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Original poster

Would you buy a sofa you haven’t sat on?

48 replies

TooleyVanDooley · 29/01/2020 21:19

I love the shape of it, it meets all my criteria (no loose back cushions, arms low enough to lie comfortably on it, arms not so wide that precious sofa space is wasted) and it will fit perfectly.

But the nearest showroom is about a 5 and a half hour round trip away. And I don’t even know if they definitely have it there. I can phone to find out, but even so it’s a long drive and I’d rather not use a whole day doing it. But, it’s a lot of money and I would like to see it in the flesh and sit on it.

I can’t decide what to do. Would you take the risk and order it?

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 29/01/2020 21:21

Can you return it? I have done in the past and it was no more or less comfortable that sofas I've spent ages choosing.

LoisLittsLover · 29/01/2020 21:21

Nope, those factors you mention won't impact on how comfortable it is to sit on which is the primary function. I would also want to view the quality and what the colour/fabric is like in person, as computer screens can vary wildly

AnneLovesGilbert · 29/01/2020 21:22

I got one off eBay once and took a punt as it was cheap and not too far away. Turned out okay.

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Thelnebriati · 29/01/2020 21:23

I'm really fussy about my favourite chair but its so hard finding a sofa thats the perfect shape and fit I'd probably risk it.
It sounds like we are sofa twins btw. Could you post a link?

Honeypickle · 29/01/2020 21:23

I have done this - right colour size, shape and price! But desperately uncomfortable and we gave it away after just a year. However we mainly bought it because it was cheap - if yours isn’t you might be okay! I really wouldn’t risk it though.

3littlemonkeys82 · 29/01/2020 21:25

Can you request fabric swatches?

The problem is even if you drive to the showroom you may find a fiber filled example when you want a foam seat, or they may have the pillow back version as opposed to the fixed back etc etc etc.

We bought ours without sitting on it and it's exactly what I wanted tbh.

wonderstuff · 29/01/2020 21:25

Only if you can return it after sitting on it. O ordered a sofa online once, turned out to be really uncomfortable, it was easy to return though, so no harm done.

halcyondays · 29/01/2020 21:27

No, I’d never buy a sofa without trying it out, you can’t always tell if they’re comfy without sitting on them.

stophuggingme · 29/01/2020 21:28

Link!

Rinsefirst · 29/01/2020 21:29

Bought Italian leather chaise one from Costco - fabulous buy - they offered two year returns in their customer promise - so wasn’t huge risk.
But I did find a showroom locally that stocked the brand - albeit we bought a different model

SmileCheese · 29/01/2020 21:30

Yes I would and have done in the past. I would however issue a word of caution on sitting on a sofa in a show room to evaluate its comfort level. I've had friends and relatives who have tried out a sofa in the show room and found it to be comfy so ordered the sofa to then find their sofa really uncomfortable as the one in the show room had been well worn in by prospective buyers sitting on it.

So sitting in a sofa is also no garuntee of how comfortable you will find it I'm afraid.

Original poster
TooleyVanDooley · 29/01/2020 21:31

It sounds like we are sofa twins btw. Could you post a link?

It’s this I have swatches but it’s hard to visualise the whole thing from a small swatch.

OP posts:
ThePluckOfTheCoward · 29/01/2020 21:32

No.

VenusClapTrap · 29/01/2020 21:33

No. I did it and the sofa turned out to be more orange than the chocolate brown it looked online. Still stuck with it over a decade later. The cat is doing her best to shred the arms though, so hopefully we’ll replace it within the next couple of years.

It is comfortable at least, which is more than can be said for the pair of armchairs I bought on eBay. They look great but are horrid to sit on.

Never again.

Bluewater1 · 29/01/2020 21:34

Nope, comfort is everything

user1471449295 · 29/01/2020 21:36

I just have. Best and most comfy sofa I’ve ever owned. I know I was incredibly lucky with that gamble though!

smartiecake · 29/01/2020 21:36

No way! We had a new sofa this year and we went to loads of showrooms and sat on maybe more than 50? And most were really uncomfortable. Too soft mostly and there was a problem with the depth of the cushions and my legs. Loads were way too deep for me to bend my knees comfortably and i am 5ft 6ins so not short.
The one we chose was an instant yes. Its so so comfy. We still love it and its still the best one we tried.
When they are so expensive its a costly mistake if it is rubbish for sitting on

Apolloanddaphne · 29/01/2020 21:41

Absolutely not. I would always want to try a sofa before buying.

Original poster
TooleyVanDooley · 29/01/2020 21:42

I spend more time lying on it than sitting on it, so in some ways sitting comfort is less important. I guess I am going to have to go there though.

OP posts:
doodleygirl · 29/01/2020 21:48

I’m just about to order a sofa from MADE, it can be returned if it’s not suitable. I really hope it’s comfy as it ticks all the boxes and I’ve not found anything else I like and I’ve been to so many different retailers.

othervoicesotherrooms · 29/01/2020 22:01

Has anyone bought from SofaSofa?
Thinking of doing just that OP... not sat on it or seen it in real life!

stophuggingme · 29/01/2020 22:26

That sofa might be very comfortable it might be the exact opposite!
I would go and try for best part of £2k

KillingEvenings · 29/01/2020 22:41

I ordered two from sofasofa without having sat on them and really do love thrm. Plus the pair was about £400 cheaper than the equivalent single from sofa.com.

I realised it was a huge risk but read loads of food reviews about that model. I've read lots of not so great reviews about mare.com furnishings. They do both take returns but I r and a few cases where they wouldn't be able to pick up for a month or so something and you'd have to store the sofas and packaging somewhere while you waited so worth keeping that in mind.

If possible, you could see if anyone is selling one on eBay or gumtree closer just to go try out (or potentially buy second hand if the colour is right) I didn't so this but I did look at old eBay adverts which was helpful to see real photoa rather that catalogue photos

cushioncovers · 29/01/2020 22:47

Nope. It's got to be comfortable and you really won't know until you sit on it. Can you combine a weekend away with sofa hunting if one of the stores is in a big city?

AgeLikeWine · 29/01/2020 22:57

No, of course not!

Why on earth would anyone buy a sofa without sitting on it, a bed without lying on it or a car without driving it?

Perhaps people do and then they wonder why they get a bad back....

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