Question:

Do sofa companies deliberately make furniture so that it falls apart quickly and parts cannot be repaired or replaced?

Dec. 19, 2020

 Answer:

15 years ago people expected their new sofas to last 8 – 10 years, according to an industry survey.

Sofa prices have not changed very much since that time. But the average sofa lifespan has been reduced to 3 – 5 years.

Price is the primary factor for most people in determining what furniture they will buy. This has resulted in cutthroat price competition among the major retailers.

• Fewer than 50 large retailers account for most U.S. furniture sales.
• These mega-retailers have tremendous power to dictate pricing to thor suppliers.
• Competition drives many furniture manufacturers to emphasize the outward appearance of new sofas.
•  Cost reductions are made on internal components that cannot be seen or felt, but affect overall quality and strength.

Most people seem to think that a sofa’s frame and foundation determine its durability. But those parts rarely limit the useful life of a sofa.

• Low cost sofa frames and foundations usually last 10 or more years with normal use.
• Many low priced fabrics (priced to manufacturers at $5/yd. or less) are extremely durable. With periodic cleaning and maintenance they can last 10 years or more.

Cushions are the component that most often limits a sofa’s lifespan.

Budget and mid-priced sofas are usually sold with standard 1.8 density foam cushions.

• 1.8 density foam cushions have an average lifespan of 3 – 5 years before losing their resiliency (ability to bounce back.)
• Once that occurs, the cushions flatten out and are no longer comfortable.
• Very few consumers replace worn out cushions.

Better quality (higher density) foam can last more than twice as long.

• Upgrading to 2.5 density foam more than doubles the cushion’s lifespan.
• The extra cost is around $5 per cushion (at the manufacturing level.)
• This translates to a $20 increase at retail.

Reclining sofas cost more and have an even shorter lifespan.

• Most popularly priced reclining furniture is made with non-removable seat cushions.
• Reclining seats wear out more quickly due to added friction when in use.
• Frames are less sturdy than standard sofa frames, while supporting far more weight.

Leather sofas can be especially wasteful.

• Real leather can last 20 years or more (and add several hundred dollars to a sofa’s cost.)
• Leather does nothing to improve the sofa’s overall lifespan if it has the standard 1.8 density cushions that wear out after 3 – 5 years.

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