Ted_Muffy

I would like to find a places in Singapore where I could buy Acrylic material to make an iPad holder for my indoor bike machine. I found a number of sellers in Taobao in China like: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.37.WlFyiQ&id=36964450327 but not able to get any from Qoo10. Can anyone advise if you had bought any or know where I could get them in Singapore? Thanks!

I tried the finger but it is quite firm and does not leave marks there. I checked the underside of the leather and could not find the fiber part or sort of thing. Someone suggested to drop a water on top of the leader and it does absorb it somehow. I would say it is probably real leather as Casa Italy re-confirmed it and warranted it with the standard one year after all these troubles. However it is definitely not the top grain leather. I would say it could be coated leather. Anyway my feeling is that this new one feels tougher and the breathability is better than the old one. Will be watching this as the time goes alone.

I would like to update with the follow up. The sofa came back this friday with new leather changed. The leather feels thicker than the old one but does not really feel like real leather. Called Casa Italy service centre and they confirmed it is leather and also told me to come with at least one year warranty. So far so good.

$200 can not even get the PU leather. it is used to cover the shipping cost so to be said.

Yes that's what they told me as well. However when they came and collect the sofa I see the samples are no better than what you see in their show room. It is just a normal leather and I just expect they do not peer off so quickly as the one I had.

It all depends on the negotiation. that is why I think $200 is the max I could compromise. My are two 2-seaters.

Yes they also asked me to pay for $400 custom fee. I told them I would only be willing to pay $200 on the condition that the returned Sofa has the leather to my satisfaction. They agreed. So when they come and collect the sofa I did not pay.

Just to update my status. Casa Italy came to have collected my sofa and let me choose another leather from the samples. My conversation to their service centre showed that they were also troubled by their cheating suppliers with the headache. My experience from this is that do not take for granted on the quality of the leather even you source from branded sofa stores. You have to use self judgement to evaluate and protect yourself whatever. I am expecting them to bring my sofa back in a 4 weeks time.

I guess the leather is mostly likely Bicast leather. By Wiki definition: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicast_leather> Bicast leather (also known as bycast leather, split leather or PU. leather) is a split leather with a layer of polyurethane applied to the surface and then embossed. Bycast was originally made for the shoe industry for glossy shoes, and recently was adopted by the furniture industry. The resulting product has an artificially consistent texture that is easier to clean and maintain. The use of the term "leather" in relation to this bicast treatment is considered a misrepresentation and therefore not permitted in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Furniture made with bicast exhibits none of the characteristics associated with genuine leather; it will not develop a patina or suppleness nor otherwise "improve with age". With constant use the polyurethane layer will crack and split free of its backing. I think the quality of the leather would depend on how long it would sustain before the polyurethane layer cracks. You may feel softer and more elastic but that is the trick of polyurethane layer.

My sofa was not given warranty card but they told me yes 5 year warranty on structure. However they did not warrant on leather and their excuse was like you know your kids would jump on that .... your cats would scratch that ... sort of thing. They just would not promise to you. But what about normal wear and tear? Can any one share whether they got any warranty on leather when they bough their sofa from any store in Singapore. Is that the normal practice that leather is general not warranted?

Yes, agree!

I would suggest you make sure these items: 1. have them clearly write on your sales invoice the leather mode and "full leather" 2. keep your sales invoice (and particularly the sale order number). Remember which retail outlet you have bought the sofa and who served you (ask for a card) 3. When they deliver check carefully the quality and ask on the spot whenever you have anything in doubt. Of course do not need to worry too much as we still believe this is a quality issue not something they wanted to "cheat" you. Good luck!

I just called Casa Italy service centre today. They have checked and told me that they will come to collect my sofa next Tue or Wed ( 4- 5 Oct). How about your status?

Hi stng936, Yes my sofa should be exactly the same model as you and also bought in 2009 September (same time as you). Looks like both of us were cheated. Here is photos of my sofa. You could see the same flake except that I did not peer them off. But I believe it is exactly the same sofa, same "leather" and same problem. Some update. I called the service centre and they told me it should be next week to come and collect my sofa and send back to Malaysia factory. So I guess they would also come to exam and collect your sofa (they told me they will have to arrange transportation not for one sofa transportation). One thing is that they asked me to share $400 transportation which I declined. I only told them I might pay $200 if everything can be restored to my satisfaction and I am only will to pay when the sofa returns to be with new REAL leather. Good luck to you.

Hi stng936, I have PMed you the contact number of their service centre. So far they told me that they have arranged the collection schedule for my sofa but would only be @ end of sept. I am waiting till the end of the month. Otherwise I will call them again. Look like we have to prepare for the long fight.

Yes you're right that Casa Italy katong mall showroom has moved to the following places: Payar Lebar Outlet 152 Paya Lebar Road, #01-02 Citipoint Industrial Complex Singapore 409020 Tel: 6747 4387 Fax: 6747 1492 I bought the sofa @ katong mall as well in 2009. I went to their Paya Lebar showroom few weeks before and showed them the invoice sales number and they had tracked down my sales record. Then they arranged the service centre people to call me back. Let me know if you could not get their service people to call you. Also please share your tracking status as we would like to give others who had the same problems some sharing here.

My further report on my case with Casa Italy. I received a call from Casa Italy service centre and they would like to collect my sofa and replace the leather. They did not answer my question on whether my sofa was delivered with real leather or not. It is obviously that they had figured out what happened to my sofa and they didi not want to talk that further. However I have to share some cost of transporting the sofa to and from their factory in Malaysia. Now I am waiting for them to come and bring new leather sample to choose. I told them I have no problem to share the cost of transportation as long as they replace the leather ans do not let this happen after another two years. The service man agreed and told me they also do not want that happen anymore. More report to follow

Hi there, i would like to share the same experience as I also bought a sofa from Casa Italy two years ago (the same year as the one posted, in 2009). The sales person told me that the leather is a new product and I liked the feeling and had chosen it. The sofa came two weeks later and everything was ok except that I did not feel the leather smell. I even bought the conditioning solution that the sales person recommended me and did the maintainance every month. Now two years the leather start to peel off. I called the Casa Italy show room at Paya Lebar and they sent a delivery man to have taken a photo of it. I would highly recommend other friends to be very careful when you choose the leather sofa from Casa Italy. You need to insists to put the "Full leather" on your invoice and keep it. It is really hard to immediately recognized whether it is real leather or not. Also sometimes what they delivered to you might not be what they have shown you in the showroom.

Hi any one could advise me the store which could provide large frame printing on HD digital photo files. I would like to choose my favorite digital photo in high density and would like to find services to help me print them out in large frame (like in 1m x 1.5m size). anyone could provide reference would be much appreciated. Thanks

Hi, I would like to ask you all here to advise on the following quote for a 5 room, premium resale HDB. I appreciate your comments here. Thanks! -- Ted Muffy Hacking of Kitchen wall and floor titles - $1200 Hacking of Kitchen cabinet - $200 Hacking of 2 toilet wall and floor titles - $900 Hack and remove all toilet accessories - $100 Hack & remove conceal copper pipes from wall - $80 Supply and lay porcelain wall tiles for kitchen - $2800 supply and lay homogenous floor tiles for kitchen - $1200 supply and lay porcelain wall tiles for 2 toilet - $2800 supply and lay homogenous floor tiles for 2 toilets - $900 supply and lay waterproofing for wet area - $200 supply and construct base for kitchen cabinet, fridge and wash machine - $480 supply and install 2 numbers of tempered glass shower screen with kerb - -$1200 Design, supply and install 44ft cabinet top & bottom -$3960 Design, supply and install 2ft tall cabinet in kitchen -$540 Design, supply and install 2.5ft vanity top with bottom cabinet, full mirror, shelving, hanging, cabinet and sink in common toilet (tab not included) - $1300 Design, supply and install vanity top with tall cabinet, full mirror & sink (tap not included) - $1200 design, supply and install 8ft glass door hanging top cabinet in study room-$1120 Design, supply and install 5ft storage cabinet in living room -$800 supply and install 22ft solid surface top for kitchen cabinet - $1980 Supply ad conceal new copper pipes for 2 toilet and kitchen (hot and cold pipes) -$1500 connection fee for 2 toilet bowl, 2 storage heater, 3 sink, 4 taps and 2 set of mixers - $580 Haulage changes for good and debris on & off site - $550 supply labor and material to re-varnish 3 bedrooms - $680 supply labor and paint for whole house - $1380 supply material to protect flooring and acid washing upon completion of renovation - $280 supply and install sliding glass/aluminum kitchen door - $580 Total: $28.5K w/o GST