To want M&S to sell me loose covers for my sofa

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Bought sofa and armchair about 7 years ago from M&S. Now the covers are looking grubby and torn but the sofa seems in good nick so we thought we'd get it recovered.

But M&S won't do it. They still do the same make but not the same fabric so we can't just replace the cushions.

So I could buy the exact same sofa in any fabric in their range but I can't buy the covers on their own. Surely they must make the covers separately to the furniture? So why can't I buy a cover without a sofa?

I've been quoted nearly the cost of the sofa just for covers from Plumbs so guess we'll have to stick with what we've got for a while longer. It seems ridiculous to buy new because the old ones are dirty and cushions torn. Did try dry cleaning but it didn't make much difference.

YABU to expect them to sell you something they don't sell anymore.

Why don't you ask on Facebook if there's anyone who can do it for you? I know people with the skills to recover sofas and they'd not charge what Plumbs do.

Just an idea but have you tried a local College that has Upholstery as one of its courses? You'll have to pay but it probably won't be as much as Plumbs would charge.

My experience of our local College was for Hair stuff and I noticed that they also had a restaurant open to the public where students were learning Hospitality so were cooking, waiting at table, everything to do with hospitality. There's could also be a department that does sewing of some sort...

I'm not following your logic. M&S no longer make that sofa in that fabric, so how could they sell you loose covers for the cushions that would match the rest of the sofa ?

If they've never made loose covers for the entire sofa, why would they have them now? If you wanted that option, you should have bought Collins and Hayes, IKEA or one of the loose cover Multiyork styles. Not a fixed cover sofa.

Sorry if I haven't explained myself very well. The cover for the entire sofa is loose at the moment. I can unzip it and take it off. If I bought a new sofa it would be the same. I would assume the covers are made separately from the sofas. Therefore I can't see why it would be a problem to sell me covers without the sofa if that makes any more sense than my op.

I don't expect them to match the fabric. whereyouleftit.

Thanks Miele - I think I could replace the seat cushions but then they wouldn't match the rest of the fabric. If they still did the same fabric that's what I'd do.

I have emailed customer services. They used to sell covers separately, they don't anymore.

College an interesting idea - I'll have a look.

I'm looking at sofas at the moment and want loose covers. I've been told that they're hard to get nowadays because of new fire retardancy regulations.

Plumbs have a 'up to' half price sale on covers during November. Sale also includes made to measure curtains at 50% off. Beware of the 'up to'!!

Lots of people make loose covers. Ask in your dry cleaners or sewing repair shop. My Gran always made her own; I expect there are loads of tutorials on line to do it yourself if you are at all crafty. You have the old one as a pattern, you could try make pings mock up first in cheap fabric as a practice.

Plumbs do new covers especially for M&S, Ercol etc. They have all the patterns and you give them the style number, they don't even need to measure. Maybe not the best fabric choice though, but OK if you want plain.
www.plumbs.co.uk/loose-covers/we-can-cover-anything/

Stop resurrecting old threads!

Oops!