By Carol Trehearn
Once upon a time, furniture shopping was something that you did in person. You’d take a trip to your local furniture store, select the items that you wanted, and then either take them home yourself or pay the store assistant to arrange a delivery for you.
However, thanks to the rise of online shopping, you can now purchase any type of furniture online, from sofas and beds to kitchen appliances, from both online-only brands and well-known high street stores. Purchasing furniture online is a very convenient process.
However, it does come with some drawbacks such as not being able to see or feel the items before you order. So, we’ve put together some top tips for buying furniture online to ensure that you get what you need.
Tip #1. Read Reviews: Firstly, one of the most important things that you should do before buying any furniture online is read as many reviews as you can. If you are purchasing from a manufacturer or retailer that you are unfamiliar with, then it’s vital to look on third-party review sites for them and find unbiased and honest reviews from their past customers, to get an idea of the type of service that they will deliver.
Wherever possible, it’s a good idea to check products that have reviews for the item rather than the company since this will allow you to better gauge what to expect from your order. You can also check out review sites and blogs such as gradedreviews.com.
Tip #2. Ask for Samples: Since furniture retailers know that customers who purchase online won’t be able to see the item before they make the purchase, many will be more than happy to provide you with a sample wherever possible.
For example, if you are looking for a new sofa, then you may be able to have a swatch of fabric sent to you so that you can better determine how you feel about it.
Think about factors such as durability and whether or not you like the feel. Similarly, manufacturers and retailers of wooden furniture may also be able to send you a sample of the finish.
Tip #3. Visit a Store: Although this may not always be possible, it’s worth looking into visiting a store and even asking some questions before you buy online, to see the furniture pieces that you want in-person.
Remember that it’s not uncommon for online products to look better in the professional photographs on the website, so it’s worth looking around for stores in your area that sell the product that you want so that you can go and take a look before making a final decision.
Tip #4. Be Clear on Return Policies: Last but not least, it’s important to make sure that you fully understand the return policy before you part with any of your money. The last thing that you want is to order an expensive piece of furniture, only to realize that you don’t like it and it’s non-refundable.
If these tips were useful for you, then we’d love to hear from you in the comments.