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February 28, 2007 12:07 AM

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4. f the retailer

This has always been my practice.

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February 28, 2007 12:30 AM

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I've bought quite a lot of furniture online and didn't do any of this stuff -- and I've never had a bad experience. Buying from a local retailer is fine if you live in a major city with loads of stores, but here in Portland the selection is rather limited. We have a West Elm store, but they don't carry most the furniture that their web site has. Everything I've bought online from them was delivered on time, and the delivery guys carried it up to my condo. Maybe the trick is to stick with a well-known retailer when you buy furniture online. I've also had good experiences with Pottery Barn and CB2.

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Holden Caulfield

February 28, 2007 12:37 AM

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@Charles Star: On the furniture that you purchased from the very same retailer? Wouldnt that be ironic. f the retailer on the newly purchased furniture.

Okay, that was horrible. I'm having a slow day at work.

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brooklynbs

February 28, 2007 12:41 AM

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I bought online from Gothic Cabinet Craft, a company with retail locations in New York and New Jersey. I went to their closest storefront and checked out the stuff, then bought online at a discount (they were having a big online sale). I measured everything also to make sure it would fit up the stairs, through the door and in my actual apartment. I had a great experience with them.

All of the furniture was what I expected it to be quality-wise; the delivery was on time; and, the delivery guys were pleasant and careful, navigating a tricky staircase without complaint and taking the packaging material with them when they left.

The company also scored an A+ for customer communication, sending an email a few days before shipment to confirm a delivery time (and they hit the four-hour window).

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Front_Towards_Enemy

February 28, 2007 1:09 AM

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I find it interesting that in #2, they deal with your pubic if they have a brick-n-morter storefront.

Heh.

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djej

February 28, 2007 1:28 AM

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@Dustbunny:

Ummm....if you think Portland has a limited selection of furniture stores, you are mistaken. In fact, Portland is home to some of the most popular designer furniture stores in the U.S. Check out the NW 23rd area if you're not convinced.

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LatherRinseRepeat

February 28, 2007 1:34 AM

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I'd be reluctant to buy furniture online. Mainly because of delivery issues. Like if the furniture arrives damaged or broken. Then you have to go through the process of getting an RMA and then shipping it back. That's just more time and money wasted. I'd rather go to the store, see the furniture in person, then take it home in a U-Haul or a borrowed pick-up truck.

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twigg

February 28, 2007 1:43 AM

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We bought two pieces of furniture from Overstock.com and were completely thrilled - a rare experience - with how quickly the furniture arrived (a few days earlier than they said) and with the shipping: $2.95 per order. Yes, we paid less than $3.00 for shipping on our chaise lounge and ottoman/bench.

There was some assembly required, but it wasn't hard work. And we are really happy with the chaise, and satisfied with the ottoman/bench.

What actually sealed the deal for Overstock was the live chat feature with an operator on their website (I don't know if they still have that feature). We didn't understand the shipping price, we thought we were missing something. But the person on the other end clarified, and (of course) helped finalize our order.

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marike

February 28, 2007 4:08 AM

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I've purchased furniture from Overstock.com and 3 of the 4 were fabulous items at great prices. The one piece that didn't work out had multiple issues with dings and they sent me multiple replacement legs for until I finally just sent it back for a refund. The item I ended up sending back was the only item that didn't have any sort of feedback from other customers.

I have no problems with ordering furniture from Overstock.com as long as it's got feedback because that's super helpful when determining how functional it is, its quality etc.

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Stepehn Colbert

February 28, 2007 4:34 AM

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I got a tip for ya, if you gotta be in-store when you buy furniture, bring a pencil, and mark your initials on an unnoticeable part of each set, and specifically request that you not be given the floor model. When they deliver it, inspect for your initials, and AFTER they've unloaded EVERY PIECE, if you've found your initials, refuse to sign for it, and have them pack it back up. Look at it this way, you didnt get the furniture, but the furniture store didnt get the money, AND had to pay the movers for all the time it took to unload and reload all the furniture.

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February 28, 2007 4:44 AM

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@erattixconcepts:

I guess it depends on what your taste in furniture is -- I like really modern styles, and besides Dania and Hip, there's Design Within Reach, which is hugely overpriced. Plus a bunch more expensive stores in the Pearl. I just think you can get better bargains online.

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cypherpunk

February 28, 2007 3:05 PM

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I bought a dining room set from AmishDiningRoom.com. It was everything we expected and about $2k less than our local furniture specialist would have charged us for a similar custom table and chair set.

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February 28, 2007 5:43 PM

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:::support local craftsmen:::

find furniture designers in your area and get them to make your furniture. if you can't find any, call some architects, they might help.

f overstock

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dsb

February 28, 2007 8:35 PM

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(total process taking 63 business days- 3 months)

63 days is barely over two months.
Just a picky detail.

Great article; glad to see what really goes on behind the scenes. I didn't know the number of damaged deliveries was so high.

I'd guess most local furniture (of equivalent quality) would be cheaper, anyway, once you figure in the freight charges -- especially if you watch the sales.

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Holden Caulfield

February 28, 2007 11:24 PM

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@voodoodle: I have found many furniture builders through craigslist.

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March 1, 2007 5:33 PM

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I don't buy furniture, I inherit it. Seriously, you can get decent furniture off of family and sometimes friends. The older it is, the better, as it's more than likely very sturdy construction. Who cares if it matches? The only people who are concerned with that design b.s. are hoity-toity rich snobs. Furniture covers will work excellently if you MUST have matching colors or themes. Furniture costs WAY too much. I've got a wonderful maple dinette that was the wedding gift to my parents, from my dear departed grandmother, that would cost well over $2000 new, today, free. I did buy a new bed recently though, those you don't usually want used.

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jknode

March 13, 2007 4:27 PM

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I can't say enough good things about buying a couch and two rugs online from Crate and Barrel. They overnighted fabric samples and were really flexible about delivery times. I actually have a name and direct number for the woman dealing with my order. Even the outsourced delivery guys were nice.

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