Outdoor Furniture, Same Style but Different Quality at Different Stores

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  Stoffel on 27/01/2022 - 11:55

  +1

  Recently I discovered the joys of Google Lens. Now if I find a product online that I like, I use Lens to see if it stocked elsewhere at a similar price. For example, the other day I saw a bar stool for $219 at Hunter Furniture. Lens showed what looked like the exact same stool (different name but both made in China no doubt) at Onceit for $120.

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  Hays010 on 24/01/2022 - 20:46

  Other than an being L shape, they're quite different in cushions, measurements, legs, and wood vs aluminum?

  I bought a L shaped one very similar to your links from Briscoes last year and can confirm the wood was rubbish, the varnished peeled within a week of being outside. However they refunded in full, with only one photo and no questions asked. They were fab. So when I get around to revarnishing it, I'll have a very solid suite for free 🤷🏻‍♀️

  • 

    flembots on 25/01/2022 - 11:51

    I've seen terrible reviews on the Briscoes website with all their wood outdoor furniture. Is the replacement set faring better?

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      Hays010 on 25/01/2022 - 17:52

      We never got it replaced, they just refunded the full purchase price and told us not to on-sell. We're still using it, if I revarnished it, it would be good as. Cushions are comfy and haven't worn at all. We're really slack with bringing them inside and they can stay outside for weeks at a time (and in Dunedin they're getting all sorts of weather). Tbh since I got it free, I'd def buy another one. The pros outweigh the cons.

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  itakestime on 25/01/2022 - 08:28

  I bought the Bunnings one earlier this year. All powder-coated aluminium frame - nothing to rust, no wood to leak oils/tannins and stain my deck.

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  AleBeerenhoff on 25/01/2022 - 08:36

  Just be wary of where you are putting it and what the weather will do to it. We got a set from Trade Tested and it had an "aluminum frame" but that was all. All the fixtures and support areas were cheap steel, so its starting to rust and fall apart now.
  Like has already been mentioned, while a "similar" design, all those are totally different. The devil is likely in the detail and probably just worth spending some time shopping around and taking note of those details.

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  akrotohur on 25/01/2022 - 09:48

  They could have been produced in the same factory "somewhere", with slight customisations so they don't have to do price matching. But you never know, can't really tell by just looking at pictures.

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  Foodie on 25/01/2022 - 11:41

  As what other people have mentioned, there might also be a difference in the thickness of metal.
  I've brought cheap garage storage kits and all the bolts snapped when I tried to tighten them, replaced the bolts with ones from bunnings and they tightened fine. So corners do get cut to reduce production costs.

  • 

    flembots on 25/01/2022 - 11:52

    That actually seems like a pretty cost effective way to get a nice set of garage storage, would you agree?

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      Foodie on 25/01/2022 - 17:16

      Yup, just a pain when you all set to install and bolts snap resulting in a trip to bunnings.
      Was those clearence warehouse deals they ran.