# Is there a better way to buy a couch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 30, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092 "2015-09-30T23:34:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/22 "2015-10-01T21:43:17Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > We bought a fabulous leather couch off craigslist for $75, original price $2500 (they still had the receipt.) it’s worth a look. Lots of people don’t want to move furniture and get rid of great stuff for very cheap. I would be worried bringing home unwanted company hiding in the couch . ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/23 "2015-10-02T00:54:44Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > I would be worried bringing home unwanted company hiding in the couch . I guess, but it came from a very posh house in a very expensive neighborhood. I know bedbugs don’t discriminate, but the couple who sold it to us were super nice and I believe they would have thrown away a couch infested with bugs before they would’ve cursed us with them for $75. I sold a sofa on CL, and it was also clean. I’ve gotten tons of fantastic deals on Craigslist, and never once had a problem. I think people who are paranoid about it are missing out. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/24 "2015-10-02T03:29:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > That site has such good customer service, too. Their return policy is one of the best. But don’t tell **singular1**. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/25 "2015-10-02T08:54:58Z")
There are some online-only furniture companies. [Made.com](http://Made.com) is one, and I guess if you Googled for that then you’d get suggestions for other online furniture companies, possibly better results than just Googling “online furniture company.” > [@purplehearingaid](#): > > I would be worried bringing home unwanted company hiding in the couch . It’s not as much of an issue with leather or faux-leather couches, though. ---
**Author:** ![duncs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@duncs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duncs)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/26 "2015-10-02T08:56:23Z")
My advice for buying a new couch is to go to a store with a book, find one you like the look of and sit on it. Then sit on it more and read your book. If, after a chapter or two, it’s still comfortable, buy it. The worst thing I’ve ever done is to buy a couch on looks alone. Now I’m stuck with the back breaking, ass sinking thing ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/27 "2015-10-02T14:24:44Z")
Just two weeks ago we bought new sofas. For our use, we couldn’t imagine buying something without sitting on it first - and we buy quite a bit online, including side furniture (tables, benches). There is an area close-by with 4+ name-brand stores, and spent a long afternoon going back-and-forth narrowing down the choices. Surprisingly (to me, at least), Macy’s Furniture had the look and feel we wanted in an American-made sofa with a 7-year (add-on) warranty cheaper than Rooms-to-Go. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/28 "2015-10-02T18:15:05Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > If price is the object of concern here, and you aren’t picky about the style, color, or fabric, etc., then you could check out the thrift stores. They usually have sofas at bargain prices. There are also furniture consignment stores which have a better selection than thrift stores, and usually have better quality product. And they are more likely to check for visitors. Bedbugs don’t respect class. I know of two cases, one at Berkeley and the other at a high class hotel. If I were buying used furniture I’d prefer to buy it from someone who knew what they were doing and wanted to preserve their reputation. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/29 "2015-10-03T09:24:35Z")
Furniture stores and online vendors tend to be a disreputable lot. Some will take your money and never deliver, and perhaps move away. I had this happen the last time we went shopping and went through a big legal hassle (though I did eventually get money back from my bank). A friend who is way better at managing things than I am told me that when he buys furniture, he doesn’t pay the store outright, but puts the money in escrow for them. This fixes situations where buyer and seller are both untrustworthy as far as they know. Apparently the furniture business is aware enough of its own problems that they will go along with this, if they do really intend to deliver. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/30 "2015-10-03T13:57:35Z")
[ol] [li]Go to IKEA[/li][li]Choose between Ektorp, Knoppaarp, Kivik, etc[/li][li]Go home with a new couch[/li][li]Some assembly required[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/31 "2015-10-03T16:59:33Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Their return policy is one of the best. But don’t tell **singular1**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/32 "2015-10-03T17:05:09Z")
> [@duncs](#): > > My advice for buying a new couch is to go to a store with a book, find one you like the look of and sit on it. Then sit on it more and read your book. If, after a chapter or two, it’s still comfortable, buy it. > > The worst thing I’ve ever done is to buy a couch on looks alone. Now I’m stuck with the back breaking, ass sinking thing. . :mad:All I have to do is remember my old futon, and I’m right back in that hell. Very good advice. And thanks, **Raza** , I will try Macys. They were on my list of places not to shop a few years ago because I was boycotting all things that put money in Trump’s pocket, but I’ve come to realize it was a pointless gesture, so I’m over it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/33 "2015-10-03T17:11:22Z")
Not only is it a pointless gesture to boycott Macys because of Donald Trump, it’s unnecessary, as Macy’s ended the relationship over the summer. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/34 "2015-10-03T18:47:25Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The problem with upholstered furniture is that you can’t see how it’s constructed. So you could, in fact, be looking at two sofas that appear identical but have vastly different prices, because one is poorly built while the other is sturdily built out of a solid wood frame. The cheaper one might be fine for a few years, but will probably be ready for the landfill after that, while the expensive one might be worth reupholstering and keeping for decades. What’s worse, honestly, is that it doesn’t go in the landfill, it just spends ten years being uncomfortable and looking like shit. On the other hand, OMG, reuphostering is expensive. Its takes so much fabric, and so much skilled labor. You can by a pretty nice couch that will last ten years for what it costs to reuphoster. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/35 "2015-10-03T19:09:55Z")
I’ve never had it done. Any idea what it costs to reupholster a typical sofa? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/36 "2015-10-05T04:22:16Z")
There were two ‘wholesale to the public’ shops which existed as only word-of-mouth. Very small ‘showroom’ but lots of catalogs (1980’s). You made your selection, paid the price, and they told you when the product arrived. You were expected to arrange (and pay for) delivery. Of course, they had business cards from moving companies and could give you the phone number. May have to google the company name I remember - see if anything shows up. But I prefer to remember them as a pleasant memory - now know better than to look up people and places I remember fondly. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/37 "2015-10-05T05:28:29Z")
If you buy a used pull-out sofa, remember approximately 27% of them have a dead body in them:eek: Always **visually** check; thanks Fabreeze.😃 [http://www.mandatory.com/2012/06/18/why-you-should-always-check-under-your-hotel-bed/](http://www.mandatory.com/2012/06/18/why-you-should-always-check-under-your-hotel-bed/) I saw it in Snopes so it’s true. > **[The Body Under the Bed](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-bawdy-under-the-bed/)** > > A vacationing couple staying in a foul-smelling motel room later discover a body hidden under their bed. ---
**Author:** ![ardecila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@ardecila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ardecila)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092/38 "2015-10-05T07:08:42Z")
> [@singular1](#): > > So our couch is gone and we need a new one. Long dramatic backstory, not important. So we need to buy a new one. First impulse is to go to a furniture store etc. but times being what they are - is there a better way to find a new couch? If you need a new couch today, your options are pretty much furniture stores and Craigslist. Depending on what city you live in, you might have some unique stores that sell upscale stuff or used stuff. Online ordering is a possibility, but it’s not like ordering a book off Amazon - assuming the retailer has the couch in stock, the couch would probably need to be shipped by LTL trucking and might take a few weeks to get to you. Some of the larger furniture companies have their own national delivery service. I’m required to mention this because it’s a cool idea: [Interior Define](http://www.interiordefine.com/) in Chicago offers semi-custom furniture you can order online, and the prices are pretty good for the quality IMO. The issue there is time, as the order can take up to 12 weeks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-way-to-buy-a-couch/733092.md?page=1)