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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Buying Furniture

31 replies

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 11:35

To find it impossible to find mid range/ good quality furniture.
Then when you find anything medium range they don't deliver a white glove service. Just dump by front door!

Why is there so limited amount of online and in person furniture shops.
Yes I've been searching for hours for weeks.

OP posts:
Autumn1990 · 16/08/2024 11:38

Antique furniture is can be reasonably priced and is usually good quality. I’ve got lots of mahogany furniture very cheaply as it’s not fashionable

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 11:39

Autumn1990 · 16/08/2024 11:38

Antique furniture is can be reasonably priced and is usually good quality. I’ve got lots of mahogany furniture very cheaply as it’s not fashionable

I need something delivered to a bedroom floor.
I have light grey bedframe and walls not sure dark brown would suit..

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flipent · 16/08/2024 11:41

I'm having the same problem OP.
I had a look round Oak Furniture Land, expecting quality for the prices they are charging and everything felt so flimsy.
I'm struggling to find places to even look!

ByCupidStunt · 16/08/2024 11:43

YANBU.

Whats a "white glove" service?

Next will deliver and set it up too (for an additional cost) and if it's a bed Dreamland deliver and install for an additional fee.

Try John Lewis they might deliver and install too.

GasPanic · 16/08/2024 11:45

Problem is that furniture is heavy and costs a lot to move and store.

It costs just as much to move and install a £50 massive table as it does a £2k massive table.

The kind of person who only wants to pay £25 for a wardrobe is unlikely to be the kind happy to cough up the extra £100 needed for someone to risk their life getting it up their stairs.

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 11:51

flipent · 16/08/2024 11:41

I'm having the same problem OP.
I had a look round Oak Furniture Land, expecting quality for the prices they are charging and everything felt so flimsy.
I'm struggling to find places to even look!

Yes most is mdf but also really expensive for that. Plus they don't deliver inside.
Oh and I've seen a few things that are ok but all flat packed. No thanks. I'm happy to pay 200 more fully assembled or near enough and delivery sort that.

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Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 11:54

I've seen from 45 pound to 199 pounds for white glove service. Ridiculous the higher price was for a argos type place.
It's literally just placing in room of choice and getting rid of package if you so wish apparently.

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ByCupidStunt · 16/08/2024 11:56

I think if i were you I would purchase flatpack and employ a local handyperson to do the rest.

You could put a picture of the item on your local facebook page before buying it and asking if anyone could assemble it and how much would it cost.

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 11:57

GasPanic · 16/08/2024 11:45

Problem is that furniture is heavy and costs a lot to move and store.

It costs just as much to move and install a £50 massive table as it does a £2k massive table.

The kind of person who only wants to pay £25 for a wardrobe is unlikely to be the kind happy to cough up the extra £100 needed for someone to risk their life getting it up their stairs.

Erm I said mid range so higher hundreds.
Just not thousands..
If I'm paying £ 500 to £ 900 I'd like it delivered upstairs and not flat packed. Or they take care of that.

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Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 12:01

ByCupidStunt · 16/08/2024 11:56

I think if i were you I would purchase flatpack and employ a local handyperson to do the rest.

You could put a picture of the item on your local facebook page before buying it and asking if anyone could assemble it and how much would it cost.

Is flat packed good quality? Yes trying to find a handy man would help.

OP posts:
Lorrymum · 16/08/2024 12:04

Have you looked at M&S and John Lewis? I also wish we had more "physical" furniture shops. It's impossible to properly judge, colour, workmanship etc from a picture online. Such a waste of time and energy when it has to be returned.

ByCupidStunt · 16/08/2024 12:04

Honestly @Aquarius1234 I've been on my own for years and had this problem over and over again.

Flat packed is not the best quality. The best quality is furniture thats already assembled.

But we can only do what we can do. And if that means buying flat pack, so be it.Don't become crippled with indecision either. Choose your item, post a pic on facebook and ask how much they would charge.

Or try John Lewis, what are you after? a wardrobe?

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 12:12

Very rarely do I go anywhere in person as there just isn't anywhere these days.
John Lewis seems rubbish . Not sure what's happened there. M& S ok but all very plain. Fenwick just seem to stock one or two brands not like they used to.
Cox and Cox apparently expensive yet bad quality. I got a bedside table and was disappointed. Atkin and Tyne terrible delivery times and too high prices.
Cotswolds don't do white glove service.

OP posts:
GasPanic · 16/08/2024 12:15

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 11:54

I've seen from 45 pound to 199 pounds for white glove service. Ridiculous the higher price was for a argos type place.
It's literally just placing in room of choice and getting rid of package if you so wish apparently.

"It's literally just placing in room of choice and getting rid of package if you so wish apparently."

If it is that easy just do it yourself.

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 12:15

I don't what something big and chunky as don't have the room. A small chest drawer or even just dressing table or console table. Just some extra storage. Also blanket box/ ottoman.

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Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 12:18

ByCupidStunt · 16/08/2024 11:56

I think if i were you I would purchase flatpack and employ a local handyperson to do the rest.

You could put a picture of the item on your local facebook page before buying it and asking if anyone could assemble it and how much would it cost.

I don't use Facebook. But look on next-door sometimes. Yes its annoying. But even if I lived with someone I doubt they carry heavy furniture or be good at carpentry.

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Nourishinghandcream · 16/08/2024 12:19

In my experience, all the furniture suppliers we have used in the past couple of years are perfectly willing to deliver to the room in question and take away all packaging, you just pay another £25 or so.
Sometimes we just have it delivered to the door if OH can manage but in the case of a bed, dining table, heavy sideboard etc we paid for room placement.

Didimum · 16/08/2024 12:43

What's your budget? Loaf do white glove service and have branched out to more than just sofas now.

TerrierOrTerror · 16/08/2024 12:51

We have a lot of Cotswold Company furniture. Very happy with the quality, bought to the room required (limit of second floor without lift I believe), packaging taken away. Most items delivered pretty much fully assembled - we needed to put shelves in bookcase for instance, or add legs onto bedside tables.

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 13:00

Didimum · 16/08/2024 12:43

What's your budget? Loaf do white glove service and have branched out to more than just sofas now.

Edited

Had a look at Loaf bit too expensive and think I've missed out on any sale items.
Over 1k seems too high a price for medium chest of drawers.
Maybe..

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socialdilemmawhattodo · 16/08/2024 13:05

M&S have withdrawn again from furniture retailing.

This is a local-ish to me furniture retailer. Seems well respected locally. Hoping so as I have to take my mum in at some time to look at carpets.

www.lenleys.co.uk

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 13:09

socialdilemmawhattodo · 16/08/2024 13:05

M&S have withdrawn again from furniture retailing.

This is a local-ish to me furniture retailer. Seems well respected locally. Hoping so as I have to take my mum in at some time to look at carpets.

www.lenleys.co.uk

Thanks I've looked there online anyway. Bit old fashioned for me.

OP posts:
Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 16/08/2024 13:13

Before you dismiss flat pack, check that you can actually get fully assembled (or part assembled) up your staircase, along the landing and into the bedroom. My old house had only six foot clearance up the staircase and a bend before the landing. We had to ONLY buy flat pack as nothing else would go up the stairs.

Aquarius1234 · 16/08/2024 13:28

Yes decent flat packed is fine, if I can get someone to do it for me. Maybe easier than heavy furniture upstairs yes.
I do have one chest of drawers in the spare room so that obviously got up the stairs few years back. I'll measure it.

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