How To Safely Purchase Furniture From the Internet

Buying furniture off of the internet can seem like a scary endeavor for many people.  Some common concerns include:

• Poor construction
• Does not look like it appeared in the photo
• Does not fit in their home
• Expensive process to return if it does not work
• High shipping rates
• Submitting personal information
• Damage in shipping

These are all legitimate concerns but many can be easily remedied by following a few simple steps:

• Regarding construction–ordering from a reputable company can help eliminate this problem.  After all, they would not have a good reputation if their merchandise was not up to par. Make sure to read the testimonials on their site and check out review sites like Yelp for other opinions.
• It can be difficult to perfectly represent an item through a photograph so read the description carefully to make sure you understand the paint or stain color, type of wood, fabric pattern etc.
• Measure, measure and measure again before you place any order.  Make sure the piece you are ordering will fit through your doorways, in the elevator or up the stairs.  If necessary, lay out templates in your room so you can see how much space the item will actually use, how it affects movement through the room etc.
• The hope is that you enjoy your furniture so much that you do not have to return it.  However, in the event that it is damaged or not what you ordered, the company will pay for return shipping.  If you simply change your mind, in most cases the cost of the return is on you so, again, choose carefully.
• With the high rate of identity theft, submitting personal information is always a concern.  One simple way to know if your information is secure is to check the URL–if it begins with https (the “s” stands for secure) then you have no worries.  But stay away from sites that do not offer that secure URL.  You can also utilize services like paypal that will keep your information out of the hands of the furniture company if you are still concerned.
• Reputable furniture companies want to avoid damaged items just as much as you do so they take care to use reliable shipping companies.  These same companies will often take responsibility for the return and replacement of damaged goods, as well.  Check the shipping and return policies before you place an order to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

With a little effort on your part you can safely order furniture from the internet.  How nice to shop from the comfort of your home and have a beautiful piece of furniture delivered right to your front door.