The benefit to purchasing furniture online is the tremendous savings potential.  First, if you are outside of California then you are exempt from Sales tax which can add up to several hundred, even thousands of dollars.  Secondly, we have much lower overhead, so we can offer you better pricing than your local dealer.  A HUGE bonus is that all of our prices include Free Standard Shipping, all done without leaving the comfort of your home. 

      Another thing to look out for are all these "Pop-up" companies.  We have had a lot of others try to copy us, and they have come and gone.  We have a proven method that works.  There are some companies out there that don't ever even see the product.  They are pencil pushers claiming to be something they are not.  They have furniture drop-shipped from the manufacturer and they do not inspect or service the furniture when the time calls for it.  Inspecting the furniture is critical!  Everyone is entitled a mistake here and there, and that doesn't exclude manufacturers.  Sometimes saving a couple of dollars in these cases are really not worth it.  Most of the time, you are not saving anything after all the hidden charges, especially shipping charges!  After you factor in all the costs, 99 out of 100 times we are by far the lowest.  For those few occasions when we are not, we will meet or beat any advertised final price on the exact same item, GUARANTEED!  Make sure the dealer you buy from at least ships the furniture themselves, inspects it, and will help you in the event of a problem.  If damage occurs, we take care of it without filing claims.  We either repair or replace the furniture, NO QUESTIONS ASKED!  We have a retail store and a huge warehouse with over a Million Dollars in inventory, so we are a REAL company!  Test us, just call us with any question and we will answer it.  We can't say that about most of the competition.  Sure, they will give you an answer, but is it accurate or in your best interest?  Sure, we want to make the sale, but we do it the right way and will not deceive anyone to get the sale!

      The first thing you need to do when furniture hunting is to figure out your budget.  Shop around and gather as many prices as possible for each type of item you need, that way you know what you may have to spend for that special coffee table or that new Craftsman Spindle Bed.

      Next, determine how long you may want to keep the piece.  If you change styles regularly then you may want to consider a lower end item so you don't spend a fortune just to have to throw it out or sell it a couple of years later.  The only downside is that it is harder to "Unload" low end furniture when you are done with it.  Higher end furniture tends to be easier to keep in new condition longer than lower end items, so selling them will be much easier.

      There are many different grades of furniture out there.  All "High end" or "Medium End" furniture lines are not built the same.  Some consider Solid Oak furniture to be High End, while others consider it low end if it does not have Cedar Drawers or Dovetail joints.  Don't let labels sway you from what you want.  Some people prefer to not have Cedar or to have metal ball-bearing drawer glides instead of traditional wood glides.  

       If you think you may only keep the furniture for a few years then maybe you may want to consider a veneer version instead of the solid oak version and save a good amount of money.  A lot of people can't tell the difference.  Many times people pick the furniture up and judge the quality by the weight of the item.  The fact is that a cheap quality Particle Board item can weigh more than solid oak.  Keep in mind that when you are ready to change styles again, higher end Solid furniture will be easier to sell to someone and you may be able to get back a good portion of your initial investment, if not all.  

       "Solid Oak" is not all created equal.  Just because a store advertises that it is solid oak, it doesn't mean that it is high quality.  There are different types of solid oak available and you should be aware of what you are buying so you know what to expect from that furniture and take the necessary steps to ensure that you get everything you need out of that furniture.

Quartersawn or Plainsawn?

Quartersawn Oak	Plainsawn Oak

        Grain appeal is not the only reason why Quartersawn is preferred over Plainsawn.   Quartersawn lumber is actually more stable than Plainsawn lumber.  When the seasons change and the humidity changes, wood will expand and contract.  The wood does most of the expanding in the grain, so with Plainsawn lumber having the wider grain, it does the most moving and has a higher tendency to crack and warp.  Quartersawn moves much less due to the straight, tight grain, thus providing you with a much more stable product.  We are not saying we do not recommend Plainsawn oak because with the proper care and conditions, Plainsawn will last indefinitely.  If you are looking for an heirloom quality item, then you will have no choice but to go with Quartersawn, as higher end manufacturers only use Quartersawn Oak.  The only downside to Quartersawn lumber is that is costs twice as much as plainsawn lumber.  

        Another thing to consider when buying furniture is to find out when and where it was manufactured.  U.S made furniture is generally higher in quality, but at a much higher price.  Imported furniture has less labor costs involved so great deals can be had with imports.  Most furniture manufacturers that use Quartersawn oak reside here in the United States.  Remember the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is".   If you are here reading this, chances are you are pretty smart, so just use your better judgment and think realistically.  We hope we were able to help you make a better decision about your future purchase and if there is anything else that you may need help with, just drop us an E-mail.  Thanks for visiting!

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