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If it's got feathers poking out, I would call that a defect. If you decide to return it, at least argue for a delivery fee refund.

Have you spoken to anyone at C & B?
I have one of their sofas and one or two feathers sneak out every once in a while but it's not a big deal.
Are they down *wrapped* cushions?

In my own experience, poking feathers only poke more and more in the fulness of time. I am POed on your behalf, and I would send it back and be reimbursed for all shipping fees. Feh!

I would definitely see if they will do anything - at the very least, I would think they would send you new inside cushions.

If they won't, we had a similar problem on a sofa we had reupholstered with down cushions, and the problem never went away. Ultimately, we had an extra slipcover made out of a tight-weave fabric that we put inside, for double-layer slipcovers. It did make it better. It's not the most cost-effective solution, but if you were desperate, it could help.

Perhaps that's why it was on sale. I think C&B should help you with your problem.

Definitely send it back. Aulaire is right that pokey feathers only get worse with time. A properly-made couch should have a feather-resistant fabric under the uphostery.

Yes, I agree with Zim. It should have feather resistant fabric and will worsen with time, not get better.

This really sounds like the kind of thing that I would find to be something like torture, and yet would probably procrastinate until I would hate myself, and since that's not really one of my favorite things about myself, I'd like to encourage you to send it back.

That said, I'm also a sucker for something that really does look as pretty as I thought it would. If you think that you'll always wrap yourself up in some kind of throw when you're on the couch, then keep it, but it already sounds like you don't.

Just a note about terminology: down will not poke out of a pillow cover; however, feathers do. So it is either a down-and-feather mix or just feather, but it is not a down pillow or down-wrapped pillow.

I would actually term this a design defect, instead of a manufacturing one (unless their manufacturer took shortcuts).

I would also fight C&B for a full refund including shipping -- even if the shipping portion is only for store credit. Previous comments about the poking feathers only getting worse with time are absolutely correct. They are uncomfortable (obviously) and they get all over the place. Don't settle on this -- I think you'll be sorry very soon.

hi all - thanks so much for all your advice.

the cushions are 'foam core with goose-down and feather wrap seat cushions encased in downproof ticking':
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=11&f=22716

obviously way more feathers than down and i'm thinking the 'ticking' isn't woven tightly enough. with all of your advice i just called c&b and asked to return it. they waived the return delivery fee but the original delivery fee is non-refundable. so a $69 loss but it's okay since it's the right decision - i think it would have drove us crazy!

thanks, b

Um, how many feathers we talking?

This is fairly common in this type of cushion (depending on the weave of the covering) and I highly doubt C&B will consider it a defect unless a freakishly large amount of feathers is making a break for it.

the key wording is "encased in down-proof ticking" -- i.e., it is NOT feather-proof ticking, and they know it.

Crate and Barrel has outstanding customer service when it comes to this sort of thing. I had a coffee table once which had something funky going on with the finish. I happened to be in the SOHO store talking to my salesperson about something else and was asked how the table was. I mentioned that there was this annoying issue and, without missing a beat, he arranged to have another one sent over free of charge.

Companies like this will always get my repeat business.

On a side note, companies like BO Concept which are less-than-consumer friendly will never get my business again. I do believe I was quoted a 40% restocking fee on a table even if I didn't take delivery. Shame.

hey- a sales rep told me last year that c and b is trying to get rid of this couch because no one is buying it because of the pattern and because it is not slipcovered...i would exchange it, since they have so many unwanted ones or get something else.....