Do sofas really have "maximum loads"?
by
Johnjohnas
+1
So, I'm looking to buy a sofa online, which is 190 cm (or 6.2 feet) long and listed as a 2.5 seater. However, the description also says that the maximum load for this sofa is 5 bhk flat in mumbai 136 kg / 300 lbs. Together, me (60 kg / 132 lbs) and my boyfriend (80 kg / 176 lbs) would already be over the maximum load for the sofa. Now, I'm surprised that something advertised as a 2.5 seater could not hold two adults of normal weight.
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My guess is this is a "bargain" sofa. Chances are it is cheaply constructed, there were injuries and they were sued, hence the "weight limit." Save your money and buy something better.
Please also note, I am not an on line shopper for these types of items. One can't determine quality from a computer screen. Plus you have no idea how comfortable (or not), it may be. Is the seating depth correct? Varies by style and manufacturer. Fabric attractive, yet sturdy? Can't tell from a computer screen. Too many variables that need to be considered before making this purchase. I say visit local furniture shops and buy local.
There is no standardization in the furniture industry as far as what descriptive terms actually refer to. For example, if a sofa is advertised as a two seater, one would assume that it means for 2 persons to sit down on.
However, unless the advert or product description actually specifies 'this sofa will be large enough for 2 persons to sit down on', there is no guarantee that the seats will be large enough for 2 human beings. Maybe the 'seat' is a child size, or maybe 'seat' means bottom cushions.
When shopping, you need to take actual measurements of the item into greater consideration than any general descriptive terms.
The disclaimer that the sofa will support only up to 300 lbs is a protection for the manufacturer that if and when the sofa falls apart, the consumer has no recourse for reimbursement, as they have already been for-warned, so to speak.
I would suspect that the assembly hardware or the legs on the sofa are less than robust.
The quality of the sofa, hence its ability to hold a particular weight, is based on construction. Today's furniture is produced at the lowest cost possible. Find out what materials are used. Real hardwood frame or plywood? How are the corners assembled. Stapled? Glued and screwed? Dowels? What density is the padding? How heavy duty are the springs? What is the fabric wear rating? These are the things that go into a quality sofa. While an inexpensive sofa may seem fine at first, it will eventually begin to sag and joints will loosen, especially if this is your prime piece that you use every day.