Plank & Beam is an online furniture brand that markets itself as a modern, direct-to-consumer company offering solid wood furniture at affordable prices.
The website highlights clean, Scandinavian-style designs, fast shipping, and a one-year warranty.
On the surface, it looks like a great alternative to expensive furniture showrooms.
But when real customer experiences are compared with the brand’s marketing claims, important questions start to appear.
🏷️ What Plank & Beam Promises
Plank & Beam claims its furniture is made from 100% solid wood, primarily pine. The brand promotes:
- Minimalist Scandinavian designs
- Lower prices by cutting out middlemen
- Fast shipping
- Frequent sales, sometimes up to 40% off
- A one-year warranty
The website also uses trust signals like customer reviews, warranty badges, and media mentions, all of which help build credibility.
At first glance, Plank & Beam appears to be a reliable furniture brand.
🪵 Quality Issues Reported by Customers
One of the most common complaints involves wood quality. While the company emphasizes “solid wood,” many items are made from pine, which is a softwood.
Customers report:
- Cracking and splitting within weeks or months
- Warping over time
- Sap leaking from the wood
While pine is technically solid wood, it is not as durable as hardwoods.
This difference is not clearly explained upfront, leading to mismatched expectations.
📸 Products vs. Website Photos
Another repeated issue is that furniture does not always match the website images.
Buyers mention:
- Rough edges
- Uneven finishes
- Visible scratches or dents
- Overall less polished appearance
This suggests product photos may be heavily styled, creating expectations that the real items don’t always meet.
📞 Customer Service Concerns
Customer support is another weak point mentioned by buyers.
Reported issues include:
- Slow response times
- Vague or changing answers
- Promised solutions that later shift
- Difficulty reaching phone support
While occasional service issues can happen with any company, repeated patterns raise concerns.
🔄 Returns & Warranty Experience
Plank & Beam advertises a one-year warranty, but customer experiences vary.
Some buyers report being offered:
- Small partial refunds instead of replacements
- Repair kits for damaged furniture
- Replacement items with similar defects
Returns can also be complicated.
Customers mention paying return shipping, providing donation proof, or navigating confusing refund steps.
⭐ Reviews & Transparency
On the Plank & Beam website, reviews are mostly positive.
However, independent platforms show a more mixed picture.
Many complaints repeat the same issues year after year, which raises questions about how on-site reviews are selected or moderated.
✅ Final Verdict
Plank & Beam is a legitimate business, not a scam.
Furniture does ship, and some customers are satisfied with their purchases.
However, the brand struggles with:
- Quality consistency
- Customer service reliability
- Setting realistic expectations about materials
The main issue isn’t whether the company exists — it’s whether the products consistently live up to the marketing.
🧠 Bottom Line
Plank & Beam is legit, but expectations should be kept realistic.
Buyers should:
- Read independent reviews
- Understand that “solid wood” doesn’t always mean durable
- Be cautious with large purchases
Taking time to research before buying can help avoid disappointment.