The pandemic has divided everyone’s life into “before” and “after”. It acted as a time machine that took us a couple of years ahead, judging by the emerging and already ingrained new digital habits.
Online communications, digital services, online purchasing, and entertainment – the last 18 months and all the new circumstances have given new impetus to the consumption of a lot of services. Companies are forced to benefit from this situation, that is why many products are now sold online.
And although many say it is a good change that gave many people new opportunities, we’d like to start with an analysis of the cons of buying furniture items online.
The negative aspects might start from the inconsistency of the description or photo with reality. Often, after the delivery and assembly of furniture, buyers are faced with the fact that the product does not correspond to the description, color scheme, and other details.
Moreover, due to the large influx of customers in today’s online stores, the company might get something wrong and send the customer the wrong model, delay the deadlines for registration or delivery of the parcel.
On the other hand, when entering a regular, offline store, a customer can view and touch the item, inspect the upholstered sofa or mattress and check the actual specifications with those on paper. The potential buyer can sit on an armchair, inspect the wooden pieces and the elasticity of the material for strength. There would be no possibility to conduct a thorough review in person when buying online – the buyer just has to trust the manufacturer or dealer.
Plus, it is not uncommon for consumers to face fraud. This is especially true when an online store requires full payment without any reciprocal obligations. In practice, buyers purchase the product, pay the full price, but do not receive the package or compensation for the financial damage caused. Mindfulness helps to avoid such nuances. And coming to an offline store does too.
Now let’s round up with the sad and negative parts and reach to the other side of buying online.
As we’ve said before, some years ago it was quite absurd to believe the idea of purchasing things online. The idea of being able to give your money for anything, with no possibility of actually taking a look at it, sniffing it, tasting it, or holding it in your hands would have sounded ridiculous. Still, with the development of the WWW, today’s society can not only acquire items online, they mostly opt for online stores instead of physical purchases in stores.
Little by little, the pros of getting what you need online begin to overshadow the cons. You might have gone through that as well over the past year when everyone was at home because of the pandemic. Online shopping has even reached simple needs, such as everyday food and other essentials. This new way of things was the safest alternative.
Now, even if everything will go back to normal, online shopping would still be a preference for many, because we all know it is possible to find a little of everything on the net, and if you have a sudden urge to buy new furniture, you could try to look for it online. There you can find everything you need to make your interior just perfect.
We believe it’s time to delve into the pros of buying furniture online. Judging from our own experience, we can say there’s much more to talk about!
Finding the right furniture style for you is much easier with the help of the Internet. Buying everything you need for your home can be done in a snap. In just a few clicks, you will find the needed items, all sorts of decorative objects, and lighting. If you can’t find the furniture style you like on the first site, don’t worry. There are many more that can help you find what you need.
And don’t just rely on the beautiful pictures to make your choice. As we’ve already mentioned, it is essential to read the descriptions carefully. Pay special attention to the dimensions and materials used in the manufacture of all types of furniture. Take a closer look at the costs for delivery and the number of days it would take to pick up your order.
Another benefit for buying the things to furnish your house or flat via the Internet is that you do not have to travel to another state or country, or drive around the city and look for what you need in multiple stores. All you need to do is connect to the Internet at any time to be able to make your choice. But it is also necessary to have enough funds in your bank account to make such a shopping session successful.
Moreover, if you can’t find an exact piece of furniture that suits you in the online catalog, there’s always the option to contact the manufacturer. Many of them also take orders for custom furniture.
At the same time, you will benefit from home delivery at a time that suits you best.
An option that costs you less
In addition, buying furniture online can, sometimes, be much cheaper than in stores. That is mostly because renting an office is more expensive than paying for the technical support of an online catalog. So, if the cost of keeping a business alive is smaller, so might be the final price you pay for the production of the company’s items or their services.
Moreover, many online stores allow you to get a good deal, by doing a price comparison with other stores. We believe you’ve seen such texts beneath the price box of an online store product: “if you’ve found it for a cheaper price, show us the screenshot and we’ll sell it cheaper than that (but only to you)” – a very good opportunity to save up some money if you’re plodding enough and love the hunt after a better price!
Before deciding on doing the purchase, remember to take a look at the comments left by other Internet users. If they are mostly positive, this might mean the trader is serious (even though some write fake reviews just to get more clients and to strengthen their trust). If not, find another site for your purchases.
Security
Although thanks to vaccination campaigns, the isolation period is over in many countries, which means shopping centers and markets are opening, it isn’t unsafe to go shopping in crowded places like malls, where it is not entirely possible to keep safe and protect yourself, keeping the required known distance of 1 m from other customers.
In this case, having a shopping session on the Internet, from the security and coziness of your place, is a prudent alternative. There is no need to physically touch the furniture to choose it, and all the details you need will be listed on the site.
Also, having to wear a mask while visiting a mall won’t be very pleasant. Why not hit the Internet and spend this time comfortably browsing the web? Online shopping would allow you to find what you need without any rush or hassle.
It is much more convenient
Convenience is one of the super pros of online shopping – the ease of this process is unmatched: the ability to do in-depth research, compare several brands, and purchase a product in just a few clicks!
With same-day and next-day deliveries, there is no need to even wait long for your items to get home. Plus, most online shopping platforms offer free shipping. On the other hand, finding and comparing in-store purchases to get the best fit takes a tedious effort and some expenses: walking in and out of many stores, not forgetting to manually review and decide on the right product and think about how to get that item to your home.
Best offers
Most online platforms offer incredible discounts throughout the year like NY Furniture Outlets. Aside from a simple discount, one of the biggest pros of shopping online is the extra cashback you earn.
Banks and other digital wallet services have gladly started to offer special points and discounts in addition to the branded ones. While in-store purchases also have discount sales, those are rare and only happen once or twice a year.
In other words, sometimes curling up on your cozy sofa to order is better. Fashion has democratized online sales, the industry is keeping pace, even if with furniture it is a little riskier.
Now, as we’re in the home stretch of this article, let’s finally look at 5 things to watch out for before buying furniture online.
1.Evaluate the space you have
Logically, this first step is crucial before taking the plunge. An imposing piece of furniture will not fit in a tiny entrance or a small attic room. Take careful note of the indicated measurements and measure the space.
2.Think about design
The measurements are done. But how do you know if the style matches the rest of the room? Without having the product in front of you, it’s hard to have a clear opinion. If augmented reality apps aren’t your thing, consider staying in the same color scheme. And then, the mix & match remains in force this season.
3.Request samples if possible
Since it will be impossible to touch your item unless you go to the store, it is better to order (if the option exists) a color chart or sample, to be able to assess the quality of the fabric and to see the color, since the tones vary from one color to another (and from one brand to another).
4.Read the entire description
All the description lines are valuable – they indicate the size, the technical sheet made up of the dimensions, the materials of the product, but also the delivery time, which can take up to 6 – 8 weeks for some big or rare items. Even if you fell in love with that exact side table, to avoid unpleasant surprises and an endless wait, consider checking out the competition first.
5.Ask about returns
Because you are not immune to disappointment, it is best to inquire about returning the item beforehand. Especially for foreign sites that deliver in containers. Moreover, there is a possibility that the brand in question might charge for returns.
To cut a long story short, we can 100% say that buying furniture online is much cheaper than going to a physical store. Why?
- You won’t spend money on gasoline, time on driving through the city and going through 1001 stores.
- It would take up less energy, less brain activity (which you might need to spend on working and earning money).
- Because of good logistics, awesome discounts and sales.
Shop online, save your time, money, and energy while getting the best furniture for your home!
