What is an Ex-Display Sofa and What are the Pros and Cons?
You may have heard the word ex-display sofa but aren’t 100% sure of its meaning and the impact that has on the quality of the sofa. An ex-display sofa can be a great choice, particularly if you’re looking to stick to a particular budget but they do have limitations. Here’s our guide to what is an ex-display sofa and what are the pros and cons.
What is Ex-Display Furniture?
At Darlings of Chelsea, and any other furniture shop across the country, there will always be a wide variety of sofas on display at any one time, showcasing different styles, sizes and types of upholstery. A lot of people prefer not to buy online until they’ve seen the sofa with their own eyes and had the chance to sit on it. After all, this sofa will be a mainstay in your home for many years, so it’s important it not only looks the part but offers you a relaxing place to sit after a busy day! Each sofa is on display in-store for one season and at the end of that particular season, these sofas become ex-display and are usually available to buy at a reduced rate, meaning they often represent a real bargain.
There is usually a wide variety of sofas available in the clearance section at any one time. As well as sofas which have done their time in the showrooms and have reached the end of season, there may also be sofas that have been returned by customers. There are many reasons customers return sofas – they have chosen a corner sofa and upon delivery discovered it doesn’t fit the space properly. It may be because of a slight defect, which will always be clearly marked. Or it could simply be that the style proved to be wrong for their home. In most cases, the sofa could be almost as good as new.
What are the Advantages of Buying Ex-Display Items?
The main advantage to an ex-display sofa is the price. Sofas that have previously been on display can often be heavily reduced, sometimes to as little as half price or even less, for an item that is more or less identical to the full-price piece. If you’ve had your eye on a premium leather sofa but it’s out of your price range, you may find that sofa making its way to the clearance section at a price that’s now within budget.
Another advantage is that these sofas are ready to go. They have already been made and once they’ve been purchased, you can be relaxing on them in no time. When you buy a brand new custom-made sofa, these are handmade by expert craftsmen and inevitably take a lot longer to reach your home.
While you can never guarantee which sofas will be added to the clearance section, because sofa shops usually want to be able to show customers representative pieces from their whole range, there is usually a large amount of choice. Almost any model could potentially be available on an ex-display sofa sale, including some of the most high-end pieces that can be expensive brand new.
What are the Disadvantages of Buying a Sofa in an Ex-Display Sale?
One of the main disadvantages of buying an ex-display sofa is that it is not brand new. It may have a little wear and tear or fading from its time in the shop, where customers will have sat on it, it may have been moved around and some will have potentially been exposed to direct sunlight and may have faded ever so slightly. These all tend to be minimal and not particularly noticeable, but it is something to bear in mind. When looking at each sofa in the clearance section, it will explain if there are any issues with it, and it’s a case of deciding if this is problematic or doesn’t matter.
With ex-display sofas, what you see is what you get. You can’t choose that sofa and customise it with a different upholstery, so it does mean you are restricted to the sofa that is on display. Most display sofas are in neutral and widely popular colours, which can be a good thing for someone looking to buy one, but if you have your heart set on a bold velvet or a particular leather, it might never make an appearance in this section.
Another factor to consider is that it can be hard to buy matching sets, if that is what you want. An ex-display armchair may not have the matching sofa or a second armchair available unless you buy new, or it may even be in a range that is discontinued and so not available at all.
So, is Buying an Ex-Display Sofa a Good Idea?
In general, the answer is yes. Buying ex-display sofas can be a great way to get high-quality, designer sofas at a far more affordable price, and without any delay. They may have a little wear and tear, but they would get that in your home eventually anyway. You just have to be prepared to accept that you won’t have quite as much flexibility to choose options, sizes and colours for a given style of sofa.
If you do see an ex-display sofa that you like the look of, make sure not to take too long deciding. There is usually only one available and once it’s gone, it’s gone!
