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Original poster

Are DFS sofas shite? Where did you get your suite?!

81 replies

TerribleCustomerCervix · 09/10/2020 09:52

Currently in the market for a new suite.

I got burnt badly a few years ago when we bought a corner sofa from Harvey Norman. Lovely at first, but quickly began to look like a sack filled with old socks. Totally lost it’s shape and offers zero support. Now I have Furniture Purchase PTSD and I’m a bit stuck where to buy the replacement from.

I’ve seen a Joules armchair from DFS which I love- the rest of their range is nice, ok value and loads of choice so I’m tempted to just go for it.

Has anyone had one from there, do they last a decent period of time and still look presentable?

My backup is M&S but none of them are particularly exciting.

OP posts:
ThatGirl82 · 09/10/2020 12:45

We got our sofa from DFS four years ago and I would say that it started to get bobbly and a bit worn looking after about a year! It is pretty comfortable and doesn't exactly need replacing yet, but I wouldn't buy from there again.

Chilimama · 09/10/2020 12:57

We got ours 2 years ago from DFS and have had no end of issues. We ordered a sofa bed, 2 seater sofa, chair and 2 storage footstools and have had issues with everything but the footstools!

Firstly, the sofa bed was delivered damaged and DFS refused to replace and would only repair. Delivery men scarpered as we noticed the damage so we took photos immediately to prove it had been delivered that way. (They unpacked the sofa and pushed it up against the wall so we wouldn't see the damage). The repair itself was really obvious so someone else came and totally recovered the sofa bed but you could still see a bump where the frame had been repaired. After hours of calls and emails back and forth they knocked off £200 from the sofa bed.

Now the cover on the other sofa and the chair are really bobbly and the back cushions are going out of shape and sliding off but I really can't be bothered with complaining again as they made it really obvious they couldn't care less. They are still comfy enough but don't look that great!

After speaking to a few other friends I heard similar stories so I wouldn't buy from them again.

WellTidy · 09/10/2020 13:02

We’ve had the Abbey sofas and a love seat from m and s for about 10 years now. Still looking good, and feel comfortable and supportive.

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Home improvement
MuchTooTired · 09/10/2020 13:02

I’ve got the joules chesterfield sofa, it’s lovely! Two years old currently, no sagging. The leg went a bit funny and they came out and replaced it without any problem.

Marmite27 · 09/10/2020 13:03

We have a 10 year old suite from DFS, it was £800 ish for a 2 seater, 3 seater and a footstool in the August bank holiday sale Hmm

Looks fine. But it is a very boxy style with plain covers. It’s a bit stained now, but that’s down to the kids not DFS.

My parents however had a suite that lasted less than 2 years before it’s stuffing went flat, which was also more expensive.

It depends what style you pick and why it’s made of IMO.

HasaDigaEebowai · 09/10/2020 13:05

someone mentioned sofa workshop but sofa workshop and DFS are the same company

CherrytreeView · 09/10/2020 13:09

I highly recommend Sofology. They've very reasonable in price compared to some of the other retailers and you'd think that may mean the quality is questionable - but we've had our 4 seater, and 3 seater for 5 years and it's genuinely still in amazing condition. I'm eyeing up our next sofa from there already.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/10/2020 13:09

Our DFS sofa is 6 years old and still good. Few marks and stains from the kids but not particularly visible and our fault rather than DFS fault.

lunar1 · 09/10/2020 13:10

Harvey's don't use the same quality cushions in the ones they sell you as the ones in store. They fill the ones you buy with cushions that go flat as a pancake after a month.

After getting nowhere with customer service I took the cushions out of the cover and back to the store where I spoke to the manager politely but loudly about all the problems, with my giant pile of crap sofa pieces. They had no choice but to replace them with decent ones. I'd never use them again.

Yesterdayforgotten · 09/10/2020 13:11

We paid alot for our dfs sofa about 8/9 years ago and it is still going strong. We paid extra for high sofa cushioned backs and the tougher foam filling that doesnt lose its shape when sat on it so maybe that's why it has lasted so well. The fabric is also very hard wearing and has survived multiple cleans after baby and toddler messes and it has never clicked or torn. At the time I felt I had paid too much but now I think its been worth its weight in gold and so comfortable. I bought a Costco sofa about 4 years ago for another room and that hadn't been anywhere near as comfortable or long lasting as the dfs one but it was half the price.
My advice is to get a sample of the fabric and test it and also invest in the better foam etc and backs if option still avail.

Yesterdayforgotten · 09/10/2020 13:13

under half *

shesgonebatshitagain · 09/10/2020 13:15

In 2007 I bought the big Wentworth sofa from DFS
I’ve had new covers made for it but it’s still going strong and such a lovely comfortable side

GenderApostate19 · 09/10/2020 13:16

Sofas are like mattresses, generally the more you pay the better they are.
I bought ours from AHF 18 months ago , 2x 2 seaters and a massive footstool were £1400, if we get 5 years out of them I’ll be surprised.

I hate that the cushions aren’t reversable.

We’re limited due to our room shape and most 2 seaters nowadays are too wide for the spaces.
DD’s is from SCS and seems more sturdy than ours and the cushions reverse.

Our best sofas were from the sadly no longer trading Courts, they withstood kids and dogs for iver 10 years.

NerdyBird · 09/10/2020 13:17

We got our sofa from DFS 4 years ago and it's still fine. We have a leather corner sofa with sofa bed, ottoman chaise and adjustable headrests. No probs with any of the mechanisms, still really comfy.
It's pretty heavily used, especially over lockdown and wfh.

Tigger03 · 09/10/2020 13:20

6 year old DFS sofa here that has survived 2 house moves and daily use. Still looks great, again is high backed rather than scatter cushion which I think helps.

woodhill · 09/10/2020 13:20

Bought a leather G plan, it's been really good, had over 10 years'.

Also have a small leather DFS one, it's actually ok but hasn't been used as much

Blueuggboots · 09/10/2020 13:20

We got one from furniture village. It was expensive (£5k for large settee and large armchair) but 5 years down the line, they're still comfy and still look great. We've had an issue with the electric recline mechanism shorting but that was repaired under warranty very easily.

Strugglingtodomybest · 09/10/2020 13:23

We've got a DFS leather sofa in the kitchen, so not used as much as the living room sofa, we've had it for 12 years now and it's still in great shape.

FrangipaniBlue · 09/10/2020 13:23

I have a corner group, 2 seater and ottoman bought from DFS 15 years ago, 2 seater is KO'd but that's more from DH sitting on it in his work clothes/jeans so we're replacing that but keeping the corner group and ottoman because there's nothing wrong with them.

They were from the DFS "top range" and cost almost £4K at the time.

By contrast, PIL bought a 2+3 seater from DFS at the same time as us that were from a "cheaper range" and paid £1.5k, they had sagged within 18 months.

Honestly? IMO you get what you pay for regardless of the shop 🤷🏻‍♀️

wafflyversatile · 09/10/2020 13:24

My dfs sofa is about 10 years old and mostly fine. The only issue arose recently. The seat is 2 foam pads that are not seperate from the sofa frame. The way I've been sitting for maybe the last 2 years I have been squashing the front corner of one of the cushions and now it's deformed. Not sure I can blame them for that.

Justajot · 09/10/2020 13:33

Ours are from longeatonsofas.com. They aren't very old yet, but seem really well made and they have the biggest range to pick from. We went to their showroom, which was a bit of a trek, but worth it.

Moooooooooooooooooo · 09/10/2020 13:36

ALWAYS look at the guarantee. Any shop worth it’s salt will back their goods with a good guarantee.

Most places offer between 2 and 5 years. DFS offer 10 years (or did when I last looked). Loaf offers only ONE YEAR. Think about that. ONE YEAR. tells you a lot about their furniture which is a shame because they do some really nice stuff.

TeapotCollection · 09/10/2020 13:37

We’re very happy with our DFS suite

If you get one, don’t pay £90 extra for the gliders to make moving them easier, you can get them on eBay for £15 😡

Theyweretheworstoftimes · 09/10/2020 13:41

I have a hand me down cream leather sofa.

It was purchased from MultiYork in 1993 by my parents

It needs the leather cleaned but thats all. Apart from that it's perfect.

I dread the day I need to replace it.

LadyIronDragon · 09/10/2020 13:41

Our DFS Zinc is probably my favourite piece of furniture in the whole house. I adore it. So comfortable and I love the look of it.

Our sofology Majestic is ok. Bit saggy after 4 years.

Our sofa.com one was awful, so uncomfortable and never softened up.