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DO NOT BE LURED INTO BUYING THEM. Customer support is atrocious.
Purchased a set of four (4) Calligaris chairs, catalog number CS368. These are metal-framed, leather covered chairs. I was assured they were high quality Italian construction from a reputable company. Wrong!
First problem. I ordered them in June 2007, I received the last chair at the end of November 2007. Why? The order was filled in Sep but one chair was damaged in shipment due to poor packing. That chair was then replaced with a wrong model chair 6 weeks later. I finally had the shipper write them in crayon to get the order straight and I received the last chair at the end of November 2007 (5 months).
Second problem. Had dinner guests over 2 weeks ago. One chair snapped apart - with the guest in it. Upon inspection of this broken chair it was obvious that the internal metal frame of the chair was attached to the vertical metal backing of the chair with a single 3mm spot weld. No bolts, no nothing else, just a 3mm spot weld. That would be about less than 1/8th of an inch for US folks. For a chair that costs nearly $1000 I could have done better with a 19.99 lawn chair from WalMart for constructional support.
Third problem. I immediately contacted Calligaris, Italy (head office) and Calligaris USA (point of purchase). I clearly identified the problem to both offices and clearly stated I require someone to 'immediately' contact me to set up a time/place to have the chairs inspected and have the broken chair replaced/repaired. This is important considering no one can used these chairs until I know they are safe to sit on. I can't inspect them myself without removing the leather covering to check the quality of construction and thereby ruining each chair in the process. To this day, 1 May, NO ONE from Calligaris has gotten back to me.
Caveat emptor when it comes to Calligaris folks
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I had a problem with Calligaris Ice Chairs that I purchased in 2007. The back of one of these snapped off completely with me on it holding my 3 month old baby in my arms. We both ended up on the tiled floor and I smacked my head. I had the shop I purchased them from to complain to and they dealt with this efficiently. Unfortunately, even though Calligaris replaced all of the Ice Chairs with new Ice chairs, the same thing happened again! This time the head guy from Calligaris in Ireland called to my home and inspected the chairs. I was offered replacements but I did not wish to have more Ice chairs as they obviously are poor quality. I got Icon chairs and all of these chairs which are also made of toughened plastic (but obviously not tough enough), have broken, most with 6 months of supply to me. No one in my home is overweight and all furniture is treated with respect. I have been lead to believe by Calligaris rep that I am an exception, no one else has had any problems with their plastic chairs! How can I be the only one it happened to, THREE TIMES? Anyway, since this third problem, they have refused to deal with me which is appalling. As you say, they are bloody expensive and they are supposed to be reputable company and high standard. I have been totally ignored by Calligaris Head Office in Italy. They didn't even have the decency to reply. And the rep in Ireland has been so rude and insulting, making out the problem lies with my family. Never again, be warned consumers, poor quality!
Chairs okay, but double the delivery lead time! The quality of the Calligaris CS/1084 leather chairs received in 2013 seems fine; time will tell. However, despite being assured of a 6 to 8 week delivery schedule (and, yes, these were ordered after apparently the whole of Italy closes down for August), the chairs were delivered 13 and a half weeks from order and full payment at Calligaris in London, UK. Note that Porada furniture ordered and paid for through Mac & Mac Interiors of Farnham, Surrey, UK in 2012 took 20 weeks to arrive (despite a 6 to 8 week promise), and was only delivered after substantial email correspondence and telephone calling. Hence why the Calligaris chairs were ordered direct from the manufacturer, not via Mac & Mac. Customer service for Mac&Mac and Calligaris is very poor in the UK.
I bought eight dining room chairs covered with faux leather. It lasted about a year then shredded. I believe paper covering might have lasted longer. Anyone who buys from these people is making a big mistake. What junk.
I have a the omnia table from calligaris and I am extremely disappointed with the poor quality of the product. The legs are gloss but it's such poor quality that the legs of the table are dented and chipped with general wear and tear - I've not had it that long but it already looks so tatty. I wouldn't buy anything else from calligaris - POOR QUALITY and OVER PRICED and terrible customer service.
I bought Calligaris chairs and they were completely discoloured and shredded within a couple of years. Trying to contact Calligaris proved impossible, now I know why. Horrible quality and they could care less about their customers. Stay away!
After only 8 years my Calligaris barstools CS84 literally started coming apart. The only time people even sat in them is when we had a party so we definitely didn't get 8 years worth of use. I tried reaching out to the manufacturer in Italy and they said too bad they stopped making them and don't have replacement pieces even though I offered to buy them. Now mind you the three chairs were just under $3, 000. I've gotten more wear out of IKEA furniture than this extremely overpriced Italian garbage. Stay away from this furniture manufacturer if you don't want to waste your money. BTW here's the kicker they offered me 15% on buying a new set... after seeing how bad they were constructed and how their "customer service" was I took a pass and am looking at Danish style designs instead.
Same as a couple people above. Bought Calligaris lounge chairs and the material discoloured and completely disintegrated after a couple of years. Trying to get a hold of them is completely impossible. Stay away!
As with Tweelan above bought 2 grey Ice chairs in late 2013, back just broke off while a guest was sitting in it - three and a half years old! Going to try the Caligaris "Flagship store" in London to see if i can get a replacement. But dealt with them before over a different pair of chairs and they have the most terrible customer service, long delays and delivering wrong product. Avoid this firm.