Taking the adventure out of shopping for furniture

Shopping for furniture is a lot like shopping for a car. You need to look underneath the hood, do your homework and be wary of any deal that sounds too good to be true.

The reason is simple. Like a new car, furniture looks great in the showroom of your local furniture store. But it’s tough to tell the quality of the furniture being sold and the amazing sales price could just be a disguise for a piece of furniture that was cheaply made and won’t hold up to daily use.

Manufacturers can make it hard for you to discern the quality of a piece of furniture. This is particularly true with upholstered items, since the frame, springs and padding – the real guts of a comfortable piece of furniture – can’t easily be compared. Worse, some manufacturers turn out pieces that are very similar to those of their competitors, but the quality isn’t the same.

To help you make informed decisions, we’ve assembled a few tips based on our own furniture store shopping experiences.

Do your homework. Speak extensively with the salesperson at the furniture store about the furniture you’re thinking about purchasing. Ask for the manufacturer, the model name and the model number. Then do some comparison shopping using this information. If the furniture store is reluctant to share this information, go somewhere else.

Factor in Shipping. If you are ordering from a retailer that is in another part of the country, you need to factor shipping costs into the overall price. A local furniture store’s price may actually be more competitive than you think once you add in shipping.

High price doesn’t equal high quality. Many furniture stores offer the same item, only they market it under different model names or use different manufacturers. High prices don’t necessarily translate into high quality, especially when it comes to mattresses and upholstered pieces. Sticking with a reputable furniture store will help you make a smart purchasing decision.

Avoid discount stores and going out of business sales. Saving a couple dollars on your furniture isn’t worth trading out customer service. If the furniture store is closing, who is going to fix a problem with your furniture during the warranty period? And discount furniture stores are notorious for selling good looking knock offs.

Ask about warranties and return policies. A reputable furniture store will back up its products with a warranty and a clear return policy. You want to find out how long your furniture is covered under warranty and what the policy is for returning or exchanging the furniture if you just don’t care for it once it’s in your home.

Delivery options. Most furniture stores offer local delivery, either for a small fee or for free. Ask what the options are. If the fee is substantial, you may want to arrange to pick it