The 7 Keys to Shopping for Furniture without Getting Bamboozled
by www.SixWise.com
The furniture industry is big business in the United States
today, bringing in $55 billion in 2005, with estimates reaching
upwards of $80 million for 2007, according to the federal
Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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Experts recommend bringing a sample of upholstery home
with you before deciding on a new couch or upholstered
chair.
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Furniture shopping is also a major headache for consumers,
as it can be just as stressful, just as confusing and even
just as costly as shopping for other big-ticket items like
cars or electronics. However, while most consumers do their
homework before deciding
on a car to buy, many walk into furniture showrooms completely
unprepared and vulnerable to sales pitches and price mark-ups.
It's essential to know what you're doing when it comes to
buying furniture, so read up on the necessary tips below (and
send them on to your furniture-challenged friends and colleagues
as well) to ensure your next furniture purchase is a wise
one.
1. Compare prices online first. The Internet is a
virtual treasure-trove of information when it comes to comparing
prices, and many consumers are wising up to the benefits of
online price-checking.
"The first thing is to look online," said Jennifer
Litwin, author of "Best
Furniture Buying Tips Ever."
She estimates that 60 percent of furniture shoppers now use
the Internet to not only research but also to purchase items.
"It's a pretty staggering number, considering you can't
even see or check out the product in person," she says.
2. Negotiate the Price. Furniture prices are often
flexible, and experts recommend asking for a 20 percent discount
(and expecting to receive around 15 percent off). Price negotiations
are common at mid- and upper-end furniture retailers, and
less so at chain stores, however, even lower-end stores can
throw in better finance packages and extras if you ask.
Further, if the store won't budge on price, wait for a sale.
Most furniture stores offer big discounts during three-day
weekends like Memorial Day and other holidays.
3. Wheel n' Deal for Extras. Seemingly small things
like delivery and assembly can add up to 10 percent or 15
percent of the furniture price, so definitely ask the salesperson
to throw these in for free (or at least for a reduced price).
Also be sure to get any and all extras, including a warranty,
in writing.
4. Come prepared. About six out of 10 consumers wish
they could repurchase a piece of furniture because they didn't
get it quite right the first time, according to research by
the American Home Furnishings Alliance.
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Always find out the store's return policy before purchasing
any furniture. If the couch doesn't look right when
you get it home, can you bring it back the next morning?
Are there restocking fees? Or, are all sales final?
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To avoid this scenario, it's essential to do your homework
before deciding on any furniture. This includes making sure
you have the exact measurements of the room (including the
door or window you'll need to move the furniture in through),
getting an idea of what styles appeal to you by leafing through
a few magazines, and bringing color samples of paint and other
fabrics with you to the store. You can even snap a couple
of photos of the room you're decorating to take with you.
Remember, also, to pay attention to scale. A huge four-poster
bed may look ideal in the expansive furniture showroom, but
how will it really look in your cozy apartment?
5. Pay attention to the cushions. Cushions, experts
say, can be even more important than the actual wooden frame.
"I think they [cushions] are, and I review furniture
for a living," Litwin said. "I don't care what these
salespeople tell me about the frame and the eight-way, hand-tied
springs and all of that. You really want to make sure it's
properly upholstered and comfortable."
Cushions, after all, are what will make the sofa or chair
soft and inviting versus lumpy, stiff and never-used. Be sure
you sit in, lie on and get a good feel for the piece of furniture
before you buy it.
However, says Litwin, don't necessarily rule out a piece
of furniture because it seems uncomfortable. You can simply
take the cushions out of the cover and have a professional
upholsterer make you new ones.
"And it's only a few hundred dollars," Litwin says.
"That's the difference between a $600 or $700 couch and
a couch that might cost $5,000 or $10,000."
6. Don't get fabric protection. Fabric protectors
like Scotchguard are not only costly, they're often ineffective.
You can easily apply your own later, if you want, but be aware
that stain-repellants often contain volatile
organic compounds, which have been linked to serious health
effects.
7. Don't assume higher price means higher quality.
In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission rescinded guidelines
for accurate labeling in home furniture, which means that
today furniture often carries misleading labels.
"That's an important point to note because they can
sell any kind of furniture they want and label it any way
they want," Litwin said.
So be wary of buying something just for the label, and also
be aware that it's perfectly acceptable to mix a couple of
higher end pieces with a few less costly ones.
Recommended Reading
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Products You Should Almost ALWAYS Buy Used, Not New
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Stores are Secretly Using Barry Manilow to Rob You
Sources
ChicagoTribune.com
January 7, 2007
FindYourFurniture.com
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10 Furniture Shopping Mistakes