Not bad for the money (Argos Rachel Metal Action Sofabed)

Member Name: sunmeilan

Product:	Argos Rachel Metal Action Sofabed
Date:	01/03/08 (1057 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reasonable quality, cheap, easy to clean

Disadvantages: Dips in the middle, looks like it is cheap

Moving from a studio flat in London into a three-bedroomed house that was half the rent in another part of the country was all very well, but apart from a few basic bits and pieces, I had to furnish most of the rooms. I managed to pick up most of my furniture second-hand, but decided to buy a new sofa bed so that friends don't have to sleep on the floor when they visit. Being on a tight budget, I did a lot of Internet research before finally deciding that this model from Argos was the best value.

Why Argos?
I have bought a number of items on the Internet from Argos in the past, and have always been very pleased with them. I also hate traipsing around shops and although I knew I was taking a risk by buying online without being able to judge the shape, size and colour myself, I still thought it was worth it for a hassle-free purchase. I did carefully measure my doorways to ensure that the sofa bed would fit through before I pressed the final button though!

The sofa bed had to be ordered, but was nevertheless delivered within a fortnight, which I thought was pretty good. Delivery was hassle-free, because it comes fully assembled and the delivery men took it into my room of choice and placed it, albeit still wrapped up, exactly where I wanted it.

Why this sofa bed?
There are a variety of models that Argos sell, all at various prices. Some are very much futon-style, i.e. wooden frames with a mattress, which I do like, but as I was planning to put my purchase in my sitting-room, I didn't think it would suit. I therefore opted for this one, which is basically a sofa-shaped frame with a high back and sides and containing a pull-out bed, topped off with six loose cushions. It looked very comfortable in the Argos catalogue, and I liked the choice of colours - I chose the chocolate one, but it also comes in wine and beige. The current price is £199.99, which I think is more or less what I paid for it a few months ago, plus another fiver for delivery. Three years' furniture insurance will set you back another £34.99, which I declined.

First impressions
I was generally pleased. The sofa is a two-seater, and can comfortably fit two people, although it is quite small and neat. I was a little disappointed with the colour and fabric to begin with though. The 'chocolate' fabric, which is 100% cotton, is two-tone brown - more like chocolate and a deep beige - and doesn't look anywhere near as nice as it does in the photo. I also felt that the fabric was a little cheap - hard-wearing, but the sort that you would find in an office or school, and wished that I had ordered a swatch of the fabric first. On the whole though, I wasn't expecting it to be anything special and it looked neat enough in my small sitting room. The bed was easy to pull out and seemed well-made.

A few months later...
I've generally been really happy with it. There has really only been one problem with it - and that is that it seems to dip in the middle, so that I would find myself sitting at an angle. I rectified this by putting a pillow underneath the two sofa cushions - at least I never need to hunt for a pillow now when I have people staying.

I have slept on the pull-out bed several times while waiting for a double bed to arrive. There is a thin mattress on top of the stretchy canvas frame and although it isn't as comfortable as a real bed, I've managed to sleep pretty well on it and so have my cats! It would be quite a squeeze for two people to sleep comfortably, although not impossible (width is about 1.75 metres), but the length, at over 2 metres is fine for all but a basketball-playing giant. When getting off the bottom end of the bed, the frame does give a sudden lurch, which gave me a shock the first couple of times it happened. However, I've found this the case with most camp beds/sofa beds and so far, it hasn't collapsed and doesn't look as if it is about to.

The bed is not supposed to be used on a regular basis - this is mentioned in the Argos catalogue - and so is probably not a good idea for someone who has a studio flat or bed-sit and wants to use it both as a sofa and a bed. However, as a sofa and occasional bed, it has done the trick for me.

I'm actually really pleased with the fabric. I have two long-haired cats and am used to having the whole house smothered in their fur. However, something about the fabric makes the fur collect into little balls, which are then easy to pick off. The fabric also reacts well to being wiped with a damp cloth, which is great - the covers on the scatter cushions can be taken off and washed, but the material on the frame itself can't be, so being able to wipe it down is very convenient.

Although I have another, larger sofa, I do tend to use this one most often and it is certainly very comfortable, provided the cushions are in the right place. It isn't long enough for me to stretch out on, but I can curl up on it happily enough, usually accompanied by a cat or two. The arms aren't wide enough for me to rest a cup of tea on, which may be a problem for some, although I'm quite pleased because it saves on spills.

Conclusion
If you are looking for quality, then you will probably want to look elsewhere. Although neat and functional, this sofa bed doesn't scream expense and quality. If, however, you are just looking for a sofa and an occasional bed, I don't think you can go too far wrong with it, especially at the price. And if you are concerned about not being able to see before you buy, some larger Argos stores do have shop models. It is also possible to get Argos to send you swatches of the fabric in advance of purchase. Recommended.

Summary: Functional, cheap, reasonable quality