Hi everyone,
Would also like to share my experience with Species Home Funishings. It is a long story so please bear with me. I went to their Harper Road branch in August and was served by their Managing Director, Leslie. He is very persuasive and even though I was just browsing around for my furniture, I ended up buying a leather sofa, carpet, dining set, tv console and coffee table. Leslie said he is giving me a special package price of $6150(before GST) which of course made me very happy and concluded the sale.
I was unable to confirm the delivery date yet as my house was still under renovation and was advised to park an estimated date of delivery 1st. If there is a need to change the date, just call their customer service to make arrangement 2 weeks in advance. I was quite satisfied with the good deal that I got as the furniture was really what I liked, until I read all the reviews about Species here. It got me abit worried about quality of the furniture and aftersales service of the company seems quite bad.
Then when I went to another furniture place to purchase my bedframes, I saw the same tv console & coffee table selling at 2/3 of the featured price in Species. Both the console and coffee table are modular designs, which means that it is made up of 2 separate sections. Species sells each section individually so for the TV console, it cost about $1150(before GST) but the furniture place I went to sells the whole console for $750(no GST).
I did a calculation and even with the package price, it didn't seem a worthwhile deal. I felt so cheated but I guess there is noone to blame but myself for being impulsive and not doing my homework 1st. Willing seller, willing buyer.
What makes me upset is that more than 2 weeks before the delivery, I called their customer service to bring my delivery date forward, I was advised that it cannot be done as their delivery dates are all full. No bringing forward or postponing. She even said that the sales side can promise whatever they want but it does not mean it can be done cause sales side don't know the delivery schedule. Then I asked what time the delivery will be as I needed a time range so I can arrange for someone to receive the furniture. She said don't know yet and they will call me the day before to inform.
My delivery is scheduled for tomorrow so I made a call to Species this morning since I did not hear from them. I was advised that the delivery will be between 12-1pm and I got their assurance that there will be no change to the timing. Who knows, this afternoon, I received another call from the "supplier" of Species and caller told me the tv console, coffee table and dining table will be delivered between 11am-12pm. I ask about the sofa and carpet but caller says she don't know as she is not from Species. Then I said Species confirmed delivery time to be 12-1pm and she repeated that she is not from Species so they have their own delivery timing. So now there are 2 deliveries to be expected.
Pricing aside, as a consumer, all I know is that I bought my furniture from Species and hence, I expect a certain level of customer service from them, rather than having to hear customer service telling me that the sales side don't understand the difficulties of the operation side or liaising with different suppliers on delivery timing.
I am very disappointed with the whole experience and will not buy anything from Species again. Now all I hope is that the deliveries are made during the said timing and furniture is in good condition so I can at least come back and post something positive.
