I was checking out posts on Eames Storage units when I read some about Modernica, so I thought I'd share my experience with this manufacturer.
I bought a floor model of one of their Florence Knoll style sofas at the San Francisco store, "Inside". It looked incredible and felt terrific to sit in. After a month at home, however, the tufted stitching on the seat began to pop up. They sent an upholsterer out to repair it, which I appreciated. Then, it continued to happen. One of the owners accused me of mis-using the sofa, which was absurd, since I take immaculate care of my things; I was simply sitting on it. After the third time out, right before I sold the sofa on Craigslist, the upholsterer told me, "This is going to keep happening. This is why the Knoll version was so expensive, and lasting." Quite a disappointment. I recently saw another on CL with the same problem.
Modernica
I just wanted to thank you for the information because I'm trying to evaluate Modernica (I know Modernica is a very contentious topic--I've read the previous threads).
I bought a storage unit and some fiberglass chairs (they were shipped half-way across the country) during the sale last month.
I love the storage unit and chairs. I'm renovating a house and am considering just ordering the big furniture from Modernica (Papa Bear and orange slice chairs, cyclone table and cloud sofa). Your post gives me pause.
I've only posted a couple times here (I posted the news about Herman Miller's new fiberglass chair) and have no design background, but I've read this forum for a long time.
It's surprising
where manufacturers will choose to save money. How much can the stitching thread cost, compared to the fabric ? (I assume the problem was that the stitching was breaking . . .)
I have three pairs of reading glasses, bought on Amazon for $10 (total !). They have been fine, for a year -- no lenses falling out, etc. They're fine -- they even look good ! The only flaw was the short and unsecured temple hinge screw: three fell out. Now I have longer drug-store replacement screws, and they're fine.
Why go all the way with every other element, and fail on a minor but critical part ?
It's easy
to notice NOW that the thread is too weak, or the screws are too short, etc. It's harder -- that is, it costs money -- to discover those problems before a product goes into production.
The cost of pre-production analysis, testing, and iterative redesign is reflected in the price of the product, so it is to be expected that a manufacturer who competes on price alone will do as little of that work as possible.
We can say, "Well, even without testing, they should have known that they could make the product more durable by spending a few pennies more for stronger thread," but remember that we're saying that AFTER the product has been tested -- by slycat, in this case, who unfortunately had to pay his own money for the privilege of performing those tests.
And, of course, that statement might not even be correct. After all, if the fabric were to become the weak link after the thread was strengthened, would there be an improvement in durability?
But regardless, the manufacturer couldn't know without testing that the thread would be the weak link. To make the product more durable, they would have had to strengthen EVERYTHING in the design phase -- the thread, the fabric, the frame, the fasteners, etc. And that would have cost them even more than testing.
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