Most Unpleasant, Most Frustrating Experience In Novena

[mumsy14 0]

My regrets, also in Balestier Shaw Plaza...

In Oct 2014, I visited Novena Furniture at Balestier Road to reserve a dinning table I took a liking to at their Sungei Kadut Branch. When I was there, it took a while as I was told that the price quoted by the Saleman at Sungei Kadut was wrong, and they tried to contact him to verify. The salesperson took the opportunity to promote their bed to me. I turned them down as I was tire and wanting to just settle the dining table and leave. However, the salesperson was extremely persistent that I tried their beds since I was waiting for the order of my dinning set to be printed. I kept insisting that I was not ready as I was still waiting for my fengshui report to be out, and reno would only start in Jan so I am in no rush. However, the still persistent salesperson offered me a 50% discount after saying that this is rare and only for me since I’ve bought something from them. She also assured me that I can change for other furniture if I do not find the bed suitable later on. The Manager also assured me the same thing, asking me to take advantage to lock in the discount. They kept assuring me that I could change the item later while maintaining the same discount. I was eventually pressured into paying a deposit of $360 for a $1199 bed.

In Dec, when my fengshui report came out, I realised the bed, as well as the dining chairs which I had ordered from Novena cannot fit into the desired position. So I quickly went over to Balestier to inform them. I intended to change the dining chairs to stools, but they do not have. I also cancel the bed as the room could only take a single bed which they do not have the colour required by fengshui. I wanted to use the deposit I paid for the bed to offset the dining table. To my dismay, they said I must change to something else with the same amount as the bed or more. I argued that this was not told to me. I had the impression while there’s no refund of deposit, I can use the deposit to buy something else, as in normal circumstances with other retailers. As they gave me no choice, I went to other branches hoping to see something I like. However, it’s always either what I like and can afford, it’s out of stock, or measurement cannot fit in and has to be custom made, which end up far over my budget. This dragged on for months.

Then in late January when it was time to move into my new home, I asked for the delivery of my dining table which cost $900. I had already paid a combined deposit of $730 on the bed and table then, and so I tried to just give them $170. They refused to accept and even threatened to take back the dining table which has already been set up. So in the end, I ended up paying them $1430 for a $900 dining table or no dining table for CNY Reunion dinner..

It’s May now, and we are still at loggerheads over the overpayment of $530 from me to them, which they are still claiming no refund, and insisting I have to buy something to the amount of $1199.

Why the drag? I am very busy with my work and travelling, and it’s never easy to get the Sales Manager as every time I sms him, either he does not reply, off, or with customers. When we do talk, he just kept insisting no refund, need to buy same amount as order not deposit etc etc etc.

Would you buy something over a thousand dollars you do not need? I sure regret walking into Novena Furnitures ! Going to CASE..