Court Orders Furniture Firms to Pay Customer Over Defective Custom Sofa

A small claims court in Tel Aviv has ordered two furniture companies, Hadarya International and El Karshi, to compensate a customer over 6,160 shekels (approximately 70% of the sofa's value) due to severe defects in a custom-designed sofa. The customer had paid 9,200 shekels for the sofa and its delivery.

Court registrar Iris Anavi-Otzkir ruled that the companies failed to meet the agreed-upon specifications. The defects included back cushions that were significantly smaller and lower than promised, structural issues causing sofa parts to fit poorly, visible zippers despite a specific request for none, and inadequate softness. Hadarya International did not submit a defense or appear in court, while El Karshi reportedly showed partial willingness to fix some issues.

The court considered that the sofa had been in the customer's possession for about a year. Based on a professional assessment detailing 16 different defects, a full refund was deemed unjustified. Instead, a partial refund reflecting depreciation and quality differences was awarded.

The companies must pay the customer 6,160 shekels within 30 days. Upon receiving the payment, the customer is responsible for the return shipping costs of the sofa to the companies.

The ruling serves as a reminder to furniture companies about the financial consequences of customer disregard and failure to fulfill contractual obligations, emphasizing that suppliers remain accountable for significant product defects even if a full transaction cancellation is not granted.