Ashley imports or purchases most of their furniture from other companies, and their stores are independently owned and operated, so the owners set the prices, not Ashley. Ashley has become a furniture distributor not a manufacturer.
Ashley employees more than 3000 people at the furniture plants not far from me. They have two huge manufacturing plants, a distribution center, and their own long haul trucking company. The upholstered furniture is mostly made in the USA and the wood/case goods furniture is mostly made in China. I returned a couch to their delivery center one time and they had a bunch of returned couches for 50-75% off.