Lazboy - Lebco, Explanation on warranties from Lazboy and Lebco Farmers Branch Texas

Lazboy Furniture Galleries is a franchise owned by Lew Brown or Lebco Industries. For consumers who don't have all the accurate information I will explain. Lazboy offers a "limited lifetime guarantee" on all frames and the reclining mechanism parts. That's what most sales consultants stop right there cause most consumer are under the impression everything is guaranteed. This isn't completely accurate. Its true you won't ever pay for a part, but what they don't tell you is that there is a $100 per hour labor charge after the first year of ownership. Also, there is $67.50 pick up service charge to and from the ware house. If you just have a chair that is damaged, you can take it to any dfw or houston gallery store, but there is a $25 shuttle fee.

Now Lebco does offer a "Extended Service" that will wave the shuttle and labor fee for the first 3 years. The cost of this is a minimum of $49.99 or 6% of the sub total ticket. The "Extended Service" is refundable after the 3 years if the service is never used, however the refund is a voucher and that voucher must be used within 90 days of being issued.

Lebco is also affliated with a company named "Guardian" offers a "5 year stain protection" that cost $70 per fabric chair and $100 per leather chair, $150 per fabric and leather sofa, and $140 per fabric and leather loveseat. This service is a little more tricky and most consumers have the highest level of dissatisfaction.

Regarding the fabric, the factory gives you a 1 year warranty pertaining to seams only. It does not cover discoloration, stains or rips. The "Guardian" protection is an additional service where the "fabric guard" is protected against food stains, pet stains and human stains. It doesn't cover rips, tears or discoloration, ink stains or fingernail polish stains. The "leather guard" protects the same as the "fabric guard" with the exception leather does protect against 6 inch rips, burns, and tear.

It does not cover scratches. It does have a restriction that you must use a conditioning kit every 90 days,or you claim will be deinied. If you have a stain you must call within 5 days or again, you'll be denied. As a sales consultant, were trainined to tell customers to "bend the truth" and tell them if they "just noticedit that day or previous night." Lebco puts on a "scotch guard" coating one time at the loading dock or commonly referred to as a "warehouse". However that scotch guard is chemical based and only last for about 6 to 7 months.

Now as a consumer you have to understand this is a money making profit for Lebco. The "scotch guard" only cost $5 per chair and $7 per sofa and loveseat as opposed to charging anywhere from $70 to $100 per chair and $140 - $150 per sofa. Believe me, Lebco isn't the only company that offers these services. Anderson's, Room Store, Haverty's etc all offer the same type of services. As sales consultant, most companies offer a 25% commission on these extra services and the companies require them to sell these services atleast 75% to all consumers for the month to achieve bonuses. Its also important to understand that it usually makes up 45-60% of profit for companies in the furniture business.

I hope I shed some light on the warranties, but more important about why sales people push so hard on these services. Its revenue for the company and a added bonus on a paycheck.

Lazboy sales rep
Dallas, Texas
U.S.A.