5 Things You Didn’t Know About Furniture Stores
Purchasing furniture, like mattress buying, is a long-term investment. Therefore, caution must be exercised. You should know the following about furniture stores.
1. You Can Negotiate the Price
The sticker price isn’t the final price, and that’s why you should always negotiate for a better deal. However, that doesn’t come easy and we’ll explain in detail in the ‘They Only Get Paid When You Purchase’ section. There are people who will walk into a furniture store only to come out after some 3, close to 4 hours later. The reason? They believe that they can get a better deal on the furniture they want. And although they eventually do, it takes a lot of discussing and lots of time lost, but it’s worth it.
Why do they spend so much time searching for a better deal?
Well, furniture stores will mark up their prices by 80% or even more in some cases. Their goal is to maximize profits. Therefore, even when stores go on a sale, they are still making lots of profits. Even when the prices are discounted, know that you can still get a better deal!
2. They Only Get Paid When You Purchase
There was a time a lot of us dreaded going mattress shopping; the hustle and bustle involved was simply exhausting and quite some torture. Many mattress companies have gone online transforming the industry for the better. There has also been a tremendous improvement in bed quality and prices. They offer lots of coupons to consumers. Today, although most furniture stores have gone online, lots of people will prefer to go to stores as they are delicate pieces.
You’ll notice that the sales agents are quite pushy in furniture stores, reason being most of them work on commission and only get paid when consumers pay. The commission they get strongly depends on how much they sell, making it difficult for them to agree to discounted prices.
3. Look Out For Warranties
Although stores will check pieces for damages, some will go unnoticed. That’s why warranties are essential. Gone are the days when customers would be stuck with ineffective products, or would be shown the buyers beware warning. Today, customers are protected from damaged goods. That’s why we have warranties. A good warranty will run for a year, a better one for at least 5 years but the best last for a lifetime. Good furniture stores will have a warranty because they believe in the quality of their products.
4. There’s Significant Quality Disparity
Before purchasing any furniture, get familiar with the quality. Furniture is not created equal, therefore, some will be more durable than others. Get long-lasting furniture with good finish. Look for stability, which implies no wobbling and excellent seam finish.
5. Buying on their Financial Plan Can Damage Your Credit Score
Mattress companies and furniture stores have adopted a new trend, giving consumers a chance to purchase on credit. This, however, isn’t without its shortcomings. You miss a payment and the interest spikes, making it possible for some to keep up. It negatively affects your credit score.
With the above in mind, next time you go furniture shopping, you’ll be wiser with your choices — all the best.
I have never been much of a haggler but it sounds like I need to do some homework before shopping for these big ticket items.