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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