Legislative basis and warranty for furniture.
What warranty period exists for furniture is regulated by the Labor Protection Code; this is the main law on which the consumer relies if he has purchased a low-quality product.
According to Art. 5 of this regulatory act, “guarantee” means a period, a time period within which the buyer can contact the furniture seller to eliminate defects or return the money for the purchase.
It can be installed either by the manufacturer himself or by the seller (intermediary). Important! Furniture manufacturers are not required to issue a warranty for all products.
Responsibility for eliminating defects applies only on a voluntary basis.
For a certain time, which is chosen by the manufacturers themselves, sellers can apply the general rules that are prescribed in the PZPP.
Based on Art. 18, a buyer who purchased defective furniture may require:
- Replace a piece of furniture (set) with an analogue of equal value.
- Reduce the price (discount for defects).
- Replace with another set with a change in cost (additional payment or payment of the difference).
- Eliminate defects at the expense of the manufacturer (seller).
- Refuse the purchase and return the money spent.
In addition to the PZPP, there is another by-law - Government Resolution No. 55.
The list under clause 114 contains the rules that must be followed when selling furniture products.
DEFECTS
We work with leading furniture factories that care about the quality of their products. However, if any defects are discovered during the warranty period, you will need to do the following:
Send a complaint by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You must have JavaScript enabled to view it. with a detailed description of the identified manufacturing defect. The claim form can be downloaded here
Attach photos of the defect.
A copy (photo) or contract number.
A copy (photo) of the receipt.
Photo of the factory label.
If a manufacturing defect is confirmed, the Buyer has the right to present the following demands to the Seller:
- proportionate reduction in the price of the product; — free elimination of defects in the Product within a reasonable time; — reimbursement of your expenses for eliminating product defects; - return of goods.
In controversial situations, the Seller must carry out an examination to establish the fact of a manufacturing defect. If the examination establishes the occurrence of a defect due to the fault of the Buyer as a result of improper operation, the Buyer will have to pay all costs incurred by the Seller for the examination.
Main nuances: objects and accessories.
The manufacturer is responsible for the quality and complete set of small, medium, large parts (hinges, stands, legs, etc.) that make up the piece of furniture.
If we talk about accessories, they fall under clause 116 of RF PP No. 55, which states that the manufacturer or seller must personally check the quality and equipment before sale.
They are the ones who are responsible for shortcomings, incomplete sets of parts (completeness of assembly), and also conduct examinations in case of controversial issues and detection of defects.
Important! Sometimes the manufacturer/seller talks about “global standards” on which he relies in controversial issues that arise during the operation of furniture.
This is not provided for by Russian legislation and warranty obligations must be based specifically on the set of rules/laws provided for in the Russian Federation.
Returning a sofa: how to file a claim and get your money back.
Actions to take if deficiencies are found
If after purchasing furniture you discover a defect, you must write a written complaint to the seller.
The claim must be submitted:
- against signature upon personal visit to the store;
- send by mail.
Product repair should not last more than 45 days. If it is delayed, demand a replacement with a similar product or demand a penalty for each day of delay, otherwise it may drag on for years.
Any of your actions must be documented in writing, otherwise, if you agreed verbally and your demands were not fulfilled, proving your rights may be problematic.
The warranty is suspended during repairs. The suspension of the term will also occur when going to court if it was not possible to reach an amicable agreement with the furniture seller.
The furniture warranty starts after the sale.
The warranty period for furniture begins (according to Article 19 of the Labor Code) from the moment the buyer receives the goods in his hands.
If the transfer time is not precisely established, then the countdown begins from the moment the piece of furniture is released. The warranty for components is equal to the validity period for the complete set, unless otherwise stated in the internal instructions.
Important! The warranty obligation works if it is established directly by the seller. The manufacturer cannot be responsible for quality forever.
According to the law, the warranty period is the limit during which the buyer can demand that defects in the furniture be eliminated.
According to the PZPP Art. 5 clause 6 and clause 7 it follows that if the manufacturer has not indicated the warranty period, it is established by the seller. If no one did this, then according to Art. 19 it is 2 years.
The type of product is also taken into account, so the warranty period for upholstered furniture is longer than for an office chair or furniture for use in a public place (bedside table in a hospital, chair in a waiting room, etc.).
Important! Typically the warranty period is 12, 18 or 24 months.
The manufacturer can provide a 5-year warranty on imported furniture.
Purchase and sale agreements usually indicate that within 6 months.
The buyer has the right to make a claim to the seller, and then only to the manufacturer.
REFUSAL OF GOODS, ORDERS
When purchasing an item from a showroom or warehouse, or when ordering custom furniture, the Buyer may refuse the item at any time BEFORE it is delivered. However, in accordance with Art. 32 of the Law of the Russian Federation dated 02/07/1992 N 2300-1 “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”, you have the right to refuse the contract for the provision of services, subject to full reimbursement of all costs actually incurred by the contractor. Those. pay for delivery services to the address when purchasing goods from a showroom or warehouse, or costs incurred for the manufacture of custom-made furniture, other expenses.
Sofa lifespan
When long-awaited and expensive upholstered furniture appears in the house, no one thinks about guarantees and service life. However, they need to be taken into account at the stage of choosing a sofa.
Characteristics, period of use, manufacturer's guarantees: every nuance is important.
We suggest you figure out how long upholstered furniture should last, who sets this period, and from what moment the countdown begins.
The service life of a sofa according to GOST is the time period during which the manufacturer guarantees the buyer the quality of the product and, if necessary, bears responsibility for violation of these guarantees. Assembling and disassembling furniture can be done by the consumer independently at home; this does not require special knowledge and skills; just read the instructions carefully.
High-quality furniture made using modern technologies does not require additional connecting elements. The main condition for compliance is that the furniture is assembled by at least two people. Illegitimate or incorrect assembly will lead to defects and damage during operation.
In this case, the manufacturer declines any responsibility for the breakdown.
From the moment of purchase, the consumer has the right:
- possession, disposal and use of the product;
- for repairs and warranty service;
- to eliminate significant deficiencies free of charge;
- for damages.
If the period of operation of the sofa is not established, the provision of the above rights is ensured by the manufacturer for ten years. Therefore, most manufacturers reduce the service life of the product by indicating it in the warranty card. According to Art.
5 of the Law of the Russian Federation “On the Protection of Consumer Rights” (hereinafter referred to as the Law), the manufacturer has the right to independently determine the duration of the warranty period for the furniture.
Important: by law, the manufacturer is obliged to repair or replace a product if the latter does not meet the specifications or has hidden (latent) defects that were not identified during a preliminary inspection.
When purchasing a sofa, it is necessary to check all components and inspect the surface for damage. Be sure to keep the packaging, receipt and warranty card. If defects are identified at the time of acceptance and delivery, they must be indicated in the defect report. If the furniture is accepted without recording the defects, the buyer does not have the right to refer to them in the future.
According to the law, the manufacturer must determine the service life of durable goods. This also applies to components, which over time can:
- be dangerous to the life and health of the buyer;
- cause damage to property.
The list of such goods and components is approved by the government and includes upholstered furniture, including sofas. The service life of a sofa made of leatherette or eco-leather by law does not exceed 10 years; some manufacturers reduce it to 18 months. For imported products, warranty service is provided for five years.
The manufacturer has the right to refuse warranty repairs or replacement of upholstered furniture if it:
- traces of independent/unprofessional intervention were found, not confirmed by the examination report, and not previously agreed upon with the manufacturer;
- residues of liquids, chemicals, solvents, animal waste, scratches;
- at the time of operation the permissible load indicators are exceeded;
- the results of force majeure circumstances are visible (fire, flooding, earthquake, etc.);
- The design has been changed, the integrity has been compromised.
Also, the transfer of upholstered furniture for use to third parties and its use for other purposes deprive the buyer of the right to warranty service.
Important: if the breakdown is caused by violation of operating standards, then repairs are carried out at the buyer’s expense. However, such a violation must be proven by the results of an independent examination. If experts do not establish violations of operation on the part of users, the manufacturer independently carries out repairs or replaces the broken product.
Recommendations regarding the assembly and operation of upholstered furniture are contained in the instructions and must be strictly followed by the buyer. Otherwise, the manufacturer has the right to reject claims against it.
Important: an unassembled sofa must be stored packaged if it was not assembled immediately after delivery.
New upholstered furniture is installed in well-ventilated areas with normal humidity levels. Leather furniture should be placed away from heat sources (fireplaces, radiators, heaters, etc.), and away from direct sunlight.
It is not recommended to cover the skin with colored blankets, which can stain it. Do not allow children or pets to eat on the sofa, as this may damage the upholstery and leave stains on it.
Avoid contact of piercing, cutting, sharp, or heavy objects with the upholstery.
Another important nuance that needs to be taken into account when purchasing upholstered furniture is the quality and service life of the filler. Depending on what will be inside the sofa: spring blocks, foam rubber or polyurethane foam, the duration of use of the product depends.
In conclusion, we note that the cost of upholstered furniture often depends on the duration of warranty service. It is initially included in the price. The better and higher the quality of the fillings, upholstery materials and the structure itself, the higher the price of upholstered furniture.
A sofa, like other things, unfortunately, cannot last indefinitely. However, it is always important to know how to extend the life of upholstered furniture, thereby saving your home budget.
The service life of a sofa is related to its operation and the rules of its use. In order for upholstered furniture to please its owners longer, it is important to use it correctly and carefully.
The service life of a sofa is the period of service life of the product that is guaranteed by its manufacturer. The average lifespan of upholstered furniture is 10–15 years.
But it all depends on the individual conditions in which it is used.
To correctly answer this question, you need to familiarize yourself with the “Trade Rules” and the Russian Federation Law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights.” The first chapter deals with the regulated shelf life of the product, the rights and obligations of the manufacturer, as well as the period covered by the warranty.
According to the law, the manufacturer itself regulates the warranty period for products. It is written in the product passport. This can be any time set by the factory: 12, 20, 24 months or any other time corresponding to GOST.
ATTENTION! It is worth remembering that there are deadlines prescribed by GOST.
Thus, the average service life of products in children's rooms and public spaces is 18 months, and for domestic premises the period is increased to 24 months. The period covered by the warranty is counted from the date of purchase of the product.
There are many factors that can significantly reduce the lifespan of furniture:
- Exposure to sunlight. The color of the product may fade from the sun over time, and the fabric becomes more faded. This happens especially quickly on open gazebos or terraces.
- Impact of central heating. For example, if the product is located close to the battery, this also reduces its durability. Therefore, it is important to plan in advance where it is best to place the furniture.
- Mechanical influences. When a thing is in a child’s room, you can’t immediately count on its long service life. Of course, children will always use furniture for various games, loosening the springs of the sofa while jumping on it.
- Pets. Unfortunately, this is an important factor that reduces service life.
- Dirt that is difficult to remove. Stains from wine, various sauces and berries are difficult to wash. You can’t do this without special stain removers. Therefore, if the sofa is in the kitchen, you need to choose upholstery that can be quickly and easily washed.
IMPORTANT! Taking into account all these factors, it is easy to extend the life of furniture for a much longer time. It is important to choose the right location for the furniture and understand who it will be intended for.
Unfortunately, upholstered furniture cannot last indefinitely. But it also happens that it wears out before the warranty expires. If the warranty is still valid, then you should contact the store. You can photograph any defects that have arisen, make a copy of the contract and receipt, as well as a photo of the label.
In the future, an examination will be carried out, as a result of which the factors due to which the shelf life has decreased will be identified. To avoid unpleasant situations, you should always pay attention to the average service life indicated in the furniture passport and, of course, be guided by the relevant laws. If the defect is indeed a factory defect, then the consumer has the right to take the following actions:
- Request for return of goods;
- A proportionate reduction in the price of the goods, with subsequent compensation of funds;
- The seller, at his own expense, eliminates defects in the product and carries out repairs under warranty.
If a thing quickly wears out through no fault of the manufacturing factory, then there are many ways to update it. It all depends on the defect that appeared over time. You can change, for example, the upholstery.
Now there are many different options for how to do this, and the furniture will look even better.
Perhaps the most common defects are: sagging of the sofa (in the case of a children's room) or the presence of difficult-to-remove stains.
