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Buying local
Local retailers know your community, the economy, climate and lifestyle. They can offer advice on accessories including carpet, draperies and fabric choices that may be better suited to your geographic region, especially if you live in areas where heat, sunlight or humidity can be a problem. After the sale, if you buy local you can continue to get advice on how to properly maintain and repair your furniture, and local retailers often give customers advance notice of special purchase sales, and offer attractive financing. Probably the most important advantage to buying locally is that you can see, feel and touch the furniture. It is impossible to decide how comfortable a chair or sofa may be from a picture on a computer monitor. If you buy from a local retailer you can sit on the furniture, you can feel the texture of the fabric, and the firmness of the padding. You can see the grain of the wood, and look at the difference in the finish on tables and cabinets. You can inspect the pieces for quality of construction. You can see exactly what the colors and patterns in the fabric look like, and take samples home to compare. Many local retailers have internet sites to attract customers, and to provide consumers with information on styles, prices and service. Some of theses sites are informational only, and some offer the choice of buying on-line or buying directly from the showroom. You can use the internet as a tool to find out what styles and price ranges are available, but it is almost impossible to know exactly what you are getting unless you can actually see the furniture. Most people only purchase furniture every five or six years, so remember that when you do make your purchase, you want it to be something that you like, and something that you will be happy with for years to come. - Back - |
When it comes to
purchasing furniture there are many choices available to today's consumer, but when it
comes to service and satisfaction, there are advantages to buying local. When you buy
local, you know who you are dealing with, and you have a one on one relationship. You can
get a feel for whether or not the company is interested in keeping you as a long term
customer, or whether they just want a quick sale. Local retailers can give you advice and
assistance on what styles best fit your needs, and they can help set up credit terms that
will fit your budget. They can tell you exactly what they have in stock and when it will
be delivered. Delivery is an important aspect of service, and when you buy from a local
retailer, you know exactly who will be delivering and setting up your furniture, and that
this is something they do every day. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, or it is
damaged, local retailers can often have a new piece delivered the next day.