In August 2007 me and my husband were moving house and we were looking for a new suite. The colour scheme for a new house I wanted was to be red shade. I’ve already ordered on Internet four red leather chairs for my dining room, so I was now looking for a red suite to match. After visiting a few furniture stores, I finally came across the one I wanted in LOL store in Portrack in Stockton (2-seater and 3-seater). The suite was in a sale for £1,899. The suite was displayed in a corner, in front of the window of the store.
My car was parked next to the window and I pointed out to my husband that a suite was a similar colour to my car which is dark red (burgundy). The sale assistant approached us and we informed her that this was the colour and design I was after and we want to purchase this suite. We set up a payment scheme for 12 months as we were in no rush to move into our new house.
After moving into a new property in January, we received a phone call from Leeds warehouse asking us if we were ready to receive a delivery of our BROWN leather suite. I have emphasised that we ordered a red leather suite, not brown. The assistant said that she would contact the Stockton store for them to ring me. After two weeks, was no phone call. I went into the store and asked an assistant to sort this matter out. They said that the manager would return in two days and give me a ring, after two days still was no phone call.
In a meantime Leeds rang us again, if we were now ready for delivery of our suite. As I was not in, my husband took the call and thinking that the matter was resolved, agreed to accept the delivery. Three days later the suite arrived, and “guess what” it was brown. I rejected the suite and it was returned to the Stockton branch where me and my husband followed.
I explained to the sale assistant who sold us the suite that it was the wrong colour, and I thought that after several phone calls and numerous visits to the store, the matter would have been resolved. I was informed that a red leather suite had never been on display in this store and it had only ever been in brown. She informed me that if I had ordered this suite in red, it would be an extra £200. I then noticed that the brown coloured suite on display was only £1,699, and I said that if I have ordered that suite in brown, then how come I was paying £1,899 on my agreement. She replied that the price changes all the time, so on sale it is £200 more to buy than out of sale. All the staff in the store backed her up saying that that suite had never been on display in the red colour.
To my frustration I have said that I must be coloured blind or a liar. The description on my order form stated Brazil Stoke, there was no mention of the colour brown, otherwise if there was, I would have picked up on it straight away. On their website it mentions brown leather suite - Stoke, and no mention of the word Brazil. Apparently, Brazil states the colour. The manager finally rang me two days later that they have never had that suite in red.
If anyone by any chance saw that suite on display or happened to take a picture of it, or maybe purchased it, I know, it is a long shot, but anything is worth a try (there will be a drink on me). I have no option now but to take legal action, even though I am now being charged £50/week storage.
Within the past year I lost my mother, gave birth and moved house, and have been off work with depression and could have done without all this extra stress.
If anyone can help, that would be greatly appreciated.