Normally if a local store is not competitive, there are one of two reasons: 1) The store owner has not adapted to current market conditions. Quite simply, as the profit margins move downward - and they have - they have not revised their business structure to capture sales that would otherwise go to out-of-area dealers. Some store owners insist on adhering to a margin-based price structure and will not adjust. The smart businessman NEVER lets a customer walk out to do business out-of-area. I know a number of store owners who are hard-headed and won't adapt. Its up to you, their local customer, to bring in a price quote and show them that they need to match it or you'll go elsewhere. If enough customers do that, they'll get the message. But if you never tell them, then they don't know. 2) Some furniture makers have a 2-tier price structure. Small stores don't get as large a discount from the maker as larger ones do. Typically its based on dollar-volume sold, or number of pieces put on the floor. So there is a chance that within a certain brand line that you local dealer is paying more for the goods than a larger, out-of-state discounter. This happens to me with Southwood Furniture as an example. My cost basis is 10 % less than the big store in the next county because they do more volume by accident than I do working hard at it. Still they get the volume price and I don't. Nevertheless, I adapt (being a savvy dealer!) and match price or go under them everyday. It results in thin margins, and it does not exactly make me want to invest in a lot of their product for the floor. Personally, I think it a bad policy from the makers as it tends to keep the little guys small regardless of how hard they work for the brand and limits floor exposure for their dealership network. Walk your best price into your local dealer and tell them in no uncertain terms they need to beat it. See what happens! Keep in mind however, that local sales tax is not something that your hometown store cannot waive and should be factored out when price shopping (the flip side of this is that these taxes do come back into your community infrastructure when you buy locally). Duane Collie

There are a number of manufacturers that manufacture on a component level basis,ie; the arms are bolted or screwed on to the seat/back during manufacturing. But this is only during manufacturing and was not designed for disassembling at the consumer level. Manufacturers will not honor a warranty when the consumer tries to disassemble. Many things can go wrong. A standard prong T-nut is most common connection at the base, which can easily be strip-out or pushed out of the frame. This would have to repaired by a professional or returned to factory. Their will other connections made at various other points along the frame which can be very difficult to see or access without removing the outside back or outside arm. I dont think this is a good recommendation to make. However their are some RTA upholstery available, most are cheap and very poor quality, not recommended at all. Some others that have very limited styling or choices, more expensive, offer a poor value compared to standard fully assembled sofas. I dont know of any that offer RTA or KD in a standard sleeper, because just about impossible to engineer and manufacture. Now you can buy futons that is RTA, but not always a good choice for most people. Best to measure twice and buy once.

Below is a listing of manufactures and brands who carry furniture upholstered in authentic Ultrasuedeî. Ultrasuedeî is also available at Design Within Reach�"Visit DWR Studios or go to the DWR website to learn more. American Leather www.americanleather.com Century Furniture www.centuryfurniture.com Cisco Brother www.ciscobrothers.com Classic Sofa www.classicsofa.com Creative Elegance www.creativeelegance.com DellaRobbia www.dellarobbiausa.com Desiron www.desiron.com Directional www.directionalinc.comm Design Within Reach www.dwr.com Elite Leather www.eliteleather.com Elite Mfg www.elitemfgusa.com Ethan Allen www.ethanallen.com Excelsior www.excelsiordesigns.com Fairfield Chair www.fairfieldchair.com Ferguson Copeland www.fergusoncopeland.com Hickory Chair www.hickorychair.com H Studio www.hstudio.com Isenhour www.isenhourfurn.com Jaymar www.jaymar.ca Kravet www.kravet.com Lazar www.lazarind.com Leathercraft www.leathercraft-furniture.com Linrene www.linreneinc.com Nathan Anthony www.nafurniture.com Norwalk Furniture www.norwalkfurniture.com Omnia Leather www.omnialeather.com Outer Limits www.outerlimitsinc.com Pearson www.pearsoncompany.com Rembourrage Re No www.mreno.com Sleepable Sofas www.sleepablesofas.com Southwood www.southwoodfurn.com Swaim www.swaim-inc.com Taylor King www.taylorking.com Thayer Coggin www.thayercoggin.com Weiman Preview www.weiman-preview.com W. Schillig www.world-of-comfort.de Zagaroli www.zagaroli.com

Mrykbee and pandtkendall, thank you for your replies. That's great you found what you wanted on Craig's List. Nothing better than getting what you like at a price you like. Pandtkendall that's great you enjoy your HM sofa and enjoyed working with Duane. Here's to many, many years of enjoyment. I am comfortable buying furniture from a distant company. Thanks for mentioning Duane. I will look him up. I'd love to travel to his store in the near future. I bought a Classic Leather sofa and recliner in 1987 from a company in Southern Pines owned by two fantastic brothers Miller and Cliff Barnes. I never met them and did everything over the phone The furniture has seen heavy use and three large dogs over the years. I love the leather but I'm tired of the style. The sofa still looks good but the recliner is aging. My husband and I used to sit in the recliner together and then our 90 pound dog would climb up on our laps. I took care of the furniture and faithfully cleaned it and moved the cushions around. Maybe around ten years or so I had new insides made for the cushions. The sofa sits right in front of a big window with lots of light. There isn't any sun damage. At some point I tried to kill the furniture using 409 or water and vinegar to clean it but didn't die. (Not cleaning products I'd ever suggest). I have no idea what type of leather but it's soft and indestructible. I realize today's leather will not be as good as the older leather we have but we want our next set to also be leather. Again, thanks for getting back to me..