My family has a set from sears. This will be our third season with the set and there is zero rust on it. It wasn't cheap, I think around $750-800. But it is a large set (big table, 6 chairs, 2 ottomans, lazy susan, umbrella, cushions). I believe it is a powder coated set.
I actually use to work in sears in the hardware section that sold the patio furniture. The really cheap sets were plastic and pretty much garbage. They would wobble and were just poor quality all around. But the majority of the sets were metal. Not really sure what a decent patio set would be made out besides metal or wood? Most of our problems were with the plastic materials on the chairs. It would fade and discolour on occasion in the sun. Other than that there wasn't much problems with the actual construction of the sets. Wood sets are typically really nice for one season. Unless you really take care of them, they are basically down hill from the day you buy it. They fade, the wood can spilt or rot and the smoothness of the wood is hard to keep.
Nothing is without it's problems. Metal can rust, wood can split, and plastic can change colour. But in my opinion it is well worth your money to invest in a decent metal set.
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