dfs furniture - very poor leather suite - even poorer service

Paul_Varjak

http://www.fira.co.uk/techinfo/view/52/Consumer+advice+-+what+should+I+do+when+things+go+wrong%3F/00001.html

vivatifosi

Thanks for posting the link Paul. I've just got back off holiday and am very jetlagged, seems to have affected my technical ability!

redrabbit29

smcaul wrote: »

It shouldn't do once it is taken off the cow!!!

That is assuming it has been treated and tanned correctly!

Leather comes from cows?

slummymummyof3

We bought a suite from DFS 14 years ago and it was faulty. We paid £1500 for 2x3 seater settees. They were fabric covered and not leather and we paid extra for the 'Guardsman' stain guard. The suite was a terracotta colour and the colour lifted off on to clothing and when we had a spillage on it and the Guardsman rep came to clean it, the colour was stripped. DFS were completley useless - they blamed guardsman, guardsman blamed them, then DFS blames the fabric manufacturer and so it went on for 18 months. Nobody was prepared to accept responsibility. Then a further spillage occurred where it resulted in the colour being removed. The fabric was discontinued and so we could not have replacement covers for the affected area. Eventually DFS agreed to give us a full refund and we ordered a different suite which cost us £3,600 (2 and a half year down the line). DFS begrudgingly let us keep the suite until our new one was delivered. I had to threaten them with trading standards etc. I think they just hope that you will give up and go away.

Be persistent. Tell them how you want the situation resolved and don't be bullied into anything else.

vale46_2

we got a leather suite from DFS in Dec 06 within 5 weeks it had what appeared to be holes showing in the leather (colour peeled off) then it creased along where you put your arms when sat in the chair it got no heavy use just me/wife and daughter in the house.got to say there CS was good after a few visits and temporary repairs they changed the whole suite for no charge or hassle the new suite is not great not 2yrs old yet seating area arm area all sunk in it looks shabby to say it cost £1400 for a large 3 seater settee and a single chair.
The Quality of there product has something to be desired wont be buying at DFS again
Thanks

[Deleted User]

Agree - don't ever buy anything from DFS! We have nearly finished paying for them, we've had them nearly 2 years and they look completely rubbish.
The seats have sagged, the arm rests look non-existant, there is a tear in the seams which seemed to appear overnight for no reason and as we have moved house since, we are now stuck with dodgy sofas which are too big for our new room!
I wouldn't pay half the cost now of what they were worth originally. I don't think it will be long until we will get new ones, but it won't be from there in a million years!
DFS joins my list of companies to avoid! (DFS, Abbey etc...!)

vivatifosi

Just wanted to add some info to my comments above. Hopefully people will find these useful when buying a leather suite. I mentioned above that I am ex-furniture industry, but from the commercial side. I have no link to DFS (other than I too own their furniture and have also been firm with them and had them replace my suite free of charge).

First, look at the leather samples closely and make sure that they are the leather that is going to be used on your suite. If the leather is one colour on the leather side, and a different more natural colour on the suede side, walk away. A good leather will be dyed all the way through. Suites that are only surface dyed tend to use cheaper leather, and these are where a lot of the problems occur (see d.edna's post above about why black suites develop white patches).

Second, because leather isn't fabric, it is likely to include natural variations (such as scarring or differences in the grain). This is generally unavoidable, but should have been explained to you before leaving the store. Also, leather, depending on how applied and the stuffing, is likely to crease. Personally I like this, I think overstuffed shiny treated leather sofas look like they are made of plastic. However if this isn't to your taste, ask the store if this is going to happen to your suite and look at how the display model is ageing.

Finally, be very careful how you clean leather. Make sure that you get cleaning instructions from the store for your suite and follow these to the letter. If you get a mark or a stain, phone the store's customer services for advice before using a harsh material that may take off the protective coatings.

Hope this helps!

jenny-wren

I thought it was common knowledge that DFS sofas are rubbish. I've heard so many stories about faulty sofas, right down to them being stuffed with newspaper and cardboard - that's why they sag so quickly.

A shop that almost permanently has a sale on rings warning bells with me.

I hope you get a satisfactory result pursuing DFS to sort out the problem. I've had problems with companies in the past and my local Consumer Advice centre has always been able to help. I agree with 'vivatifosi' - it's definately worth getting the ombudsman involved. This link might help http://www.adrnow.org.uk/go/SubPage_43.html

Good luck.

Kavanne

My mum got her DFS sofas about 8 yrs ago and they have just about died a death.... Unfortunately she can't afford new ones until she downsizes so for now she's stuck with sofas she sinks into!

I am hoping my John Lewis sofas will last much longer than that....

d.edna

Kavanne wrote: »

My mum got her DFS sofas about 8 yrs ago and they have just about died a death.... Unfortunately she can't afford new ones until she downsizes so for now she's stuck with sofas she sinks into!

I am hoping my John Lewis sofas will last much longer than that....

8 years for a sofa is good