| "I like to sit on the sofa to see how it feels on my | | | | about the drive to the store and using your own truck |
| bottom before buying it from the furniture store." - | | | | or rental truck to pick up and move the items into your |
| Retail Store Customer | | | | house. That is a days worth of driving, moving, hauling, |
| "I enjoy the easy convenience of immediate price | | | | etc. Yes, furniture stores do deliver, but they still charge |
| comparison and easy to find online coupons when | | | | you and also charge to put things together. You can |
| buying from my favorite online furniture store." - | | | | order online with in home delivery just as easy for |
| Internet Customer | | | | $125 or more, and a lot of the items you buy in bulk |
| These are the two most common statements made | | | | have free shipping included. Let alone the savings on |
| by the opinions of the different kinds of people that | | | | internet prices less the cost of shipping still gives you a |
| prefer to buy something at the local store compared | | | | lower price than buying from the store, you probably |
| to those that like to browse and shop on the internet. | | | | have to drive to a few stores to compare pricing |
| Of course, nothing can ever replace the real feeling of | | | | which takes up even more time. I know of new home |
| sitting on the chair that you are going to buy or | | | | owners that slave to get their home furnished driving |
| knocking on the wood of the cabinet to make sure | | | | tens of (even hundreds of) miles from store to store |
| how solid it is, and a lot of people enjoy that | | | | for 6 months trying to find what they need to fully |
| experience. But that experience comes at a cost, and | | | | furnish their home, and this not only takes away from |
| for those of you that don't mind to sacrifice that | | | | your time but also so much stress is added in this |
| experience then there's time and money to be saved. | | | | scavenger hunt you created for yourself when you |
| With the year over year growth of the percentage of | | | | decided to "go to the local store." So put together the |
| consumers buying online, the economics support that | | | | gas money, the time you've lost, the rental truck, |
| market action and common sense because everyone | | | | moving, and putting things together, that should at least |
| can use an extra buck or two to spend elsewhere | | | | have cost you the same amount as the shipping the |
| and more time to spend with loved ones rather than | | | | online furniture store would have charged you by |
| the stranger that is coughing next to you in line. | | | | clicking that checkout button. But of course, you are |
| I always support going to the store and browsing | | | | buying something that is thousands of dollars and you |
| around because it is an experience of ambience that | | | | really want to see it and touch it before you buy |
| you will never get when clicking on a picture online. But | | | | because you can't tell the quality of an item from the |
| that should definitely be considered as a luxury and | | | | picture or zoom ups of the items. |
| leisurely experience, because I am sure many of you | | | | The quality. What if the cushion is too hard? Or the |
| are busy and have a budget you have in mind when | | | | size won't fit? What if I have to return it because the |
| shopping. In this article I will try to give you some | | | | color was not right? These are all hard pressed |
| background and true economics of buying furniture | | | | questions that challenge both the customer and the |
| online so you are familiar with the pros and cons of | | | | online furniture industry. But you have to realize that |
| not going to your local store, and further be able to | | | | everyone (both retail store, online stores) is sourcing |
| address the cons to support a case that you should | | | | from the same people. Even if they buy from different |
| shop online for furniture more often than many think. | | | | wholesalers that supply their business, it's the same |
| The money. One of the most key things to buying an | | | | manufacturer in Canada, China, Vietnam, etc. that |
| item is to make sure that the price is right. And I can | | | | makes the items. You are buying essentially the same |
| assure you that the pricing is mostly lower when | | | | items made by the originating people whether you buy |
| buying from an online furniture store. Take for instance | | | | from the store or you buy online, and you're buying the |
| a dining room set that you find at the local big box | | | | same quality. So how can you be sure then if the item |
| retailer or family owned furniture store. They usually go | | | | is what you want? Well, there are many things that |
| for about $4000-$5000 for a dining room set with 4 | | | | can bolster your buying confidence, such as: |
| chairs, 2 arm chairs, and a table. You can just see it in | | | | 1. Email or call the online store and ask them questions |
| the Sunday paper ads or the mailers you get from | | | | about the color or quality of the item, and where it's |
| companies like Easy Life or Levitz (which is going out | | | | made; |
| of business, by the way). Just quickly go to Amazon | | | | 2. Find out the manufacturer name, and I can |
| or Google and you will be sure to find a dining room | | | | guarantee you will hear the same name that supplies |
| set with more selection and styles to meet your needs | | | | the local store (you can also call the local store to find |
| for less than half he price you pay at the local store, | | | | out what brands they carry); |
| you find smaller dining sets at less then $800 up to | | | | 3. Check if the items have warranties, because a good |
| complete formal dining room sets at $2500 average. | | | | warranty means they back up an item of quality; |
| And better yet, you can go from store to store to | | | | 4. Product ratings by customers are sometimes |
| compare the pricing just by a click of a button and with | | | | displayed on the product page. Read through them |
| the local store's catalog in front of you to match up the | | | | and get a feel of what they say and if they have |
| pricing right at the comfort of your den dressed in your | | | | comments that address your concerns about buying |
| PJs. So now you may ask "what about the shipping?", | | | | that furniture item. |
| since it does usually cost a few hundred dollars to ship | | | | All in all you can do your due diligence before making |
| a dining room set, it's not worth it so you drive to the | | | | that big investment into your furniture and decorating |
| store and get it yourself, but that takes up a lot of your | | | | your home, and the same level of quality checking can |
| time. | | | | be done at the ease of a phone call and/or an email |
| The time. Time does cost you not only money but also | | | | just as you would driving from store to store to |
| time away from family, friends, loved ones. So think | | | | compare. |