shaoxing chaofeng stationery manufacturing CO.,LTD. , https://www.chaofengstationery.com
In November 2012, Ms. Lin ordered a set of custom-made furniture from a store in Huli District, agreeing to use Liyi brand multi-layer solid wood panels. The deal was finalized, and the store delivered the furniture to her home by the end of 2012, collecting a total of 13,900 yuan. However, shortly after moving in, she noticed a strong, unpleasant odor coming from the furniture. More concerning was the fact that the materials used were not what had been agreed upon—Ms. Lin discovered that the store had substituted the original material with a different brand.
She reached out to Huang, the store's representative, requesting a redo, but her request was denied. Instead, Huang suggested returning the furniture but deducting a depreciation fee. After several failed mediation attempts, Ms. Lin decided to take legal action, demanding a full refund of 13,900 yuan and compensation equal to three times the contract price, totaling 41,700 yuan.
Huang defended his actions, claiming that there had been a shortage of Liyi brand panels during production, which led to the use of an alternative brand. He argued that although the materials were not the exact ones specified, they were still first-class products and met quality standards. Additionally, he claimed that the factory had sourced the materials on his behalf, and he was unaware of the substitution until Ms. Lin filed a complaint. He insisted there was no intentional fraud involved.
The court ruled in favor of Ms. Lin, stating that Huang had violated the terms of their agreement by not using the specified materials. As a result, the court ordered him to dismantle and return the non-compliant furniture, refund the full 13,900 yuan, and pay twice the amount as compensation, totaling 27,800 yuan. This decision emphasized the importance of fulfilling contractual obligations and respecting consumer rights in business transactions.