I recently visited the Scandinavian Designs store in Pasadena with the intention of purchasing a couch. While the furniture selection was impressive, my experience with their financing options left me frustrated and concerned.
When I expressed interest in financing the purchase of the couch, I was informed by the store representative that there was a 12-month, 0% interest financing option availableâsimilar to the service offered by Affirm on Scandinavian Design's website.
This seemed like a great deal, so I proceeded to fill out the necessary information. However, I soon discovered that I had unknowingly applied for a credit card. At no point during the conversation did the store representative mention that this financing option was, in fact, a credit card.
The result was a hard inquiry on my credit report, which could negatively impact my credit score. This was particularly frustrating because their other financing option through Affirm, only results in a "soft inquiry", which would not have negatively affected my credit.
Whatâs alarming is the apparent lack of knowledge among the store employees regarding what they are offering to customers. When I later spoke with a Scandinavian Designs customer service representative, she was the only one who seemed to understand that the service I had signed up for was indeed a credit card. She even had to argue with the store representative over this fact when she called them to retrieve contact information for Wells Fargo. This level of confusion among staff is unacceptable.
I subsequently called Wells Fargo to cancel this so-called âfinancing option,â only to be told again that it was not a credit card, supposedly because it could "only be used at Scandinavian Designs." This explanation was unconvincing, especially given that I was to receive a physical card in the mail and had already experienced a hard inquiry on my creditâsomething that would not happen with the financing option offered through Affirm.
How can Wells Fargo and Scandinavian Designs employees claim that I was not signed up for a credit card when the Scandinavian Designs website clearly states: âThe Wells Fargo Home Furnishings CREDIT CARD is issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.â?
While Scandinavian Designs offers quality furniture, this experience has left me deeply dissatisfied. The lack of transparency and misinformation provided by the storeâs employees is concerning. It feels as though customers are being misled into signing up for credit cards under the guise of a simple financing plan. Whether this is due to negligence or a deliberate strategy, it reflects poorly on Scandinavian Designs and their commitment to customer service. This kind of practice erodes trust and leaves customers...
   Read moreWe bought some new furniture from Scandinavian designs, leather sectional couch, 2 Italian chairs and a coffee table all with the help of Clay who was of amazing help. While venturing across Los Angeles looking at furniture stores this store is a shining example of a different take on things. For one thing weâve had a massage chair gifted from somewhere and the reclining gear lasted about a year and they wanted half the cost of the chair to have a service tech come out. The recliners we bought that were part of the sectional have the best German gear in them. If I could make a comparison the store is like the Whole Foods store of furniture where quality is the main feature. Customer service is excellent and for sure ask for Clay. Wife is so impressed sheâs looking at other things they have. JoJo, the manager, was also a great help in getting our partial order shipped as part is stuck in the port of Los Angeles out of their control. For sure, we will be recommending this...
   Read moreThe quality of the product and customer support is wayyy down. They refused to send someone to check the issues I was having with the $3,700 recliner I purchased 7 months ago, instead they asked me to bring the recliner to them which required me renting a truck on two separate occasions, once to deliver and once to pick up. When I refused to do that they asked me to send them a video of the 3 issues I was having with the recliner, so I did only to receive an email telling me I have to live with one of the issues (leather being separated from the padding) and regarding the two other issues, I still need to rent a truck to deliver it to them. I think for the quality I ended up with, their recliners are way over priced not to mention the poor treatment I received by the...
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