Please help us make a decision about a sofa

10 years ago

We've narrowed down our choices for a sofa for the sunroom that will used as the children's TV room. We wanted something well-made, durable for our kids (ages 10 and 12), and a sleeper comfortable enough for guests (mostly my ILs). We like the C&B Allerton king sleeper sofa with chaise and the EA Bennett queen sleeper sofa with chaise. They are about the same price, but there are some differences.

C&B:
- Delivery in 5-6 weeks
- limited fabrics (we're "settling" on one that works in our space)
- 90" long which works better in our space
- Chaise is actually a storage ottoman that can be switched side to side. This means the long chaise cushion can be flipped over and not get worn out exclusively (you know how most people make a bee-line for the chaise in a sectional and tends to get worn out first).
- DH worried the cushions might wear out (our 3 year old Bassett sofa has that problem and it drives us crazy)
- I think it's the more comfortable of the two sofas
- made by American Leather
- sleeper is amazing (very firm, on flat planks)
-15% off until Labor Day ($3740)

EA:
- delivery in about 12 weeks (!)
- hundreds of fabric choices
- 110" long, which is almost overwhelming for the space but will fit
- chaise is permanently on one side, so chaise cushion cannot be flipped over and may wear out first
- DH thinks this sofa is more comfortable
- DH and I both feel the EA is the better made sofa (based solely on the tush test and reputation)
- sleeper is air mattress and very comfortable. It does feel like an air mattress, as opposed to the C&B mattress, which feels like a real mattress.
-Sales associate has yet to give email prices with our 3 fabric choice, but she verbally said it should under $4k depending on the fabric and currently running 10% off
- 15% after Labor Day

So we have to make a decision by Monday afternoon -
which should we get?

This post was edited by marthastoo on Sun, Sep 1, 13 at 10:35

Featured Answer

grlwprls

10 years ago

We have the EA Arcata sofa and I regret the purchase every day. We got all the most expensive cushion upgrades/options, and frankly, I don't think the sofa looks much better than the darn IKEA EKTORP we had when we were first married. Admittedly, my husband sprawls on it, but the cushions always look terrible. And they slide out of place very easily. I'm always having to fluff, turn, and stuff them back under the back cushions.

This is our second "grown-up" sofa purchase in ::cough:: five years. And I'm anticipating having to make another very soon. Granted, these aren't the most expensive sofas ever ($1800-2k range) but...it's disappointing.

We had one sofa during my entire childhood. One. And when my mother was finally tired of it, it lived in a cousin's house for eight more years.

I'm not asking for 25 years, but 25 MONTHS isn't too much to ask, is it?

So, I would shy away from an EA sofa where I could not flip and fluff the cushions.

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Comments (8)

User
10 years ago
That's a pretty penny to be spending and maybe I am a tough customer but for that $$ I find it disconcerting that you have not gotten a firm price from EA yet. I think that I like the style of the EA one better ( like the rolled arms but that is personal preference). I think the reversible cushions and the dimensions fitting better are scoring points for te CB one. (and the fact that you have gotten a price).
Sueb20
10 years ago
Just touching on a few things...a friend has American Leather furniture from C&B and just loves it. Has had it for 2-3 years and still looks like new. I have AL ultrasuede furniture (sofa in my house, sectional in beach house) and I also love both, in terms of comfort (which is obviously subjective) and the way the ultrasuede performs (I suspect that's not a fabric option at C&B).

I don't think EA's reputation is as good as it used to be. Just sayin.

You may regret a size that is "almost overwhelming" because if it seems that way before it's actually in the room, it may seem even worse when it's there. If that makes sense.

Not knowing your style or what the sofas look like, those are my two cents!
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marthastoo
Original Author
10 years ago
shelia - I know - the SA seemed swamped with customers but I did leave a message for her to get those numbers to me by tomorrow.

sue - Thanks for the feedback about the C&B sofa. I don't know anyone who has it, so it's good to know that it is holding up so well after several years.
Holly- Kay
10 years ago
Martha getting a price on Ethan Allen is easy peasy. Just go to their website, choose the Bennett sleeper sofa and customize it with your three fabric choices and you will get the price. Believe me I know their site inside and out. I was going to buy EA, but really got cold feet because of some bad reviews.
marthastoo
Original Author
10 years ago
Well, we just got the quotes from EA and let's say she doesn't know her merchandise costs. The quotes range from $5000 to $4400. I guess we're going with Crate and Barrel!
Holly- Kay
10 years ago
That is high. I configured the Bennett with a damask and it was less than three thousand.
marthastoo
Original Author
10 years ago
Holly - the quote is for a sectional - a three cushion Bennett queen sleeper sofa connected to a left arm chaise with air mattress upgrade.

Please help us make a decision about a sofa

grlwprls

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Please help us make a decision about a sofa

grlwprls

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