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Mr. Ayyad, Regency Management, Mealey's Furniture, Regency Furniture Mechanicsburg, PA / Todd Wanek Ashley Furniture Industries;
Mr. Ayyad, my name is Jill Hair. I am contacting you today to discuss your Breach of our Sales Contract, Fraudulent Business Practices, Federal Lemon Law and Excessive Levels of VOC Chemicals causing not only an Environmental Hazard, but causing me constant headaches, throat and eye irritation, asthma symptoms, dizziness and nausea. You forced me to pay, out of pocket, $132.50 to have an environmental company come in and test for VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) such as benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene and butadiene, to name a few.
I've been claiming since delivery, about the horrible smell and health problems I've been having since you delivered your furniture on June 5, 2021. Six months ago! I've been complaining to your store Manager, your Regional Guy and they keep promising and promising a Technician, but never taking any action. You keep saying, "We will take care of it," but never do. Contact here, contact there, just to be told to contact you back and is this vicious cycle. I was even told to file with GBS, which you knew they won't cover Manufacturer issues, only accidents after the fact.
I had filed claims already with the BBB, Consumer Affairs, Nathan R. Miller, Environmental Health Specialist with the PA Department of Health & Bureau of Epidemiology. It was their advice and recommendation to have the furniture tested, by a Certified Inspector. Here is their Certification and the Results of their Testing.
I ordered from your Mechanicsburg, PA Regency Furniture store. I know you own many different stores, besides the number of Ashley Homestores. You own Regency Furniture, Sammy's Furniture, Regency Management, Mid Atlantic Furniture Distributors, Raley's Furniture, Marlo Home Furnishings and looks like Mealey's Furniture and also own many Ashley Homestore Franchises. I purchased an Ashley Furniture Brand Reclining Sofa and Reclining Loveseat, from your store.
Your business practices are Malicious and Intentional, based on the number of complaints that are similar. I'm not the first customer to file complaints against you. Most complaints are about the poor product quality, but more importantly how you try to skirt the issue. You have a Business Practice to ignore problems, with hope that they go away. It's clear when you read the complaints. Consumers are not the only ones who are filing Criminal Complaints against your organization. You have your employees and Government Agencies. A number of your own employees have filed lawsuits against you for Unfair Labor Practices. You were caught trying to cheat your business obligations and not pay your share of FICA, FUTA and other State and Local Taxes, when employees left the business. In addition, if you look up, let just pick the BBB, you'll see this business is only rated 1 Star out of 5, 639 complaints filed against you in the last 3 years (an average of 18 complaints per month-1 every 2 days), and 276 in the last 12 months (an average of 23 complaints per month-almost 1 a day), Rated and F. You are driving your business into the ground. Plus the negative publicity to all those stores you own. Many of these complaints show similar experiences, as mine. There are so many more complaints filed against you, in many different forums. Regency's Headquarters is located at: 7900 Cedarville Road in Brandyville, MD 20613.
You Breached our Sales Contract, selling a hazardous mix of chemicals that the levels 6 months later are still excessively high and causing a danger. You use Fraudulent Business Practices to continue to victimize me and not do anything. Maybe because I'm a woman, you feel you can just ignore me and hope I go away. I will not go away and I am just getting started.
Since the problem is ultimately Ashley Furniture Industries' fault for using cheap, unskilled and unreliable labor, you should take this problem out on Ashley Furniture and Todd Wanek. He's the one that delivered this hazard to you, for you to deliver.
Your refusal and the Refusal of Ashley Furniture, who is the manufacturer, makes things clear. You have for six months, made it clear that you cannot and will not fix this problem. If you say that it's not a defect, then you are selling furniture that simply is an Environmental, Health and Safety Hazard. Or you have to state it is a Manufacturing Defect. I will attach a copy of the VOC Report for everyone's review which will reflect the high levels of VOC chemicals that are still in your furniture after 6 months. It was immediately recommended that I remove the furniture from my home, as it is dangerous and my life could ultimately be in danger. So, the furniture at the Recommendation of the Experts, the furniture is now being protected in my garage.
Due to your inability or willingness to correct the issue, it is clear that your furniture is no good. It is a Lemon. I thought that only cars were covered under the Federal Lemon Law, but it turns out that almost everything else is also. You being the business owner, I'm sure you are familiar with the "Magnusom-Moss Warranty Act," which covers all new products purchased over $15.
The Federal Lemon Law applies to all new products with a purchase price of $15 or higher and thus extends to most furniture covered by a written warranty. The federal lemon law is called the Magnusom-Moss Warranty Act. It requires manufacturers to provide clearly written warranties detailing the terms and conditions. In addition, consumers receive certain protections under other federal and state laws.
The law (Magnusom-Moss Warranty Act)
The Uniform Commercial Code, fully adopted by most states, stipulates that most new consumer products come not only with an express warranty, but also with a so-called implied warranty of merchantability. That is an automatic, unwritten promise that your purchase will perform as commonly expected, including that it will last a reasonable amount of time given the nature of the item. In most states, implied warranties are in effect for four years, although that doesn't necessarily mean a product must last that long. Implied warranties apply to retailers and manufacturers and may be broader than an express warranty.
If you have a problem with a product that you think is the result of an inherent defect, let the manufacturer or retailer (preferably a supervisor) know that you'll take its failure to resolve your complaint as a breach of the implied warranty and breach of contract. If you don't get satisfaction, you may be able to assert your rights through a credit-card chargeback. If that doesn't work, send a letter threatening legal action. You might need to file a small-claims-court action or consult a lawyer.
I know I'm not the first customer to lodge formal complaints against Regency. I wanted to handle this like the Hometown furniture store you pretended to be. I came to you, but you used almost every trick in your book to make me keep your dangerous furniture. You ignored me and passed me around like a hot potato. For six months I wanted to handle this between you and I, but you have forced me to get everyone in the United States Involved. The old saying, if you corner a mouse it will fight. Well, you cornered me and I have no choice but to fight back and get Government Agencies involved and show your true nature.
Let's go back to your request to have a Technician come out and inspect your furniture. It was pointed out to me, that they are not trained or certified in anything, except the Ashley Way. They don't carry
Certifications, Training, Experience or Knowledge of Gases, Solids of Chemicals, their Properties, Hazards, Handling and Exposures of any such chemical. Do you even carry the MSDS for the chemicals that are in your furniture? I bet not. Maybe at the Manufacturing Plants you do, but I think you should carry those here, so at least your Technician can pick up the MSDS and read about it. What would have happened, if your Technician showed up to my home, started sniffing around the furniture and passed out, fell and cracked his head or maybe the Technician had Asthma and got around my furniture and died?
Your action is nothing new. When you view all the complaints filed against you. I'm not your only victim. You have a habit of this behavior with all your furniture stores.
Because this wasn't just one item, it is both pieces of furniture, and your refusal to take any action for six months, I am now filing Criminal Reports for Breach of our Sales Contract, Deceptive Business Practices, Hazards Levels of Chemicals and the Federal Lemon Law (since I've given you the opportunity to Fix the Problem and you refused).
Now keep in mind that you broke our Sales Contract, not me. You refused to address the Health and Safety Hazards, not me. I've recently learned of my legal and consumer rights. In addition, I was referred to an International Advocacy Group. This group helps consumers like me understand my rights and the Fraudulent Business Tactics used by businesses like yours. They have directed me to file Criminal Reports immediately with the following Government Agencies, but not limited to:
US Department of Justice PA Attorney General
District Attorney Office Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Affairs Better Business Bureau
EPA Inspector General PA Department of Health & Bureau of Epidemiology
Consumer Product Safety Commission and more…
In addition, I will follow up with Consumer Complaints with the following, but not limited to: YELP, Reddit, TrustPilot, Google, Facebook, Twitter, National and Local Media, along with our State, Federal Elected Officials.
I'm not going away. You are selling furniture that's an Environmental, Health and Safety Hazard. Conducting Fraudulent business practices over the last 6 months and refusing to do anything to fix the problem. Selling goods and refusing to honor your warranty! Refusing to research, refusing to refund my money, refusing, refusing and refusing. Just pass me about the block on a Wild Goose Chase. This is a Breach of our Sales Contract! Look, I get it, you wanted to save money or something like that, or Ashley Furniture Industries ties your hands and won't take it back from you.
Well, sue Todd Wanek and Ashley Furniture Industries. But you don't want to bite the hand that feeds you. But yet instead you want to bite my hand, since it feeds you. But I'm just a woman and you can bully me. Well, I have Government Agencies, Social Media, the Media (TV and Print), my power to talk to your customers before they walk into the store, elected officials and so much more. I asked you to be honorable, but no you chose to Bully and Victimize Me.
You're misdirected, Malicious & Fraudulent Acts towards me is Criminal. I didn't do anything wrong. In fact, I attempted to help you make your $46 million a year, and you go all Criminal behavior on me to Rip Me Off, all because I'm a woman. Why are you taking this out on me?
Because this being a Maliciously and Fraudulent Act, Bullying Me, Environmental/Health/Safety Hazard, and a Breach of our Sales Contract, by your Refusal Terms and Implied Terms of the Sales Contract Terms, I am demanding that you Refund My Full Purchase.
You will contact me via Email Only. Don't have your people contact me and ask me what happened. You already know, because of your Criminal Actions towards me. I have explained this issue too many times, to different people, to different voicemails and emails. There is no need to rehash this experience again and again, unless you plan to Abuse Me some more. It's bad enough that I will need to share the story when I file my Criminal and Consumer Reports.
I am demanding that you respond via email to confirm my Order Cancellation, for a full Refund $3, 523.95 + $132.50 for forcing me to get a VOC test to prove my case (which you can send via check). It is too late now, to come back and say you want to honor the warranty and replace the furniture! I am asking you to provide me with 3-4 days and times that I can select from, to schedule you to pick up your furniture. I will select the most convenient day and time, but we will also need to confirm details of the Full Refund, processing $1, 000 back to my Credit Card and the remaining balance of $2, 523.95 back to the Finance Account. Once I select a date and time, we will expect you to be honorable and keep that agreement. I will not confirm that date/time, with your scheduling system, until all details are confirmed. I am requesting an Email Confirmation of my Cancellation, The Full Refund Amount $ and a detailed "Pick Up Receipt" at the time of exchange. Not afterwards. Once you have picked up your furniture, we will expect that you process the Refund Immediately and I will require a copy of the Refund Authorization, showing the date of processing and the Refund amounts to my Credit Card and the Financing.
Since this is a Breach of our Sales Contract, Fraudulent Business and your furniture is a "Lemon", you will Cancel my order and you are not allowed to charge me any fees. You will not keep a single penny of our money, as it is our Legal & Consumer Right. You have a proven history of cheating your employees, local & government taxes and now you are focusing on cheating your customers. So maybe $46 million isn't enough and you need to find a way to make more money, that's fine and commendable. I encourage you to do so. But don't make additional money by fraudulently scamming anyone. This is your doing, not mine. I just wanted New, Good Quality Furniture, and I chose your Ashley Homestore, but never again.
I have been completely upfront and honest with you. I hope you don't make this a drawn-out process. I am not going away. You have two choices. You can be honorable and process our Full Refund or I will join the Advocacy moment against Regency Furniture along with the Ashley brand here locally and surrounding communities, but will add Mealey's Furniture, Sammy Furniture and Regency Management and do everything I can to ensure customers stop shopping and doing business with you which includes all furniture stores you operate. I'm sure that will cost you more than my case is worth. The choice is yours. Do you contact me swiftly, via email only, for a full refund so we go our separate ways or do I join the Movement, share your Past History and Complaints with customers inside and outside your stores? Maybe encourage them to shop a little further out. Go places like Value City Furniture, Sam's Club, Sofa Selections, even Furniture Finesse.
Mechanicsburg is a small town with a population of only about 9K. What happens when a small town starts joining together to stop supporting your Regency and your Ashley Homestore? Can I talk to the right customer, that wanted to buy $10K in Mattresses or $15K in Furniture? How many customers will walk away? I don't know. I don't know how long it will take to affect your business; a year, 2 years?
I await to hear from you about my No-Hassle Refund. The longer it takes the more Reports I can file and the more local media I can share with.
Jill Hair
[protected]@gmail.com
Order #: [protected]
xc: US Department of Justice, PA Attorney General, District Attorney Office, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Affairs, Better Business Bureau, EPA Inspector General, PA Department of Health & Bureau of Epidemiology, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Facebook, Twitter, TrustPilot.com, Reddit.com, YELP and Google, Elected Representatives, National/local Media and more…
Desired outcome: Full Refund
