Customs records expose DaVinci
By Lu Feiran |
July 15, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ABOUT 10 percent of the products sold as "imported" by Shanghai-based DaVinci Furniture were made in China, entry-exit inspection authorities said yesterday after examining customs records.
The Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said they had found 11 consignments of furniture produced by two companies in Ningbo and Haining in Zhejiang Province.
Most of the furniture was first transported to Shanghai's Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone before being sent to the company's warehouse in Qingpu District.
One shipment was sent to the United States before it returned to China, the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said.
The bureau found in the first half of this year, DaVinci imported a total of 110 consignments of wood furniture and other wood products, valued at more than US$15 million. Apart from the 11 that originated on the Chinese mainland, the rest came from several countries including Italy, Spain, the United States and Vietnam.
The bureau found the price of Chinese-made furniture rose after it had been sent to the free trade zone and then "imported."
For example, a set of cupboards was priced at US$399 when it left the factory, but rose to US$474 after it had become an "imported" product.
"This can be seen every month in DaVinci's trade records," said Zhou Guoliang, a bureau official, adding the investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile in Hangzhou, Zhejiang's capital, the city's sole DaVinci outlet was ordered to close because the business hadn't obtained a fire safety certificate. The store's doors were sealed by Hangzhou fire control authorities.
Some customers in Hangzhou had asked for refunds but DaVinci declined their requests. Officials said they "would like to compensate customers in the future" but refused further comment.
In Shanghai, a hotline, 12315, for consumers had received nearly 40 calls about DaVinci. Hotline officials wouldn't comment on whether refunds would be granted.
Doris Phua, DaVinci's CEO, said on Wednesday the company had never lied about where its furniture was produced.
The Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said they had found 11 consignments of furniture produced by two companies in Ningbo and Haining in Zhejiang Province.
Most of the furniture was first transported to Shanghai's Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone before being sent to the company's warehouse in Qingpu District.
One shipment was sent to the United States before it returned to China, the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said.
The bureau found in the first half of this year, DaVinci imported a total of 110 consignments of wood furniture and other wood products, valued at more than US$15 million. Apart from the 11 that originated on the Chinese mainland, the rest came from several countries including Italy, Spain, the United States and Vietnam.
The bureau found the price of Chinese-made furniture rose after it had been sent to the free trade zone and then "imported."
For example, a set of cupboards was priced at US$399 when it left the factory, but rose to US$474 after it had become an "imported" product.
"This can be seen every month in DaVinci's trade records," said Zhou Guoliang, a bureau official, adding the investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile in Hangzhou, Zhejiang's capital, the city's sole DaVinci outlet was ordered to close because the business hadn't obtained a fire safety certificate. The store's doors were sealed by Hangzhou fire control authorities.
Some customers in Hangzhou had asked for refunds but DaVinci declined their requests. Officials said they "would like to compensate customers in the future" but refused further comment.
In Shanghai, a hotline, 12315, for consumers had received nearly 40 calls about DaVinci. Hotline officials wouldn't comment on whether refunds would be granted.
Doris Phua, DaVinci's CEO, said on Wednesday the company had never lied about where its furniture was produced.
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