Furniture Expert Shares Tips for Saving Money on Home Goods

Furniture shopping expert Deirdre McGettrick has revealed several straightforward strategies that can help consumers save significant amounts of money when purchasing home goods online. McGettrick, the founder of the furniture search platform uFurnish.com, shared these tips with the Daily Mail, highlighting common pitfalls and offering practical solutions.

One of the most effective methods, according to McGettrick, is to thoroughly compare prices across multiple retailers. She explained that it is increasingly common for identical products from the same manufacturer to be listed by various sellers, often at different price points. "This is becoming more and more prevalent as we see furniture marketplaces expand," she noted. Checking different vendors before making a purchase can lead to substantial savings.

McGettrick also emphasizes the importance of conducting highly specific online searches. Instead of using generic terms like "sofa" or "bed," she advises shoppers to include detailed criteria such as color and material. "The two most useful search criteria are color and material," McGettrick stated. "They can dramatically narrow the results and make it easier to spot the same or almost identical furniture being sold by different retailers." For specific items like dining tables, she suggests using terms such as "extendable," adding, "The trick is to search for what the product actually is, rather than relying on the generic name."

Consumers should also be wary of seemingly low prices that might not reflect the final cost. McGettrick warned that delivery fees for large furniture items can add up to 10% of the product's value and are often overlooked. "People often miss that because they don’t read the fine print properly before checking out," she said. In some instances, a slightly higher initial price might be more cost-effective if it includes delivery.

McGettrick also cautioned against falling for artificial discounts. She explained that some retailers inflate the original price (RRP) of an item for a period before a sale, only to reduce it back to a more typical price, creating the illusion of a large saving. "Retailers can’t legally advertise a sale against a price they’ve just invented," she said. "So instead, they raise the RRP over a period of weeks in the run-up to a sale, then bring it back down and call that the discount." She recommends checking how long an item has been listed at its original price if it appears suspiciously high.

Furthermore, McGettrick advises patience when items sell out. If a discounted product becomes unavailable, she warns against rushing to buy it when it reappears in stock, as it may be at a higher price. This is particularly common with seasonal items. "Occasionally an out-of-stock product does come back at a higher price," she said. "It’s most common with seasonal ranges - Christmas and garden especially - where certain lines are limited to start with."

Timing plays a crucial role in securing the best deals. For shoppers who are not in immediate need of furniture, waiting can be beneficial, as price drops often occur around 150 days after an item's initial listing. However, McGettrick notes that Black Friday deals begin as early as November 1, with discounts becoming more aggressive throughout the month. Retailers often promote long-lead-time items in October to ensure delivery before Christmas. Despite the allure of Black Friday, McGettrick suggests that the best deals of the year typically land in the New Year, around January 31, as retailers aim to clear seasonal stock. She also pointed out that retailers often increase sales activity just before payday and the end of the month, anticipating consumer spending.