I've been following this thread. I've been waiting for some feedback, to further understand your pieces, condition of the pieces. So for, as best I can tell, you still haven't cleaned the pieces nor performed a finish test, to determine what finish might be on the pieces. Before a procedure for refinishing can be suggested or determined, it is good to know more about what's on the pieces, if possible.

Do the cleaning and testing and tell us what you've discovered.

Your description of the chairs, to date, to me, suggests the finish is a toned lacquer, typical of factory applications. Your description of the wear patterns lends to this conclusion. There may be a stain under the (toned?) topcoat. If the chairs are made of maple, a conditioner may have been applied prior to the staining and/or topcoating. Some manufacturers (Hendron, Broyhill, etc.) still have the toned topcoat blends available and you can get color-matched quantities for refinishing/touchups. On the Refinishing Wizard link dpb gave - (link directly to the forum - http://www.refinishwizard.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=1 ), I think (I'm not sure) Bob (Boardman) may have more info about these companies and the finishes. Also, your local good furniture outlet, often times, has access to the furniture manufacturers, to know how/where to obtain the finishes for repairs/touchups, and the like, for pieces that get damaged in shipment. Your local furniture outlets consult with their local refinishers and upholsterers, for repairing damaged furniture, and these repairs and touchups are done frequently. I do such repairs and touchups, this way, every now and then.

The chairs:
Whatever repairing/refinishing you decide to do, tackle one chair to see what you'll be up against, for doing the others. If the one chair comes out ok, then proceed with the others. If it doesn't come out well, then you can always have someone/a pro do the job, anyway. It wouldn't matter if he corrects the original "mess" or your "mess". You'll be charged the same fee.. Won't hurt, at all, for you to give it a try.

Once you 1) clean the chair, 2) repair whatever needs repairing. 3) Test for the finish on it. If it is indeed lacquer, then the remaining fix is much easier. If the finish is lacquer, then 4) wipe it down with lacquer thinner. Now you're ready for either 5) a lacquer base stain (like a TransTint dye stain using lacquer thinner as the solvent) or 6) a toned lacquer application (TransTint dye does well for this toning. Do some tests to get the color match. Otherwise, see if you can get some toned finish from the company that made the chairs).

If the chairs don't have a lacquer finish on them, then one of, or a combination of, the procedures, suggested earlier/above, would likely be a better approach.... Do the testing for the present finish that's on the chairs, before deciding what procedure to proceed with.

The table & Buffet:
....Doesn't sound like a too difficult of repair job. It would be nice to see several good pics of the table, though, before making/committing to a repair/refinish schedule. Same with the buffet piece. I would like to better confirm, if possible, whether the pieces' tops are "solid wood" or veneered.

For further research, you may want to search the http://www.refinishwizard.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=1 site. There have been similar threads (some with pics), there, and we have discussed these very issues many times.

Sonny