Surviving the Furniture Store Experience

If you ask people what shopping experiences they hate more than any other, you're bound to hear two things. Car shopping, and furniture shopping. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure we're stuck with car shopping being miserable as it is awful by design, but furniture shopping doesn't have to be that way! Hopefully with the tips I offer here, you'll be able to turn furniture shopping into a pleasant experience.

The first thing to make furniture shopping okay is to be assertive. When I read reviews of furniture stores, there are two common complaints. Half the people gripe that nobody ever came to offer them help, while the other half complain about salespeople who won't leave them alone. I've experienced both sides of this equation unfortunately, and feel the best remedy is to speak out. If you need help, don't be afraid to interrupt a busy salesperson and let them know you'd like help when they have a minute. Or if someone won't leave you alone, feel free to tell them you want some time to shop alone or you'll go somewhere else. In the end, they want a sale so they should do what you tell them.

The next big challenge that emerges from furniture shopping, is the delivery angle. A lot of people will write about how their furniture never seems to arrive on time. When you're in the store, demand a firm date. Have it written on your contract so there's no way for the store to back pedal. By being aggressive about the date, you'll be sure to know you're getting your furniture when you planned.

Finally, do your research. Know the styles you want and when you go to the store, try and look for those. It can be daunting seeing everything in one place, so it helps when you have a plan of attack already made in your head.

Ultimately, the biggest thing to making furniture shopping a tolerable experience is to force it to be one. There are tons of forces in the store that want to make it as painful as possible, but if you go with the conviction that you'll have a good time, you should be able to turn these forces on their heels.

Everyone has seen it. Driving down the street, you see that piece of furniture on someone's curb with a big sign with "FREE" plastered on it. You're tempted to grab it, but on your way somewhere else, and maybe it's not quite what you wanted anyway. Today, there are ways to enjoy this super discounted furniture, without having to pull over on the side of the road.

The Internet has created a great market for low priced furniture, and the best source is definitely eBay. Searching the site, you're able to find tons of secondhand furniture at bargain bin prices. Thomasville Furniture for 10% of its list price. The only serious challenge you'll encounter is managing shipping, but if you watch the postings closely you may be able to find one that is near you, or has a method established.

Another great venue is CraigsList. Looking at your local listings, you can find free televisions, low cost furniture, and even free couches. The best thing about CraigsList is it is split into geographic regions so you can narrow down your search to places within driving distance. You can also negotiate with the sellers to get the furniture at even cheaper prices.

With these markets available, you can almost skip shopping in stores altogether. With great prices online, as long as you are okay to do secondhand shopping, you can find amazing deals. Don't be afraid to break out of your comfort zone and try something new!