How to Find Quality Discount Leather Furniture

A few days ago, I posted some information on what discount leather furniture was and where it comes from. Once you know that, though, there is still the little issue of actually finding quality discount leather furniture. It is not always easy to do and once you find some leather furniture at a discount, you are still stuck with figuring out whether or not it is of high quality. To that end, consider some of these techniques for finding quality discount leather furniture near your home or even on the internet.

Compare Prices

First of all, you have to figure out what price point qualifies as discount when it comes to leather furniture. The price can actually vary depending on the market, the demand, and the furniture store competition in your area. So before you even worry about the quality of the leather furniture, find out where the price points are in your market; look at ads in the paper, watch tv commercials, check out local store websites, and visit the stores you think are most likely to offer the best prices. Be sure to not only compare identical items, but also like items since many stores intentionally avoid carrying the same brands or models as their competition (easy to claim lowest prices that way).

Ask Around

Aside from checking out leather furniture prices in the area yourself, you also should ask around. Ask friends and family who have purchased leather furniture. Additionally, talk with the salespeople at the stores to find out where the furniture comes from, and about what they know regarding their store’s pricing. If you find the right person and have the right vibe with them, furniture salespeople can be incredibly honest about what their store is doing (after all, it affects their income just like the store’s).

Once You Find the Prices

Once you have the pricing down, it is time to make sure the discount leather furniture offers some value. So how do you know if it is quality discount leather furniture? You ask, you test, and you research.

Ask:
Ask your sales person what type of leather is on the pieces. Top grain is all you should really want. No matter the finish, top grain is the thickest and most durable type of leather. Splits will wear faster and are generally considered to be a lower quality. The only exception would be if you get a top grain/split match piece where the lower quality leather is only on the sides and back of the leather furniture. These can work well if all else is good.

Additionally, ask about the frame (only hardwoods please), the warranties, and the brand.

Find out if you are working with an import or name brand. If it is a name brand, you can kick in your research. If not, it is not a sign it is bad, but you will just have to make sure you feel good about the piece.

Finally, ask about the return policy of the store. Whether it is online furniture or a physical plant store, the return policy will determine just how confident you are going to feel. Additionally, many stores do not mention the return policy unless you ask (in fact, we were not allowed or supposed to mention it where I worked).

Test:
Reach under the piece and feel the frame thickness. Does it feel thick and heavy? Also, pinch the leather and feel the thickness and durability of it. You can tell a lot about leather and wood both by simply taking the time to feel it and test it. Finally, sit on the piece, bounce on it a little, and see how the floor model looks. Remember, the floor model is a good indicator of what your piece may look like after thousands of sittings, jumps, and abuses by friends and family.

Click here for an article about shopping for a sofa. These same ideas apply to checking out your leather furniture.

Research:
If you are dealing with a name brand, research it online. Most furniture manufacturers have a website. Additionally, check out the store’s ratings online with a consumer site. A search on a company will often give you every negative comment or complaint they have gotten. Those “complaint” sites know how to market to google and you can bet the searches are easy to make. If not, drop The Furniture Guy a note and I will be happy to help with your research.

Hope this helps,
The Furniture Guy