Recliner

[Common Sense Al]

What's the best way to buy a decent recliner? Remember, I'm frugal and want a good deal (which means good quality & good price, not just cheap )... I saw some at Costco for around $400 and they seemed nice enough. I wouldn't want to pay much more than that.

Thoughts? Comments? Advice?

Thanks.

[YellowRose]

Try Weir's, Charter Furniture or even Craigslist.

[Pipeline]

Al,
You didn't mention if you were after new or used. I would try the CCA. You could probably snag a decent microfibre, herculon or possibly even a good leather Lazy Boy (maybe with a couple of strips of duct tape attached) for 30 or 40 bucks. CCA is a good place to save some dough redoing your wardrobe or interior furnishings every couple of years. Most local muni's have their curb pick up first Monday of the month, where you can pick up a free recliner, love seat, mattress, or the errant couch, if the rain hasn't gotten to it yet ( although my mother-in-law says sleeping on a used mattress is like wearing used underwear.) I ignore her on both counts. Can't beat a recliner with the butt spot already wallowed out for you.
Otherwise, definitely, Craig's list.
Sometimes you do have to argue with the MRS. on "what were you thinking", when you pull it off the pick up and roll it in the front door.

Hope this helps.

[Common Sense Al]

Hope this helps.

Thanks... Having a butt spot already wollowed out is tempting, but I'm leaning toward the Costco recliner. Just checked it out again today and it is very nice. No butt spot, but I can wallow out my own custom-fit butt-spot over time. Went to La-Z-Boy today too... nice stuff but much more expensive. The Costco one is $400+tax and "top grain leather".

I looked at Craigslist but didn't see anything I was interested in.

[Pipeline]

The Costco one is $400+tax and "top grain leather".

Make sure the Costco leather is "top grain" American or Argentinian leather, and not Italian leather, which is half again as thick (the Italian cows are raised on crepes, cheese and cheap red wine). I heard it is difficult to totally remove "mad cow" disease from Italian leather. I bought one of those, and after three years of my mother-in-law sitting in it (uncomfortable butt wallow), she's nuts, and I blame the recliner.
There is a place out West of Denton, Rustic furniture, that I think sells a nailbutton leather recliner, with a real pair of Longhorns, attached to the top. Good bet it would be tried and true American leather, then remove the horns and attach them to the hood of your 1972 red Eldorado convertible.

[Common Sense Al]

There is a place out West of Denton, Rustic furniture, that I think sells a nailbutton leather recliner, with a real pair of Longhorns, attached to the top. Good bet it would be tried and true American leather...

I would bet that it's all made in China.

[Rosemary]

Al, do you get the Sunday Dallas Morning News? There is an ad flyer in every Sunday from Kroger Marketplace. They sell furniture and household items at attractive prices. I haven't been there. The nearest one to us is at Alliance Town Center. They have an ad today for a recliner that says "Signature Design by Ashley Gambler Recliner, save $300. The comfort you deserve for a price you can afford." $199.99 with Kroger Card. It looks like leather, but it doesn't say if it is or not. Kroger Marketplace must really be cheap because they advertised something today for $5.00 that I bought a couple of months ago at Fry's for $10, same item, same brand. Has anyone been there? If so, what's it like?

[Common Sense Al]

Al, do you get the Sunday Dallas Morning News? There is an ad flyer in every Sunday from Kroger Marketplace. They sell furniture and household items at attractive prices. I haven't been there. The nearest one to us is at Alliance Town Center. They have an ad today for a recliner that says "Signature Design by Ashley Gambler Recliner, save $300. The comfort you deserve for a price you can afford." $199.99 with Kroger Card. It looks like leather, but it doesn't say if it is or not. Kroger Marketplace must really be cheap because they advertised something today for $5.00 that I bought a couple of months ago at Fry's for $10, same item, same brand. Has anyone been there? If so, what's it like?

No, I don't get the DMN. Kind of hard for me to attach "Kroger" with furniture. $200 sounds pretty cheap so I doubt it is as good as the $400 one from Costco that I was planning to get.

I did try try looking it up online but I couldn't find it. If there is a link with the ad, can you post it so I can take a closer look?

Thanks!

[Rosemary]

There wasn't any link, but I found the weekly ad on Kroger's website.

http://krogersouthwest.mywebgrocer.com/ ... 00/Other/9

[Bacchus2b]

Al,

I was a Furniture Buyer for Foley's back in the day and I can tell you that most of the "motion" furniture you see out there is made in China. I wouldn't focus so much on the country of origin but on the Warranty of the mechanism, and can you go back for service if something goes wrong? Check out a retailer like a La-Z-Boy store where they might have floor samples they are willing to discount to move. Floor samples take up a huge amount of inventory dollors and the stores like to move on them when a style is discontinued. I bought a $300 leather recliner from Conn's six years ago that's still going strong.....

[Common Sense Al]

There wasn't any link, but I found the weekly ad on Kroger's website.

http://krogersouthwest.mywebgrocer.com/ ... 00/Other/9

Thanks! It certainly looks nice from the photo... but I found a link that says it's "leather-like Vinyl" (I'm pretty sure it's the same recliner (http://www.colemanfurniture.com/gambler ... cliner.htm)). It only has one year warranty on the cushioning. I'm kind of skeptical of such a low-cost recliner (yeah, I know they say the regular price is $500, but furniture is often marked way up so they can give you the "great discounts").

At this point, I've decided to go with the Costco one as I think it is a good price for what you get and comes with the great Costco return policy... unless something really "amazing" shows up before I buy it later in the week.

[JKTex]

Copied, not my words.
- Top-grain leather is the second-highest quality. It's had the "split" layer separated away, making it thinner and more pliable than full grain. Its surface has been sanded and a finish coat added to the surface which results in a colder, plastic feel with less breathability, and will not develop a natural patina. It is typically less expensive and has greater resistance to stains than full-grain leather, so long as the finish remains unbroken.

A lot of places, like World Market that promote their leather furniture is actually bonded with vinyl, yet they seem to be very proud of it, even on sale. I guess they're going for that exotic angle and people fall for it.

Top grain for $400 may not be a bad deal at all, as long as the chair itself is solid.

[Common Sense Al]

Al,

I was a Furniture Buyer for Foley's back in the day and I can tell you that most of the "motion" furniture you see out there is made in China. I wouldn't focus so much on the country of origin but on the Warranty of the mechanism, and can you go back for service if something goes wrong? Check out a retailer like a La-Z-Boy store where they might have floor samples they are willing to discount to move. Floor samples take up a huge amount of inventory dollors and the stores like to move on them when a style is discontinued. I bought a $300 leather recliner from Conn's six years ago that's still going strong.....

Thanks... yes, I figured most furniture, as everything else, is made in China now. I did check out La-Z-Boy and asked if they had any recliners they needed to rid of but the cheapest was over $500 and it was microfiber. I could go store-hopping trying to find a deal but I don't see it being worth the time & trouble.

As for the warranty, one of the benefits of Costco is their return policy... I'd hate to have to return it, but I know that I can if I need to.

I'd post a link to the Costco one, but they don't seem to have it on their website, just in store.

[Common Sense Al]

Top grain for $400 may not be a bad deal at all, as long as the chair itself is solid.

Yep, I didn't think it was the best quality leather, but definitely up from "bonded leather"... and for $400, I don't think you can complain. Hopefully it is pretty solid... Costco usually carries decent stuff.

[JKTex]

Top grain for $400 may not be a bad deal at all, as long as the chair itself is solid.

Yep, I didn't think it was the best quality leather, but definitely up from "bonded leather"... and for $400, I don't think you can complain. Hopefully it is pretty solid... Costco usually carries decent stuff.

Keep in mind, the "best" is probably full grain and you don't see much full grain used in furniture or car seats, and when you do, it usually doesn't get cared for like it needs to be, and it's expensive. Look in a lot of Ford King Ranch Super Duty trucks and see how bad the full grain leather seats looked because they sounded and looked great on the showroom.

According to the blip I posted above (from Wiki) top grain is 1 step behind full grain, and is what I think the majority of good leather furniture is made from. It's more comfortable and doens't need near the care to keep it healthy.