Whether you’ve come across people complaining about a kitchen supplier’s work or “unkept promise” or not, the truth is that it’s almost impossible to be completely content with one’s work. Problems arise on the way and can be generated and sustained by one of the multiple parties involved in redesigning a kitchen, be they retailers, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, deliverers, and so on – even yourself.
More times than customers may be comfortable to admit, the inefficiencies or insufficiencies found when it’s already too late to return the furniture are by no means the kitchen suppliers’ fault. There are some essential yet neglected questions buyers omit, forget, or are too afraid to ask. Could this be your case? What’s to do about it?
Why you should query perplexities coming to mind
Without beating around the bush, let’s settle a dispute. Ordering and paying for a said piece of clothing in today’s fast fashion era doesn’t come with a guarantee that the product you find at your door is what you hoped for. You may be trying on a garment in the fitting room just to use it at the event it’s been purchased for and feel uncomfortable with the fit. Now, imagine how big your disappointment could be when you don’t pay enough attention to essential information and details about a furniture set that, to be honest, sets you back some mighty greenbacks. Possibly, it is huge enough that you become susceptible to omit some things you could’ve asked and questioned differently.
With the right questions in mind, you can profit from buying a wide range of kitchen elements online, from whole furniture sets to replacement kitchen cupboard doors, to access the wistest variety of pieces you can dream of. You don’t sacrifice style, convenience, and time, and definitely, you’re not skimping on quality.
Can you visit a showroom? Is every kitchen you see online exhibited in the store? Let’s discover the frequently unasked questions that stand in the way of many kitchen purchasers’ happiness.
What’s the easiest way to see the products?
If you’re into buying furniture, you can physically touch, and test, many kitchen providers worth working with will exhibit their products in a warehouse, store, or factory. The advantage of working with nearby sellers is evident – you get what you see.
On the flip side, online warehouses offer a vast selection and unparalleled convenience. According to this year’s statistics, the e-commerce sector for furniture could gross over 43BN by 2029, suggesting that more and more people prefer to acquire kitchens or parts of sets from different websites. How are you gaining a glimpse of what you’ll get? By asking and receiving a sample of, say, a door. Or, better yet, by leveraging the opportunity to return the pieces if they don’t meet your expectations or the company’s promises. Who allows that?
What about the return policy?
Fortunately, experts bring to purchasers’ notice that veritable furniture manufacturers and sellers put in the work to answer prospective buyers’ every question – including how they can get familiar with the purchases they’ll use for a decade. When companies allow easy and quick returns, they attract more prospective buyers to the table, those profiting if the return policy is well made. Reasonably, you can’t return scratched doors if the marks are missing the moment you get your hands on your purchased furniture online. Nor can you send back furniture without Proof of Purchase or if the established period of purchase and return has passed.
Here are some green flags that kitchen suppliers of good standing encourage the majority of buyers to look for:
- A decent return policy of around 2 or 4 weeks under the proof of purchase, appliable if the product is in intact condition and can be resold
- Guidance for prospective buyers who take measures by themselves or with a different company
- A size measurement and design service is usable for kitchens in the vicinity of the warehouse.
Can I receive a guarantee?
Hopefully, the answer to the question above is “yes”. Otherwise, a refusal is a pretty surefire sign that you’re interacting with a sketchy business.
You shouldn’t buy big-ticket products that come without guarantee, since reliable sellers and manufacturers offer these perks to everyone. Such a promise helps sellers expand their reach, unlock new buyer audiences, and maximize their chances of vending if the online depiction of the product is in accordance with the real offerings. Guarantees instil confidence in interested visitors that the company stands behind the excellence and endurance of its offerings.
Most of the time, you’ll get a manufacturer’s guarantee, meaning that if the purchase fails within a pre-established period, you may be eligible to obtain a replacement or a reimbursement.
Are extras paid?
Buying furniture online means you benefit from more advantages than offline purchasers. For instance, you can often add or remove features. Maybe you want soft-closing doors or an extra rack inside a locker. What about adding a splash of modern flair through some fancy handles or knobs? When it comes to kitchen doors, for instance, this could be a special size, pre-drilling of hinges, or speedier delivery.
Justifiably, some elements are to be paid for. Venerable kitchen suppliers should always keep you in the know regarding your total costs when elements like these are removed or added.
How much to save for delivery?
While delivery costs vary depending on a range of factors, including the distance between your home and the supplier’s warehouse or the number of go-betweens involved, it’s best to acknowledge that you may need to set some bucks aside for transportation.
See if the provider can calculate the delivery price depending on the distance between A and B. Better yet, you could ask about their delivery pricing policy. Go ahead with your curiosity.
The last and possibly worthiest advice you’ll get from a reputable seller is to ask all the questions you need to strengthen your confidence in the seller and your decision-making skills.