DINETTES UNLIMITED

We purchased the two bar stools for $480 after having measured the height of the countertop. We realized we failed to measure the depth from the wall to the countertop and expressed concern to the store manager at the time that these may be too deep. We were told "no problem they could be returned or exchanged". We then purchased a $1,100 table and chair set while awaiting the receipt of the bar stools. The stools came in a week or so later and were in fact too deep for the area they were to be located. That is the point where the "dancing" began. We brought the stools back and the manager told us he couldn't authorize the refund, only "the boss" can. We reminded him of our conversation regarding the return when we purchased the bar stools before we bought the table set. He acknowledged this fact and said he would tell the boss and not to worry because we'll be happy. Perhaps "happy" is a relative term but when having to call the store manager because he did not call us, he told us the boss said no to the refund. We told the manager that this was contrary to what he agreed to, and had this been stated we would have waited for the bar stools to arrive and then simply applied the $480 towards the $1,100 table and chair set. He said "I suppose you would have". We asked to speak to the mysterious "boss" who made this decision which ran contrary to his statement and we were told "Oh no, he doesn't speak to customers". We told him this sounded a bit like the Wizard of Oz and the man behind the curtain, to which he agreed. We were informed that buried in the page long disclosure language it says returns for store credit only. We were then forced to purchase more expensive stools to fit in our kitchen, which were significantly more expensive than what could be found from the competition. We were told they would arrive in 4 weeks, which turned out to be over 8. When we picked them up one was defective in that its swivel did not return to the front position as advertised. We were told by a new store manager that this issue will correct itself over time and "it's not in the Navy so it doesn't snap to attention". We informed the manager that we would like to receive the properly functioning merchandise a $240 bar stool should perform. We refused acceptance of the merchandise until the swivel mechanism was replaced. It turns out there is a sentence in the disclosure language that states "Verbal statements are not binding". To us this sounds like a sneaky way to engage in misleading sales practices and one which must occur fairly regularly with this company if they must bury it in their disclosure language. If you want to deal with a misleading, double-speaking company then this is the company for you, otherwise do yourself a big favor and patronize the competition. We should have driven the 20 miles to another company featured on Angie's List rather than trying to stay local to our community.