Nastasi's Furniture review: Unprofessional no ethics or integrity - furniture had powder-post beetle and furniture was previously infested (Pin-holes)

Well Nastasi Furniture (The Lawson family) likes to play foolish "games". Matt Lawson Junior was diligent in leaving messages during the 4th of July holiday. I spoke with him on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 and asked if he had my refund money and when he was going to schedule the removal of the furniture...

Hello Jane,

I beg to differ with you on this and every point since February 2017. And at this point since American Woodcrafters has been so uncooperative I will have to take legal action.
Enough is Enough !

Regards,

________________________________________
From: Jane Stout
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2017 1:20 PM
To: Chris Coggins
Cc: [protected]@verizon.net
Subject: RE: Follow-Up Nastasi - Wed, July 5, 2017

Ms ,

I do apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced during this ordeal. With your purchase again having been between yourself and Nastais all responsibilities for any and all refunds back to you are the responsibility of Nastasis. If you are due an additional $107.50 that too will need to come to you from Nastasis. We will credit Nastasis back now that they have removed the merchandise from your home. American Woodcrafters has taken care of the warranty that is between our company and Nastasis. Everything else is handled between yourself and Nastasis. Since they have taken care of removing all pieces there is no need for any additional correspondence.

Thank you,
Jane Stout
Customer Service
American Woodcrafters
[protected] ext 230
Fax#[protected]

From:
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2017 1:09 PM
To: Chris Coggins
Cc: Jane Stout
Subject: Follow-Up Nastasi - Wed, July 5, 2017
Importance: High

Hello Mr. Coggins:

Please let me reiterate, it makes me sick and stressed, that I have to say this AGAIN (as I know you are well aware) my investigation of numerous retailers and distributors shows that, NO retailer/distributor has ANY WARRANTY for the furniture that they sell to a customer. The WARRANTY rests with, as you know with the MANUFACTURER - which is YOU.

Well Nastasi Furniture (The Lawson family) likes to play foolish "games".
Matt Lawson Junior was diligent in leaving messages during the 4th of July holiday.

I spoke with him on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 and asked if he had my refund money and when he was going to schedule the removal of the furniture. He said that he would call me back. When "Matt Jr." called back he wanted to come in about an hour and a half (around 3:30-4:00). His men showed up with an envelope containing an incorrect amount - short $50.00 a check in the amount of $2,071.41 and $400 in cash.

This was NOT as I had requested in my e-mail attached below: CASH - $1621.41 and a Bank Check or a Money Order for $1,000 totaling $2,621.41 - exactly what I paid.

Disgusted with all the "games" I sent these men away with the envelope (they were the same men that delivered the furniture on February 15, 2017 and one of them is a Lawson).

I got on the phone with "Matt Jr." and we had it out!

Nastasi had ample opportunity to get this right. They had all afternoon on Friday, June 30th; Saturday, July 1st; Monday, July 3rd and even Wednesday morning, July 5th to make sure they had the correct amount of my refund and in the same manner I paid them.

Again, another call, and who shows up with the men for the second time to remove the furniture and now its about 5:00 pm.
Mr. Matt Lawson, Senior (the man who hung up on me on the phone).

Well finally with total disgust I counted the money: $1,621.41 in cash and a check in the amount of $900.00 totaling $2,521.41 and NOT $2,621.41 that I paid.

"Matt Jr." said this $100.00 was for 2 trip delivery/removal fee. - This is NOT acceptable to me!

With all the deception, run-around, avoiding/ignoring and unprofessional "games" these people have been playing, I could not TRUST them that they did not give me a bogus check! I went first thing this morning Thursday, July 5th to the Bank the check is written on - Wells Fargo and cashed it immediately with them, they charged me a fee of $7.50.

**********************
So, Mr. Chris Coggins - are you HAPPY !
If you and your organization American Woodcrafters were creditable and professional and had an ounce of integrity YOU would have responded to my letters and e-mails back in February 2017 and NONE of this should have happened! I beg to say that you should be ashamed!

I don't know what your compensation "back" to Nastasi Furniture is (see your below e-mail to me dated June 28th), but you should deduct $107.50 from whatever amount they think you owe them back.

Please make a check payable directly to me in the amount of $107.50 this will fully satisfy all obligations and the matter can be closed.

P.S. As soon as the pictures that I took of the "return merchandise" receipt from Nastasi's and their check as well as the receipt from Wells Fargo I will forward them on for documentation and your records.

Regards,

________________________________________
From: >
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2017 11:34 AM
To: Nastasi's Inc; Chris Coggins
Cc: Jane Stout
Subject: ATTENTION: MATT Senior - Nastasi's Furniture

Matt, Sr.

I’m a very principled person. I’ve been very objective and specific about the problem, and I’ve addressed this in numerous e-mails.
Which I know were forwarded to you from Chris Coggins, (CFO), American Woodcrafters. If you read the e-mails that were forwarded to you, you would know this.

Our conversation on Thursday, June 29, 2017 was uncharacteristic and degrades ethical behaviors. There was just no need for the inflammation yesterday. I failed to keep it objective because of the pitiable unprofessional response from both you and Chris Coggins. And you did not need to hung up on me, and when I immediately called back I was told that you left the building.

Matt, did you bother to follow up with me when you came to my house and took only (1) picture? No!

Did you call to follow-up and keep me updated and what process you put in play to solve this problem? No!
This problem should have been acted upon immediately and resolved within one or two days at the most. And most importantly I have been communicating with you, Mr. Coggins since February 2017 about the misrepresentation (false advertising) of your furniture.

Again, what do you expect my reaction to be? Both of you have made it an abject situation, that could have easily been resolved with honesty.

I did my due diligence and the response I got from both of you was nil.

How do you expect me to feel when I laid it all out civilly and you both refused to take action and be accountable.

Matt, most places do not charge for delivery and set-up. But I paid $50.00, I’m seeing that now that I’ve looked at other retailers/distributors.

So please let me reiterate again I want a FULL REFUND in the same manner I paid:

January 21, 2017 - $500.00 Cash; Check #126 mailed January 21, 2017 for $1,000.00; Balance on Delivery February 15, 2017 for $1,121.41 for a Total of: $2,621.41.

I do not want to have to get a lawyer involved, this will be time consuming and costly for you both. Just be ethical and honest.

Matt, you got “cash” totaling $1.621.41, but you charged me the Full TAX amount.

You are in business, this is a business “error” and can be solved, write it off or get compensation from the manufacturer, you have the ability to do this.

Matt, if your showroom was so busy yesterday (Thursday [protected]) I’m sure you could have said to the person who took the messages (3), “please call Sharon H. back and extend my apologies, find out when it is convenient for me to call her back, maybe before we open or after, but get a specific time that is good for both of us.” Instead I waited from 1:20 to 3:30 pm. This again tells me something. Do not assume that I know your situation, nor you mine.

All these months since February 2017 no response from American Woodcrafters, and now with the infestation and all the “ping-pong” playing of who is responsible and telephone “tag” is avoidance, in my book and is not how good business gets things done! This is not your “first rodeo.”

Please arrange to have my refund money: Cash - $1,621.41 and either a Bank Check or Money Order for $1,000.00 Totaling: $2,621.41.

Call me to arrange this and removal of the furniture [protected]. (I do not have internet access in my home).

I am just the customer and want the respect and integrity of an honest business transaction.

Regards,

________________________________________
From: Jane Stout
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 2:57 PM
To:
Cc: Chris Coggins; Nastasi's Inc
Subject: RE: MR. CHRIS COGGINS RE: Powderpost Beetles - from Dr. Michael F. Potter

We are taking responsibility, where you are not understanding is that Nastasis is the one that made the purchase from us. We will take care of crediting Nastasis’s back once we know they have taken care of you as you bought from them. When you have an issue with your car you go to the car dealership in which you made your purchase for them to make it right and then they I am sure goes to Detroit MI for their compensation.

LORI-----Please take care of your customer.

Thank you,
Jane Stout
Customer Service
American Woodcrafters
[protected] ext 230
Fax#[protected]

From:
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 2:45 PM
To: Jane Stout
Cc: Chris Coggins; Nastasi's Inc
Subject: Re: MR. CHRIS COGGINS RE: Powderpost Beetles - from Dr. Michael F. Potter

Hello Ms. Stout and Mr. Coggins,

Thank your for your reply. Please forward to me the e-mail(s) that you sent to Lori at Nastasi Furniture for my records.

I do not want to play a back-and-forth GAME with either of your companies.

At this point someone should acknowledge this situation and take responsibility.

I want full restitution, the problem resolved and the furniture removed as soon as possible.

You are the MANUFACTURER and in business, any business the Manufacturer is held ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE.
(I don't know where you went to school for your business development acumen?)

Regards,

________________________________________
From: Jane Stout
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 1:27 PM
To:
Cc: Chris Coggins; Nastasi's Inc
Subject: RE: MR. CHRIS COGGINS RE: Powderpost Beetles - from Dr. Michael F. Potter

Ms Houlutiak,

As Chris had stated in his reply to you the other day we have now forwarded all of the photos that you have sent to Nastasia on 6/27/17. We have asked that they get in touch with you in the removal and refund for your bedroom suite. Nastasis is who you made payment to and they are the ones that will need to take action with removing it and refunding you. Once they have resolved the issue then they will reach back out to us for any compensation that we need to issue back to them on behalf of this issue. I forwarded them both sets of pictures that you had sent in to us so they are now fully aware of the situation and the person that I have addressed in the email is Lori. We are fully prepared to take care of our end which is to our customer, Nastasis. All we can do it send your information and photos to Nastasis and ask that they get in touch with you to resolve your issue however we can not make them do it. They should take care of you because they know that once this is taken care of they can then reach out to us with all of this information so that we can take care of them.

Thank you,
Jane Stout
Customer Service
American Woodcrafters
[protected] ext 230
Fax#[protected]

From:
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 12:33 PM
To: Jane Stout
Subject: ATT: MR. CHRIS COGGINS RE: Powderpost Beetles - from Dr. Michael F. Potter
Importance: High

Hello Mr. Coggins,

I am forwarding to you the reply/comments from Dr. Michael F. Potter author of the "pdf" file which I sent excerpts (which was in one of the photos) along with the other pictures of the beetle and "frass" ("saw dust").

As you read, this expert in the field of entomology concurs and validates my judicious prudence for the removal of the furniture and a Full Refund as soon as possible.

Please be advised that the best and quickest way to reach me is contact via my home phone.

Regards,

________________________________________
From: Potter, Michael F
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 11:52 AM
To:
Subject: RE: Powder-post Beetles

Hi Sharon,
Glad to hear the information was of some help. If the wood is a hardwood (oak, maple, ash, hickory, etc.) they’re likely lyctid powderpost beetles, which almost always appear within the first year of the wood items being purchased. Furniture providers often claim the beetles could not have originated in their product because the wood was previously kiln dried, but since the wood sits somewhere after drying it can nonetheless still become infested. Some kiln drying processes also may not be 100% successful. Bottom line – it’s on them to make you “whole.” Suffice it to say that some of these cases are litigated, but hopefully that will not be necessary in yours!
Rgds, Mike

Michael F. Potter
Provost’s Distinguished Service Professor
Department of Entomology
S-225 Agricultural Science Center-North
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY [protected]
T [protected]
F [protected]
[protected]@uky.edu

From: ]
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 4:15 PM
To: Potter, Michael F
Subject: RE: Powder-post Beetles

Dear Doctor "Mike,"

Thank you for your article (pdf file) on the Powder-post Beetle.

I purchased a bedroom set from American Woodcrafters, located in High Point, N.C. Within less than 4 months of purchase something was drilling "out" of the wood.

I called the U.S. Department of Agriculture in my area and they sent out two investigators to look at the then "saw-dust" coming out of the furniture. (I have a degree in horticulture and of course you have to take an entomology class, but I'm no expert). As a child I was always fascinated by bugs of all kinds and loved to dig in the dirt.

I then reported this to the distributor who also came to see for himself. A good thing I took "clear" semi-heavy plastic and taped up the area cause the next morning the "bug" fell out of the hole and was captured between the foot board and the plastic. The "AG" guy came back and took it away for analysis.

But while he was doing this, I was doing my own investigation on the internet and "you" came up. I read your pdf on the subject and took some excerpts and forwarded them to the manufacturer (i.e., larvae maturity 1-5 years) which would make the furniture warranty of 1 year moot, if more came out of the furniture at a later date. The furniture has about 16-18 different areas where there are surface "pin-holes" so I think that this furniture was infested with the beetles and they did not get them all.

I have been contacting the manufacturer and distributor and asking that they remove the furniture asap and refund my money.

I am very thankful to you for your publication and written so well that it explains in detail.

Happy "bugging"

Regards,