I know that when I was being advised about job interviews back in college, I was told to always ask questions. Strangely enough, I think that the quality discount furniture shopping process is not all that different from a job interview in that you should come with questions. Finding discount furniture is easy, but finding quality discount furniture takes some work. In the end, though, the work is worth it; you will end up saving money and still have quality pieces to decorate your living room, bedroom, or dining room.
Going back to what I said before, though, one thing you need as you start your quest for quality discount furniture is a list of questions – a list of the right questions. Once you have found a piece or two that have the aesthetic you are looking for and a price you like, it is time to ask yourself, the salesperson, your BBB, or anyone you can get a reliable answer from the questions on your list (you can even ask The Furniture Guy with his new contact form on the upper right hand part of the blog and I will give you a reliable answer if I have access to the information). Having trouble coming up with your list of quality discount furniture questions? Why it just so happens I have 3 recommendations for you below:
1. What is the construction of this piece like?If you find a piece that looks the way you want (color and style) and is the right price, you have definitely found your discount furniture, but the next step is to decide if it is quality discount furniture. Find out what types of woods are used,what types of foam are used in the cushions, etc etc. If you aren’t sure what answers you should be looking for, The Furniture Guy has a few posts in the history that can help:
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8 Way Hand Tied vs. Pirelli Webbing in a sofa -
What to look for in wood furniture: solids and veneers-
Selecting a sofa (some duplicate info from the 8 way hand tied and Pirelli webbing post)
2. Why is this piece so much less expensive than others I have seen that are similar?So you found a piece that you suspect may just be quality discount furniture. Again, if it is the price you like and the look you like, then you may just be right. However, like in question 1, the part that is often most difficult is determining if the piece is well made, determining if it is a quality piece. If the piece is used, the answer is often obvious, and that is certainly a good way to come up with a piece of quality discount furniture. The answer you are looking for is basically one that does not include anything that implies the piece might be made of less than quality materials. However, good answers might include that the store takes lower margins on their furniture (many furniture retailers use a formula of (cost + shipping) X 2 = retail price), it might be that the store buys for themselves in bulk and thus get lower prices themselves, or it could even be that the store cuts costs somewhere else (delivery, commissions, floor space, etc.).
3. Does this piece of furniture come with a warranty or any sort of guarantee?When you buy discount furniture, you are likely going to be told that it is quality discount furniture. When in doubt, though, make sure the seller is putting up to prove it. Ask about warranties, repairs, guarantees from the store, the manufacturer, or anyone else. While you may not always be able to get a straight answer on what is inside the furniture, you should make sure that you have recourse for taking care of problems. Warranties and guarantees are good since they are in print and often legally binding.
While there are plenty of other questions you will likely have and that you could ask that would help you feel better about your quality discount furniture purchase, these three should give you a pretty good idea about what you are getting. So with that said, I will be adding posts in the near future about finding quality discount furniture in the first place and then, of course, I will make sure I review how to care for your discount furniture.
I know this was a long one, but I still hope it helps,The Furniture Guy
