Don't just shop at the big brand name furniture stores. Smaller online furniture companies, especially those that only sell discount furniture online, can save you hundreds of dollars and get you levels of personalized service that aren't possible from mega stores.
Look for the ability to track your order online. See if the site offers an easy-to-use order tracking tool so you'll know the status of your delivery in seconds. Be sure the discount furniture store has a policy for not charging your credit card before your order actually ships.
Additionally, if your shipment is unreasonably delayed – say 8 weeks or more – you should be able to back out of the purchase without being penalized. Examine the return policy carefully and make sure you understand it before you make a purchase.
Look for the ability to contact customer service with questions while you shop. Toll-free phone calls, email or an instant message chat with a customer service representative can be invaluable for getting answers to any questions you have about a specific furniture item.
Read the discount furniture store's policy about what happens if your furniture arrives in a damaged condition. If your furniture was delivered free, you may need to pay to send it back. Some online furniture retailers also provide repair services right in your home.
Look for easy-to-use zoom tools to examine closely the products you want to purchase. Some zoom tools provided on online furniture retailer sites are quite good and allow you to even determine what the wood grain will look like (subject to any limitations of your computer's monitor) on wooden furniture.
Find out who will be delivering the furniture you're buying online. Look for stores who use bonded delivery personnel who know how to move, protect and properly set up large furniture items, instead of UPS or FedEx, who will just leave the package outside your front door.
Look for free, white glove furniture delivery. Free, white-glove delivery is very rare, but it's the best option of all and it's what Furniture from Home offers on 95% of its merchandise. White-glove delivery includes bringing the furniture into your house and placing it in the room in which it belongs.
Consider giving the online furniture store a trial run. If you're considering buying several pieces that are not part of a set and don't need to match, try buying just one or two pieces of furniture to see how the buying experience goes and determine the quality of merchandise that the online furniture store offers.
Any reputable online furniture store will welcome your feedback on your delivery and customer service experiences. I hope this information helps you. There are many discount furniture stores online that will save you money. Good luck!