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BUYING AT COSTCO - CAN’T GET PRODUCT INFO ON SOFTLINE

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I found your email address on the Web. I am looking into finding information out about SoftLine group leather furniture... a sofa/loveseat combination that I am looking at. It is being sold through the Costco membership stores, and they have little information about the product. Can you help? Please reply with a better phone number I could call you at. thanks.

Posted By Sean Boltman, 8/3/2001

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Replies

From Russell at Furniture World Magazine, 6/27/2004  3:58 PM

Dear Sean, I don't buy and sell leather seating on a regular basis and couldn't tell you if this is highly discounted or selling at MSRP. The description sounds good, though there are some things you don't know like the frame materials and the density of the foam. You can drive yourself crazy looking at a furniture purchase from an engineer's perspective... and really not know much more about the useful life of the piece. Buying furniture is much like buying a car. You can buy a Mercedes or a Passat. They both look nice but one is engineered better, is more luxurious and more comfortable. One has full grain leather and the other has corrected leather seats and one costs double. You are definitely not looking at a Mercedes here ($800 retail is a promotional price for a sofa) but if you like it, then you should buy it. I personally had trouble with an expensive leather that was not struck through with the same color. The pigmented coating rubbed off, leaving a grey middle and the sofa looked dingy. Since your leather has a corrected grain and may also have a heavy pigment coating, this may never be a problem. I posted your inquiry for additional response.  

From Sean Boltman, 6/27/2004  3:58 PM

Russell,  here. I emailed you yesterday about Softline Group leather furniture. Here is some information I found on the product (a leather couch in this case). Given the details below, what would be your opinion on the product. I have seen the product first hand. It appears nice, very soft hand. The product is a cream colored leather. The only concern I had was that on the showroom floor demo, there was a small slit and a small abrasion on the product. Looking at these, you could see white leather color (in the slit itself, and the abraded area), meaning the leather is not dyed all the way through. Should that be a concern? I thought I read about leather not being dyed all the way through as a lesser quality product. The product shows as a high quality product, and based on the description below, it looks like a quality piece. What's your options on all this (and I do !! appreciate your comments, I'm considering buying this couch and loveseat today... they are both $800 each (good value?) thanks! product details: Napoli Ice color Lightly corrected, top-grain, aniline leather finished in Italy Smooth, slightly textured finish High-density, polyfoam filled, overly padded cushions Extra strong webbing, laced side to side and front and back Precision cut frames Frame materials are glued, nailed and screwed together High back Curved arms Wood feet Dimensions: 91" W x 40" D x 40" H Weight: 204 lbs. Warranty: Limited one (1) year manufacturer warranty on frame, springs, and cushions One (1) year limited manufacturer warranty on the leather, except for fading and wrinkling. Dye lot match of leathers is not guaranteed Hand made in Italy. 

From Russell at Furniture World Magazine, 6/27/2004  3:57 PM

Dear Sean, Softline is an Italian import sold by containers to larger retailers. Like some promotional and medium priced import leather lines; providing product information has not been a priority (there are some exceptions). In general, these companies concentrate on style, price and image. That does not mean that their furniture pieces are poorly constructed or that they are not a good value, just that you probably won't be able to find detailed information on interior construction, leather grades and frames, foam or other stuffing materials. Costco sells bulk at low prices and you can't expect find the specialized product knowledge there either. You will need to concentrate on quality points that you can see. Check the stitching, dwell on the comfort, scale and style of the piece, the hand and softness of the leather. Probably that is the best you can do. If you need more information, a bit of product romance and after sale-service provided by the retailer you will probably have to visit a conventional furniture retailer or leather specialist. Good Luck.