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I purchased a Bernhardt chair and ottoman. Bernhardt claims to make quality products and, therefore, the increase in cost is justified. However, the fabric on my chair and ottoman started disintegrating less than two years after purchase. The fabric has a design on it made of chenille and the chenille just falls off of it so now I have bald patches all over the chair and ottoman. In addition, the cushion on the back of the chair was never filled properly and looks like a squished brown lump - not very attractive and not easy to sit in. You can't make the cushion stay up - it just flops over. I have followed up with my salesperson and with Bernhardt to no avail. They always say they will get back to me but never do. I have shown pictures to furniture repair shops and to local furniture stores and they all say that it is faulty workmanship.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Dear complaintsboard.com posters regarding problems with Bernhardt furniture!
I was interested in purchasing Bernhardt furniture for the first time. Therefore, as part of my due diligence in understanding the quality of Bernhardt furniture, I read ALL of your comments regarding Bernhardt furniture. I very much feel for all of you since you paid a lot of money for the Bernhardt brand and do NOT believe that the actual quality of the furniture received is good. Thank you for sharing with all of us consumers the problems that you have encountered.
I would like to offer a SUGGESTION to all of you as to HOW to attempt to make Bernhardt (and other manufacturers, as well as the retailers who sell their products and who at times “turn a blind eye” over and over again to these problems that they see on a reoccurring basis) more responsible and accountable to the consumers they sell to and service. I am an ACTIVIST, and I believe that methodic and ethical ACTIVISM can make a profound difference in matters such as these.
Each of you who have had in the past or currently have problems with Bernhardt furniture can write to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at 4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814 or online at https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Contact-Information/Contact-Specific-Offices-and-Public-Information/Information-Center/ .
You may also call CPSC at [protected] or send a FAX at [protected] or [protected].
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products (INCLUDING FURNITURE) under the agency's jurisdiction. CPSC can even require a manufacturer to issue a consumer product recall when a product presents a significant risk to consumers, either because the product could contain a defect or because it violates a mandatory safety standard. Some of the PEELING LEATHER problems and the various CUSHION problems that have been raised by Bernhardt consumers (and other manufacturers’ consumers) could possibly be tied to HEALTH RISKS for these consumers because of chemicals and materials involved, and hopefully if CPSC sees how many complaints are being made against a specific manufacturer CPSC will initiate a full investigation of the problems.
In addition, I have found that generally speaking companies are afraid of “paper trails” regarding problems with their products – therefore, it may be much more beneficial for you to WRITE OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS (rather than only making multiple phone calls and exhausting yourselves on the phone). Then when you speak with manufacturers’ and/or retailers’ representatives about your complaints, immediately thereafter follow up with additional written communications restating and confirming the verbal conversations and what actions were agreed upon. Good luck to all of you, and whatever you do in life attempt to make a POSITIVE DIFFERENCE not only for yourselves but also for others – this is the VERY BEST way to bring about improvement in our own country and our world. Thank you for allowing me to share with you the above information. Respectfully, a concerned American, consumer and activist
I found this. It appears Bernhardt is not selling real learher at this price
Tag. We spent $7600 on a leather sofa, ottoman, and chair and a half only to have peeling learher within four months.
“ Welcome to the wonderful world of “bonded leather.”
If your "leather" sofa is peeling you do not have genuine leather made from animal hides.
What you do have is "Bonded leather". This is an inferior material that is one of the single biggest sources of complaints by furniture purchasers.
Real leather is expensive If taken care of it lasts a very long time. It does not peel.”
This looks like
Bait and switch to me.
https://furnitureblog.simplicitysofas.com/blog/why-is-the-leather-on-my-sofa-peeling/
ANOTHER BAD BERNHARDT EXPERIENCE
This was a big purchase for me. I wanted to do it right.
1. I picked the very best store in our Community.
2. I found a decorator that I had faith in.
3. We discussed the sofa on the floor and decided that the unfinished leather would not be a good choice for my family lifestyle.
4. We found a leather sample that was black and slightly distressed.
5. I had my daughter come to the store look at the couch and look at the sample.
6. Next the decorator came to my home with the sample to verify that we had made the right choice. (my house has skylights so lighting is perfect)
7. We ordered /six weeks later...
8. A gray couch is delivered to my home.
I had kept the sample and when I laid the sample on the couch that was delivered it was obvious that the sample was black and the couch was gray.
9. As a consumer I felt I had taken every stop to make sure this came out right. My home is decorated and browns and tans.
Not... I ... my decorator ... or my daughter Would have picked gray for my home.
Bernhardt will do nothing and said I should have expected a variance in color.
I say if they changed their dye lot on colors or their manner of tanning .. new samples should’ve been sent out
BUYER BEWARE when you’re ordering from this company.
This was a big purchase for me. I wanted to do it right.
1. I picked the very best store in our Community.
2. I found a decorator that I had faith in.
3. We discussed the sofa on the floor and decided that the unfinished leather would not be a good choice for my family lifestyle.
4. We found a leather sample that was black and slightly distressed.
5. I had my daughter come to the store look at the couch and look at the sample.
6. Next the decorator came to my home with the sample to verify that we had made the right choice. (my house has skylights so lighting is perfect)
7. We ordered /six weeks later...
8. A gray couch is delivered to my home.
I had kept the sample and when I laid the sample on the couch that was delivered it was obvious that the sample was black and the couch was gray.
9. As a consumer I felt I had taken every stop to make sure this came out right. My home is decorated and browns and tans.
Not... I ... my decorator ... or my daughter Would have picked gray for my home.
Bernhardt will do nothing and said I should have expected a variance in color.
I say if they changed their dye lot on colors or their manner of tanning .. new samples should’ve been sent out
BUYER BEWARE when you’re ordering from this company.
I was planning to buy this manufacturer's "leather" Foster Sofa, Love seat and Ottoman set. I usually deal with a local (outstanding) furniture store. They replace any furniture they sell with a new one if there is slightest blemish -- or your money back if you refuse. To my surprise, they were not willing to order the set from the manufacturer for me, and they insisted in waiting for the leather samples from the manufacturer to arrive before they would order. I was perplexed. I eventually decided to Google search on leather Foster set from this manufacturer and ended up on this site. Boy I am glad I did so, and I am glad my local furniture store was reluctant -- for a good reason as it turns out. I feel sad for all the heartbreaking stories on this site, but for whatever worth, your stories helped me and possibly many others who would have otherwise gone through the same experiences. I sincerely hope your losses would turn into gains in other ways.