Re-Upholstering a Lazy Boy

[BlueFlamingo]

Just wondering what the average cost/pricing would be for a Lazy Boy Recliner Re-Upholstering job. I've has several requests but when I calculate the time + materials costs to do the job, I'm thinking it's not worth my time or the customers money to do the job.
What are you guys charging? 
My calculations are $200 for material and $400 labor.  Am I way off???

[SteveA]

You're probably low on the labor cost but it all has to do with your area and what the replacement cost is-
I'm sure your client will remind you that that can buy a good recliner for almost the same price as recovering.
SA

[baileyuph]

Most new recliners today are a 1 to 3 year item.

If analysis of the older Lazy Boy (quality and condition) is done - a customer would never buy new
that is better. 

Every day, I see newer, foreign made,recliners bit the dust in less than 3 years.

Doyle

[MinUph]

It's not really your call to say it isn't with it. You are doing this I would think to make a living. Give the price your comfortable with and allow the customer to decide. Pricing varies by locals but I would agree your labor seems low.

[sofadoc]

It's not really your call to say it isn't with it. You are doing this I would think to make a living. Give the price your comfortable with and allow the customer to decide. Pricing varies by locals but I would agree your labor seems low.

Technically, I agree. Just give them your price and let them decide. But if you tell them $800-$1000 to recover a recliner that they only paid $399 for to begin with, it's pretty much the same thing as telling them it isn't worth it.

[baileyuph]

Is this question talking about literally a Lazy Boy (made in the US)?  Or is the subject matter used
generically?

It can make a difference on the cost question and replacement cost.

A new Lazy-Boy, like I said, "made in the US" cannot be bought for the same money an imported
recliner can. Even then, the imported recliner in decent quality fabric "brand new for $300" or about
would be difficult to find. 

I reupholstered two Lazy-Boy recliners in a good quality fabric for about 1500 bucks, which was
not a bad way to go because the recliner quality justified it (Lazy-Boy literally).  As a note, for the two;
the time required wasn't too bad because - doing the two factor.

Selling and understanding what is being sold and to what market can have a lot to do in the
business (as with any business).

On the flip side, if the recliner was not made by Lazy-Boy (which implies in the US), then it would
likely cast a different light on the subject of price for a recliner job.


Good Luck,
Doyle

[sofadoc]

Here are some Lazy Boy recliners ranging from $299-$399

https://www.slumberland.com/furniture/departments/brands/la-z-boy

[baileyuph]

None of those recliners were made in the USA and their advertisement doesn't clarify
where they were made.

Turns out a corporate officer had me working on some of their new furniture and he said they were
imports.

They had a Lazy Boy sticker on them but it did not say made by :  Lazy-Boy

The officer told me they would be broke if they hadn't gone in that direction.

Doyle

[kodydog]

My calculations are $200 for material and $400 labor.  Am I way off???

Here are my calculations. You are selling fabrics from your books. I'm thinking $35 to $40 per yard. Most modern recliners will take minimum 8 yards. That's $280 for fabric on a small recliner with a lower priced fabric.

We charge $600 to $800 for labor on a recliner. But we really don't like doing them so we charge more. I haven't seen the recliner you are bidding on but my bare minimum would be more like $880 for labor and fabric. And then I would be kicking myself in the ass for not charging more.

[sofadoc]

None of those recliners were made in the USA and their advertisement doesn't clarify
where they were made.

Turns out a corporate officer had me working on some of their new furniture and he said they were
imports.

They had a Lazy Boy sticker on them but it did not say made by :  Lazy-Boy

The officer told me they would be broke if they hadn't gone in that direction.



Doyle

I can't tell any difference in quality between a cheap import Lazy Boy, and one that is " Made in the USA".
They're both poor compared to Lazy Boys made 20-30 years ago.

[sofadoc]

We charge $600 to $800 for labor on a recliner. But we really don't like doing them so we charge more.

I agree. Unless you replace the mechanism and every last inch of foam and padding, and completely re-glue every loose joint, you're really NOT doing the customer any favors by reupholstering their Lazy Boy, or most any other brand of recliner.

IMO, Most recliners made in the last 20 years are better off disposed of.