steviegene

I have almost a whole house to furnish. I need upholstered pieces for the living room, dining room chairs, a bed, outdoor furniture, etc.

I have heard there are outstanding deals in North Carolina on furniture. I searched the forum and found only outdated info. So, here is my question. If I have a lot of furniture to buy, does anyone have any idea how much I can save (if anything?). I live in New England - so if anyone has information on shipping, tax info, etc....it would be helpful.

I am contemplating making a trip down to buy everything I need. (I have a free place to stay - but need to factor in time off from work, cost of driving down, etc.)
Does anyone have an opinion on if its worth it?

JJ5

Yes, it is.

And it is also worth it to have it shipped direct without ever seeing it, if you have manufactures styles, numbers, finish etc. to pick from. Some of the bigger places in High Point sent me these when I asked for certain names and styles.

One of the best things I ever did. And one time they sent people directly from N. C. as well for set up (large breakfront/dining room set). The vendor was super, even showing me how to polish with oil- and including table pads etc.

I did it later for bedroom sets as well. It is a REAL deal, and also not sales tax eligible here in IL. I saved at least $10,000 in just 2 different buys about 11 years ago.

SAnParis

It is, come on down !!!

Budman

We went down to High Point several years ago, and now we buy all our furniture from there. Wood-Armfield and the Atrium Furniture Mall are who we deal with. We've saved big bucks plus no sales tax. If I want to add a piece, I call our sales rep, give him the details, and he quotes price plus shipping, and it's always better than anywhere here in NJ.

SpeedBuggy

Good question, steviegene. And thanks for your very specific answer, JJ5. I am glad you described your own experience - that's help a lot!

steviegene

thanks for the responses.
11 years ago I can see, but do you think there are still deals? Especially with the price of gas - the shipping costs must be expensive?

Does anyone know what percentage (roughly) I might save?

steviegene

ok, hearing that its cheaper than NJ is good. I am in CT, so in the ballpark.

mclaurie

The very best idea is shopping at home, picking what you want, taking model #s etc. down and contacting manufacturers/retailers in High Point by phone. That's what JJ5 is saying. No time off from work, no travel costs etc.

missypie

I've heard that it can take MANY months for the items to arrive. One friend waited months and months, then the furniture arrived in the wrong finish; they sent it back and waited more months and months for the correct finish. Another got a huge dining room table and chairs - after waiting months and months, the chairs were the wrong style; had to send them back and wait more months.

steviegene

I see. So maybe not worth a trip down.
I was thinking that it might be beneficial to see all the furniture in person, (as Im assuming that there is a lot more selection down there).

JJ5

Yes, it will be MUCH cheaper, not just in the ballpark. Furniture retailers are listed after only a very few commodities: rugs, jewelry and light fixtures (biggest of all) for mark up percentages.

bennnie

Steviegene - You may want to take a drive to Gardner Mass - its the furniture capitol of New England. They claim to have the exact same prices as North Carolina but its a lot closer. This weekend is the tax holiday in Massachusetts. It might be worth a drive.

www.gardneroutlets.com

kybourbon

It is worth the trip to High Point or even Hickory. You can drive for miles and both sides of the road are nothing but furniture stores/outlets. Also several malls where all the stores are furniture stores. I haven't bought in a few years, but it was cheaper even with shipping costs.

JJ5

I'll post tomorrow the outfit I used- as I don't have the listings handy. It was incredible how good the service was. The two tall guys (blonde) from N.C. were brothers and drove a truck filled with furniture direct on a route through 5 states, with delivery in each.

I had a peg missing from one of my chairs and it was fixed locally through the vendor.

Shipping was something in the neighborhood of $400- and the furniture savings was in the multi $1000s.

Try Budman's rec's.

If I had to do it again, I would. In fact, I'll help my kids and have in this process (they had the fear factor), since they can get "better" furniture for almost exactly 1/2 the price. My son & DIL just got a bedroom set that totalled with shipping approximately $400 more than 1/2 of the price (4 pieces and 1 made to order too)than the one (exact mfg. exact stain) that they almost bought locally.

One time I had to wait 6 or 7 weeks for a lingerie cabinet piece to match and a "suit" stand (both decided to add after the other pieces had come) because that "lot" set was not going to be "cut" again for awhile.

SpeedBuggy

JJ5, you and the others are making a believer out of me! I might be posting to ask you to hold my hand and walk me through the whole process, though. I have "the fear factor" too. Thanks so much for this information. Great thread!

Budman

As for shipping, some of the companies and manufacturers offer free shipping. They did at the time when I purchased our dining room set. I saved at least $2000 plus the tax plus what a local furniture store would charge to deliver the furniture -- they don't deliver for free.

I did have some repairable damage, and Wood-Armfield sent out a local furniture repair shop that they contract with to repair the damage.

steviegene

Ok, so this is sounding like a good idea. I was contemplating visiting NC - which I thought might be fun. But maybe I will do research around here and then get things shipped.
Anyone know if they charge sales tax to people in CT.

KatieR

Does anyone recommend any specific manufacturers with stores in the north east & production in N. Carolina?

smalti

Ah, what a coincidence! I've just started pricing bookcases (buying 8-10 of them), and I'm reeling from what I've seen! This looks like the direction to go!

steviegene

im topping this, in case any of the late-night people have more recommendations. I would appreciate any and all info!!