The vast majority of furniture buyers goes on looks and has no real idea of the quality they’re getting. They don’t know if they’ve gotten a good deal or if they’ve been jobbed. Here are the things you need to know when wading out into this potential swamp:
Thing No. 1 Compare prices on the exact same item.
Furniture shopping isn’t like buying a car; you can’t find the
wholesale value of that sofa you’re interested in. Sorry, but the
furniture industry guards this information like it’s plutonium.
The best you can do is compare retail prices on specific, identical
pieces. When you find something you like, write down the
manufacturer, model, item number, etc. Then check around for
prices on that specific item at local stores and online
retailers. Comparing two items that merely look the same is
usually misleading – there could easily be real differences in the
quality of the construction, etc. It’s apples and oranges
time. And remember to factor in shipping or delivery to the
overall price.
Thing No. 2 A name brand is not a guarantee of high quality
It’s not that easy. The big brands offer a range of products,
from high quality on down. What you are guaranteed of getting
with a name brand is a higher price. There are huge advertising
and marketing costs in building a name brand, and those costs land the
price of the furniture. They have to. Non-brand name
manufacturers compete by being able to offer lower prices. So it
all goes back to understanding just what features and quality of
construction you’re getting for the price.
Thing No. 3 Look for signs of quality.
It’s tricky, as furniture is easy to construct cheaply but look expensive. Here are a few things to look for:
• If an upholstered piece has a printed pattern, it
should match at the seams, edges and back in a continuous fashion.
• To ensure genuine leather, look at the base to see
if it’s dyed all the way through; white gauze backing indicates vinyl.
• Better sofas have frames made of a kiln-dried
hardwood, and a really expensive sofa should have five legs (the fifth
in the center).
• Look underneath tables to examine the quality of the wood.
• Drawers should hang straight and open smoothly; a rough interior to a drawer is less than the best.
• Pieces with spring systems should have, at the
minimum, sinuous wire (or S-type) springs, which are standard; the best
will have eight-way hand-tied springs; a warranty on the spring system
for up to five years is another sign of good quality.
Thing No. 4 Where to buy.
It’s wise to look both in local stores and online. Internet
retailers will often have better prices, as their overhead is
lower. (No rent, no sales commissions, etc. You get
it.) You can also avoid sales tax online unless you’re in their
state. As always, it’s imperative to do some homework on the
retailer you’re going to do business with. Check their standing
with the Better Business Bureau, etc. The retailer’s reputation
and credibility is ultimately your best protection in this process.
Thing No. 5 There are sharks in these waters.
You’re bound to come across some questionable sales tactics. Wise up:
• A 50% off sale usually means that the item was
marked up, way up, in the first place; the discount is not real.
• Going out of business sales are traps -- the store
usually hires an outside company that specializes in maxing out
profits, and they’ll offer bogus discounts and use high-pressure
tactics to make as many sales as possible.
• On a positive note, grand opening sales usually do
offer good prices; they want your return business and good word of
mouth.
• “90 Days Same As Cash” offers and the like can
hammer you with big interest rates if you don’t pay in full before the
free period runs out.
• “No Payments Until Next Year” offers are real costs
to the retailer and must, repeat, must be built into the price of the
item; there’s no free lunch, people.