This post is more for customers rather than the trade. However, if you are in the trade, I think this information would be important to have in your sales ditty bag.
Good article on the subject.
I especially like #5:
5. Once you figure out how much it will cost to have repaired and reupholstered, don't compare that price to an inexpensively made brand new piece. Sure, you can buy a new sofa at an outlet or a department store for less than reupholstering your old Hendredon sofa, but it's not the same at all. Think of the difference between a Mercedes and a Chevy. Quality, quality, quality.
http://www.modhomeec.com/2014/12/31/should-this-furniture-be-reupholstered/
gene
Having done the repair work for the Henredon Store (when it was still open), I can tell you today's Henredon is not the quality of Henredon of the past. Probably the worst two things I saw in upholstered furniture were several $12K leather sofas. While it had coil springs, they were cinched onto a sheet of webbing on the bottom, then criss-crossed with perforated metal bands that were nailed, with roofing nails around the perimeter and, when lined up, the cross beams. Before it got out of the store, the nails were popping. Some were completely out, some were just squeaking when you sat in the sofa. Another chaise had such poor construction in the feet, they were cracked in two, again, while still in the store.