Making large purchases like home furniture is still scary for some, and many people have only begun to embrace it during the pandemic. Online shopping, or eCommerce, is the new platform for the modern shopper. Whereas the idea of shipping something so large once seemed like it would be an astronomical cost, today, you can actually qualify for free shipping – with conditions, of course.
Others are concerned about complications of delivery, such as being home and/or having help to bring it inside and place it appropriately. Most homeowners do not realize that you can still get white-glove service when you buy online. You can also usually make arrangements with the shipper for a tighter delivery window.
Now that we’ve allayed your fears about buying home furniture online, here is what you need to know to get the best deals from the most legitimate online furniture retailers.
General tips for safe online shopping
Regardless of what you are shopping for, you should follow some basic internet safety tips. Just as the number of eCommerce transactions has dramatically increased, so too has the number of fraudulent account activity. It is important that you make sure you know to who you are giving your information and who they might give it as well.
As a general rule, you should:
- Check for the https:// – the “s” means that it is a secure connection
- Purchase from a discount furniture dealer instead of an individual that might be a scam
- Never give passwords, login information, or personal data over an online chat, even if you need support. Legitimate sites will not ask for this information over an insecure chat.
When you take reasonable precautions, shopping online can be a worry-free experience. If you still have questions about the security of shopping online, consider talking to your banking institution or financial adviser about how you can protect yourself against fraud and identity theft.
Where to find legitimate discount furniture retailers online
The first thing you need to do is refine your search by choosing an interior design style, color scheme, and focal point for each room. You can further refine your search results by defining the exact pieces and sizes that you want, like sofas, loveseats, accent chairs, or sectionals.
Once you have narrowed down your search terms, get on a shopping site like Google Shopping listings, and find the furnishings and décor that come up. You can easily browse through a wide variety of home furniture and décor from across the web to give you a better idea of what you want for your home’s design. You can also browse through to get discounts on various products and services.
Before you order from any online furniture store, you should make sure that you are working with a legitimate site. As mentioned above, any site collecting personal information, including payment information, should be a secure site. If on a computer, your browser will tell you that you are on an unsecured site.
In addition, you should read reviews for both the furniture brands and the furniture stores that you are considering. If you want to make sure that you are getting the best deal available, it can be tempting to go with the lowest price, but sometimes that can be disastrous. It is better to find high-quality items like this discount furniture online:
Reading reviews of the brand is important because these will tell you if there is a likely flaw or weakness in the design that you should compensate for or that may lead you to a different choice altogether. It is important to remember that some people do not realize they are not buying directly from the brand, and as such, some of the delivery issues may have been unrelated to the brand. This is why it is important to read the reviews rather than just look at the stars given.
Reading reviews of online furniture retailers is equally important. You need to make sure that they are a reputable business that holds to your standards for service and quality. You should specifically look for issues with warranty, replacements, shipping damage, or shipping issues. Again, remember that some shipping issues are on the shipper’s end and not in control of the online store where you bought your home furniture. Such reviews should be ignored.
Likewise, you should keep an eye out for overly detailed, pointlessly long, or completely glowing reviews. Often such reviews are written by paid writers rather than real customers. The reviews are trying to blend SEO and ratings to boost their site, but in reality, they are stacking the average rating with their own “reviews.” A legitimate online furniture retailer doesn’t engage in such practices.
Planning or arranging for home furniture delivery
One of the biggest struggles for most homeowners and renters receiving delivery of home furniture and accessories is figuring out how to be available at the right time and with any assistance you might need. Many people operate under the assumption that you are at the mercy of the retailer and their shipper, but you do have some options when you use a reputable online furniture store.
Keep in mind that when an online furniture store offers free delivery, it is usually to your door. It is up to you to be there to receive it and bring it inside to where it will be placed. If you are not able to be available at any given time, you can usually use your tracking number to schedule a specific delivery window that you can plan for.
Remember that if you are not able to manage the furniture on your own, you’re going to need help. Ideally, you’ll have a friend or family member available to help you, but if not, you might look into a local handyman or moving services that are willing to take on such odd jobs. You may even be able to have the furniture rerouted to the contractor, and then they can bring it and put it where it goes on your schedule.
Another option you have for getting your furniture delivered is with white-glove service. Essentially, this is what is described above but on a more formal basis. The furniture store will contract with a local moving service, furniture store, or other independent contractors to have the furniture delivered and placed just as if you had bought the furniture locally. You will probably have to pay for white-glove service – it is rarely included in free shipping offers.