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In article <7vlmg.9395$k27.1110@trndny06>, Donna says...
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>"MarkNero" <MarkNero123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:1150926553.966926.72070@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
>> My wife and I are interested in buying a sectional sofa. After
>> spending a lot of time and effort checking out very many stores, we
>> finally found one, at Ethan Allen, we like and that seems to be of good
>> quality. Since we have little experience shopping for furniture, nor
>> in knowing what constitutes quality furniture, we've been using a
>> Consumer Reports article as a guide ("How to Buy Upholstered
>> Furniture"). The problem is in getting the salesman to cooperate.
>
>
><massive snip>
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>> On the one hand, we could assume that Ethan Allen will live up to its
>> reputation as a quality furniture manufacturer and use only quality
>> components in their furniture. OTOH, is it unreasonable to expect an
>> establishment like Ethan Allen to provide information about the quality
>> components used in their furniture? Are we being too picky or is this
>> salesman simply not doing his job?
>
>Hoo boy.
>
>I've a couple of thoughts.
>
>First off, I understand where you are coming from. You want a nice sofa,
>and you want it to last. I understand.
>
>Using consumer reports is an excellent guide. I never make a major
>purchase without consulting them, and I have never been steered wrong. So
>good for you - fwiw, you're definitely on the wrong track.
>
>Now for the other stuff I think:
>
>1) 4500 is a lot to spend on a sofa. A LOT. Whatever you end up buying,
>you may fret over wear, foot marks, and the first red wine spill risks
>giving you a seizure. Do you *really* want to add another layer of fuss to
>your life? Are you *sure* you wouldn't be happier, overall, with a cheaper
>sectional that you can treat less carefully? Not that that was your
>question, but you're speaking to a woman who once bought a white linen sofa.
>Believe me, I know of what I speak.
Well, color and practicality is a different question from quality. White linen
means it's out the door (if it's cheeep) or reupholstered (if it is worth it) at
the first spill of red wine WHATEVER you decided to spend on it!
I went in for a really good sofa and chair and ottoman for the family room.
Went to a high-end furniture store during an annual floor sample sale, and
nabbed most of a floor sample room setting. The *reason* for that is that we're
big people (as in tall and solid, not fat), and I had long gotten sick and tired
of furniture falling apart on me. Also, I wanted the dimensions to be big. The
upholsteries are complementary patterns strong tightly woven fabric, and only
now after 11 years do I need to cover the ottoman - that took a full decade of
feet and butts believe me. We're fairly careful; on the other hand, they've
stood up to my son's launching himself into a lying position from half way
across the room (if you have a 13 year old you'd know what I mean) and many
minor food spills and lots of cat hairs and vacuuming to remove cat hairs.
These pieces were disfavored for cat-scratches - it's my less expensive living
room furniture which is now hiding under slipcovers because their cheeper
upholsteries were more cat-nail friendly.
I am *not* the type to wail over defects of inconsequence or a little stain here
and there - that also has little to do with preference for quality. Although
some folks may get more phreaky over something that cost more $$$, I think that
quality means problems are more recoverable. That is - real wood a furniture
maker can fix, real quality makes reupholstering worthwhile if needed.
>
>2) if you are still going to go for the expensive sofa, why are you
>reinventing the wheel? I do not have that issue of consumer reports in
>front of me that deals with upholstered furniture, but wouldn't it be
>immensely easier and more reliable to simply pick the CR best buy that fits
>your needs, instead of trying to get answers from the salesman? I am not at
>all surprised that he doesn't know the answers to your questions, btw.
>
>3) 45 hundred for a couch? Are you REALLY SURE?
>
SURE! What the heck else is $$$ FOR??!? :-)
A family lives with and uses and looks at something like a sofa EVERY SINGLE
DAY. The more I see and use something, the more it's worth getting something
that is really good and what I really want.
>4) Finally, to answer the question you asked, yes, you can count on Ethan
>Allen to live up to it's reputation as a decent manufacturer. But
>seriously -- a couch is the last thing you are going to want to spend ten
>years babying because of how much you spent on it. Fall in love with
>something less expensive. Try, anyway. :)
>
That little voice on your shoulder is your grandma speaking. Tell her the
depression is over.
You
do not
have
to
baby
it
just
'cause
it
cost
money.
Quite the reverse, actually - it can stand up to use better if it's quality.
Banty
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Re: Sectional sofa shopping advice (long)
