Purchasing furniture online or in a shop – how do you choose?

In recent times, online shopping has seen a dramatic rise due to the pandemic and related restrictions in movement that prevent people from making purchases in shops. If the habit is well-established when it comes to buying clothing or accessories, is it safe to go online for furniture and furnishings?

Let’s find out what the benefits are of making a purchase online to furnish your home and what measures you need to take to avoid scams or fraud.

I vantaggi di acquistare l’arredamento online: occhio al prezzo

The benefits of an online purchase over a physical shop are manifold, but often the questions a customer asks are about the safety of sites and portals, warranties and the reliability of the seller. The first advantage of a piece of furniture purchased online undoubtedly regards the price. Especially if you buy directly from the manufacturer, thus skipping many intermediate steps, with the end price being very favourable indeed. Compared to traditional shopping, the Internet also provides the option of keeping an eye on discounts and promotions, as well as price fluctuations over time, using special online tools.

Online furniture – cut down on time and stress

The second advantage is related to speed. In the sense not only of making a purchase quickly but, more importantly, with regard to finding the desired item. Simply type keywords into Google that are related to the product you are looking for (e.g. ‘coloured sideboard’) and a selection of hits that meet your needs will appear. All from the comfort of your sofa, without having to scour each shop in town.

The right of withdrawal applies to online purchases

A prerogative of buying furniture online is taking advantage of the right of withdrawal provided for in the Consumer Code (Article 52 et seq. of Legislative Decree 206 of 2005). The ‘cooling-off period’ only applies to contracts carried out ‘off-premises’ or in distance contracts, such as purchases made on the Internet. Within 14 days of receipt of goods, the consumer may request a refund of the sums paid and return the item, even without stating a reason. This right is a very significant distinction between online and physical purchases – in the latter, goods may only be exchanged if they are faulty or at the seller’s discretion.

All the information at your fingertips

If you are looking for information on a item, the Internet is an inexhaustible supply of data. On most furniture sales websites, you will find all the information you need, much more easily and quickly than at a physical retailer’s outlet. Photographs from different angles, details of materials and their specs, technical and maintenance sheets – all in one place. With this information at your disposal, the purchase of an item of furniture will be carried out with complete peace of mind.

Morica Design puts at your disposal a team of designers and technicians to help you furnish your home!

The magical power of reviews

Purchasing while being aware also means listening to those who already use and own the item. The Internet provides this service, allowing anyone to find out about the features of an item, its durability, the reliability of the seller and of the manufacturer. Think about it, what physical shop provides this option?

After-sales service at the click of a button

Forget long waiting times on the phone or interminable visits to shops to solve issues. Online customer support guarantees you a near real-time after-sales service, providing chats, FAQs and emails that are at your disposal for many hours a day. Contact the seller any time, anywhere, which will cut down on time and stress.

Online purchases – there are also a number of disadvantages

Today, the Internet allows you to shop in complete safety, with guaranteed quality and savings, but there are also some disadvantages.

• Despite the highly detailed photos of items in their environment, you cannot touch it. Especially so for larger purchases, this could be a major deterrent in opting for a physical shop over an online store.
• From a psychological point of view, not being able to speak with a person and not being able to physically go into a shop may be a large barrier to making a purchase. For this reason, more and more online shops provide a dedicated consultant so that the customer has a contact person with whom to interface and communicate at all times.

The enormous changes we are experiencing have undoubtedly changed the way we purchase and find out about products. Online sales are on the rise, as are digital shops, and the world of furniture and interior design is also adapting to this revolution.

Thanks to Morica, sustainable design is just a click away!