So you want the best of both worlds, wolfpackmom!
Your best bet is to come to NC, not to buy from the outlets which offer poor customer service after the sale, but to buy directly from the manufacturer. You can visit their plant, sit in their furniture, choose your leather or fabric and they will build it to your specifications and then ship to you.
If their is any problems you will know exactly who call at the manufacturer to have it taken care of.
The problem is none of these manufactures H&M, BY or Smith Bros offers this, but their is some you can buy direct from.

rmanbike, I guess I do want the best of both worlds! I live in eastern NC and will never return to one outlet that we have done business with. But just like any other profession/business, one bad apple doesn't mean they all are. Since we are not firm on any manufacturer, I would love to visit a plant, can you give me a few names you can visit in NC and buy direct from?

Leather furniture can be a beautiful addition to any home.There are many beautiful leather furniture sets that are affordable and are conveniently available online. In choosing the best leather furniture though, it is important to consider the quality of the furniture.A well made piece of leather furniture can last a lifetime.

Joseph002, We made our purchase today and went with Smith Brothers of Berne.

Most factory direct manufacturers are local to your area, but their are a couple that can ship anywhere. Try searching the web:
" factory direct custom sofas "
Factory direct means that you are buying directly from the owners of the factory, no middleman markup. So they will only offer their brand of sofa. If they offer more than one brand, their not factory direct.

Here is a link that might be useful: factory direct custom sofas