I am looking for a leather sectional with some very specific limitations on size of one side as well as certain less common colors. It will be in a short term rental & I want to keep my budget under $3500. Family has experienced great stuff with Costco, but having watched them for months, it does not look like they will ever have one which fits all my parameters.
In weeks of Googling, I have seen and liked some Natuzzi items, but they are pricey. I just found out they have two series, one made in Italy and one in China. Reviews online are all over the place, I am told it is a hardwood frame with 10 year guarantee, but then I find Trustpilot for Natuzzi UK and people have bad experiences. I don’t care about the slow shipping complaints, but I do care about the durability.
Anyone have any experience with the Natuzzi leather furniture made in China? Leather Furniture Expo in FL has some solid deals and seems nice to work with on the sales end.
Ask detailed questions of retailer. I have bought two Natuzzi sections from Star Furniture in Houston and am very satisfied. We bought the first 25 years ago. With the most recent purchase about 3 years ago, I asked the retailer about the bad reviews. My retailer said they did not carry the lower quality Natuzzi line since they stand behind their furniture and did not want dissatisfied customers.
Our most recent purchase was the Denver Smoke sectional. You want the good leather, not bonded leather that is going to peel. We got a deal by going to the clearance center of a reputable retailer.
As noted. there are two lines; Natuzzi Italia is the high end line which is made in Italy. Natuzzi Editions is the lower priced diffusion line. It’s just like the secondary lines in apparel - Armani vs. Armani Exchange, Prada vs. Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs vs Marc by Marc Jacobs, etc.
Now there is nothing wrong with diffusion lines. Often the price/quality relationship is fine for the consumer. But there should be no expectation that the quality/durability/craftsmanship etc between the 2 lines is similar. It’s possible (and I’d say probable) that the reviews are based, in part, on mismanaged expectations. The quality of the leather will be different. The quality of the wood used in the frame will be different.
Yep, exactly what BunsenBurner said, it is a “top grain all over” so that’s great. They are saving money somewhere, the labor in China for sure, but I am concerned about the frame. The whole reason I want top grain is that I want this to last a long time, not have to buy a new cheapo one every few years. Same with the frame, I expect it to last.
The question is whether it is like Prada/Miu Miu or like Armani/AX… Miu Miu is not much lower end compared to Prada, it is Dr. Prada’s edgier, tailored to a somewhat younger crowd line… AX is crap compared to even Emporio Armani.
I’ve always follow BB because she has such a range of knowledge, but skieurope, you are young, and yet you are an expert on MIT, the British royalty, leather, movies, etc. are you trying to be the next Jeopardy champ?
We have a Natuzzi sectional that was made in Italy, purchased around 1993. The frame has held up just fine but the leather has cracked a bit on one cushion (the one where my husband always sits when he watches TV). We have a matching barrel chair that ripped on one side when someone picked it up to move it. Maybe we got duds but I wouldn’t buy Natuzzi again.
We bought two Natuzzi loveseats, made in Italy, probably 16 years ago and they are great. The leather still looks good and no tearing or wearing. Comfortable, solidly built, and I love them. When my dogs are gone (will that ever happen?), I plan to get a sectional for our family room. Worth every penny.
AX is crap compared to even Emporio Armani.