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CB Furniture Stores Review of Classic House Furniture
Classic House Furniture

Classic House Furniture review: Lies and broken promises 3

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Author of the review
12:00 am EST
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Bill Newmann, and Classic House Furniture are horrible to do business with. It's an online store, but based in New Jersey. He is very dishonest and will not follow through on promises. He'll tell you anything to make a sale. My six week wait time and $400 delivery charge for a bed, turned into five months and a $544 charge. The merchandise was badly damaged and promises to replace it with a new item were not met. He repaired it and tried to pass it off as new. Also promised a $400 visa credit (big deal right?) and I'm still waiting for that. Buyer beware. This is one online "store" that cannot be trusted. The savings is not worth it. I have a feeling it's a basement business run by someone with no background. Just don't do it, and save yourself from grief.

3 comments
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David Juneau
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May 10, 2007 5:35 am EDT

Thanks so much for this type of posting. I was very close to ordering $4,000.00 worth of merchandise and expect I would have lost this money. The internet is very valuable when it comes to this and thanks again for those who take the time to alert the unwary.

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Gay Cannice
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Mar 16, 2007 5:51 pm EDT

I am still waiting to get my furniture, which I ordered last Oct 2006, delivered. Last I heard from Classic House Furniture and its seller, Bill Neumann was last January promising that my furniture will be delivered within 14-21 days. Still absolutely nothing! My messages have been left unanswered even before he was arrested by the state of NJ. But it seems like, someone in that business, still answers email from prospective buyers, as I've tested just yesterday. I lost about $5000 on my deposit for high=-end furniture that is not coming, and I feel really stupid that for the first time in my over 40 years of life, I've been had!

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Consumer Affairs
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Mar 08, 2007 1:28 pm EST

Consumer Affairs, Monmouth County Prosecutor Coordinate Actions
Against Fair Haven Furniture Retailer
Fraud Against Consumers Continued Despite 2005 Settlement

NEWARK – The Division of Consumer Affairs and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office today both took actions against William Neumann, a Fair Haven furniture retailer, for allegedly committing fraud against consumers in violation of a 2005 settlement with the state.

Neumann, owner of the Cabbage Rose Ltd. Store doing business as Chelsea Manor Unlimited and Classic House Furniture which all sell furniture via the internet, was arrested today and charged with theft by deception and misconduct by a corporate officer. Also today, Consumer Affairs filed suit against Neumann and his businesses in state Superior Court in Monmouth County.

The state’s lawsuit alleges that the defendants violated New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act by committing unconscionable commercial practices, making false promises and misrepresentations as well as violating furniture delivery regulations. Additionally, these actions violate the terms of a September, 2005 consent order with the state.

The defendants also violated the consent order by not paying $75,000 in civil penalties to the state and not paying restitution to consumers.

"The violations defendants committed against consumers will not be tolerated. Beyond continuing deceptive practices against consumers, Neumann disregarded the terms of a 2005 settlement,’’ Attorney General Stuart Rabner said. "I want to commend the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Division of Consumer Affairs for working together and coordinating civil and criminal actions to end this pattern of consumer abuse.”

Neumann and his companies face an additional $100,000 in civil penalties for continuing violations. Each violation of the Consumer Fraud Act and furniture delivery regulations carries a penalty of up to $20,000.

The state in its lawsuit is petitioning that the defendants be permanently barred from engaging in retail business in New Jersey or with New Jersey customers.

Neumann currently sells furniture on the internet at www.ClassicHouseFurniture.com and www.CabbageRoseltd.com

“We will not be satisfied until consumers receive the restitution they deserve for the losses they have sustained. Consumers can spend thousands of dollars for furniture and they deserve to receive the merchandise delivered as scheduled or a refund,” Acting Director Nolan said. “Merchants who don’t respect the legal rights of consumers will find out, as in this case, that they are not above the law.”

The defendants allegedly violated the Consumer Fraud Act by:

Accepting payment for merchandise and then failing to deliver the ordered merchandise;

Failing to provide consumers with a contract form, sales document, or invoice setting forth a promised delivery date and the consumers’ rights in the event of non-delivery on the promised delivery date;

Continuously failing to offer and/or provide consumers with refunds for
merchandise that Defendants failed to deliver on the contracted for delivery
date or thereafter;
Leading consumers to believe that furniture has been ordered from a particular manufacturer when such is not the case;

Continuously failing to notify consumers that Defendants are unable to deliver the merchandise on the contracted for delivery date;

Leading consumers to believe that Defendants can order merchandise directly from the manufacturers when they have not received authority to be authorized dealers of such furniture manufacturers;

Failing to respond to consumer complaints, inquiries and/or requests for refunds;

Using a contract form or sales document that states “Merchandise that has left the premises is not cancellable, refundable or returnable.”

Misrepresenting to consumers the expected delivery date of merchandise;

Misrepresenting to consumers that a refund is forthcoming, when such is not the case;<
Misrepresenting that Defendants placed an order for merchandise with a manufacturer, when such is not the case; and

Misrepresenting on their web sites that defendants have access to certain furniture manufacturers when they have not received authority to be authorized dealers of such furniture manufacturers;
Deputy Attorney General Jennifer D. Dougherty is representing the state in this matter. Consumers who wish to file complaints with Consumer Affairs may do so online at http://www.njConsumerAffairs.gov or by calling [protected] (toll-free within New Jersey) or [protected].