Reviews show frequent issues with damaged or incorrect items and delays or gaps in after‑sales communication, which affect many customers. Several international buyers report substantial customs fees and high return shipping costs—check product origin and local import rules before ordering. If a product arrives damaged or incorrect, photograph items and packaging immediately and document all contact attempts. Some customers do report quick delivery and successful problem resolution, so experiences are mixed; weigh return costs and claims handling when buying from Royal Design.
Examples from available reviews (Apr 2023 – Feb 2026).
Bench arrived damaged and customer service failed to respond for a week.
“your complaint has been registered”
Was charged large customs fees and Royal Design did not warn about origin.
“was charged with over $2000 in custom tax”
Ordered four items but one was missing, later customer service sent replacements.
“Ordered 4, only 3 have arrived.”
Customer service and delivery date information were excellent.
“Great customer service and information about delivery date.”
Frequent complaints about delivery mistakes, difficult returns and delayed after‑sales handling; a minority report issues being resolved after escalation.
Several buyers report unexpected customs duties, high import taxes and expensive return shipping, particularly for international orders.
Mixed ordering experiences: some customers praise fast delivery and easy checkout, others report poor packaging, missing items and hard returns.
Many reports of damaged, faulty or incorrect items on arrival; some customers nevertheless praise product performance when items are intact.
Multiple reviews describe slow, automated or absent replies and unclear claims handling; a smaller portion note clear delivery information.
Overall impressions skew negative due to recurring service, returns and product issues, though some buyers report smooth purchases and prompt delivery.
For each review, the core experience based on original source reviews.
Sources: Trustpilot (35) · Reviews (3) · Quotes shortened · As of: February 2026
Damaged table not refunded and customer service delayed and unresponsive.
“We have still not been refunded, despite repeated chasing.”
Photos were inaccurate and customer was made to pay insured return postage.
“They made me pay and insure the lampshades for $30 on $150 lampshades!”
Website showed fast shipping but delivery came from Sweden and couldn't be cancelled.
“Don't trust what the website promises !!”
Issue unresolved due to lack of effective customer service escalation process.
“there appears to be no empowered customer service team able to escalate or assess issues outside a narrow script.”
Chair leg arrived destroyed and customer support ignored replacement requests.
“one leg of the chair was completely destroyed: cracked and split into two pieces.”
Chair arrived with one leg destroyed and customer support did not respond.
“one leg of the chair was completely destroyed: cracked and split into two pieces.”
Damaged items were not replaced and resolution was postponed for months.
“Royal Design has refused to replace the damaged items”
Delivery repeatedly delayed and seller offered no clear delivery date or refund.
“No estimate of the delivery time to me.”
Excellent packaging, product selection and speedy delivery; highly recommended.
“The packaging, product selection, and delivery speed were all excellent”
Customer care rarely replies and issues include late shipping and damaged goods.
“The Customer Care rarely reply to emails”
Expensive lamp arrived split in two and company only sent automated replies.
“the item had a significant manufacturing defect and was split in two pieces.”
Ordered knives and received no shipping updates; customer service was unresponsive.
“I have no clarity or visibility on my order”
Order showed in-stock but seller gave only generic replies and no shipment.
“So far I have not received any news.”
Defective lamp reported with evidence but company delayed any solution for weeks.
“I have been waiting for weeks without any clear update or solution.”
Order delivered late and courier left it in the street despite paid home delivery.
“he only delivers “door to door” and then simply left me there.”
Final price increased by large taxes and origin of goods was unclear.
“There are 400USD to pay in taxes and tariffs.”
Could not return a cracked table and customer service did not reply.
“Impossible to return a table that is CRACKED”
Bench arrived damaged and customer service failed to respond for a week.
“your complaint has been registered”
Ordered four items but one was missing, later customer service sent replacements.
“Ordered 4, only 3 have arrived.”
Was charged large customs fees and Royal Design did not warn about origin.
“was charged with over $2000 in custom tax”
Bought lamp and was charged 59% of its price in duty taxes.
“59% of the original price of the lamp”
Return shipping costs make buying items prohibitively expensive for this reviewer.
“The return shipping makes buying anything prohibitive.”
Two bar stools broke within two weeks and seller refused proper refund.
“They are not fit for purpose and dangerous.”
Faulty carafe reported and customer service delayed return label for weeks.
“APPALLING SERVICE!”
Lamp arrived with crooked bracket, bent ring and chrome scratches.
“The bracket into which the lamp is screwed is mounted crookedly.”
Received incorrect dinnerware colour and company refused to exchange without charge.
“return the incorrect item at my own expense – costing me €45.”
Solar lights’ colour did not match website images and returns cost over $80.
“the color of the light did not match the image on their website”
Reviewer calls the after-sales service scandalous and warns to avoid them.
“Le pire service après vente du web C est scandaleux! A fuir”
Two plates arrived broken due to inadequate packaging and slow response.
“two of the plates were broken”
Cutlery handles stain brown after dishwasher and stains do not remove easily.
“knife handles in particular have brown stains when they come out of the dishwasher”
Goods were delivered quickly to the US.
“Quick delivery to the US.”
Ordering was easy and items arrived in good condition.
“Easy ordering process, goods arrived in good condition.”
Lamp had a production fault and customer service refused to assist.
“they did not want to help us.”
Products were good but packaging was poor and a nozzle was broken.
“The cleaner bottle nozzle came broken.”
Poor packaging led to a broken serving bowl and no free returns.
“No free return if you don't like items.”
They love the cookware and bought one as a birthday gift for their son.
“My wife and I love cooking in,on and with them”
Customer service and delivery date information were excellent.
“Great customer service and information about delivery date.”
Returned small bench but was charged an extortionate £150 return fee.
“I went to return it, only to find out they charge £150 RETURN FEE!?!”
This page combines submitted experiences with public reviews from platforms such as Google, Trustpilot, etc. Recurring points are summarised without changing the content of reviews.
Royal Design is a Swedish online retailer specialising in designer homeware, lighting, furniture and kitchenware. The site stocks Scandinavian and international brands and ships to multiple countries, so buyers should check delivery options, origin and return rules before purchase.