8 Essential Tips for Buying Furniture Online

Online furniture sales are booming like never before.

Going to the store to buy furniture can be extremely time consuming and overly-expensive.

However, buying furniture online isn’t without problems. You can’t just look at a pretty photo and click “buy” it.

You don’t want to end up with mismatched chairs or badly chosen tables for your home. Check out our 8 essential tips for buying furniture online here.

1. Do Your Homework on the Company

When you buy furniture online, you should check the company is legitimate. You don’t want to send them your money without getting anything in return.

There are tons of scams online. But, you can quickly determine whether the company is reliable and trustworthy or not.

Does the company provide clear information about the location and contact info? Are there previous reviews of the company online somewhere?

2. What Do Online Reviews Say?

Around 84 percent of people believe online reviews as much as friends.

You probably shouldn’t trust reviews as much as your reliable friends. And yet, it is always a helpful indicator.

If you read a review that says “poor quality. Broken within a few days. The company won’t hear our complaints” – run away!

If you consistently read positive reviews of the furniture company, then you can be confident that they’re reliable.

You shouldn’t exclusively go with the reviews on the company’s website.

Also, seek out independent reviewing websites. Try websites such as Google Reviews or Yelp. This can give you a better idea of what you’re buying.

Finally, if you cannot find any online reviews, you should be suspicious. Have they deleted them?

3. What Is the Shipping Policy?

Ensure you learn more about the company’s shipping policy on their website. This may not be easy to find. Check the FAQs or About Us sections.

You may or may not need to pay for shipping. Free shipping may be available for bigger purchases. But, don’t end up spending more than you planned just to get the free shipping.

It’s also important to remember that “free shipping” isn’t necessarily free. The company may simply have included the costs of shipping in the overall price of the product.

4. What Is the Return Policy?

You may think that you definitely want to buy a piece of furniture. However, you never know until you get it home.

That’s why it’s so important to check out the return policy of the company. They may even charge you for sending back the items.

You should search for companies who provide a flexible return policy. Check how many days you have before you have to return the furniture.

5. Carefully Look at the Photos

You don’t want to buy any furniture online without seeing it beforehand.

The best furniture stores have clear images of the items. You should be able to look at the photos from different angles.

There may even be photos of the items in a homely backdrop with props to give you an impression of how it would look in your home.

6. Does Furniture Fit the Room?

You want a piece of furniture. You order it online. But, when it arrives, you’re disappointed.

It doesn’t fit! You should always check the measurements of the item online before clicking “buy” it. Photos of the items can be deceiving. You never know until you get out a tape measure.

If you like a piece of furniture, but the measurements aren’t listed, you can always phone to ask them. You should never purchase anything without this information.

7. Shop Around for the Best Price

Just because you’ve stumbled upon the perfect bedframe or couch, you should ensure that you compare the prices with other online sellers.

Few online sellers have their own products. You can normally buy the same dining table from multiple online sellers. That’s why it’s important to shop around for the best price.

You don’t have to search the depths of the internet either. Simply check out a few companies to spot whether the price changes significantly.

But, remember that price isn’t everything. The other company may offer you a more generous warranty or throw in a free cushion as well. You’ve got to weigh everything up.

8. What Type of Delivery Service Is Offered?

There are many types of delivery. You need to determine which is the right choice for you. These include the following:

Store Pick-Up

If the online store also has a brick and mortar location, you may be able to pick up the furniture yourself.

This can save you money. However, if the item is large, you may require the delivery vehicle.

Front Door Delivery

This delivery service usually drops off the item at your front door.

This is often the most affordable choice. The downside is that you may need to carry the furniture inside your home personally.

Inside Delivery

Inside Delivery means that the furniture will be brought inside your home for you.

This is usually more expensive. But, it can also save you the time and effort of carrying the furniture yourself.

White-Glove Delivery

This white glove delivery option is the luxury package. The delivery driver will not only bring the item into your home. They will also assemble and arrange the furniture ready for use.

This is usually quite expensive. But, it is definitely worthwhile.