Business ProfileforAuthentic Provence, Inc.

On May 3, I purchased two benches from Authentic Provence ("AP") via its website. The benches were described as "Pair of Riveted Iron Park Benches 1920s - A pair of petit garden benches from ******. The cast iron frame is painted in black and the wooden slats have been newly added. Wear consistent with age and use. Circa 1920s." I paid $2755, plus shipping. The benches were delivered May 17. The newly added wooden slats were not properly installed. Several were loose and missing screws. The slats could not support the weight of a typical human being. I weigh approx. 150 pounds. I sat on one of the benches, and there was an audible cracking noise as the wood sagged and cracked. I called AP and spoke with *************************. She would not let me speak. She raised her voice and said I could dispute the purchase but that it would be very difficult. She hung up and would not answer the the phone again. I emailed and she responded, We never stated the wooden slats were old hence the description newly added, the metal is from the 1920s but has been refurbished. This was my point: the slats were newly added but could not support the weight of an ordinary person. I emailed again: The problem is that the slats are made of thin, unfinished, rough plywood that does not bear weight. They are attached by mismatched screws, several of which are not even painted black. Several screws are missing and one slat moves around freely. The benches do not support the weight of an average sized adult, and would certainly not support two adults." ****************** asked me to send photographs. I sent two videos and a photo showing the boards bending and moving and the missing unpainted screws. She did not respond. I consulted a ********* who proposed replacing the slats with thicker wood, reinforced with metal mending plates. The cost was $1,155. I asked ****************** to split the cost. She did not respond. On the BBB website, another customer noted a similar incident two years ago.