I need some replacement dining chairs, but don't have the budget for handcrafted. I'm considering purchasing chairs from Sylka based on a recommendation, but I'd appreciate expert advice on three fronts.
1) In another post, you divide furniture into four broad categories: Junk, Low-End, Production, and Handcrafted. Based on the pictures I attached [I know they're not of the exact same chair but I think they'll be good enough], would you put this chair into the "Low End" or "Production" category? Why?
2) They're built of hard maple, and I'm considering buying them unfinished. Would wiped paste varnish hold up okay to normal use (and for the accompanying table I'll purchase someday)? If not, what do you recommend as a more durable finish?
3) They don't have any distributors near me (I live in NE Virginia), so I can't see if the chairs I want are comfortable. But (despite the mass-produced nature of the chairs), the company has no return policy: if I buy the chairs and there's no defects, I'm stuck with them. Is this unusual or concerning to you?
Thanks in advance! We've been looking for months and months and can't find *just* what we want....