July 2008
How to find furniture discounts
Comparison shopping and haggling are keys to getting a good deal
You settle into your new overstuffed chair and plop your feet on the matching ottoman. But you still wonder if you bought
quality furniture at a good price. There are many choices, and the abundance of private-label merchandise makes it tough to
compare.
We recently went shopping to see what deals we could find and to learn some of the sales tactics furniture stores use. We also consulted several informative Web sites that provide tips on what to look for when it comes to quality and what to watch out for when dealing with salespeople. Two sources we liked are the “Buying Guides” link at the Interior Decorating section of About.com and the “Truth Exposed” link of the Better Bedding Web site. You might also want to check out “Top 10 Furniture Shopping Mistakes” in the About.com Furniture section.
Here are some tips that may help you get a bargain on your next bed or bureau:
Collect prices. The Internet is your best tool when shopping for brand-name furniture. You can use the manufacturer, model name, and model number to see how retailers stack up.
You’ll have to do a bit more work to compare prices on private-label products—identical items that manufacturers provide to retailers as exclusive models or under different brand names. For example, we searched the Web for prices on a love seat we saw at a local store, but we couldn’t find it using the manufacturer name the store gave us. But when we searched using the model number and the word “love seat,” we found the same piece at another retailer under a different label—for $401 less. So try searching by model names and numbers as well as general descriptions.
Comparison shopping is notoriously difficult when it comes to mattresses, where exclusive model names are the norm. One tactic is to ask the retailer for a copy of the specification sheet for a model you’re considering, and then ask other stores to give you a price and spec sheet on their comparable model.
Closely compare the spec sheets to make sure a store isn’t offering a better price by substituting a lower-quality model. If a salesman refuses to give you a copy of the spec sheet or says he doesn’t have one, shop elsewhere.
Be sure to take shipping costs into account when comparing prices. That’s especially important if you’re considering a distant retailer, such as a furniture maker’s outlet store in North Carolina, where some shoppers go cross-country for discounts.
Check closeouts and blemished items. We recently found a $1,765 couch in a retailer’s clearance center for $999. The only flaw we saw was a tiny spot on one of the cream-colored cushions. The day after we visited the store, we got a call from a salesman offering us another $250 off.
Make an offer. Don’t assume that the price on the label is final. The moment we were the slightest bit hesitant to buy at one mattress store, the salesman offered us discounts of $500 and $600 on two mattresses. At another store, we watched a customer haggle a price cut of more than $200 on a $749 mattress set.
If you can’t score a discount, you might be able to get free delivery or another extra, like a mattress cover or pad.
Search the Internet for rebates and coupons. We found furniture-store rebates of up to 6 percent at the Ebates and Upromise Web sites, and a coupon for 10 percent off at RetailMeNot.com.
Check the return policy. They vary depending on the store and the reason for the return. One retailer we checked charged $59 to exchange a mattress set within 15 days of delivery. Another allowed exchanges for up to 21 days, but charged $139 to $399 depending on the mattress size.
Skip fabric protection and extended warranties. Most furniture makers treat fabric with a protector already. And don’t bother paying to extend your warranty. It’s usually not worth the cost.
We recently went shopping to see what deals we could find and to learn some of the sales tactics furniture stores use. We also consulted several informative Web sites that provide tips on what to look for when it comes to quality and what to watch out for when dealing with salespeople. Two sources we liked are the “Buying Guides” link at the Interior Decorating section of About.com and the “Truth Exposed” link of the Better Bedding Web site. You might also want to check out “Top 10 Furniture Shopping Mistakes” in the About.com Furniture section.
Here are some tips that may help you get a bargain on your next bed or bureau:
Collect prices. The Internet is your best tool when shopping for brand-name furniture. You can use the manufacturer, model name, and model number to see how retailers stack up.
You’ll have to do a bit more work to compare prices on private-label products—identical items that manufacturers provide to retailers as exclusive models or under different brand names. For example, we searched the Web for prices on a love seat we saw at a local store, but we couldn’t find it using the manufacturer name the store gave us. But when we searched using the model number and the word “love seat,” we found the same piece at another retailer under a different label—for $401 less. So try searching by model names and numbers as well as general descriptions.
Comparison shopping is notoriously difficult when it comes to mattresses, where exclusive model names are the norm. One tactic is to ask the retailer for a copy of the specification sheet for a model you’re considering, and then ask other stores to give you a price and spec sheet on their comparable model.
Closely compare the spec sheets to make sure a store isn’t offering a better price by substituting a lower-quality model. If a salesman refuses to give you a copy of the spec sheet or says he doesn’t have one, shop elsewhere.
Be sure to take shipping costs into account when comparing prices. That’s especially important if you’re considering a distant retailer, such as a furniture maker’s outlet store in North Carolina, where some shoppers go cross-country for discounts.
Check closeouts and blemished items. We recently found a $1,765 couch in a retailer’s clearance center for $999. The only flaw we saw was a tiny spot on one of the cream-colored cushions. The day after we visited the store, we got a call from a salesman offering us another $250 off.
Make an offer. Don’t assume that the price on the label is final. The moment we were the slightest bit hesitant to buy at one mattress store, the salesman offered us discounts of $500 and $600 on two mattresses. At another store, we watched a customer haggle a price cut of more than $200 on a $749 mattress set.
If you can’t score a discount, you might be able to get free delivery or another extra, like a mattress cover or pad.
Search the Internet for rebates and coupons. We found furniture-store rebates of up to 6 percent at the Ebates and Upromise Web sites, and a coupon for 10 percent off at RetailMeNot.com.
Check the return policy. They vary depending on the store and the reason for the return. One retailer we checked charged $59 to exchange a mattress set within 15 days of delivery. Another allowed exchanges for up to 21 days, but charged $139 to $399 depending on the mattress size.
Skip fabric protection and extended warranties. Most furniture makers treat fabric with a protector already. And don’t bother paying to extend your warranty. It’s usually not worth the cost.
