14 tips for buying furniture online

The Internet operates as an open marketplace and not everyone on the Internet is reputable or trustworthy. It takes time to find high quality furniture at the best prices online, but these tips can help you make solid buying decisions.

 1. Read the "About" page

Start your research by reading the company's "About" page. The best online retailers provide details about their companies, including history and information about their customer service and satisfaction guarantees. The site's "About" page should also include a phone number or address. Reputable companies always provide ways for businesses to contact them offline.

Pro tip: try to find out if the company has a physical store to showcase products.

2. Search for store reviews

Several websites allow users to post reviews for online retailers. While it may be normal or common to be able to find one or two reviews for bad experiences with a store, if you find several bad reviews or a low rating they may indicate problems with the company. Start by checking Google Product Search, which allows users to rank and comment on different stores. The shopping section allows users to rate merchants with up to five stars and submit reviews on products and merchants. First check the star rating. Generally, skip any store with a one- or two-star rating. If the store has a three-, four- or five-star rating, read some of the reviews left by other users. Google users tend to leave fairly simple reviews.

You can also rate these sellers on Amazonwhich allows you to verify their work and read more detailed reviews about the furniture and dealers.

3. Check the return policy
Web sites should have clear return policies. If a website does not allow returns at all, don't do business with them.
Look for websites with flexible return policies. Stores should give customers enough time to return products. Also, check the website's restocking fees. 

Pro tip: look for the term "return" when reading merchant reviews to learn more about the experiences of other customers who return items to the website.

4. Shipping costs
Most stores list their shipping policy on their "Frequently Asked Questions" or "About" pages. Carefully review a store's shipping policies before purchasing furniture on the website. Different stores use different shipping companies, such as TNT or DB SCHENKER, and offer different shipping and handling rates . Some stores increase the cost of shipping or charge a handling fee to offset the lower prices they offer on their furniture. Don't buy furniture without first checking the shipping and handling charges.

Pro tip: free shipping means free. Many stores include the cost of shipping in the purchase price and then claim to offer free shipping to attract customers. Compare prices with other sites. If furniture costs 100 euros or 200 euros more on a website that offers free shipping, the website probably added the cost of shipping to the prices.

 

 

5. Find a store that matches your style
Some online retailers, such as Amazon, ETSY, e-Bay offer many products from different merchants that cover the full spectrum of decorating styles. However, most online stores offer items that reflect the website's commitment to a particular style.

For example, some stores specialize in modern, eco-friendly furniture. These stores offer sleeker furniture with minimal design elements and modern-looking home décor pieces. Other stores sell more traditional or classic pieces, and have product offerings that speak more to the buyer with a traditional sense of style.

When looking for a furniture store, look for one that matches your own sense of style, this way you'll have more to choose from as you browse.

Pro tip: Identify your sense of style and then search online using keywords that identify your style. This will help you find the right furniture. For example, using terms such as Classic, Rustic, Natural Wood, Modern and Scandinavian can help you find websites that specialize in your favorite type of furniture.

6. Shop at stores that offer a good selection
Find what you need to furnish your home by shopping at an online store that offers a full range of furniture options. Some retailers focus on small, hand-painted furniture, and other stores only sell bedroom furniture. You have a better chance of finding everything you need if you shop at a site that offers furniture individually for each room in the house.

Many stores offer you a discount on shipping if you buy multiple pieces, and you can save a lot of money by buying two or more pieces at the same time from the same retailer. Otherwise, you could end up with several pieces of furniture in slightly different shades of stain, color or hue.

7. Stores with physical locations
Many online stores also have physical locations where you can go to buy furniture. Choosing to buy furniture at a store with a physical location allows you to see and touch the pieces you want before you buy. Having the option to see the furniture before you buy it can save you headaches down the road. In addition, shopping on websites with physical stores can eliminate shipping costs. Many websites with physical stores allow you to purchase items online and pick them up on your own, so you can save on shipping fees.

Pro tip: at Roble.Store you can use a special SINENVIO code and find your item in stock without paying shipping costs.

8. Shop on secure websites
Shop for furniture only on secure websites to reduce the risk of identity theft. Once you begin the checkout process, you should see details that indicate the site is secure. Verify the URL address of the page. If you purchase furniture from a secure site, the URL changes to begin with https instead of http, indicating that the site is secure. You may see a padlock icon somewhere at the bottom of the web page; this is also an indicator of the website's security. Double-click on the padlock icon to review information about the website's security measures.

9. Look at the photos
Many online stores post several photos of furniture and you should review each one carefully. Usually, the store posts a photo of the furniture in a decorated room that accentuates the furniture. Then, the website provides links to side angles and additional images without any accessories used to make the furniture look more attractive.

Unless it's a one-of-a-kind item, you can usually find different photos by searching for the brand name and item name. Look at as many photos as you can to get an idea of how the furniture would look in your home.

Pro tip: Some stores, like ours, use customer photos with reviews. These photos give buyers an idea of what the furniture really looks like in someone's home.

10. Read the description
Our tip: read the descriptions completely if you want to buy. Keep in mind that furniture companies choose your wording carefully. For example, veneers or composites come from wood pulp or synthetic material, and furniture made from these materials will be of lower quality than furniture made from solid wood.

Pro tip: In addition to reading the summary description, click on any link or tab to read the specifications, if available. Look for information on durability, construction and instructions for cleaning the furniture.

11. Verify furniture measurements
Carefully check furniture measurements. Don't just assume that the piece can fit where you want it to go; pictures can be deceiving. When you measure the room, be sure to check the measurements for the length and width of the furniture. Also, make sure that doorways and hallways won't cause any problems.

12. Beware of colors
While most sites do their best to provide accurate photos, posting photos of furniture online can distort the true colors of the furniture. Darker furniture in particular, such as espresso, popular among modern furniture designs, tends to look lighter online.

At Oak Store we offer samples of the woods and colors and colors we sell, you can order them to be sure that the color you chose will fit in your interior.

13. Home delivery
With front door (walk-up) delivery, the delivery driver drops off your furniture at your front door or on the second floor of your apartment building. While this is usually the cheapest delivery option, you must bring the piece inside your home or have the help of someone who can carry the piece for you. If you need custom delivery contact a seller to find out what options they can offer you.

Inside delivery costs more than the front door option, but the delivery driver brings the furniture inside your home.

This usually includes carrying it upstairs if you live in an apartment building, and some delivery services even bring the box to a room of your choice. This option helps people who don't want the burden of lifting heavy boxes. Keep in mind that the delivery driver will not open the box, inspect the package or help you set up the furniture.

Final conclusion

Buying furniture online can save you time and money, you need to be vigilant and do a little research to find the best deals. Make sure you use a site you trust, find the lowest price and choose a shipping method that won't make you regret upgrading your furniture.

 

Don't forget to carefully evaluate pictures and descriptions of any furniture you find, and keep in mind that while a picture may be worth a thousand words, most online retailers spend a lot of money on professional photographers. Don't rely on photos alone to choose your new sofa. Read reviews, compare prices, and Google user-submitted images to see what you're really buying.

 
Have you purchased furniture online? How satisfied were you with your purchase?