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Original poster

Did you go and see your sofa in person before buying? or just from online?

48 replies

nootcoffee · 01/10/2024 18:43

I have seen a lovely Barker and Stonehouse sofa but i’m not local to any stores

Daft to buy without seeing in person?

OP posts:
DanielaDressen · 01/10/2024 19:25

I take a book and sit on a sofa for an hour or more before buying!

DuesToTheDirt · 01/10/2024 19:47

I didn't just sit on it in the store, I had a lie down Grin.

AutumnTimeForCosy24 · 01/10/2024 20:04

DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 01/10/2024 19:22

In store. I'm very picky about cushion firmness.

@DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace

are you taking the P out of us fussy buggers, or are you actually serious?!

I can't quite decide?!?!

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Home improvement
DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 01/10/2024 20:09

@AutumnTimeForCosy24 I'm completely serious!

SallyWD · 01/10/2024 20:58

Our sofas were over £1000 each. Definitely needed to test them before buying!

Autumnlife · 01/10/2024 23:01

We visited every furniture shop in the city before choosing our new sofas back in February. You need to sit on them first it’s an expensive piece of furniture to not be 100 percent happy with your purchase.

ErrolTheDragon · 01/10/2024 23:15

Definitely need to try them out, and check the construction quality too. It's worth getting right - we got a suite as a wedding present in 1985 and only replaced it a year or so ago, it was still comfortable. We weren't impressed by any of the sofas in the shops hereabouts but we found a local firm, got exactly the sizes we wanted and massive choice of fabric.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 01/10/2024 23:18

We went round a few furniture stores and tried them out . I think that's quite important. In fact what we bought wasn't what I'd envisaged at all .

I think most things we've just bought in the internet have had various things not quite right with them eg size slightly out due to the shake which wasn't immediately obvious from a picture .

Nannyfannybanny · 01/10/2024 23:22

Tried lots out in lots of different stores before buying.

PermanentTemporary · 01/10/2024 23:27

Must sit. I tried every sofa in a big store, loved the look of several but comfort underwhelming. Went to local Next, only one in the store, sat on it - bliss. Happy with it.

I would do a day trip tbh.

shesamarshmallow · 01/10/2024 23:30

Surely you need to sit on it and check it’s actually comfy. You’d be mad to spend that much on something you can’t return without trying it out.

Snippit · 01/10/2024 23:33

Always have to sit on them. My hubby is 6ft 1” and I’m 5 ft 3”, it takes ages to choose one that suits us both.

saraclara · 01/10/2024 23:36

I'm amazed that so many people are happy to buy such a big ticket purchase online, when a sofa is all about comfort.

Even if they say you can return it, by then you've got rid of your old sofa, so you'd have nowhere to sit for months while you wait for a different one.

echt · 01/10/2024 23:37

Always try the sofa. A crucial aspect is sitting and seeing how much of your thighs are supported by the seat. It should go right up to the crease of your knees.
Also, I find scatterback cushioned sofas a PITA as your'e forever plumping the fecking cushions.

Icequeen01 · 01/10/2024 23:41

We saw ours in store, loved the look of it and it was so comfortable. We ordered one and have had it over a year. Although it looks good it's bloody uncomfortable and the cushions are much firmer than the one we sat. We even spoke to the manufacturer who pointed out that the one in store had had a zillion people sitting on it. I estimate that in about another 4 years it should be comfy!

LunaticinProgress · 01/10/2024 23:45

ErrolTheDragon · 01/10/2024 23:15

Definitely need to try them out, and check the construction quality too. It's worth getting right - we got a suite as a wedding present in 1985 and only replaced it a year or so ago, it was still comfortable. We weren't impressed by any of the sofas in the shops hereabouts but we found a local firm, got exactly the sizes we wanted and massive choice of fabric.

No way?? 1985? And a year or two ago, that's 30 odd years, I was born in 1985! They definately don't make them like that anymore. I'd say if you spend a lot in the current day you may get a decade. I still can't believe you had it so long! 😱

MadamePeriwinkle · 01/10/2024 23:50

I’ve just ordered a new sofa…I did it online as the shop was busy on the day I went and there was an offer about to end, but I would never spend that kind of money without seeing what I was buying in RL.

Just as well I did as I wanted black fabric and favoured one of the two options, but when I saw it for real it was more charcoal grey which would have pissed me off no end as I’m getting rid of grey sofas!

BananaSplitSandwich · 02/10/2024 00:36

Definitely go and see it. I made that mistake with a mattress once, ended up £600 down after an uncomfortable 6 months 😢 Next time, we went to the shop and tried out loads of them before committing.

MistyWitch · 02/10/2024 00:38

Just spent £1600 on a new sofa. We live hours away from any show rooms but I'd have been more than happy for a trek round them before picking. DH decided he did not want to do that so ordered online. He hates it. Says it's uncomfortable. I love it and I'm genuinely delighted we never went in person shopping or I'd never have got this one.
Didn't love the last one that we did pick in person, he loved that one as it was comfy. I disagree. Replaced as it was suede and after seeing one baby through the toddler years it was looking a bit grubby.

Original poster
nootcoffee · 02/10/2024 06:27

MistyWitch · 02/10/2024 00:38

Just spent £1600 on a new sofa. We live hours away from any show rooms but I'd have been more than happy for a trek round them before picking. DH decided he did not want to do that so ordered online. He hates it. Says it's uncomfortable. I love it and I'm genuinely delighted we never went in person shopping or I'd never have got this one.
Didn't love the last one that we did pick in person, he loved that one as it was comfy. I disagree. Replaced as it was suede and after seeing one baby through the toddler years it was looking a bit grubby.

but if you’d been more than happy to… why didn’t you go?!

OP posts:
Original poster
nootcoffee · 02/10/2024 06:28

So grateful to you all

I will refrain from spend £2340 online and i’ll head to the showroom next weekend

Thank you!

OP posts:
SureLight · 02/10/2024 06:30

We ordered online and I regret every time I sit on it. So expensive, and so uncomfortable.

Yamantau · 02/10/2024 11:59

not sure exactly, but friend did similar and it was omg

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