Re: Bradington-Young recliner mechanism, made in China
The 'Christopher' is the "900" series units you are referring to?. BY uses model numbers rather than names, so its difficult to determine exactly which you are speaking of. If its part of Seven Seas collection, then YES - it will have a Chinese mechanism as that entire line is 100 % imported. If its the mainline collection then it should have a USA-made Leggett and Platt mechanism in it, which is the best in the industry. How did you determine it was made in China if in the 900 series group? Did you see a "made in China" tag on it?
Things do change in the industry and dealers are not always told about it. B-Y could have changed sourcing (the pressure from consumers to build things cheaper is enormous these days), OR, L&P could be producing mechanisms in China now. I'll look into it after I hear your reply on how you 'discovered' the mechanism was made in China on the US Furniture Line.
Correct on the warranty. Its 5 years on mechanisms and they only pay labor to install and ship the part the first year. After that, they will give you the part at no charge, but you pay UPS and self-install or hire it done. B-Y and all the other companies follow the L&P warranty, which used to be lifetime - then was 10 years, and now is 5 years.
Flexsteel is also 5 year warranty, as they use L&P in their USA product as well.
Here's the thing with mechanisms....they will last a VERY long time if you don't allow kids to rough-house in the chair and never move the chair by picking it up when its extended. 95% of all failures I see in recliner mechanisms are due to abuse of the unit. Once in a great while, some one flat wears it out, the nylon bushings fall out -but usually the whole chair is done for at that point as well.
I have a 24 year old H&M in use (Woodbridge Recliner) on the original mechanism, and its fine.
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
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