A sofa that comes apart into modules looks promising for repair. Yet a removable connector is not much help if nobody can identify its replacement. The practical question is what happens after a small component fails, not simply whether the furniture arrived in several boxes.
Start with one ordinary part
Ask the seller to show you how to order a replacement leg or connector for the exact model under consideration. Look for a part number, an assembly diagram and a clear distinction between left- and right-hand components where relevant. A general promise that “spares are available” leaves the most useful details unanswered.
As one concrete example, IKEA’s Swiss spare-parts guidance points customers to numbered components in assembly instructions and distinguishes small parts from other replacement requests. That is an example of a parts-identification process, not a guarantee of availability for every sofa or country.
Ask separately about upholstered modules, cushion inserts and covers. The ability to obtain a screw does not establish that a matching seat section will still be sold later. Request information about the current service rather than a promise no retailer can substantiate indefinitely.
Keep the identity with the furniture
Save the model name, purchase information, assembly manual and a photograph of the product label. If the range has several generations, include the version or purchase date. These details can prevent an order based only on a familiar marketing name.
For second-hand furniture, make the same check before buying. Missing identification may matter more than a cosmetic mark if the sofa already needs a structural part. Do not substitute a roughly similar connector merely because its holes appear to line up.
A useful comparison between two sofas is therefore specific: which components are documented, who supplies them, and what can you verify today? Modularity is a design feature. A workable route from failed part to compatible replacement is what makes that feature useful over time.