Why is NorthCape International outdoor furniture not good for outdoor use?

Well a facebook page wouldn’t do shit but yeah I’d return them, that’s just stupid.

I want other people who search for NCI NorthCape International Outdoor Furniture to see that it is not rated to be used outdoors. I do my homework before purchasing products and try to support local businesses. But NorthCape International is not local. It is Made in China and is very poorly made at that. All the units in the store were put together poorly. The Nextag reviews are obviously made up.
The outdoor furniture is not made to be used outdoors. False advertising.

As far as I can tell, it is not false advertising. The warranty doesn’t mean “don’t use this product in the outdoors.” It means “if this product breaks, it’s not our problem.” It’s not very nice, but it’s not false advertising. There are a lot of companies that refuse to provide warranties.

The quality concerns are legitimate, and since you feel that the quality is substandard, return the product.

How a can anyone think it is ok to have the attachment screws extend below the rocker runners? They tear up the carpet or push divots into the floor. Very poor design indeed.

Take it back and get your hard earned money back.
Yes, go on facebook and let the world know what a bad product this is.

That’s just crazy! I’d return it based on the stupid screw issue alone. The warranty is just added reason.

Yeah that is borderline criminal.
“This wrist watch is warranted for 3 years except for corrosion due to skin contact.”

I like supporting the little guy and buying local. Bringing it back will hurt the store owner. I can easily flip the chairs over, remove the stupid screws, drill, and install new countersunk screws. It would take me 20 minutes to do both chairs. What bothers me most is the poor quality of the NCI, North Caper International outdoor furniture. This is the fault of the manufacturer not the shop keeper. Maybe he will drop their line.
A close-up of the screw attachiing the runner to the chair
The screw hits the floor and tears the carpet. Poor design of NCI furniture.

I published my findings. The NCI NorthCape International Furniture is junk. Maybe my efforts will help them change or help others avoid the mistake I made.
Done!

What an incredibly poor design !
In fact from those pics, it looks like they just took an average chair (below average?) and screwed rockers on the bottoms of the legs.

Completely false representation “extend your lifestyle outdoors”—unless they mean you’ll be outside more to tell your neighbors what a piece of crap the NCI furniture is.
How can they get away with that phrase while also disclaiming warranty coverage if it’s exposed to sunlight or water?

While you clearly have an issue with their merchandise, I think it is rather unfair and unethical of you to slam them, repeatedly, on Fluther, not giving them a chance to respond. I doubt they know about FLuther, and you are heaping all sorts of criticism on them.

You may be (and I emphasize the word MAY) correct on all the facts, but we are only hearing one side of the story – yours – and that bothers me.

@elbanditoroso Fair enough. Actually there is more to the story. I am afraid this might be TLDR but please stick with me.

I ordered the chairs in Sept 2012 and paid full price up front, figuring it would help the store owner. Chairs arrived a month later but they were the wrong style, wrong color and were not rockers. I called the place and the owner agreed this was incorrect and said he will order new ones. After several calls from me the owner called me in March and said the chairs were in and he would deliver. He dropped them off at my home. Incredibly once again they were the wrong style and color and were very shoddily made rockers with runners that did not fit. I sent him an email with photos of my order form, my receipt, the chairs in the catalog, the chairs he sent, and photos of the poor runners. (I have all this info if you care to see it.) I called numerous times and mentioned I could go to Lowe’s (a big box store) and get Made in china rockers that are better designed for half the price. I explained that I paid more to get them from him because he is local. He said he would order what I had requested on my order sheet.
I finally received a call last week that the chairs were in. I agreed to bring the other ones back so he would not have to drive out to my place figuring it would help him. Yesterday, I loaded the incorrect chairs in my van and drove to the store thinking that if they were wrong this time I would just ask for my money back. I’d had enough.
The chairs were the right style, color, and were rockers but they had the poor runners. I was pissed but did not refuse the product figuring I could just fix them myself.
When I got home yesterday afternoon I looked at the material attached to the chairs and read the warranty. It basically says they will not cover sun or water damage for these chairs that were sold to me as “Outdoor furniture”. (I attached the warranty above.) That means I cannot use these chairs on sunny days nor on days where it might rain or on days were there might be condensation in the air. That made me angry. And then I saw the NorthCape International Outdoor furniture label that said Made in China and that pushed me over the edge.
I don’t want to hurt the little guy which is why I did not mention Michael or Rattan or any other way to identify him. It is the supplier that is producing junk for him. My hope is that someone will google NCI NorthCape International Outdoor furniture and see that is is not rated for outdoor use.
Their ads say “Extend your lifestyle outdoors.” They really mean “Bring your Outdoor furniture indoors”.

I am trying to help the next person.

This should also show what most of you know already – I am a pretty easy going guy and it takes a lot to bother me. This one did.
I look at the disasters in other places and actually feel a bit ashamed that I am complaining about this issue.
I am going through all this trouble and effort to help the next guy.

I purchased a complete set of northcape’s mackinac collection about 10 years ago. I have had it under a semi covered porch for about 7 of those 10 yrs in Wisconsin. Winters would see the furniture covered in snow and ice. The last three years it’s been in Arkansas on an open deck exposed to sun, rain, and yes snow and ice! The furniture itself has held up beautifully! Nothing has unraveled or come apart and my glider still glides smoothly with no noise. A few of the cushions have tears in them and I am trying to figure out whether to replace the cushions or take them in somewhere and have then reupholstered. They zip off but replacement covers are not offered by the company just complete cushions meaning more expense. So all in all I have had an excellent experience re: the furniture holding up in the worst of weather but don’t like not having the option to buy new covers instead of having to buy complete cushions. AND I do not like the fact that it’s made in China either like almost everything else in this country. Still trying to find a GOOD tea kettle that’s isn’t made in china!! No luck so I continue using my old one with a broken lid. Happy Memorial Day!

@Skay Thanks for the update. That is good news. What worried me are these specific lines in the warranty: “The frame is warranted for 7 years except if it is damaged due to exposure to water.” “The Resin Wicker is warranted for a period of 3 years against separation cracking tearing except for exposure to sunlight or natural elements.” (There are similar limitations for the fabric and cushions.)

Are your rocker runners the same as mine?
The rocker runners are plastic and are not flat against the floor. They are tilted at odd angles and are screwed to the legs with conventional screws that extend and scratch the floor when you rock or move the chair.
Maybe they changed the assembly process after you bought yours.

My chairs just turned one year old today and are still fine. :-)

@LuckyGuy I don’t have the rocker. I have the glider with no runners. The resin wicker and frames have not cracked or separated at all and I am quite abusive to the set letting it sit out in all weather. Freezing rain snow hot sun etc…..

@Skay Thanks!

@LuckyGuy no problem ;) I really do love the set. I have the sofa, 2 arm chairs, glider, coffee table and end table all are still in excellent condition except as I mentioned the cushions need to be replaced or recovered. Have a great Memorial Day!