Tips for choosing online furniture pieces so you don’t have to go to a store
We can all agree that online shopping in the COVID-19 era is the new normal. And while buying clothing and other home essentials is done without even a thought, online furniture shopping can feel quite risky and daunting to first-timers. Click a few buttons and a few days later, a new couch conveniently appears on your doorstep. But (and here’s a big but) what if the colour is wrong or it doesn’t fit? If you arm yourself with the right information and do your homework, buying furniture online can be an absolute game-changer and save you significant time and hassle. Payflex outlines 10 tips for choosing online furniture pieces so you don’t have to go to a store.
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Measure up
This is definitely the holy grail when it comes to online furniture shopping. The last thing you want is the headache of ordering furniture that is either way too big or way too small for the space, or worse, the item doesn’t fit through your front door. Measure the area where you plan to put the item as well as your front door. Using masking tape to map out the size of the item is a great way to visualize how much floor space it will actually take up.
Rely on customer reviews
Assessing a product’s quality and comfort can be challenging when you’re not physically touching or looking at it. Customer reviews are a great way to get an accurate, honest and non-biased opinion on a piece of furniture’s quality, appearance and durability.
Choose stores with a reputation for customer service
Just because you’re choosing to buy online, does not mean you have to forego professional guidance from the retailer. You should aim to focus on stores who have a reputation for their strong customer service. Whether it’s a live webchat function, a responsive social media team or a friendly customer service team, engaging with helpful and knowledgeable staff will help you make an informed decision.
Pay attention to the material
Make sure you carefully examine how the item has been made. Whether it’s wood, marble, metal, fabric or melamine, knowing what the furniture is made of will give you a stronger understanding of the item’s quality and durability.
Buy at the right time
Keep an eye out for special deals or end of season sales to try snag that item you have been eyeing for ages at a greatly discounted price.
Exclusive deals
Another huge benefit to online furniture shopping is exclusive deals and discounts for store subscribers. So, next time you land on a store that you really like, make sure you register your details to receive a special discount you wouldn’t ordinarily receive in brick and mortar stores.
Factor shipping, assembly into your budget
Always make sure you investigate the store’s shipping and assembly costs. Set a budget for what you want to spend on the item, ensuring you factor in these costs which can significantly eat into your budget.
Always check the returns policy
Even after all your hard work and research, the item might still not be right for space. Make sure you read the fine print and check the store’s returns policy to ensure you can send it back without a hassle.
You get what you pay for
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you research the store you are interested in purchasing from before handing over your personal details. A piece of furniture will likely last you a number of years, so try to view it as an investment, instead of doing it on the cheap.
Use flexible payment options
Flexible payment options like buy now pay later platform Payflex allows you to buy that big-ticket item now, and pay for it in 4 interest-free instalments over 6 weeks. This enables you to plan the purchase and space out the payments to ensure it doesn’t feel too cumbersome on your wallet.
Conclusion
Online shopping is changing the way we buy furniture. While we’ve all heard our fair share of online shopping horror stories, incorporating these tips into your online furniture search will help ensure that your experience is easy and hassle-free. So instead of spending your precious weekends trekking to different furniture stores, access a host of options at the click of a button, and get furnishing today.
You can browse our incredible furniture and decor merchants here. Explore brands such as Knus, Mattress warehouse, FurnitureMart.
