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Original poster

Where to buy a sofa?

55 replies

stargirl04 · 14/12/2014 18:05

I wanted to buy a leather corner sofa at Laura Ashley, but when it came to ordering, the discounted price was £200 more than I was originally told it would be and this made me think twice.

I haven't written it off and am still considering it, but it's still nearly £2k after the discount.

In the meantime I went to DFS and saw loads of really cheap sofas in their sale for at least half and sometimes even a third of what I'd pay for the Laura Ashley sofa. There are two at DFS that I'm considering.

Has anyone bought sofas from either of these two retailers, and what are the sofas like in terms of quality? Will the DFS sofas fall apart after a year, and do Laura Ashley sofas merit the high cost?

I would, ideally, like to buy one from sofa.com but they cost a fortune and it doesn't look as though they have sales.

There's nothing I like at Harveys and Furniture Village, and Ikea sofas are really uncomfortable.

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
RojaGato · 15/12/2014 03:04

Sofa workshop winter sale is usually a pretty big discount. We got one 30 or 40% off last year and it comes with 10 year frame guarantee. We went in between Xmas and New Year last year so it should be on soon if it's not ona already.

Also looked at Sofas and stuff at the same time- their winter sale discount was about he same and some of their stuff has a lifetime guarantee.

DFS is a bit hit and miss I think. One friend has a great 3 seater/2 seater matching pair from them, really comfy and still going strong like 6 years later when they moved house and wanted different furniture so sold them.Other friends have got them and regretted it quickly as sofa went saggy.

SquinkiesRule · 15/12/2014 13:25

We just got a new leather sofa from Oak Furniture land. Super fast delivery and we love it.
They have corner ones too.
www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/page/sofas.html

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 15/12/2014 19:57

We bought a 3 piece suite from Sofa Workshop 9 years ago. Used every day, and the back of one of the chairs has just "given". I think they have worn well.

However, the service from Sofa Workshop was atrocious. We ordered in October, they delivered the wrong sofa, we then were given 4 or 5 delivery dates where we waited in all day and never received our furniture. They eventually delivered in May, 7 months after we placed our order.

I would never use Sofa Workshop again.

tb · 15/12/2014 20:35

There's also delcor. They have predominantly traditional styles, but compared with the sofa we have now, much much better quality.

queenofwesteros · 16/12/2014 11:32

We've two leather sofas from DFS. Absolute rubbish and I've deeply regretted not just buying them from Sofa Workshop (had two sofas from there and they were great). Customer service at DFS was fine but I would never buy from them again.

Original poster
stargirl04 · 17/12/2014 18:03

Thanks *queenofwesteros" and other posters - it seems DFS really is hit and miss.

Just can't decide what I want. Maybe I will see a fantastic sales bargain after xmas, which will decide the matter for me.

OP posts:
LBOCS · 17/12/2014 18:13

We bought our second DFS sofa 16 months ago (the first broke after 3 years). It's shockingly bad, the worst money we have ever spent. I'm in the process of replacing it with a sofa workshop one, which is costing almost 5x the price of the DFS sofa but so far I've had great customer service and I can already tell that it's better quality.

Original poster
stargirl04 · 17/12/2014 18:21

So yet another vote against DFS. Yes, their prices are great - but perhaps for a reason.

OP posts:
TalkinPeace · 17/12/2014 18:37

Ebay.
My sofa was second hand 13 years ago and I still love it
or Facebay
or Gumtree

good quality second hand is always better than cheap new

antiques are 4th or 5th hand after all Smile

ShesARumUn · 17/12/2014 19:55

Sofa.com are fab - I would really recommend them. If you can get to their warehouse in London you can see/try all their styles. Great customer service too.

Have also had M&S fabric sofas - very good quality and hardwearing, though maybe not the most contemporary of styles.

Mum2Pea · 17/12/2014 20:00

sofa.com here too.
bought ours 7 years ago and they have many years wear in them.
found the customer service brilliant and they even threw in free cushions of your choice.
they even have a large showroom now (was just swatch samples in a tiny office when i got mine!)
highly recommend

BananaPie · 17/12/2014 22:08

OP, I know someone with the dfs sofa you linked (the green sofa you said you want in brown). It's ok with one person sitting on it, but with two, you feel like you're sort of falling into a dip towards the other person. I'm guessing maybe it's not very well sprung or something? The overall effect isn't all that comfy.

MaraThonbar · 17/12/2014 22:12

Multiyork: in addition to their sales, some stores have clearance rooms with heavily discounted ex-display furniture and cancelled orders. If they have the size and shape you want then you can get custom covers made, and their after-sales service is excellent.

emeline · 18/12/2014 00:25

About buying a sofa from ebay. It seems like a great idea. Except you don't get to actually sit on it to see if you find it comfy before you pay for it.

Or do you make a private arrangement to do so? Or...what?!

My habitat sofa is lasting brilliantly. Did buy one from DFS but gave it to charity shop after a while. Just wasn't quite right somehow. A bargainaceous compromise that nobody ever really wanted to lounge about on.Xmas Blush ie a total waste of money..

ladybird69 · 18/12/2014 00:33

Had good sofas from DFS and sofa workshop (sofa sofa or sofa.com) in Wales, scs too. I usually do the lift test, if I can't lift it, it'll withstand kids etc. best one ever was from mfi!!! It lived forever lol showing my age there.

TalkinPeace · 18/12/2014 09:51

emeline
au contraire
with ebay you go to collect
you get to see and sit on the ACTUAL ONE before you hand over your cash

with an online company you have only actually seen the 'display model' not your own one

Apatite1 · 18/12/2014 14:18

We are probably getting one from camerich, but not until next year as house is not done. Not cheap but v comfy and fits the look I hope to achieve.

emeline · 18/12/2014 14:21

Is that right? I've never bought a sofa online and wouldn't, because I'd like to sit on it first!

If you win the auction, go round to collect, hire a van or man with man, then don't find it comfortable...Xmas Confused

Apatite1 · 18/12/2014 14:53

I'm with you emeline, I personally wouldn't risk it. Plus I like a nice new clean sofa I can mess up myself Grin

MagicMonday · 18/12/2014 14:59

Another vote for sofa.com here. Best sofa I've ever sat on.

Original poster
stargirl04 · 19/12/2014 02:25

Bananapie - thanks for that useful bit of info. I will avoid said sofa.

Thanks also to all those who recommend sofa.com - I'll mosey on down to their showroom after Xmas and have a sit down on a few sofas.

It's in Chelsea or Fulham, right?

OP posts:
Want2bSupermum · 19/12/2014 02:34

Buy 2nd hand as so much cheaper. We had an very comfy boconcept sofa that I got from someone relocating for $500. The same sofa new was $3500. Found out when we picked it up that it was 2 years old. We are now looking for an American leather sofa. The one we want is $6500 new and I found it 2nd hand for $800. I could easily afford to buy new but would rather save my money for fun stuff!

SunnyUpNorth · 21/12/2014 17:18

Another vote for sofa.com. Their customer service is amazing and they always throw in few cushions if you ask! We have two sofas from them, one is about 7 years old and the other around 2 years old. The original one (when the showroom was the tiny office mentioned above!) does have an annoying feature which is that the base cushions slide off a lot. I think this was a design fault as they then discontinued that style. When we bought our most recent sofa I mentioned that and they said that was why they discontinued it. It never happens on the new sofa which is immaculate and literally looks brand new even though it has a 1 and a 3 year old attacking it every day. I've also washed the covers on the older one and they've come out fine.

The warehouse showroom in on chelsea embankment, pretty easy to find but you do have to go up a lift or stairwell to get to it. The showroom is massive now.

One of the amazing things about sofa.com is that they offer a no quibble return if you don't like your sofa. I think you have up to 4 weeks. So if it arrives and it just doesn't suit your room or the material looks different on a grand scale etc they will take it back. They then sell these for massively discounted prices so you may get lucky on a virtually new sofa.

We also have a multi york near us which sells ex display etc for v v cheap.

SunnyUpNorth · 21/12/2014 17:23

Ps sofa.com sell some stuff reduced on eBay. If you search by sofa.com on there you should be able to find them. As far as I know it is all brand new, must be ex display or discontinued lines etc

hoping2016 · 24/08/2016 21:17

Hello

Can anyone advise me where to buy a sofa for our playroom it needs to be 140cm so a small 2 seater.

Budget approx £500. Would like something smartish as the room has glass doors to kitchen.

Thanks

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