cybermirage

joyp, can roughly tell me what the article is about? any contacts, etc? I don't have sunday times.... thanks

Living Instinct has already verified from the photos I've sent them. Just that the warranty is over and the options were given to me as per my first post. To them it's just natural wear and tear. I'm trying to see if I can establish that they have sold me a "fake" product and hence accountable for compensation. Under normal usage, a real full leather sofa would not deteoriate within 2 years and during the sales it's definitely not PU or PVC that they claimed to be selling me...

Hi, is there anywhere I can have the leather sofa checked to certify what kind of leather is it? Does anyone have any experience to share, do we have to just accept this is a bad buy and do nothing about it? Thanks

Hi, just to share my experience and to seek advice from the forummers here... 2 years back, in Jul 2008, I bought a $1500 2.5 seater full leather sofa from Living Instinct (a.k.a I Vivi) at IFC, Sungei Kadut. The leather was warrantied for 1 year. Back in Dec 2009, about 1.5 years after the sofa was delivered, the leather condition started to deteriorate in certain areas, discoloring and cracking of the leather. Over the next few months into 2010, the leather surface started to peel and eventually flak and literally fall into pieces. Basically, pieces of leather fall onto the floor with everyday of usage. I called up Living Instinct only recently to enquire what are my options. According to the person, their management has reviewed and I was given 2 options : 1) Redo the sofa with full leather wrap with a higher grade leather that would cost $1200. Only the wooden frame will remain unchanged; 2) Choose a new sofa "up to 70%" discount depending on the model. I don't intend to take up either option but I also did not negotiate with them further. I only confirmed with them whether these are the only options I have. I don't even know if it's genuine leather, but I guess not. I thought leather sofas were made to last? Seems to me like a gimmick to ensure customers keep coming back. I think a few of the forummers have similar experience with this or some other furniture shops. Do I have a case with CASE or Small Claims Tribunals? Moving forward, what are realistic options for me? Thanks for any advice. Here's some images on the sofa condition, click for larger image :