We just bought a new table and chairs from Saloom, and I love them. However, I'm noticing that a few of the chairs have already gotten several slight scratches on the seat, and since it is a black finish it shows up a lot. We've done nothing except sit on them, and that without exposed zippers, etc. Should I be reporting this as an issue with the finish, or is it just something that I should expect with black chairs? Advice is appreciated. I should add that two of the chairs (which we are not using right now) had noticeable issues with the finish when they were delivered--we're waiting for a visit from the store's service technician to see what they're going to do about it--so I'm wondering if they had an inexperienced person doing the final finishes and may have missed a step. Thanks!

e-mail: sales@saloom.com fax: 978-297-4944 mail: Saloom Furniture Company Attn. Marketing 256 Murdock Avenue Winchendon, MA 01475 You may want to look at Simply Amish, Nichols & Stone, Canadel. Here is a link that might be useful: Simply Amish website

mogator, it is fair to add that I did not pursue my problem promptly, but it is also fair to add that I did not pursue my problem because checks are specifically excluded from the warranty. As Saloom's warranty reads, once the customer accepts delivery of a table then all checks are the customer's responsibility. Maybe Saloom will do something if a customer pursues a claim for checks within one year of purchase. However, given the language in its warrany, there is no guarantee that Saloom will, in fact, do anything to fix a table that developes checks within one year of purchase, even if the check is due to a defect in materials or workmanship, and customers need to be aware of that when they purchase a table. Also, I think it is fair to point out that the language in the warranty implies that the causes of checks are beyond Saloom's control so you think it is natural to get checks and, since checks are expressly excluded, you don't pursue the problem (at least not until you get mad enough about it). I think that my statements that Saloom's warranty is more limited than most other manufacturers' warranties because it specifically excludes checks is correct. I also think that the language in Saloom's warranty that implies that the causes of checks are beyond Saloom's control is deceptive because checks can be caused by defective materials (i.e., wood that is excessively dry because it was improperly kiln dried by the supplier of the wood) or workmanship (i.e., improper attachment of wood top to bottom). Finally, I also think that my statement that Saloom has no customer service department is correct (it has aboslutely no contact information on its website--no street address, no mailing address, no telephone number, no fax number, and no email address--- and if you do figure out how to contact them they will tell you that they do not want to be contacted by purchasers of their products). People who are thinking of purchasing Saloom tables need to be aware of all of these things. Checks are rare occurences, but when it happens to you its 100%. In fairness, here's the full paragraph from Saloom's warranty, maybe other people won't think that it is deceptive like I do: "All furniture is built in environmentally controlled conditions. Humidity and temperature are highly regulated in our factories. However, wood will expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity and Saloom Furniture Co. Inc. will not replace a table that has a slight gap either in the center or at the ends where the two table halves meet. This is normal movement and will change with changing conditions/seasons. Care must be taken to control the temperature and humidity in the area where the furniture is placed. Checking or splitting of natural wood products along a "wood grain line" is a condition which may or may not occur in these wood products and is usually the result of excessive dryness of the wood, and therefore, this condition is expressly excluded from the terms and conditions of this limited warranty." It is fair for Saloom to exclude checks from its warranty if it wants to. However, I think that the "spin" that it put on the exclusion is deceptive and misleads customers into thinking that checks are a common occurence and are not the fault of the manufacturer. Saloom controls the wood that it uses in its products and IMO should be responsible for defects in that wood. If you read my thread in the woodworking forum, you will find that the people over think it would be just about impossible for the excessive dryness to be caused by the customer's home.

Please read the following recall before you buy EA. Ethan Allen "American Impressions" and "New Country" rectangular dining tables Could collapse and cause injury. Products: 7,071 wood tables sold from 8/03 to 1/05 at Ethan Allen furniture stores nationwide for $1,069 to $1,199. "American Impressions" table bears model number 24-6414; "New Country" table, model number 33-6404. Model number is stenciled on underside of table. Hazard exists because table may be missing some of the eight small wooden blocks that are supposed to be located on its underside to add stability. Ethan Allen has received 33 reports of incidents in which tables may have collapsed as a result of missing blocks. No injuries have been reported. What to do: Inspect underside of table for stability blocks. If there are fewer than eight, call Ethan Allen at 888-339-9398 to arrange for free in-home repair. For information, go to www.ethanallen.com or e-mail company at recall@ethanalleninc.com. Ethan Allen says it is sending recall notices to all known customers who bought the tables.