Apt2B: Ultimate Brand Review And Rating

Apt2B’s website is clean, attractive, and informative but it can also run slowly and be a bit overwhelming to navigate. Shopping for a sofa online offers convenience and variety, simplifying the often complex process of finding the right furniture. Apt2B says on their website, “Buying furniture online sight unseen can be scary. We know that but we’re devoted to making the process easy and efficient so you can click ‘add to cart’ with confidence.” Let’s find out whether or not it’s as easy and efficient as claimed.

Apt2B’s Ease of Navigation

• The homepage is quite nice and does a good job of showing off some of Apt2B’s best features (fast, customized couches at competitive prices). The photography is nice, though I disliked how much white space was left blank on the sides of the screen. It’s a bit better on mobile, but then the text boxes and images overlap strangely on a phone.
• The menu is clean and organized logically. I also liked the images and GIFs used in the menu to show off other options. I was also glad that they had specific categories for their made in the USA products versus their “exclusive import” products. This helped mitigate some of my issues with their mixed product lines.
• The website runs slowly and feels heavy to use. My laptop’s fans were running at full blast every time I visited the website, which is not normal when just browsing the internet. This also makes it a bit clunky to click around, as loading information can cause some lag and slowdown.
• There are some nice filter options on their couch category pages, but I’d like to see even more options since they have such a huge catalog to choose from. Filter options like “bench seat” or “button tufted” would be welcome additions.
• The couches on the main category page felt a bit randomly organized. Strange options like an upholstered daybed/bench were near the top even though I can’t imagine this is a popular option. Meanwhile, very nice options were way down the page, requiring lots of scrolling to find.

Apt2B’s Information Available “At-A-Glance”

• Apt2B’s main category pages show the couch name, price, sale price, fabric options, and tags like “best seller” or “made in 2-4 weeks.” It’s a good amount of info.

Apt2B’s Product Images

• Product images on main category pages are generally good. They’re seen on a white background. You can also hover over a fabric color to see the change in real time. There’s also a good amount of color options represented whereas some companies show all their couches in gray.
• Hovering over an image on the category pages shows either a lifestyle image or an alternate angle. Always a nice plus.
• Product pages can be a bit hit or miss. Some couches have surprisingly few photos while others are far more robust. I’d expect every couch to have at least photos from every angle or detailed photos showing specific features. But this is not the case. The photos they DO have are quite good, there could be more of them. The photos are much worse for the “exclusive import” couches.
• When there are lifestyle images available, they look very professional and beautiful. I just wish there were more of them.
• Changing the fabric on a couch updates it in real time and provides a pretty good, realistic rendering of how the couch and the fabric will look.

Apt2B’s Quality of Product Information

• Overall the quality of information provided is quite good. It could be a tiny bit more specific when discussing materials and workmanship, but they don’t seem to be shying away from or hiding detailed information. This is always a good sign.
• All of the important info is right at the top of the page. They are very up-front about the lead time, as well as providing add-on warranty prices right above the Add to Cart button. More specific product information is available just below the main couch images and can be easily accessed by clicking on the different tabs.
• Additional fabric information and a larger image appears when you hover over a fabric selection. I love this type of feature. Also, there’s no price difference between fabrics. Many companies don’t list their fabric prices and it’s simply a surprise when the price jumps after you’ve chosen a fabric. It’s a HUGE plus that Apt2B doesn’t fall into this trap.
• The couch diagram and dimensions are clear, clean, and include lots of great specifics like “seat height” and “arm height” as individual listings. Fantastic.

Apt2B’s Extra Bells & Whistles

• There’s 360/AR views available, which allow you to see the couches in your home. These work well! You can also see couches in a variety of fun, pre-rendered backgrounds instead of your own home. It feels like playing a little game as you decorate the space.
• There’s a sectional builder that allows you to customize several styles in a variety of unique ways. It works extremely well and I was impressed by the number of couch styles available for this customization process.
• I was disappointed that there was no way to favorite a couch so that I could return to it later. This would be nice to have considering their huge catalog.

Apt2B actually has incredible lead times compared to similar brands. Having their factory located in downtown Los Angeles really helps cut down on manufacturing time. Plus they have a variety of ready-to-ship options, though most of these are from their “exclusive import” collection (aka not made in the USA).

Apt2B’s Made to Order Products:

• Apt2B advertises a 2-4 week manufacturing time for their made in the USA couches and they seem to consistently achieve that timeframe according to Apt2B reviews. This is seriously impressive.

Apt2B’s In Stock Items:

• Their collection of ready-to-ship couches ship out in as little as 2-3 days. There’s also a clearance section that has similar quick ship-out times.

Apt2B’s Shipping Time:

• After a couch is constructed or shipped out from a warehouse, the average delivery timeline is 14-21 days. In all likelihood it’s probably closer to 3-4 weeks for delivery, which is still extremely good.
• Apt2B furniture delivers via 3rd party delivery companies, so your experience in timing and customer service may vary once it leaves Apt2B’s purview. This is common in this industry.

Our goal at Couch.com is to provide customers with the information they need to find the best couch for their home. We take customer satisfaction very seriously. So how does Apt2B furniture stack up to the competition when it comes to customer friendly resources and offerings?

Apt2B’s Warranty:

• Made in the USA couches have a limited lifetime warranty for breakage caused by material workmanship or defects. Free repairs and replacements within 1 year.
• 1 year warranty on wood frames, tufting, zippers, and cushion cover seams. Seat cushion covers will not be replaced under this policy.
• Their exclusive import couches do not have an additional warranty outside of “initial delivered condition.”
• The terms can get a little confusing, especially since their “lifetime warranty” sounds more like a 1 year warranty. I recommend reaching out to their customer service if you have any specific questions.
• They’ve partnered with Mulberry to offer additional 3 year or 5 year warranties that cover accidents, damage, etc.

Apt2B’s Return Options:

• Apt2B advertises a Hassle-Free 100 Day Return Policy, but it’s certainly not cost-free. For a return, Apt2B will make you pay a return shipping fee + a 15% restocking fee. A return shipping fee could run you hundreds of dollars.
• If you’re exchanging, you’ll also have to pay for the OUTBOUND shipping charge, despite Apt2B generally having free delivery on every order. In other words, an exchange could result in you paying two shipping charges and a restocking fee. That’s a LOT of money. Likely the cost of an entire new sofa.
• The return/exchange system seems like it’s specifically designed to NOT be affordable for the customer, therefore making them decide to just stick with what they have rather than go through with a return or exchange.

Apt2B’s Delivery Options & Costs:

• Apt2B has FREE delivery on every order. For couches, this includes bringing the couch inside your home, but not into the room of your choice (aka Threshold Delivery). They don’t just leave it on your curb or at your front door, which is great.
• There’s a $149 white-glove delivery option that will have the delivery team bring it to the room of your choice, unwrap it, provide any necessary assembly, and dispose of packaging.

Apt2B’s Financing Options:

• Apt2B has partnered with Bread Pay to offer a variety of financing options. There are 12, 24, and 48 month plans starting at 0% APR.
• Purchases between $30 and $1,500 can also be split into 4 interest-free payments every 2 weeks. This won’t really help with couches, but is a good option for some of their other furniture pieces.

Is Assembly Required?

• No, Apt2B couches are delivered as full pieces. The most you’ll have to do is screw in legs or attach sectional pieces.

Apt2B’s Customization Options:

Founders Mat Herman and Alex Back say, “What’s made Apt2B be so different and unique is our commitment to staying small and boutique in our look, feel, and personalization.” Does that hold true for their actual customization options?

• Their made in the USA couches have a ton of fabric options. Almost every couch comes in every fabric, even if it’s not specifically listed. There are 80+ fabrics to choose from.
• Many of their couches have 3 wood stains to choose from for their solid wood legs.
• Each collection generally includes armchairs, loveseats, apartment size sofas, 3-seater sofas, 2-piece sectionals, and even sleeper sofas available. This is great for outfitting your whole space with one collection.

Does Apt2B Offer Free Fabric Swatches?

• Yes, Apt2B offers up to 10 swatches for free. With so many to choose from, I recommend knowing the color you want and then ordering different fabric types in that color.

Durability is a major factor when it comes to purchasing a couch, especially when you’re ordering online. So do Apt2B couches hold up over time? The short answer is “yes,” but only if we’re talking about their made in the USA line. If that were the only option on their site, I’d raise the overall rating. But the uncertain quality of their “exclusive import” collection weighs them down.

Couch Potato Note: If an Apt2B sofa only has a couple of fabric options listed then it’s one of their “exclusive import” options. If it has dozens of fabric options to choose from then it’s one of their made in the USA couches. That’s an easy way to tell them apart.

Apt2B’s Quality of Materials:

• Apt2B’s made in the USA couches use great quality materials for the price point. However, their “exclusive import” line has FAR less specific information and makes me very cautious about the quality of these pieces. Stick to the “made in the USA” couches.
• Apt2B offers a ton of high quality, easy to clean fabrics. Many of their fabrics have 100,000 double rub counts, which is excellent. For reference, anything over about 40,000 double rubs is considered commercial grade. Make sure to check the double rub count and choose one of their 100,000 rub count options if you have kids or pets. They also offer performance velvet, a durable, kid- and pet-friendly upholstery option that can withstand everyday wear and tear while maintaining a stylish look.
• The majority of Apt2B couches use 2.0 high density foam for the cushions, which is a better quality than similar competitors offer. The cushions might be initially firmer, but they’ll also last longer. They also have some couch styles that use a down-envelope that wraps around their foam cushion cores for a more plush sitting experience.
• The comfort of Apt2B furniture can create a cozy environment where someone can easily fall asleep, enhancing the overall customer experience.

Vibing with a brand is important. Brands can also promote certain lifestyles and sustainability goals. That’s why it’s my goal to help you find a company and brand that you vibe with so that you’re as comfortable with your new couch as you are on your new couch.

Apt2B’s Key Differentiators & Unique Facts:

• Apt2B got its start in 2011 by specializing in smaller, “apartment size” couches. They were able to gain traction and eventually offer a huge range of couch options for spaces of all sizes.
• Apt2B has a wide range of USA-made couches that are built-to-order in downtown Los Angeles.

Apt2B’s Sustainability:

• Since a majority of their couches are made in the USA, they massively cut down on their cargo ship carbon footprint. However, they do offer imported, ready-to-ship couches that basically offset this benefit.
• They offer GreenGuard GOLD fabrics that do not feature any chemical additives or flame retardants.
• Outside of these facts, there’s no specific emphasis on sustainability.

Apt2B’s Overall Brand Presentation:

• Apt2B has a bit of an identity crisis between their emphasis on made in the USA couches, while also offering imported, ready-to-ship couches. These two concepts are a bit at odds with one another and that rift seems to permeate the entire presentation and brand identity. It makes Apt2B feel less specific than it could be, resulting in a lack of unique personality.