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Original poster

has anyone bought a John Lewis draper sofa in grand?

29 replies

SofaTroubles · 30/04/2024 15:18

I have namechanged to post this in the help I will gather some more info which will help me with the dispute I am currently in with JL.

In Jan 23 we bought a grand size John Lewis draper sofa

linked here, in case you're curious!:

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-draper-ii-grand-4-seater-sofa/p111691886s_ppc=2dx_mixed_home_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn9Tzwo_qhQMVxxmiAx3Suw1vEAQYASABEgJ6sfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

it was delivered in Feb 23 and from the off I was having problems with the base cushion. It was just too small! After a few months, I thought it was ridiculous so went back to JL and they agreed finally to get the supplier to make a new base cushion that was delivered last week. This is what it looks like when on the sofa.

The suppliers are trying to tell me that they have to make them a bit short so that they settle and expand. When I pull the base cushion more centrally, the gap is not as big, but then as soon as someone sits on one end, the cushion shifts, and its uncomfortable for anyone that wants to sit at the other side!)

I have never in my life had any gap on any base cushion with any sofa I have owned. Even my DFS sofa cushion is nice and wedged in.

Reading the reviews online, it seems most people buy the 3 seater, and aren't having these problems. In fact, my friend just bought one and she says the base cushion doesn't move at all it's nice and wedged in.

I am wondering if anyone else has had any problems with this size sofa, and what I can do about it. This is the second cushion that has done this. One of the reasons I liked this sofa was because it was one log base cushion and not individual squares where the remotes gets lost down each crack!

has anyone bought a John Lewis draper sofa in grand?
OP posts:
TodaysNameIsBoring · 30/04/2024 15:31

That looks terrible and I'd be complaining too.

WickWood · 30/04/2024 15:34

Yeah, that looks ridiculous and their explanation makes no sense at all! Hope you get this sorted!

lashy · 30/04/2024 15:44

I agree that simply looks wrong and the explanation they've given you a load of nonsense.

It's as though they've supplied cushions from a standard (3 seater) sofa, for a grand (4 seater) sofa.

Hope you get it sorted.

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Home improvement
Original poster
SofaTroubles · 30/04/2024 18:44

I wish it was as simple as they’d made the size of the 3 seater. It’s not those dimensions either. It’s basically 4cm shorter than the length of the sofa.
but this is the 2nd one they’ve made so I’m not sure what to do from here. Insist they make me one to my own dimensions?!

OP posts:
desperatedaysareover · 30/04/2024 18:57

Do you want a shot of my kids - they could assist by packing the gap with crisp packets.

But seriously, I’ve had many sofas and the cushions just…fit? Isn’t that sort of the point? Have the supplier/JL seen how the second attempt actually looks and still said oh yeah it’ll magically expand? Have you tried getting three people to sit on it at once and see if it does spread a bit?I would be asking for someone to come out and have a look if they’re insistent that’s right, it’s not, and it’s not like it came out of the bargain corner either.

takemeawayagain · 30/04/2024 19:07

So have they basically sent you another cushion that was just the same as the first? It seems that the measurements are off. That doesn't look right at all, I'd complain again.

Original poster
SofaTroubles · 30/04/2024 19:32

Even with people sitting on it each end, it’s squished it down so the gap on each side is even more pronounced!

im so cross. I kind of just want to say, take the fucking sofa back and give me my money back, but I like it! I spent ages choosing the right one, got the right colour and size, and now I have one that I can lose half my arse cheek down the edge 😭😭😭😭

OP posts:
Original poster
SofaTroubles · 30/04/2024 19:33

desperatedaysareover · 30/04/2024 18:57

Do you want a shot of my kids - they could assist by packing the gap with crisp packets.

But seriously, I’ve had many sofas and the cushions just…fit? Isn’t that sort of the point? Have the supplier/JL seen how the second attempt actually looks and still said oh yeah it’ll magically expand? Have you tried getting three people to sit on it at once and see if it does spread a bit?I would be asking for someone to come out and have a look if they’re insistent that’s right, it’s not, and it’s not like it came out of the bargain corner either.

This is exactly what they’ve said the supplier have said. 🙄

OP posts:
desperatedaysareover · 30/04/2024 19:39

@SofaTroubles
sigh. I’d tell them they can either take it back or do it right - and at this point either way someone better come out and look at it. It’s not like there’s a great deal of room for user error with a sofa but since they’re so sure you’re wrong let them put their money where their mouth is.

LuluBlakey1 · 01/05/2024 06:48

No- I'd reject that and get my money back. It looks terrible.

awopbopaloobopawopbamboom · 01/05/2024 07:03

JL have to go through suppliers whilst the product is in the suppliers warranty, it's part of the contract they have with the supplier.

zzpleb · 01/05/2024 07:16

The suppliers are trying to tell me that they have to make them a bit short so that they settle and expand.

If that were true, the fabric would need to expand sideways by 4cm, which seems unlikely for upholstery fabric, especially with those stitched dimples holding it in place.

Does the base cushion fit accurately from front to back, or have they made it too short in depth too, to allow for it to settle? It would strange to expect the cushion to expand only sideways.

If you've had the sofa a year and it still hasn't expanded, then that strengthens your argument.

ColourByNumbers88 · 01/05/2024 08:30

I wouldn't be happy with that gap either. How much was the sofa? You need to get JL to come out and see for themselves. How does it look if you centre the cushion? Can you supply a photo of the whole sofa with cushion in the middle- is their argument that the gap would be acceptable then?

Make sure you make the complaint in writing so you have evidence.

ColourByNumbers88 · 01/05/2024 08:33

Sorry just reread. Yes I think you need to supply the measurements of the base cushion you need for your size of sofa because the manufacturer obviously has a different sized grand sofa. How annoying!

Fourmagpies · 01/05/2024 11:23

There are some customer photos on the website under reviews. None have that gap. That's ridiculous. I hope you get it sorted.

Mumofoneandone · 01/05/2024 13:11

Have a different John Lewis sofa and absolutely no gap!! Never come across this on any sofas I've seen or owned!
Reject as unfit for purpose - particularly if the ones you saw pre purchase didn't have the quirk!
Just had a quick Google on line and all the sofas of that description have cushions fitting the end not with a gap!!

ThePaintedMoose · 01/05/2024 13:57

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at OP's request.

hydrangeadangea · 01/05/2024 14:03

SofaTroubles · 30/04/2024 19:32

Even with people sitting on it each end, it’s squished it down so the gap on each side is even more pronounced!

im so cross. I kind of just want to say, take the fucking sofa back and give me my money back, but I like it! I spent ages choosing the right one, got the right colour and size, and now I have one that I can lose half my arse cheek down the edge 😭😭😭😭

Definitely say this.
Buy one from somewhere else. It looks ridiculous, clearly not made correctly.

OneBadKitty · 01/05/2024 16:19

Just demand a refund and buy another sofa somewhere else!

awopbopaloobopawopbamboom · 01/05/2024 16:22

JL are v unlikely to give a refund, this has to come from the supplier if the product is in supplier warranty.

SheilaWilde · 01/05/2024 16:41

Given how expensive it was I wouldn't accept that at all. I know you like it but that cushion is not going to get bigger! That's such a gas lighting thing for JL to say.

I don't understand how JL are saying it's the supplier's fault when it's a JL brand sofa? I'd get my money back because for nearly £2000, at the very least, I'd want a cushion that fits the sofa.

Alternatively ask for a 75% refund and some extra bits of matching fabric from JL. You could then get some small blocks of foam, cut them to size, cover them in the fabric and squash them down the gaps. Then add a cushion each side and you won't notice. But don't do that without getting a partial refund because you really shouldn't be having to Heath Robinson a £2k sofa. It's irritating me and it's not my sofa.

ncforuchelp · 01/05/2024 17:21

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Sycamoretrees · 01/05/2024 17:28

Is it possible that they have made your sofa longer than it should be? So the cushion is actually the correct size but appears too short?

Ellie56 · 01/05/2024 17:37

We had this problem with a NEXT sofa. The base cushions were basically too small for the sofa. We rang up and complained and they did a complete new order and said we could use the faulty sofa until the new one came.

I wouldn't accept that OP. Ring up and either tell them you want a replacement sofa or you want a technician to come out and inspect it with a view to rectifying the problem.

Annexlife · 01/05/2024 19:30

I have the draper in both the 2 and 3 seater, had them for 5 years and neither had this issue. As an aside I love them.

Like others I wouldn't accept that explanation. I found with JL you just have to be very persistent and refuse to get off the phone line until they resolve. I had a different issue and I stressed multiple times that my contract was with them as the purchase was with them, therefore they had a moral responsibility to resolve. Don't let them fob you off.