Appalling product quality & customer service

I purchased a wooden garden table and six chairs from Homebase fourteen months ago at a cost of £400 (original price £500 but on offer when I bought it). Due to a house move the table was stored in a brick built garage for eight of the fourteen months so has only been outside and in use for six months. I noticed that three of the four table corners had quite significant splits and also four of the six chairs. Homebase arranged for an independent technician to look at the furniture and I have just been informed that the splitting is due to natural conditions. Firstly if this is the case and there were no manufacturing defects why are only three corners of the table and four of the six chairs affected and more importantly that Homebase are quite happy for a customer to potentially have paid £500 for a garden table and six chairs and for it to have significant damage after six months and find that acceptable, it speaks volumes about the quality of their furniture and their customer service. I certainly would not buy anything from Homebase again and I will make sure as many people as possible are aware of my experience so they don't waste money on inferior products and then have appalling customer service condoning the unacceptable quality!