How To Order Furniture Directly From The Manufacturer

By  Contributing Writer

Things Needed

  • Paper

  • Pencil

  • Telephone

  • Credit Card or Bank Account

Tip

Ask plenty of questions when you call a furniture broker/wholesaler. Know that if you are calling outside of your state to place an order, you probably will not have to pay sales tax on your purchase. This is a huge savings by itself even before your discounted quote.

Warning

Be sure that you take down the name and private phone extension, if available, of the person who takes your order. This is important when it comes to checking on the status of your order. Also, be sure to have all telephone conversations confirmed by email as well.

Ordering furniture directly from a manufacturer or one of its furniture warehouses is easy, fun and rewarding. A few simple steps is all it takes to save hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars when decorating and furnishing your home. Most orders take 8 to 12 weeks regardless if you purchase from a local retailer or order it yourself. So, it is beneficial to order it yourself and save money.

Step 1

Find the furniture you want to purchase at your local retailer. When you do, ask for a card indicating the furniture's height, width, name of the collection it came from, and manufacturer. Also, when you are able to, look at the hanging card, (usually inserted in a plastic sleeve that is attached to the furniture), and write down the SKU number. This is much like a UPC number found on many common household items.

Step 2

Search the Internet or look in the back of a country magazine, such as Country Living, for furniture brokers who sell furniture at reduced prices. Call two or three of them so that you will be able to make a price comparison. Give them the information you have obtained from your local furniture store. Note to ask what the shipping cost is of each quote that you get. Be sure to ask the weight of the piece(s) you're thinking about buying. Before choosing which company to purchase from, call your local van lines and ask what it will cost to ship "x" amount of weight from the location of your furniture broker to your home. This will give you an idea on whether a price that seems low has been inflated on the shipping part of the quote.

Step 3

Call the furniture broker/wholesaler back and ask the terms of shipment. How much is wanted as a down payment and how should the final payment be paid. Most companies will ask for 50 percent down, however, there are a few that will take 25p ercent of the purchase price with the balance C.O.D. (Cash on Delivery, which is usually to be in the form of a Cashier's Check or a Money Order). Also, be sure to ask who is responsible if your furniture becomes damaged in transit, them or the carrier? Further, what compensation may be available in the unlikely event this happens.

Step 4

Make yourself available the day your furniture arrives, as the delivery company will usually call you 24 hours in advance letting you know they will be to your home sometime the next day. These companies have several deliveries and strategically map out a route to deliver many people's furniture. If you are not available, they will take your furniture back to the wholesaler and you may have to wait another 8 to 12 weeks and/or be subject to a 25 percent restocking fee.

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