't email Mr Ng & I worked for him for 5 years.

MUI who own them just aren't that kind of customer focussed (or even people focussed) business.

Did you contact the Area or regional manager? I'd start grass roots first, then the Retail Ops director.

After reading this I wouldn't buy from Laura Ashley again. I have a rug of theirs - it was fairly spendy at £300 and I've had it about two years now. It's not wearing very well, have to say. It's absolutely beautiful, cream and pure wool with silk flowers on it - but it just looks shabby now.

I recommend John Lewis every time. They genuinely sort out problems when they arise

*I would normally be the first to recommend emailing the CEO with the sharp edge of your concerns but I wouldn't email Mr Ng & I worked for him for 5 years.

MUI who own them just aren't that kind of customer focussed (or even people focussed) business. *

Wow, when the top man doesn't give a shit, you know the company doesn't have long to live. Look what happened to Ratners.

Laura Ashley is shit now. Back in the 80s it was SO upmarket and stylish, like England and the English done by Ralph Lauren.

Wally I bought online so no point in trying an area manager. Thanks for the heads up on the CEO though, I won't bother with him. Tbh if Ryan doesn't come through my next step will probably be a formal letter before action. I'm sitting here in my Laura Ashley filled bedroom (bed, bed linen, curtains, chest of drawers, bedside tables, lamps, mirror and shite peeling dressing table and stool) and still fuming that what was supposed to a lovely bedroom retreat has this crappy substandard junk furniture spoiling it.

Hello OP.
I am on twitter, please let me know if you would like me to tweet LA for you.
Thanks for your warning post: I shan't be darkening their doors!
I would like to recommend M&S furniture. We've bought a lot of their living room tables, shelving unit etc. All good quality solid construction. And the delivery men were absolutely fab! White gloves, covered our pale carpets etc etc.
I would NOT recommend Oak Furniture Village. I don't think their sale is genuine...it seems to be on permanently. It's supposed to be solid oak, but it's v v lightweight, hasn't been sanded or waxed properly.
And their delivery and ownership Ts and Cs are v weighted in OFL favour. Luckily we only bought 1 hall console table and not a suite. But never again.

soverylucky I'd have been the same until last week. My house is bursting with Laura Ashley stuff, it could practically be a catalogue if you ignore the toys covering every surface. I truly believe we were the unlucky recipients of one set of faulty furniture but their response to the issue is disgraceful IMO. Like I'd deliberately damage the dressing table and stool (which surely is what they are intimating) when I have the rest of the range in my bedroom. I just want a full set of non-peeling furniture like I paid for

I want to marry John Lewis.
Please tell me he's tall dark and vair vair handsome.
And good at DIY....