Vaughanbassett

I bought a Vaughan-Bassett bedroom set in February 2023 online from FurniturePick. The finish, color and texture of the bedroom set slapped down on my curb was grossly different from the stock photos FurniturePick used to sell it, which were the same as the stock photos at Vaughan-Bassett's website at that time. In addition to the finish being different, it had several other damage issues. From that time through June 19 I went back and forth with both Vaughan-Bassett and FurniturePick with regard to my issues with the finish, color and texture looking NOTHING AT ALL like the stock photos used to sell it.

FurniturePick and Vaughan-Bassett teamed up to tell me that what I received looked like the stock photos and I had no case for a complaint. And, I came to find out, they were right. I was forwarded this little gem from Vaughan-Bassett's VP of Customer Service, which apparently was in the fine print of my bill of sale:

"item(s) do NOT qualify as Non-damaged or Non-defective Return if: a) YOU received delivery of an item(s) with a finish, color, or texture that is different from what YOU saw at the Furniture Pick website, any website other than Furniture Pick, at a physical furniture store, or recommendations YOU received from a Furniture Pick sales representative. Finishes and colors online may not accurately represent the true color or pattern. YOU accept liability for YOUR purchase."

Per this clause, Vaughan-Bassett can send out ANYTHING they please with regard to the finish, color and texture of the furniture they advertise using deceptive photos. The customer has two choices upon receipt. Keep it, or pay a 25% restocking fee, in addition to return shipping fees, to return it.

I have a presentation on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rMK1j5nKvvI titled "Vaughan-Bassett Uses Deceptive Stock Photos to Sell Low Quality Furniture" that delves into the nitty gritty detail of my experience, along with the stock photos of the discontinued style my purchase was based off, the new stock photos of the "new version" of the bedroom set that match mine ( FurniturePick updated theirs 5/23/23 and Vaughan-Bassett updated theirs 6/20/23 - keep in mind this is MONTHS after they were aware of my situation and the devastation it was causing me), and photos of the bedroom set I received. I'd bet a million to one that both Vaughan-Bassett and FurniturePick would still be using the old stock photos if I had not ridden them for nearly half a year to right the situation.

I accepted an offer from Vaughan-Bassett giving me a $850 credit on my sale on June 19. I DID NOT find this a fair settlement, but it was crystal clear Vaughan-Bassett had zero intention of doing anything more. I absolutely abhor the furniture, but I am stuck with it because there is no way in hell I would break even selling it on Craigslist, and I do not have the funds to replace it. It was a huge splurge for me. I plan to file a complaint with the Virginia attorney general (Vaughan-Bassett manufactures in Virginia) and pursue legal action. I find it hard to believe that there is no threshold for deceptive advertisement at the caliber Vaughan-Bassett engages, and if there isn't, my case reflects a solid justification for setting a threshold to protect buyers.

Coming out of this wretched experience, I will leave it at this: Vaughan-Bassett and their retail partners are snakes that deserve one another. Their fine print policies give them complete immunity from any blow back with regard to their fake stock photos. I will NEVER purchase furniture again from ANY retailer who sells furniture by Vaughan-Bassett or ANYTHING Bassett for that matter. My eyes are wide open with regard to the FRAUDULENT ADVERTISING and SKETCHY FINE PRINT POLICIES they use to screw over customers - you KNOW everything under the BASSETT umbrella has got to have these same clauses built into their contracts. My favorite moment in the whole episode was when Vaughan-Bassett's VP of Customer Service sent me the fine print saying there was absolutely no recourse for customers with regard to the finish, color, and texture of the low quality furniture they send out upon deceiving buyers with fake stock photos. - "YOU accept liability for YOUR purchase." Yes, I most certainly have. And now I am going to warn every person under the sun about my Vaughan-Bassett furniture buying experience so that customers innocently shopping furniture on the internet are aware of Bassett's fine print policies. When I learned the truth about what I believed to be a renown and trusted brand, it blew me out of the water. I had never heard of FurniturePick, but any questions I had about their selling venue went up in smoke when I saw they were selling the Bassett brand. I looked at the beautiful stock photos at both websites for MONTHS prior to my purchase. And now I am reminded of just how wrong I was every time I catch a glimpse of my Freddy Kruger bedroom set. Which is often, as my house is the size of a shoe box and the bedroom set makes up 80% of my furniture. Don't let this happen to you. Skip all furniture and all furniture retailers associated with "Bassett" - the photos I am posting and my YouTube presentation are all you need to understand that what you see is not what you get. Ask EVERY furniture company for their fine print policies before you give them your hard earned cash. Ask if the stock photos being used are of the "current version". Ask SPECIFIC QUESTIONS about the finish, color and texture (in addition to any other aspect of the transaction where you have doubt), and record conversations/document every email so you have a recourse to fall back on. Tell the furniture retailer that your purchase is contingent upon seeing photos of the EXACT FURNITURE YOU WILL RECEIVE PRIOR TO IT BEING SHIPPED. If they give you push back on any of these things, take it as a sign and find a more trustworthy furniture buying venue.