The internet is fast becomming a realiable place to buy patio furniture. There are many companies out there that sell patio furniture. The problem is to find a good one that you can trust. Here are some tips to consider when selecting an on-line patio furniture store.
Things to look for
- Phone number - Does the store offer a phone number? If so, this is a good indication. If they do not have a phone number, probably not a good choice.
- Do they answer the phone - Call the phone number. If they answer, this is a good thing. Many companies will have a phone number but simply have the calls go into a message to return later.
- Do they know the products - What I mean by this is when you call, ask them some questions about the products. Ask them the length, width and height for example. Ask them about the types of wood used and the benifits of each type of wood.
- Return Policy - Ask them about their return policy. It should be a 30-day money back gaurantee at the least. Ask them about who pays for the return shipping if any. Good companies will pay for the return shipping.
- Customer Service - Get information about the customer service policies. If a piece is damaged in transit, will they send a replacement part at no cost? What are the customer service hours of operation.
- Look for references or customer comments - Any good companies will at least have a few customer references on their sites. Be advised that any references will be positive but at least there are previous customers.
- Ask if they are a reseller or a manufacturer. Ask them to give you the names of the manufactures they resell for. Some may not but good stores will gladly tell you this information.
If the internet store does not have all of these features. I would be wary of purchasing anything from them.
back to
patio furniture buyers guide
