Hate my new expensive sofa

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

Not an Aibu I know, but just posting in the hope that someone can offer ideas or advice. Our cheap, comfy fabric corner sofa was getting a bit saggy and smelly, so we decided to splash out on a leather sofa (leather essential due to the new dog, fur, smells etc). I saw a sofa I absolutely fell in love with, but DH had his heart set on a recliner so we ended up compromising on a two seater sofa and reclining armchair. It wasn't a choice I was happy with, just the best compromise we could reach. Our living room is quite narrow and we were limited in terms of what would fit.

We've had them just under a week and I hate them. The recliner has to sit right in the middle of the living room with a wire going to the plug socket, because it needs space to recline. I've always thought recliners were tacky, and having tried it, I still do. It's also already playing up. The sofa is too small and too narrow. It did seem OK in the store, and I thought I could get to like it, but it's just really not comfy and is starting to cause me back pain.

I called the company today and they have just said they have a no returns policy, which is not what their website suggests at all. Am I allowed to name them? Not sure. Anyway, I just feel bloody miserable now. All together the things cost £1800, which is a lot of money for us. Sigh.

I suggest looking on gumtree. I wanted a corner suite. Then I seen a three seater, 2 chairs and poffe thing with storage for £250. Went to see it, immaculate. She paid over 8k for it 7 years previous (she gave me the invoice) and only her in the house. Everyone comments on how comfortable etc it is. As I said I would prefer a corner but finances wouldn't allow it. However I'm so pleased with what I have, and I can see it lasting another 7+ years easily. So do look you may find a bargain. Prior to that we paid 3.6k for dfs sofas and they lasted 5 years.......

I have that sofa, it only sits a little out from the wall (10cm?), unless you want to fully recline. We mostly just put our feet up, so it's not in the way at all

I can't get comfy on a leather sofa, too much sliding about.

What's the problem with the recliner?

If the recliner is not working, you need a refund.

Could you return the chair, and get a large matching footstool, so that your sofa becomes more of a chaise ?

A no returns policy?! Quick word with trading standards as is already faulty. Dont let them fix anything that never works out well. Exchange or refund.

Oh and a definite yes for getting your next one from ebay or gumtree. My first was £120 for a brand new IKEA Stockholm (lasted seven years) and my current one is a one year old John Lewis, cost £1700 new but I get it for £220.

My parents have just given up on a £2500 leather suite mistake they brought 6 months ago and have gone back to fabric

^ that's a cancellation policy (presumably on an ordered item) not a returns policy.

The sofa company can't refuse you your money back if you don't want your hideous recliner repaired. You may have to argue a bit, but you should be able to get that refunded. Unfortunately, "I picked a fucking hideous sofa" is not covered by most returns policies, so you're probably shit out of luck on the sofa - though you could argue VERY NICELY that the sofa you bought was to go with the hideous piece of shit recliner, so you'd like a refund for that too - and allow yourself to be 'talked down' into exchanging for something else in their catalogue.

Second hand sofas aren't worth anything though - you'll be lucky to get £100 for it, never mind "get most of your money back".

Lots of helpful advice, thank you! We did actually look on Gumtree etc, but because we have an odd shaped living room we felt we'd be looking for ages before we found something that fitted, and that we both liked. The options in the store were pretty limited as it was! Problem with fabric /throws is that dog either avoids the throws or pulls them off (she is a bit of a sod in that respect). Also, what with dog and 6yo, the prospect of wipe clean furniture is appealing.

Been there OP, spent £3k on a leather corner from SCS once, it was ruined in about 6 months. Nothing we did just really poor quality and customer service (ha!) didn't want to know. I won't do it now, I buy cheap fabric ones from a little local place and just replace every couple of years. We have 2 dogs who I wouldn't dream of banishing from the furniture (not that they'd take any notice if I tried!) but they mostly lie on a blanket and there's a great local upholstery cleaner who comes and gives it a freshen up for me when necessary. I refuse to pay more than £400 for a sofa now, once bitten and all that, hope you can manage to sell yours and get something you like

Another suggestion along the lines of Gumtree etc, in our area we have a number of charity shops who sell on donated furniture, it may take some time but huge bargains are to be had, we’ve recently had two sofas, a recliner and a footstool in as new condition for an absolute steal.

It is the cancellation policy but if you read the whole policy it directs you to that section if you have already taken delivery of a suite you aren't happy with.

Have you had them less than 14 days? If so, you're covered by distance selling regulations x

In case you don't already have this info...

Do look on ebay. I bought leather sofas from.a guy who reconditions designer ones.

They are beautiful and cost £1000 each. But they were £2500 new.

Christ. I spent 3k on my sofa recently, and thank GOD I’m still in love with it. The comfort, the comfort and OMG the comfort... dfs were amazing, sofology were utter shit.
Walked in and the girls carried on their conversation about makeup and their weekend plans despite us being the only people in the store and me clearly saying ‘hi, could we get some help please?’ Got totally ignored. When one of them did decide to help us she was all attitude and we made it clear that our money (and the commission that came with it) would be going elsewhere due to the attitude (and lack of suitable stock). She looked shocked. Idiot. Lakeside store, I’m looking at you.

Op chase the return specially if it’s not working. They should have something like a 5yr guarantee on electrical parts

loveka thank you, do you have a link?

Audi we have had them 5 days. We tried them in store though, so not sure if we'd still be covered? I've submitted an online thing asking them to ring me so we can discuss it properly. They really don't like phone communication for some reason

Hiding ha, suppose that's one way of looking at it, it's definitely a lesson we would have learned at some stage!

Just pissed off with myself really, for not foreseeing this at the time. That's hindsight for you I suppose. We'd just been looking everywhere for so long, and were relieved to have found (we thought) a solution that worked for both of us.

Dh and I bought 2 leather sofas for £5k. We have a lovely deep, squishy leather sofa and decided to upgrade. Put the 10yo squishy one in the kitchen and decided to have leather again. Bloody awful 5k Italian designer thing. Slippery as hell. I don’t sit on it in the living room. Dh is the only person, who uses it. I sit in the kitchen. Irony is the leather one only cost us £500 as it was ex display and the company was closing for a refurb.

Further to my last posf. You are not alone.

Did you buy them online? Then you should be covered by the distance selling regs.

I did this a few years back. Desperately wanted a corner sofa and chose one I liked - it just didn’t work in our room and was no return and on finance. I managed to sell it on eBay for 2/3 of the original price (it was only a few weeks old) and then bought a new cheaper sofa which I’m happy with. It did feel like a huge waste of money but thankfully I didn’t lose too much.

If you’re willing to wait there are always other fools like me selling brand new sofas they can’t return. You could try selling yours and doing the same.