The Futon Shop — Local services in Walnut Creek

We have been thinking about getting a futon couch for accommodating guest from out of town. I was not sure what the cost would be as I have never gotten one. When we went to the store Sheng was with another customer but greeted us and asked us what we were looking for. When I saw the price tag I was surprised to see the prices as I they were more expensive than I thought they would be. However, it was Memorial Day weekend and they had very good sales. The organic mattresses looked attractive but they were quite expensive so we went with the standard one.

There are less expensive futon beds out there but the frames are flimsy and the mattresses are not as comfortable. The whole idea of us getting a futon bed is that when guests come over they don't have to sleep on a blow up bed and be comfortable. You get what you pay for.

The wooden frame looks very sturdy and easy to pull out. We had three different choices on color for the frame and we got the black walnut. All of their mattresses and covers are made to order (in SF) so keep in mind there could be 2 to 3 week lead time. It is quite impressive the different fabrics and color you get to choose from for the cover.

We got the standard mattress type and the medium level collection. Sheng helped us pick the right mattress based on the usage. Since they make their own mattresses if your mattress goes bad you can replace it. They do have a 7-year limited warranty though. Or if you want to change the color of the cover you can always purchase a new one. We had picked a very light cream color but Sheng was kind enough to suggest a darker tint and we got the khaki.

He also mentioned that we should get the rubber pad as you will need it to stop the mattress from slipping. He was very honest with us and said that we can get it for cheaper at Walmart next door as all you have to do is cut it to size. We appreciated the fact that he was straightforward with us but for the price difference, time and effort, it just made sense to get it from them.

The delivery is $70 and only $40 for assembly. We got a queen size futon bed for $1158 including delivery and assembly. Since they have the bed frame in stock, we are getting the futon bed in less than a week. I highly recommend shopping at the Futon Shop if you are looking for...

I did my homework. First, I checked numerous futon shops online and nearby ("nearby" being Burlington VT). They were repellent. (Yes, that's the word I want to use). Repellent as in cheesy, slick, and shoddy futons — or futons that were hilariously overpriced.

Then I checked The Futon Shop in California. Ahh, this felt right. Magnificent website. I learned that they make their futons on site and have been doing so since the 1970s. The descriptions of their futons were helpful and elegant, without hyperbole and self-serving blather and platitudes.

So, I sent an email asking for a phone call from a salesperson.

Christopher called back.

One could not talk to a more delightful or helpful individual. I gave him a simple mandate: "I want you to choose the futon and frame for me, and I want you to do it by telling me what you would sell to your father & mother." I then explained my age and my wife's age, I told him we are in good health and not overweight, and neither my wife nor I have notable problems, such as back problems.

And this is exactly what Christopher did: He walked me through the website (which I had up on my screen) and picked out a futon mattress, bed frame, etc.

Then we talked about books he's been reading: Nietzsche, the Bible, and a superb novel about Jim, the slave boy in Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. We spent more time discussing the history of slavery, the Abolition movement, and the ante-bellum south than about futons.

This is how it should be when buying something online. It's called being "human." Christopher transformed a coast-to-coast commercial conversation into something absolutely delightful.

In closing, if you want a futon mattress, stop messing around with the junk online. Call Christopher at The Futon Shop and ask what he would buy for his mom and dad. Then be prepared to discuss Nietzsche, Walt Whitman, Mary Chestnut, Frederick Douglass, and Solomon Northrup.

I bought a futon plus frame and made a friend. Life doesn't get any better.

Calvin Luther Martin, PhD Associate Professor of History...

The shopping process was absolutely great! She spent a lot of time answering our questions and was very helpful in picking out a frame and mattress. She even steered us to a cheaper mattress model because it was a better fit with what we were looking for.

The ordering process was a bit confusing however. Their system is quite antiquated and hard to understand. We ended up double checking the descriptions of what she entered, but eventually we had to just trust it was all correct.

Delivery and setup of the frame and futon was great, but the pillows didn't arrive with the futon. We were assured they'd be shipped separately. But a few weeks and phone calls later, the pillows eventually were shipped. Unfortunately when they arrived, we realized they were incorrect. A mistake was made when she typed in our order, even though the descriptions were correct. Once we made them aware of the problem, it took a few more phone calls and they agreed to fix the issue. However, since the option we thought we ordered was a bit more expensive, they weren't willing to absorb all the cost to fix the mistake.

Overall the shopping experience and setup was great. However, ordering, follow up, and trying to get mistakes corrected was...