Choosing Furniture Stores: Looking Beyond The Banners And Glitz

Of all the details to think of, list, consider, and compare when decorating or redecorating a home or office, selecting a good retailer from a wide selection of furniture stores is not often near the top of the To Do List. However, selecting the right one is crucial to your overall satisfaction with your purchases.

Factors to Consider

Furniture can be a major financial investment. Once you have an idea of the type, color, and size of the furniture in which you're most interested, it's time to choose from furniture stores that offer what you might want. Consider the following factors:

Showroom: What furniture retailers are nearby? Do they have roomy showrooms that will allow you to view their selection from various angles and distances? Purchasing furniture via a catalog, either paper or electronic, isn't recommended. Actual design, construction, and details are more readily seen in person, and advantages or disadvantages recognized. Use catalogs to determine what pieces interest you, certainly, but actually choose and purchase furniture in person whenever possible.

Selection: What stores offer accessory pieces, such as lamps, art, clocks, or even window treatments? Do you need those items, too? Do the stores sell furniture by the piece or only in sets? What furniture retailers offer all the furniture you want?

Delivery: Do you need or prefer delivery? If so, what furniture stores offer delivery service? Do they charge for the service? Is there a purchase amount at which delivery becomes free? Are their delivery hours or ranges reasonable? If assembly is required, is that offered as well? Is the cost of assembly included? Will they remove any old furniture? If so, what, if any, is the charge for removal?

Purchase Terms: What furniture stores offer favorable payment terms? Are discounts offered for cash purchases? Are there restrictions on that option? Is there a lay-away plan? If so, what are their terms on time and interest rates? Do they charge more for credit card purchases? Do they offer pre- or post-sale discounts of the same amount? Can you get a discount for a purchases above a certain total?

Return Policy: Even though you did your very best to select exactly what you wanted, what happens if the furniture selected just isn't quite right? What furniture stores have a return policy? If so, do you get your money back or is it strictly an exchange for other pieces? Are exchanges for the same item or can you select an alternate piece within the same price range? Can you upgrade on an exchange and pay the difference in price? Must the store assemble or deliver the furniture for it to qualify for an unquestioned return? Is there a restocking fee? What happens if the delivered furniture was flawed, damaged, or broken prior to your accepting it into your home? What happens if it's flawed, and you brought the furniture home yourself? What if the wrong pieces were delivered?

By: Jacob T Miller

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Jacob Miller writes about different home improvement ideas and decor trends out of Chicago. Always looking for the highest quality furniture stores and statement pieces, he tends to end up shopping at www.TheRoomPlace.com more often than not.