Unscrupulous Businesses in Office Chairs

There are unscrupulous business practices in the office chair industry, such as falsified test reports, sales of defective products, and false advertising, which consumers need to be vigilant about.

1. Falsified Test Reports and Fraudulent Sales
Some businesses deceive consumers by altering test reports or fabricating quality compliance information. For example, Ms. He in Shenzhen purchased a swivel chair that actually failed the formaldehyde emission test, but the test report provided by the merchant indicated it was "qualified," which was later found to be forged. Such behavior constitutes fraud, and consumers can request a "refund and triple compensation" under the Consumer Protection Law. Test reports are an important basis for judging product quality, and consumers should verify the authenticity of reports through official channels and avoid blindly trusting documents provided solely by the merchant.

2. Sales of Defective Products and Post-Sale Evasion
Some businesses sell office chairs with design flaws or quality issues and evade responsibility during after-sales service. For instance, consumers may purchase office desks and chairs that cannot function properly due to mismatched parts or insufficient support, but the merchant demands that the consumer bear the costs for returns or even initiates the return process without communication through the platform's customer service. Consumers should carefully inspect product details before purchase, retain videos or photos of the installation process as evidence, and insist on the merchant providing quality testing or repair services in after-sales disputes.

3. False Advertising and Substitution of Inferior Materials
Businesses often mislead consumers by swapping concepts or forging certifications. For example, in the "Liu Liu Stool" incident, the merchant forged test reports and used moldy wood and waste foam; a "popular ergonomic chair" claimed to have "virgin cotton" padding in the seat cushion, but it was actually composed of shredded foam scraps or even small stones. Consumers should be wary of vague advertising claims like "virgin cotton" or "eco-friendly materials," demand clear information about material composition from merchants, and prioritize brands that provide detailed test reports or support third-party inspections.

4. Industry Chaos and Trust Crisis
The office chair industry generally suffers from a focus on marketing over quality, with practices like falsified test reports, swapping material concepts, and post-sale evasion damaging consumer rights and eroding industry trust. Consumers should prioritize products with a good brand reputation and clear after-sales policies, and purchase through legitimate e-commerce platforms to facilitate platform intervention in disputes and protect their rights.