I ordered a PK61 table and upon opening the box noticed the entire underside of the table has deep scratches. I contacted Fritz Hansen and they have advised that since the scratches are on the underside its "part of the production process" and thus normal. Has anyone else come across this or know if this is standard Fritz Hansen policy?
@herringbone, I think you may have perhaps unwittingly answered your own question. From a profit-based business point of view, any additional manufacturing step is too expensive when there is no reason for it.
@tktoo2 Of course you’re right but often times it’s not just a question of profit. Top level manufacturers - like Fritz Hansen - certainly would finish the underside of a tabletop if it was made of wood. Because that’s what quality is about. But then again finishing wooden surfaces is not too big of a deal. And I don’t know about stone.
"People buy a chair, and they don't really care who designed it." (Arne Jacobsen)
@herringbone, Makers of even the highest-end wood tables use lesser-qualities of veneers and level of finish on the undersides and/or surfaces normally not seen or handled in use.
My guess is that FH contracts the tabletops from a specialized facility where unfinished undersides are the norm and it never occurred to anyone to do otherwise ...because why would they? Fear that Sing22's cat might remain unimpressed?
@sing22, Welcome to the forum and sincere apologies if it seems I've discounted concerns regarding your table. FTR, I have no affiliation or particular allegiance to FH.
You may indeed have a legitimate beef with the manufacturer as any "deep" scratches or gouges in either side of larger unsupported stone tabletops can in some cases create weaknesses that potentially threaten durability.
Fritz Hansen typically provides outstanding attention to detail and finishes based on what I've seen and it would be disappointing to hear that they are dismissive of legitimate product defect/damage claims. One should expect top-notch customer service from a such a well-regarded and world-renowned manufacturer after all.
That said, would you mind posting clear photos of the scratches to better illustrate what we're discussing here?
@sing22, With no reference as to scale it's impossible to say for certain, but it looks to me like minor handling damage. The kind that might happen during packing or unpacking. The scratches don't appear deep enough to be of concern as far as structural durability and, since you said they are on the underside (thus unseen in normal use), I would recommend enjoying your new, beautiful coffee table without further worry.
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