Doctor warns TikTok followers not to buy ‘dangerous’ Early Settler furniture

A popular Australian doctor on TikTok has issued a warning to her 25,000 followers not to buy furniture from this brand.

An Australian doctor has slammed a furniture company for its “f**king awful” response after her mother was injured from a product she claims was faulty.

TikTok user Imogen (@imi_imogen), who has nearly 25,000 followers on the platform, posted a video on Thursday about her experience with Early Settler, a national chain with 56 stores across Australia and New Zealand.

“Please don’t buy these dangerous products,” she captioned the video. “We will be reporting this to the ACCC.”

In the video, Imogen said she and her partner had purchased a new outdoor furniture setting last month.

“We saw it in their catalogue and it was foldable, which is great for a couple that has to move around a lot due to their work,” she said.

Imogen said she purchased the foldable outdoor setting last month. Picture: @imi_imogen/TikTok

“Unfortunately, within hours of setting it up the product malfunctioned with just my grandma and my mum sitting on it. The bench seat broke and my mum came crashing to the ground. The screws put into the bench were both too narrow and too short to be sufficient or safe to hold this product together.”

She showed photos of the broken table, and of her mother’s badly bruised legs.

“My mum sustained some pretty decent bruises but we just counted our lucky stars that the person that came crashing to the ground was her and not my 82-year-old grandma,” she said.

She said it broke with her mum and grandma sitting on it. Picture: @imi_imogen/TikTok

“The next day we contacted Early Settler by phone and requested to talk to the manager, because we were deeply concerned about the safety of this product. After three phone calls the manager refused to speak to us, so my mum with bruises on show and my partner went into the store. Again the manager refused to speak to us, and the best they could offer us was store credit if we could put the 2.5-metre-long table in our car and drive it back to the store.”

Imogen said that was “absolutely not appropriate” under Australian Consumer Law.

“The product is dangerous and led to injuries, therefore it should be investigated for a potential recall,” she claimed.

“As per Australian Consumer Law we are entitled to a full refund of the product, and because the item is bulky, we’re entitled for them to come and collect the product. So my mum reached out to Early Settler’s national management to get some help. They promised to help us, they promised us the world. Finally today after three weeks, they got back to us and the best they could offer us was again some store credit and collecting the table themselves.”

Her mother sustained bruises to her legs. Picture: @imi_imogen/TikTok

Imogen said they were “really disappointed” with the response.

“The product is still for sale on their website,” she said.

“Not only have they not been helpful, but they really haven’t adhered to their obligations under Australian Consumer Law.”

She added, “So I just wanted to take the time on TikTok, where I have 25,000 followers, to warn people not to buy furniture from Early Settler, because it could be dangerous, it could lead to injuries, you don’t know, and if you do have issues, they’re f**king awful at dealing with it.”

Early Settler was allegedly unhelpful.

@imi_imogen1

Please don't buy these dangerous products. We will be reporting this to the ACCC #earlysettler#australia#furniture

♬ original sound - imi_imogen

A spokeswoman for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said the agency did not comment on individual complaints.

“If a supplier becomes aware of a serious injury, illness or death caused by a product they supply, the supplier must make a mandatory injury report through the Product Safety Australia website,” she said in a statement.

“If a supplier finds that a product they supply is unsafe, the ACCC expects the supplier to conduct a voluntary recall to advise consumers of the risk, address the safety issue, or remove the product from the market. Consumers can also report products they consider to be unsafe to the ACCC through the Product Safety Australia website.”

The spokeswoman for the consumer watchdog said Australian Consumer Law provided general protections known as consumer guarantees.

“These guarantees apply automatically to products and services purchased by Australian consumers and require that all goods or services provided are of acceptable quality, fit for purpose, and safe,” she said.

“If you have a minor problem with a product or service, the business can choose to give you a free repair instead of a replacement or refund. When you have a major problem with a product, you have the right to ask for your choice of a replacement or refund.”

Early Settler has been contacted for comment.