I consider myself to be a pretty modern gal. I mean really, I’m down with the times, aren’t I? I read my books on an electronic device, I let my husband do the laundry, and I always, always tout the virtues of online shopping.
And if there’s one thing I love doing, it’s online shopping.
I’ve purchased clothing and electronics and movies online. I’ve stockpiled makeup, toys and bath products too. Heck, I just purchased a new license plate sticker online, something that will forever end the dreaded lineup at the MTO. Truth: if I can put it in a virtual cart, I will.
But then, something happened. I was approached by Wholesale Furniture Brokers to check out their online inventory, with an offer to review their ordering process, in addition to the quality, value and selection of their furniture.
In short, my upcoming #ProjectManCave was about to get a couch makeover, too.
Of course I agreed. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to receive a brand new sofa or sectional? Yet suddenly, I was confronted by a very unsettling thought. And for a shopaholic like me, it befuddled me.
Would I ever buy my furniture online?
In that moment, I felt like a fraud. Because for all the times I pushed the benefits of online shopping, I realized that I’ve never considered buying furniture online. Perhaps it’s the daunting task of selecting an item without seeing it before your eyes. Or the commitment that comes with large investments like appliances or furniture. And finally, who wants to deal with astronomical shipping costs, and in the case of cross-border furniture shopping, duties? It’s enough to scare anyone away. But then I realized that with the right research and knowledge, there are so many benefits to sourcing furniture through a reputable online retailer such as Wholesale Furniture Brokers.
Let’s talk about the selection process, for instance. Well, we all know how easy it is to shop online. But even I was surprised with the sheer level of detail that was shared for each item on the website. For example, when narrowing down a sectional for our #ProjectManCave, the Wholesale Furniture Brokers website offered everything from materials and construction to detailed dimensions and in some cases, assembly videos available right on the site. And then, to further assist with my purchase decision, I could view photos from customers who have the actual product in their homes, so I could compare lighting, decor schemes and how the furniture works in a family room vs. a showroom.
Right away, selecting the perfect item for our basement wasn’t nearly as daunting as I thought it would be. Since we have a small television viewing area, I had to keep things pretty compact. Hence, we settled on this Toronto Tufted Black Leather Corner Sectional Sofa by True Contemporary.
(If you caught a peek of my #ProjectManCave transformation, you may have spotted the sectional here.)
Of course, in addition to the generous selection, there’s another key reason to buy furniture online – the prices! Even though my particular piece is a review item, you just know I spent a lot of time cruising the site for deals and great prices. Here’s what Wholesale Furniture Brokers has to say about their competitive pricing:
“We have been importing containers of product directly to our Canadian warehouses to offer lower prices and shorter shipping times. Canadian online shoppers are currently forced to look across the border to shop for better prices. We’ve invested in stock to match US prices despite higher duties and transportation costs in Canada. Our prices are becoming more competitive and we’re able to offer shorter lead times so we can give more value to our Canadian customers,” says Sergei Tashlikowich, Wholesale Furniture Brokers’ CEO.
Click here for a full list of Wholesale Furniture Brokers FAQs.
Finally, you all know how much I hate shipping costs. And when I say hate, I mean loathe. For some reason, I’ve always equated purchasing furniture online with high shipping fees. I mean, can you blame me? I once priced out a $550 Crate and Barrel love seat to ship out for an additional $650. Crazy, right?
Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather when I realized that Wholesale Furniture Brokers offers FREE shipping on ALL of their products! And, “Quick Ship Canada” items are delivered even faster; their Canadian stock leaves the warehouse in 1 – 3 business days with an estimated delivery of 1 – 17 business days. So, the low price you see is exactly what you pay, plus provincial taxes. And, since the items ship from Canada, there are no hidden taxes or tariffs, either.
Okay, so if you’re taking notes… a huge selection, great prices and free shipping. Ready to order your furniture? I’ll be back next week with a step-by-step review of the ordering process. I’m sure it will help put your mind at ease; I must admit, I was pretty nervous about the whole thing myself! Rest assured, it went off without a hitch.
And stay tuned! I’ve got a very special giveaway with Wholesale Furniture Brokers coming up next month!
I like browsing for online things but I think picking out furniture I want to be there real time to sit on them to see how it feels on my back and butt where my legs go when sitting etc
I completely understand, Chandra! Wholesale Manufacturers actually has a few showrooms where you can sample the furniture, but if you’re not in the area, you’ll have to make a choice.
As a huge fan of online shopping, I could definitely use this service! And free shipping sounds amazing!
Nice! Glad to see you’re on board with it!
Don’t see that they are cheaper than other furniture stores and if I buy locally they deliver, set up, take the old furniture and packing material away and it’s all free. or maybe that’s only because of where I live?
Hmmm… could be. Also could be because you have an old couch to take away ;)
hmmm cool ideas … i’m not sure i could commit to not actually TESTING the furniture though!
It’s tough, isn’t it? But what about bed frames? Or ornamental furniture?
I love the fact that it’s named Toronto Tufted …. Not sure I would feel comfortable buying without trying it out first.
Yes, my sectional definitely has a cool name!
I like online furniture shopping to help narrow my choices, if not I will go from store to store for days lol. As far as out right purchasing, I prefer to check them out in real time, touch/feel/sit… then I make my final decision.
That’s a great point. For example, if you live in the GTA, you can check out the furniture at the showroom, and then take advantage of the online deals, and free shipping.
I noticed your new sectional in your Man Cave blog… looks good… hopefully it is comfortable too ? That is the one thing that holds me back from ordering furniture online – the comfort level test. If their prices are right though, it might be worthwhile to find the piece in a physical store to test it out first. Definitely going to give their website a good browse :o)
It is incredibly comfortable, Flora ;)
I think free shipping is the only way I’d consider buying furniture online.
I would love a new couch. We bought one when we got married (only 5 years). It’s shredding. It looked good for a while, and now it’s terrible. I put pillows and throws on it now when company comes because it’s really quite disconcerting looking.
Ah, I’ve had one of those too. Such a disappointment when you spend good money on furniture that doesn’t last!
I’ve not considered purchasing furniture online before, but I may look into it now, when the need arises!
Thanks for all of the info!
You’re welcome Anne!
I do love to shop online but I don’t think I could do it for furniture. I really need to look, feel and test furniture out before I buy it. For the amount of money I want to make sure it is going to do the trick. But who knows one day I might get brave…lol
That makes good sense, Judy, for all the reasons you mentioned above. If you’re lucky to live in an area that Wholesale Furniture Manufacturers has a showroom, perhaps you can try out the best of both worlds!
I went online to their site and was pleased to see a ‘Condo’ section…the condos that are being built in Victoria, BC…some of them are so small.
Toronto too, Teresa – they’re like shoeboxes!
I get SO excited when a company offers free shipping to Canada, as it isn’t that common. That’s a really gorgeous couch!
Thanks Victoria! Yes, free shipping is awesome!
How do you feel about the sofa now? It’s been over a year. How is it lasting?
Looks like a nice view of the city from that window!
I’ve never bought furniture online before. I’ve only bought smaller items from ebay, amazon etc. I’d be afraid the furniture wasn’t comfortable.