Leather Sofa Problems!

[Saint]

I bought a new leather sofa from a show room in Singapore which was delivered on the 16th December 2008. It cost a few grand so wasn't cheap. Over the last couple of months the leather has basically distingerated, literally falling to bits. Mrs S called up the shop's customer service (haha) and they quoted me $600 plus to get it recovered with the same German leather or $900 for better quality Italian leather. I then get on the blower to them, that soon got their attention, and stress that the leather is obviously sub standard quality and I'm not prepared to fork out to get it recovered. I persuade the manager to come over and view the state of the sofa which he did yesterday. He's just called Mrs S and said they would recover with the German stuff for $350 as that's the cost to send it back to Malaysia or $900 for the Italian leather.

Now I don't think I should have to pay to recover the leather that has only last just over a year?! I going to ring the manager tomorrow and tell him that. If he refuses to budge should I consider small claims court?

Some poor local manager is going to get a right ear full tomorrow!

[durain]

did you feed your sofa with leather food?

[Saint]

did you feed your sofa with leather food?

Yes, the stuff they sold us!

It's literally just worn away/come to piece where one plants one's arse!

[durain]

that is bad. yeah, you got a good case especially you been feeding the sofa with the food they sold you! make sure you mention that when you give them a mouthful because the bottom line is, the leather should last you a lot more years than that.

[Saint]

Here are a few pics that show just how bad it is!

[cbavasi]

we had the same thing happen with our leather dining chairs but they were 4 years old. i was convinced i'd been ripped off - but when i went to purchase new chairs i talked to the guy a really long time about leather, types of leather and living in this climate. what you (and we) had are treated leather (he used a fancy name - but basically it's a thinner hide that they treat with a sheen). that type of leather should last 4 - 5 years in this climate with treatment. a thicker non-treated leather should last a lot longer (if not forever). you should definitely try and get a return - or exchange or something as they should definitely have held up longer than they have. or if they agree to cover - have them cover in a thicker hide.

[Saint]

Update.

After numerous calls speaking to various people we finally came to a satisfactory agreement with the shop. I finally had to threaten them with SCC and it was only when the top boss found out that he call us and understood the seriousness of the situation and he wouldn't stand a chance in SCC.

The funniest arguement I had with the customer dis-service girl was when I enquired how long it would take to repair, she said 3 to 4 weeks. I then wanted to confirm that they would provide a temporary replacement sofa, she said no

Well at the time that was the final straw and I calmly told her to forget it and I'm off down to the SCC to register a complaint!

Finally the top boss called and he agreed to replace leather totally free of charge, ok we're getting the same leather but they assured me that they haven't seen this degrading before . Also got a one year warranty and free replacement if same happens again.

Well they came and picked up the sofa last Thursday and as promised provided a temporary sofa.

Moral of the story, stick to your guns and demand what you expect and if that doesn't work threaten them with SCC.

[missis]

I recently bought a good-quality leather sofa so was interested in this thread. Noone advised us to "feed" the leather! What is this "leather food"?

[sundaymorningstaple]

It's a cream/polish, for want of a better name. Basically is a cream containing lanolin which is good for leather and keeps it moist and also is a water repellant of sorts. Great for boots.

[Strong Eagle]

It's a cream/polish, for want of a better name. Basically is a cream containing lanolin which is good for leather and keeps it moist and also is a water repellant of sorts. Great for boots.

Or mink oil is also a good treatment. Know you can get it at shoe shop at Tanglin and Lucky Center.

[sundaymorningstaple]

That's the stuff for my Red Wings!

[Strong Eagle]

That's the stuff for my Red Wings!

Also good for leather hats.

[ksl]

I had the same problem, fell to bits in the second year, we had extended warranty and they said they had discontinued the model, they offered us 1500$ to buy a new one in their shop, and i told them to stuff it. I'll see them in court first.

Found the receipt 1 month before the 3 year extended warranty ran out and went after them.

I joined CASE for 35$ and they made contact, they said it cost to much to have it repaired at 2800$. I said where you have it made I doubt if it cost more than what you have offered me, so you can make me a new one!

I want a new sofa, the exact same, but not with that skin. It hadn't been tanned correctly. They tried all ways to say it was my fault for using the wrong polish. I produced a free leather test from HSA, to show them what i meant, about bad tanning. Tanning strengthens skin, not weakens it!

They eventually caved in and had one made specially for me, and i went down to choose the leather and i paid nothing.

35$ was well spent, I only have to show the card, when they are trying to rip me off and they don't want to know! I took a watch in for a new 3$ battery, and they tried to bill me for 70$ for a new strap and the back of the watch, it was a heart monitor watch and sweat had rusted something away....No chance I said, all i wanted was a new battery, I said I am a member of CASE and you are not the first people I have dealt with. We settled for 10$

You have to be real careful out there, there are some pretty cool tricksters. Jokers too! The delivery driver told me i was the first to get a free sofa, the rest took 1000$ to spend in their shop. I did get excellent service at last, though too late for me to shop there again.

[Daveyap]

What you guys bought is not real cow leather but PU Leather. It is pretty obvious from the photos that you guys provided that the polyurethane protective backing has deteriorated and the thin leather skin of dubious quality cannot hold up to the constant use any longer. PU Leather( Bi-cast leather), bonded leather and synthetic leathers are not real leathers and cannot last more than 2 years especially in tropical climates.

I am extremely careful when I buy leather furniture and goods now because of the huge influx of fake leather stuffs in recent years that is being dumped on the non suspecting consumer.

[longstebe]

Ksl, what is CASE all about?