I used my credit card to purchase an AGA Entertainment Center from Cost Savers Furniture (now Samples Furniture, 3550 Geraghty St., Fairbanks, AK 99709) on Saturday, 2/26/00, for $1836.00, with the understanding that it was solid oak. This understanding came from several sources, but included the fact that the receipt specified that the item was an "AGA Solid Oak Entertainment Center." At the store, my wife and I made it very clear that we were interested only in solid wood furniture. After taking it home and unboxing the main unit, however, I found that most of it was made of particle board surfaced with veneer.
On Monday, 2/28/00 I called the store and asked to return it for a refund because the item had been misrepresented. The store owner, Susan Larson (now Susan Samples), referred to the posted "all sales final" policy, and said she would not accept a return. She tried to convince me to keep the article by noting several advantages of particle board. Nonetheless, that was not what I wanted, as I made clear both then and at the time of the sale.
I attempted resolution through local, state, and national offices of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to no avail—I'll detail that in my report about the BBB.
My credit card issuer (CitiBank USA) agreed with my allegation after reviewing documentation I sent to them, and refunded my purchase price and charged it back to Cost Savers. Cost Savers then sent the charge out to CheckWorks Bankers Collection Company for collection and possible legal action. I disputed the claims made against me in a timely fashion, but Checkworks filed suit against me in small claims court and put a negative rating in my credit report. The court date was set for January 22. Immediately before the trial, the Checkworks attorney offered to settle on the terms I had been requesting all along: I return the entertainment center in new condition within 10 days, and they would drop their suit and remove the negative rating in my credit report. I complied fully with the terms of the settlement, and Cost Savers accepted the return—almost exactly a year after the sale.
I have documented every allegation contained in this complaint, and more, thanks largely to having to prepare for being sued.in a later conversation with the CheckWorks attorney, I asked him why they had proceeded with the suit despite the facts of the case. His response was that Cost Savers had lied to him, too. I also filed a complaint with the Alaska Attorney General's office. They phoned me in early February and expressed interest in pursuing the case, but have taken no action to my knowledge.
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