So I Bought a Couch, but It Isn't Leather

hypie on 01/05/2017 - 23:23
Last edited 03/05/2017 - 06:43

Hey, so I just wanted to gauge opinions and get advice.

Backstory: I bought a couch from A-mart, initially wanted a leather recliner, but saw another couch with gimmicks and fell for it. I was told it was leather by the salesperson, and I probably wouldn't have bought it if I knew otherwise. I have not actually received the couch yet, since it was on backorder and they only just received stock.

Couch 1: $2300 - Real leather, electric recliner, neat.

http://www.superamart.com.au/alberta-57769/

Couch 2: $2200 - Endurocover (fake leather), electric recliner, electric headrest, power points and usb in the middle, cup holders.

http://www.superamart.com.au/millennia-57901/

Is leather really worth losing the gimmicks for? The electric headrest is actually awesome since it lets people with glasses adjust their heads appropriately.

Note: i got the 5 year insurance on both and they both have 10 year warranties.

What do I do? Should I ask for some kind of reimbursement for a blatant lie? (I was fairly confident she said it, but I asked the other two people that I was shopping with and they quoted the exact same thing). "It's 100% leather"… I get it mistakes happen but… no.

RESULT - So I went back and had a bit of a complain. The Alberta is Top grain leather (not full grain, but they advertise it as being 100% leather). I decided this would be a temporary couch and therefore worth the risk. If it breaks it breaks. I like the electronic functions and how they impact viewing/sitting in recline mode. Spoke to a guy there, he offered me another $100 off the couch (which was discounted already), plus gave me another $100 off a table I wanted to buy. He also said I could refund that smartcare product, i'm still tossing it up. I read the terms online and it has a lot of exclusion clauses…

Poll Options

  • 92
    Leather is life
  • 62
    Fake is fine
Home & Garden

Comments

      • JimmyF on 03/05/2017 - 22:06
        +1

        oh there is REAL leather, and then many levels of 'fake' leather.

        Real leather is reflected in the price. Thats for sure!

  • love2buy on 03/05/2017 - 19:03

    Denin couch from recycled jeans would probably last longer than fake leather.

  • Neptunesblood on 03/05/2017 - 19:48
    -1

    Both do not look comfortable at all for a long couch session.

    • ssx on 04/05/2017 - 20:10

      Disagree - millennia is quiet comfortable. I end up asleep on it.

  • frostman on 03/05/2017 - 21:24

    So your saying even the real leather one that says:

    Upholstered in 100% Leather

    is not real leather?

    So you bought the one that said:

    Leather-Look

    and you got scammed in someone telling you it's leather?

    • hypie on 09/05/2017 - 00:29

      You must be really popular at parties.

  • Sammyboy on 04/05/2017 - 08:34
    +1

    Leave the fake leather for the Vegans

    • SlickMarioPrancer on 05/05/2017 - 07:46
      +1

      Leave the leather for the proponents of animal cruelty.

      Leather is a great memento of killing a living thing. Knowing it was starved and without water in the last day or so (in oz), and often weeks in India.

      Funny thing is how many people have leather couches and say they love animals ? They should say love cats and dogs. Cows, pigs, sheep and chickens dont get the same love.

      • Sammyboy on 05/05/2017 - 08:39

        And encourage Pu leather manufacturing which is turn is extremely hazardous to the environment in regards to the phthalates which are added to make the material flexible, which eventually over time start to leech out, especially from exposure to the sun, and the dangerous solvents used in converting polyurethane into liquid form to paint it on the fabric backing. And when you decide to junk that PU couch, it is non recyclable. All that harms the environment which then in turn poisons all life, including humans.

        If you want to be 100% vegan, grow your own tree, cut it down and turn it into a bench with dried grass for cushioning

      • ssyl9 on 05/05/2017 - 13:07

        Funny thing is how many people have leather couches and say they love animals ? They should say love cats and dogs. Cows, pigs, sheep and chickens dont get the same love.

        I do love them as food.

        I love cats and dogs as companions and Cows, pigs, sheep and chickens as food.

        Knowing it was starved and without water in the last day or so

        There are more people than cows that starves more than a day without food or water. Why should I care more about Cows, pigs, sheep and chickens who are my food and in first world countries are even treated better than normal people living in poverty?

        those cows pigs sheep and chickens can be used to save people. Do you care less about people than cows, pigs, sheep and chickens?

  • [Deactivated] on 04/05/2017 - 09:15

    Not to be mistaken as a leftist, I do find high quality synthetic upholstery very appealing.

    I have a synthetic material used in my office for sanitary reasons. Exorbitant cost, but it holds its shape far better, does not wrinkle, breathes and is hydrophobic. Wouldn't be surprised if has goretex as one of the layers. Feels like leather, but looks nothing (nor attempts to mimik) like leather.

    And if I had the option to go Alcantara in my car, I would have. Scratches do not look as damning against Alcantara and I do like the feel of an Alcantara wheel.

    Bonded leather, OTOH, is as bad as cheap PU. The glue usually moves and when moist, smells like a combination of mould, glue and rotten jerky.

  • mreddie on 04/05/2017 - 12:52
    +2

    If it's casting couch you may need the added fabric protection

  • Shazam82 on 04/05/2017 - 13:16
    +3

    Quick story short. I bought a couch from Fantastic Furniture and they said it was leather. I looked after it, kept it out of the sun etc. After about 6 years it started to peel bad. I wasn't sure it was still under warranty or not so I rang up. It had a warranty of 5 years. Talked to a salesperson and they couldn't do anything.

    Called about two weeks later at another shop and they provided a full exchange on anything in the store. I think it must have been the ACCC breach but it wasn't mentioned to me.

    My advice is not to buy fake leather, it will peel and it's a waste of money.

  • Blackadda on 04/05/2017 - 13:50
    +1

    Most leather is some bonded hybrid… not many places sell real leather couches.. its all BS.

  • asianbargain on 04/05/2017 - 16:50

    Wow this is scary. I plan on buying 2 set of sofa at harveynorman . They sell real stuff right? Can i trust those sale person ?

    • rompastompa on 05/05/2017 - 09:54

      Just tell them you're a professional. Gerry will personally look after you!

  • lordezekiel on 04/05/2017 - 19:19
    +2

    $2000+ for a couch!!?

    My alternative:
    Second hand couch, $50-100.
    Recliner function? Use a cheap $10-20 foot-rest/poof instead.
    Electric headrest? Put a $5 pillow or u-cushion behind your head.
    Cup holders? Don't you have hands for that? haha No really, a small coffee table next to you perhaps.
    USB Charging ports? Just plug one into the wall nearby and rout the cable up neatly to a convenient location.
    Spend your remaining $1800+ on something, anything else.

    • ssx on 04/05/2017 - 20:16

      I'm probably going to get downvoted here, but:

      1. Using a foot-rest is not the same as a recliner. It tips the whole seat for comfort.

      2. Electric headrest - having a pillow slip around on a sofa is not comfortable and can be too high/thick for some people.

      3. Cup holders/USB ports - it's a home theatre sofa. Of course these things are for convenience…it's a couch for a home theatre and movie watching.

  • ssx on 04/05/2017 - 20:21

    Refund the smartcare pack and get few cans of scotchguard.

    You can contact scotchguard and get their advice on using it on "Endurocover".

    It's quite a nice sofa, and Harvey Norman are selling a VERY similar sofa for an insane price…was about 4 or 5 grand I think, and that is not even leather!

    At the end of the day, you did alright and got a few extra features that you like :)

  • AMLagonda on 04/05/2017 - 23:39

    DO NOT TAKE IT they are crap and will not last!!

    Ive had a cheap leather (Real) lounge for 20 years and my sister inlaw had one like you have bought and after 2 years is has fallen apart.

  • macrocephalic on 05/05/2017 - 09:43

    FYI: top grain leather is fine. It's unusual to find full grain leather in furniture as it's thick, hard to work with, and it's difficult to get large pieces with no imperfections.

  • paulojr on 05/05/2017 - 09:49

    Interesting conversation. I wish there was an easy answer.

    To avoid getting into technical detail the problem is the word leather can mean almost anything.

    There is what most normal people think it is, which is a hard wearing product and then there is what sales people and manufactures try to cheat and make it, which is some kind of paper with traces of the skin of the animal. (bonded leather)

    We went through a case with Babyhood who scammed us by selling glider chairs with a big label on the back saying leather and even providing "leather care" instructions. The chairs were made out of paper of some kind and if there was any leather it was put on using glue. (bonded)

    In this case we paid the price of leather but got something that lasted 13 months (just past manufacturer warranty!) The so called leather started cracking and eventually all the "leather" began falling off the chair leaving just the inner material exposed. Babyhood denied all liabilities and actually started threatening us when we tried to clarify the actual material to handle repair.

    Adriatic Furniture also sold us some dining chairs again at leather prices and eventually these are failing with the tell-tale signs of bonded leather, not as bad as Babyhood but definitely bonded underneath. Chairs are unrepairable as once the bonding starts to fail the material falls to pieces. You can see the leather skin in this case is wafer thin, maybe a half mil or less so repairing one spot would just lead to another tearing off.

    I guess my advise is first start by ensuring your paying leather prices. (not a guarantee but a good start)
    Then look for proof of the leather, if its real leather they will have leather colour packs showing the actual thickness of the material. If they haven't got this I'd walk away. Its again not proof but shows some evidence.
    Ironically we bought a couch from adriatic at the same which is real leather, but the dining chairs were fake. I don't think sales people have any clue what their company is making them sell.

    ozbargain should have a section on "guides" to various hard to pick products. Leathers definately a headache to buy if you don't have a trusted place you deal with.

  • Tonca77 on 12/02/2018 - 20:20

    OP did you end up getting the millennia?? I’m considering it but have reservations after reading reviews etc.

  • 11CENTS on 25/04/2018 - 13:25

    Op (and all)
    Is it worth to get Alberta (real leather)?
    I am considering to get the 2 seat version.
    https://www.amartfurniture.com.au/alberta-57766/

    Similar model in HN, difference in price that’s I have to pay is $1800.
    Is it worth to get Alberta instead (amart), or HarvNorm’s ?

    What I like
    - reclining function
    - leather
    - width (narrow)
    - 10y warranty on everything (if it breaks in 10y, then I’ll plan to get new one)

    What I dont like
    -no clarity what kind of leather that one is, therefore not sure how long it will last

    • hypie on 25/04/2018 - 14:22
      +1

      I ended up getting the Milenia, quality is great so far. It is fake leather, but no issues. I stopped caring about it (it's just a couch…) after a couple months, so the dog jumps on it now. No damage or scratches yet. Can't complain.

      • 11CENTS on 26/04/2018 - 07:56

        Thanks hypie.
        I am going to bite the bullet as thenprice seems to be reasonable enough and chair seems to be comfortable too!

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