Purchasing Furniture (YIKES)?

Question

I have spent most of the day shopping for furniture prices online. During my search I learned that retailers mark up the price of furniture anywhere from 40%-100% that they receive from the manufacturer/supplier. The bedroom suite I'm looking at is $11,000 (this is for 10 pieces) There has to be a way to cut out the middle man and pay thousands of dollars less. I live in Greenville, SC which puts me right in the middle of Atlanta and Charlotte (a hour or so drive each way). Travel time from my house to Hickory or High Point, NC and other furniture towns in NC is about 2-3 hours away. How do retailer get the deep discounts? Can you negotiate with furniture stores? Could faxing a request for quote to dealers result in better prices? Could you make a offer for furniture and see if the retailer will bite? What stops the average joe from calling up the same supplier and buying. There has to be a way to get furniture at cost. Any ideas welcomes. Thanks.

Answer 1

buy direct stores. you have to pay to join but you pay wholesale plus 15% i believe so if you are looking to furnish a house and at the price point you are quoting this would be my first choice. info and locations online

Answer 2

Yes retailers mark up prices to a ridiculous extent. Here is why I believe they do it. They figure if they sell you say a bedroom set you won't come back for years. Now if they sell a designer a bedroom set for a great price, she will recommend them again and again and keep a constant flow of business coming in. What you need is to befriend an interior designer, and have her do your bidding. When I get products for a lower price, and I mark them up 10% for example my clients sometimes end up getting a savings of 50% from me, then actually purchasing it themselves. Best of luck!