Suzanne O’Connor’s Bargains LA

Researching Matters

On days when I have to do research, I have learned how to dig for information without letting on what I am doing.

I tend to look around a boutique, warehouse or store for a bit, checking out product and pricing. If I like what I see or if I am on the fence about how good this spot is, I then strike up a conversation by asking a question of the sales clerk, manager or if I’m lucky… the owner.

These unassuming conversations can tell me a great deal about a store pretty quickly. I can surmise if they understand the product, if they are honest and how they treat their customers. If I press further I can ascertain how they get their product and why it’s there at a discount and if the discounts are real. If I like what I hear I let them know what I do and move on from there.

Last week I researched a bunch of stores. One furniture store felt iffy to me, even though the pricing was good. I asked the sales clerk (manager/ owner) about a specific sectional I was interested in at $1100.

“ Is it leather?” “Yes” was the response. So I pressed further… “All leather or just the cushions?” “All genuine leather” was the response. So I went and sat on it, examining it and then asked, “What kind of leather?” “Cow leather”, he answered. “Really… cow hide? I asked. “No, no, that’s bonded leather.” “ What’s bonded leather?”

He went on to explain that bonded leather is. It’s a reconstituted leather made from leather scraps combined with other products (mostly vinyl and polyurethane). It is then sprayed on a fabric base to make it strong enough for upholstery.

Then he tried to sell me the sectional in leather hide cushions with vinyl backs at a substantially higher price, like $3200.

Basically by pressing the issue, I was able to find out that he didn’t own up the absolute truth until pressed for it. A novice would have thought that bonded leather is genuine leather and it is not.

Bonded leather has a place and is perfectly reasonable on a piece of furniture. But it is not really leather. Not getting the absolute truth misleads the customer in thinking they are buying a higher quality piece then they are.

I took their business card and then left pretending indecision on the piece. He never knew why I was really there.

If you want to educate yourself about bonded leather, check out these links:

www.wisegeek.com
www.ehow.com
www.furnituretoday.com