The Covid 19 pandemic period has caused a surge of interest in online shopping and the rise of online furniture stores. More and more people are browsing and buying from online furniture suppliers,all from the comfort of their own home.
This trend can be seen in Europe, the US, and around the globe, but the question still remains: Can buying furniture online provide a better shopping experience, or is it still much better to go and see, feel, and experience furniture in a traditional store before you buy anything?
There is no right or wrong answer, of course, as some people will always want to physically visit a store, where others love the convenience of an online furniture shop, but we can, of course, look at the advantages and disadvantages of buying furniture online, and what you should think about if you are considering this option.
Offline Shopping Will Not Disappear
Put simply, shops and furniture showrooms will never fully disappear, with some customers still preferring to go to the furniture suppliers when choosing furniture. Being able to see the furniture live, sit in an armchair, relax on the sofa, or try the bed out for comfort is emothign yo cannot do online.
Additionally, some people like the expertise provided by the furniture suppliers’ staff, where friendly sales people can be helpful and knowledgeable, leading to an informed purchasing decision.
Others, of course, see this as an old fashioned furniture shop concept, and would rather avoid the crowds and do it at their own pace, whenever they want, rather than being limited to furniture store opening hours. Also, there is no pressure to buy, as some feel that when walking around a furniture store for any length of time.
Pros
1. Greater Choice
When you physically visit a furniture store, you are limited only to furniture pieces that you can find over there. In that respect, online shopping is a little different as a website can offer an almost endless range to browse as they don’t have to worry about showroom space or locations.
Additionally, the choice is not just wider, it comes with access to immediate information about what you see in an online furniture shop, such as materials, size, delivery options, and more. Finally, the choice is endless as, if one online furniture store does not have what you want, one or two clicks later, you can visits as many other stores as you wish!
2. Price And Comparison
Being able to do a price comparison on the same piece of furniture across a range of online furniture shop sites is a huge advantage that online furniture suppliers give to their clients. Not only can you click from one online furniture shop to the next, there are even price comparison websites that help you get the best deal, something that every shopper loves, whether it is for a sofa, a bed, or a whole house worth of furniture.
3. Fewer Crowds – Less Stress
Some people don’t like crowds, especially when they visit a furniture shop. Well, let’s be honest, there are no crowds, no queues, and no need to wait to pay in a long line when you use an online furniture store. When you are buying furniture online, you can take your time and simply look for what you need, check availability, order, pay, and arrange delivery, no crowds, no stress.
Cons
1. Misleading Images
For many, one of the main issues with buying from an online furniture store is the fact that products don’t always look as good when they arrive as they did in the picture, leading to huge disappointment for customers. From the size to the colour, or even the kind of material it is made from, a piece of furniture can only be fully understood when you see it in person. To avoid this, you would have to shop from reliable, well known online furniture store outlets with good return policies if your order is not what you want.
2. Quality Counts
We all love furniture suppliers that deliver nothing but quality furniture, but buying online is not always the best option when you really want to be sure of it. Touching, feeling, sitting on a sofa, lying on a bed, all of these can tell you once and for all whether the furniture store is selling you truly high quality pieces. Doing these purchases online is, therefore, something of a risk. Again, make sure the online furniture shop has a good return or exchange policy, giving your peace of mind about the quality you want in your furniture.
3. Online Store Security
Some people, for whatever the reason may be, do not feel comfortable or secure buying from an online furniture store. For any business, online security is critical, and most have tight regulations and security features to avoid problems with online purchasing, but for some furniture suppliers, that is not enough for the nervous customer.
Almost all online furniture shop businesses will have rigorous security standards and the most modern technologies for the protection of online communications and purchases. Although internet transactions are very secure today, take extra care with every online furniture store purchase.
