Buying furniture online is quickly becoming the new normal for many shoppers in the United States. However, buying a couch online is a much different process than ordering a bottle of your favorite multivitamins. Investing in new furniture requires time, patience, and thoughtfulness. You are buying something that you will live with for years or perhaps decades, so it can be a little intimidating when trying to buy furniture without physically seeing or feeling it first. Below are 10 helpful secrets we recommend shoppers consider when buying furniture online.
Read Customer Reviews
This might seem obvious to seasoned online shoppers, but it never hurts to remind people that customer reviews are always very important when considering an online furniture retailer to purchase something from. Even if they might have exactly what you are looking for, if the product has poor reviews (or the company itself), definitely consider looking for an alternative product or store to purchase it from. Although customer reviews are, at the end of the day, just someone else’s opinion, there is generally some merit behind them. If you have second thoughts about a review, call the company to try and get a better feel for the accuracy of the reviews.
Understand the Return Policy
Carefully read the online furniture store’s return policy before making an order. Although some companies offer a no-hassle, no-questions-asked return policy, others may not, especially if the item was customized in some way. It will not take much of your time, either by phone or looking for it on the company website, but you should definitely find and fully understand the return policy before making a purchase.
Order Swatches
When it comes to picking out colors for furniture, seeing is believing. Ordering color swatches will end up saving you time, money, and help you avoid a potentially very regrettable purchase. Many online furniture stores will either provide swatches at no to very little cost, so there is no reason to not pick out a variety of colors you might be interested in and spend a bit of time deciding what shades will look best in your home or office.
Narrow Your Options
Shopping for furniture online can feel overwhelming at times due to the sheer volume of stores to shop and products to browse. Start by saving a list, perhaps a dozen or so pieces of furniture you like, and spend some time narrowing your choices from there. Will this couch be comfortable enough? Is it available in the color I want? Will it fit well in the spot I want it? Answering these questions will help you narrow your list as you shop.
Ask About Delivery Options
Some furniture stores will assemble their products prior to shipping, or offer partial assembly. If you do not own, have access to or have knowledge of how to use particular tools, this might be a fantastic option for you. Call the retailer to ask about possibilities, and if they are reasonably priced and do not add too much extra lead time, it might be a very convenient and helpful option for you.
Check Lead Times with the Store
These days, getting furniture can take a bit of time. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, manufacturing industries across the globe are feeling the pressure of labor and material shortages, which create a ripple effect leading to long lead times for our customers. If you find a piece of furniture you really like online, we suggest contacting the store first to make sure it is either in stock or if the retailer knows approximately how long the item will take to arrive. It never hurts to ask!
Research The Store
You probably would not prefer going into a scary-looking warehouse to pick out a new couch for your living room. The same rule applies to websites. If it does not look well designed or offer a pleasant shopping experience, it may not be a legitimate retailer. If a website offers a piece of furniture you are interested in, do a bit of research to determine it is a real store staffed by real people and is well-reviewed by customers. Investing a few minutes to make sure you are not going to get scammed out of your money is very well worth the effort.
Measure Twice
Take plenty of time to make sure the item you are buying will in fact fit in the space you have chosen it for. Absolutely do not make assumptions about the measurements of the furniture you want to buy, the room it is going in, and the specific spot the furniture will live in. The process of buying furniture online, waiting for it to arrive, discovering it will not fit, and working with the retailer to ship it back for a new item or a refund can be an absolute nightmare. Life is simply too short for that kind of unnecessary work. Measure twice. You will be very glad you did.
Get a Second Opinion
Sometimes a second set of eyes and some feedback from a friend or family member can really help online shoppers make a decision about what to buy. There are countless options for nearly every category of furniture you can think of. Color, style and placement are just a few considerations to make, and if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, consider asking someone you trust to share their thoughts. Also keep in mind that many online retailers (us included) are more than happy to offer our insights on particular items, ensuring your confidence and ensuring they get a happy customer.
Take Your Time
It is sometimes easy to be swayed by certain marketing gimmicks or very low sale prices. In our opinion, it is more important to take your time and purchase the right piece for the right space than it is to quickly buy up products just because they are on sale. Rushing furniture shopping rarely leads to satisfactory results, and suddenly you are stuck with something you do not necessarily like. Do not feel pressured by low stock or long lead times either. Although we are working with our suppliers to quicken current lead times, it is still more important to wait a bit longer for the furniture you really want than to buy something simply because it is available.
With these ten helpful tips in mind, we are very confident you will find exactly what you have been looking for. Of course, we would love to hear from you with any other questions or thoughts about buying furniture online and would love to help you find the right product on our own online store. Customers throughout the northwest and beyond depend on our knowledgeable staff and quality products on a daily basis, and we would love the opportunity to help you as well. Do not hesitate to give us a call today.