I had a Hooker Office Armoire and then I purchased a smaller Ballard one - the Hooker was huge - for our rental. No question the Hooker was far better made - a piece of furniture that will last through generations. I sold it for only $500 less than I paid 5 years later. However, the Ballard is perfectly acceptable and has held up well. Certain things - like the desk surface - are looser after a couple years use. But the overall structure seems quite sound and the finish was very nice. I think the value of Ballard is that they really do have a selection of furniture that fits very specific needs. It s always possible to find a good furniture deal if you work at it - I got the Hooker at a place that sells all furniture at 30% or more off retail - the very same piece at Crate&Barrel was $1200 more than I paid. So The hooker was a much better value for my money. However, the Ballard was exactly the size and function I needed so it was also a value in a different way.

I've dealt with Ballard a lot, so here's my take on it. I've never had a customer service problem. I have been very happy with the mirrors I have bought, strictly from a design perspective. The "terrific tables" and glass tops are very good to fill in, although I prefer to use my own fabrics for cloths. I have never been entirely pleased with the quality of their fabrics. They have been either stiff and clunky, or gauzy and insubstantial on more than one occasion. The colors are not as clear and pretty as I'd like, which is a mark of cheap dyes. Some of the purely decorative things are nice additions to a scheme, but be careful of things that are a little over-designed...an extra curlicue, too much trim, that sort of thing. Some of the whimsical useful things are charming, and some are a little silly. I have not bought case goods from them - I find their version of traditional forms a little heavy and awkwardly proportioned - and have heard from others that they are probably not as sturdy as they might be for the cost. So I would say this...look very carefully at the pictures in the catalogue. You can see that some of their knock-off designs are more successful than others. Lots of good designers use their things to complete a look for a fairly small price.

I have a table from Ballard's and two Parson's chairs. The table I purchased about six years ago, and it is excellent value for money. Quality of the table is about a 6.75 out of 10--- good enough for its use. The parson's chairs seem to come from the one big factory where all parson's chairs are made---they all look alike and sit alike to me, unless they are from a fine furniture mfg. Everything has held up well, particularly the slipcovers for the parson's chairs. I've bought small accessories (pillows, mirrors, etc) from them over the years as their outlet shops are just an hour away. Anything I've ever returned has been replaced or refunded promptly. Overall I'd say they are on a par with Pottery Barn and the like, not fine craftsmanship but not junk, either, and as someone mentioned above, they're very convenient.

Someone mentioned complimentary shipping on an item of above average cost if you take into consideration how many items are in the catalog. For them to forego your shipping charges would not be a big deal as that cost could be absorbed on a few other customers. You're also upgrading to a more expensive fabric, so they've got to be making money on that also. While I enjoy looking in their catalogs, their shipping costs have always stopped me from ordering. I can only add, I hope your sofa is worth the extra charge.