Thomas Llloyd Lexington Sofa (Thomas Lloyd Lexington 3 Str Sofa)

Member Name: kappari

Product:	Thomas Lloyd Lexington 3 Str Sofa
Date:	21/09/08 (1913 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 21 day back guarantee

Disadvantages: Not seeing the sofa in reality

My sofa and chairs were way overdue for renewal. My last suite was bought over 10 years ago from DFS. They had removable covers and I have bought two extra sets since I first purchased the suite. The last time I bought covers was three years ago and the it cost me a whopping £800 for new ones!

They had 'gone again' so I thought I may as well buy a new suite as new covers would almost cost the same as a new one. Anyway it was really getting on my nerves - the cushions kept sliding off and there were lots of other annoying features about it.

I looked around the shops but could find nothing that I liked. I did a search on the internet and then I came across a company called sofasofa. I sent for a brochure from them. I liked the look of a leather sofa called the Lexington. It was a sofa made of leather but with fabric cushions. It looked good in the catalogue. I sent off for the samples. The fabric looked good and I liked the patterns.

I hummed and haaed though...as the nearest showroom is in Cardiff and I live near Manchester I felt it was too much of a trek to go down to Cardiff. I was reluctant to purchase the sofa without seeing it. How big would it be - would it look right in my room?

However I was finally swayed by the manufacturer's promise that they would give you 21 days to make up your mind. Iif it was not what you expected...also the price was very competitive for leather.

There was a sale on so I decided to go ahead. I liked the look of the Lexington sofa - it was leather based but had loose cushions in a darkish brown colour. (I don't particularly like totally leather suites.)

It boasted a non-tropical screwed and glued hardwood frame, heavy gauge serpentine steel seat springing , extalife fibre filled seat cushions, reversible seat and back cushions, hollow fill fibre back cushions and hand-studded front facings. The material would go really well with the rug I had in my living room.

Great I thought - this was just the sort of sofa I had been looking for. The cushions and the upholstery used won't show marks and the leather should be durable and easily cleaned and maintained. They also looked very comfortable and inviting. I felt that the sofa would provide years and years of use - yet look good and be comfortable too!

I ordered two Lexington sofas manufactured by Thomas Lloyd - a two seater and a three seater by telephone and also opted for the insurance protection for the leather and upholstery. I paid by credit card and there was a charge for this. The total cost was£1476 - not bad I thought for a 2 and 3 seater settee plus insurance.

After four weeks I was contacted with a delivery date. Unfortunately I was not at home when the sofa was delivered but my son 'saw the suite in. When I arrived home I couldn't wait to see it. I could smell the 'leather' as soon as I walked in the door.

The sofa looked good. The cushions and fabric were great. It took me a bit of time to get used to the new look in my living room. There were lots of cushions - in fact, too many. The sofa was extremely comfortable - very soft to sit on.

At first I was delighted with the sofa and, indeed, contacted them to order an additional armchair at a cost of £479 (which I have paid for but it has not yet arrived).

However, a day later I noticed several marks on the sofa...I became very anxious as nobody had misused the sofa ...just sitting on it - as you do with sofas...I began to think that I had done the wrong thing. Before I purchased the sofa I thought that leather was hard wearing and durable and that was the main reason that I had bought it...durability, easy to clean etc.. I felt that the leather was not 'up to scratch' to excuse the pun!!

In their defence, I do have to say that the sofas are well made and constructed and the range and type of sofas in their brochures and on their web site look superb quality. I guess it's just the nature of this particular type of leather... but I feel that I should have been told that it marks easily as I would not have purchased it with this knowledge.

Advantages of buying from Sofasofa

The manufacturer delivers direct to the customer at prices that are at up to 50% lower than the equivalent high street prices of similar standard furniture. There are no wholesalers, retailers or any other middlemen to pay. When you buy from SofaSofa you pay trade prices direct to the manufacturer free from any added overheads or profit margins.

All the furniture is made to order and delivered direct from their factories. This usually takes 4 weeks but if you wish a faster or slower delivery this can be arranged. However, orders for pre Christmas delivery and delivery can take 6 weeks.

All the products are manufactured in one of four workshops in South Wales by an expert team of craftsmen. By manufacturing in-house they maintain a strict control over parts and workmanship and also minimise potential transport damage.

Sofasofa are the oldest and largest direct selling furniture manufacturer and have been selling direct to the public for over twenty five years. They supply approximately 1,000 customers with new furniture every week. They were the first company to sell upholstery direct to the public by mail order and the first UK company to sell sofas via the internet.

All the sofas are stringently prototyped and tested to pass all relevant British Standards for General Domestic Use, and comply with current Furniture and Furnishings - Fire and Safety Regulations. In addition, all fabrics and interiors are sourced with durability and comfort in mind, and pass twelve independent British Standard tests (BS 2543).

You can order online (www.sofasofa.co.uk), by telephone or by fax. The website is easy to navigate. The 'Sofa Finder' has three lines for the main categories: size, cover type and brand. Within each line are options for sub-categories (e.g. 3 seater sofa). Click any number of option boxes to select the sub-categories you are interested in then click on the orange button 'Find Sofas' to display your search results. Select any number of options in one category line to display the products for all of those 'sub-category' options. For example, select '3 seater' and 'Chair' to view all 3 seater sofas and all chairs.

Sofasofa has the largest sofa range available direct from any manufacturer in the UK. With over sixty different sofa styles to choose from their range is designed to cater to the tastes and budgets of all types of customer ... from inexpensive sofas ideal for first time buyers up to the most opulent.

The despatch department will contact you at least one week before your delivery to inform you of the anticipated dates. The delivery team will then contact you to arrange a three hour delivery window. All furniture deliveries are undertaken by a two man delivery team who deliver the furniture to the room of your choice. Should you wish they will remove all packaging and allow you to inspect your new upholstery before they leave.

If your new furniture will not fit into your house they will take it back to the factory and offer you a refund or alternative size or model. If the furniture has been delivered into your house but you feel it is too big for the room or will not fit into the room of your choice they will collect it and again offer you a refund or exchange

Their Double Guarantee

1. You have three weeks from the day of delivery to change your mind. If, when your furniture arrives, and for whatever reason it is not what you expected, they will remove it and refund your money. Alternatively you can exchange to a different model, colour or size. You just need to write a letter of your decision to return or exchange the furniture within 21 days and they will organise a collection date. A collection charge of £25 is payable. However delivery and credit card fees are non refundable.

2. There is also a two year guarantee which covers any defect in manufacture and materials, allowing for fair wear and tear. In the unlikely event of a claim, they will collect, repair and return the furniture to you entirely free of charge.

Disadvantages

One of the problems about buying furniture without seeing it is that you can't try it out first. Also, should you have cause to change your mind it does cost for the delivery and there is also the hassle involved about being without a sofa / armchairs etc till the matter is sorted. Furthermore, the initial delivery charge and credit card fees are non refundable.

Summary: Lexington - lovely sofa but leather marks very easily.