Avoid Guardsman Furniture Protection Plans offered at Ethan Allen - A Frustrating and Disappointing Experience.
I purchased a leather Melrose couch from Ethan Allen in Rochester, NY, for around $3,300, and added the $299 Guardsman Premier Gold Complete Service Plan, thinking it would provide peace of mind. Unfortunately, it turned into one of the most frustrating customer service experiences I've ever had.
After submitting a warranty claim, I waited six months without a response. When Guardsman finally acted, they sent a technician from New Jersey (to upstate New York!) who looked at the couch but said she didn't have enough time to complete the repair. And then? Nothing. No follow-up. No resolution. Just silence.
Years later, the owner of the Ethan Allen store accused me of being a "problem customer" and casually mentioned that Guardsman had denied the claim. That's hard to believe, considering they sent someone out to fix it, which wouldn't have happened if the claim had actually been denied upfront.
I contacted Ethan Allen's corporate office and received a polite but ineffective response--no real accountability from either company.
Bottom line: Guardsman appears to offer a comprehensive coverage plan, but in practice, they seem to look for any excuse or loophole to avoid fulfilling it. The customer service is slow, unresponsive, and ultimately unhelpful. The owner of the local Ethan Allen franchise finally replaced the cushion, but unfortunately, the dye lot was significantly different from the other cushions, rendering the couch unusable. If you're shopping at Ethan Allen--or anywhere else that offers Guardsman protection--I strongly recommend you think twice before spending extra on their coverage. It's not worth the hassle. read more