I see that you currently have a "filters" interface, I would love to see that expand a bit. I thought it was a bit funny that aside from price, the only option for filtering is shops. I've been wanting a website like this, largely because I don't really care what shop I buy the thing from. I get that this may be the only data you have readily available to filter on, and that it may be useful for others... just not so much for me.
We built this precisely because we believed users didn't care much about which shop the item came from. We see the context of viewing items through the stores as a marketing tool that leverages established brands. We hope that being able to see much of an entire store's inventories for lesser prices feels like a superpower.
If that's in your plans for the near future, I will definitely be checking on the site regularly.
As for criteria, I'm so glad you asked. I figured that if I'm going to spend thousands of dollars on a couch, then it's OK to be picky, so I have quite a list. A few things to note: this is coming from a very function-over-form, engineer-type person. My family uses our couch in a variety of different sitting/laying positions. Based on the couches I've seen in some houses, and stores, I get the impression that many people only sit straight and upright on their couches, which seems odd to me. I realize that some of these are probably not feasible to catalog, but I'm just sharing all of my notes (the stuff I've written down so far, at least). Research and comparison shopping in this area is a nontrivial task, so this comment reflects the current state of my research.
- Exact dimensions
- Footprint dimensions
- In the case of armrests that protrude, I also want to know the maximum width
- If it is a corner sectional, what shape is the exterior of the corner seat? I.e. what kind of space does it leave open behind the corner? Actual concern: I'd like to put a lamp/table in that space. Shapes I'm aware of: square, quarter-circle, triangle, quadrilateral.
- If it has recliners, how much clearance do the seatbacks need when fully reclined?
- How deep is the seat (front-to-back)? Just a measurement would be nice; but the actual question is, is it deep enough for two people to lay together?
- Is the bottom flush with the floor, or raised? What height are the legs?
- Broadly speaking, what's the "type" of couch design? This is distinct from the "shape" (loveseat, sleeper, sectional, etc), and TBH I don't care about the "style" (mid-century modern, chesterfield, etc) except inasmuch as it affects comfort. I want something that I've been calling "overstuffed", but that's just a term I made up, and I doubt it's clear to others. I suspect that knowing more terminology would help me in my search here.
- Is it a couch for relaxing in my home? Or is it something that looks like it belongs in some office waiting room?
- How high is the back? Can I actually fully relax and lean back when sitting, or is it a glorified bench, with a back that's just there for aesthetics? This also fits in the "dimensions" section, but I don't really need to know an exact number - I just need to know if the back was designed to support a person leaning back or not.
- Is there padding on the arm rests? Can I lay length-wise and use an arm rest as a comfortable pillow for my head?
- Is it a good couch for a home with pets and kids?
- Are there crevices that will collect spills/crumbs/small objects?
- Is the fabric for a single seat section in a single continuous piece, from top to bottom, which eliminates some of those crevices?
- Are there "buttons" in the upholstery?
- Is the material easy to clean?
- Are there removable cushions? If so, do they have removable covers?
- Is it comfortable to lay across multiple seats? I.e. is there adequate cushioning over the seat seams? Is it lumpy or flat?
- If it is modular, can I easily purchase whatever set of pieces I want?
- Recliners: powered?
- Recliners: what's the control mechanism? Lever, handle, button?
- Recliners: how far does the back recline (the angle)?
And some easy/obvious ones, which would only be tiebreakers for me:
I would say it is quite useful to see your preferences so clearly communicated. Thank you for taking the time to share them with us.
May I ask, when you say "overstuffed" do you mean the make, as in having the entire frame covered by stuffing and upholstery, so only decorative features exposed? Or do you mean the quality or "feel" of sitting in the couch, as opposed to a firm couch?
We plan to index product details (and possibly reviews) for search, which should enable users to search on qualities like material, color, dimensions, etc. but also more ephemeral qualities like "feel" or ease of cleaning.
Thank you so much for your offer. Certainly, after we set up our filtering, we may reach back out to you!
If I understand your question, I would say I am more concerned with the "feel". But I think most, if not all, the couches I have seen that match this, have a similar appearance and "make". So I wonder if you are drawing a more subtle distinction that is not obvious to me.
What criteria would you like to search on?