12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good companion book to the Ellen Shapiro Book, September 30, 2005
This review is from: The Insider's Guide to Buying Home Furnishings (Paperback)
This book goes outside the Highpoint/Hickory area with their coverage of stores, which can be of value.
My wife and I decided to make a trip to NC for our 10th wedding anniversary. Figured since we were going to spend the money to go someplace anyway, we'd go figure out the NC furniture mysteries. This book was a great guide to helping us plan the trip. As for the contents, it is everything you need. But, make sure to update the store hours via the web or phone calls before you travel. Many of the stores had changed hours/days. In fact, one location that is prominantly mentioned as a cluster of many retailers, a good one stop shop, is almost out of business. Most retailers have left.
As for whether you save money shopping in NC, I really don't believe it. Before we left, we had found some furniture groups we liked here locally. We called several of the stores in this book for competitive quotes. The actual per piece price was about the same. Some were cheaper, some were more expensive, so the group price was about the same. Then you have to add on shipping. BTW, NC is collecting sales tax for most states now, so you won't save that, either. It would have cost more to buy in NC.
So we took the trip. Even writing off the entire cost of the trip, which is not insignificant, but since we were going to spend it to go someplace anyway, we didn't count it, we didn't see where you could save money if you have to have the furniture shipped. At best the savings were $50-$100 per peice. The liquidation outlets are something of a joke. We saw two women get into a fight over who could buy something that was damaged. We saw a bedroom suite "on clearance" that was within $100 as a group of what we saw it new for in a showroom earlier that morning. You might get lucky in a clearance center, but having seen what we did, I'd never go back. The Thomasville factory outlet was OK, but the selection was extraordinarily limited, and if you wanted a group, you were out of luck. But, it is the only way to get Thomasville cheaper than your local store.
Overall, the book is good, and it would be valuable to give you a few numbers to call to check your local retailer's prices. I am one of those people who research for a year before buying anything, and it is a good resource. However, unless you live in an increcibly inflated area such as New England/DC/NY area, you are going to end up spending the same or more by shopping NC. About the only advantage of going there in person is you can make one stop in Highpoint, by Furnitureland South, and in one day you can basically see every single piece of furniture currently made between the 6 stores clustered right there.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best decorating education in a book, August 29, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Insider's Guide to Buying Home Furnishings (Paperback)
I learned more from this one book on decorating and saving $$ then all my classes and books combined. Makes a great reference. Well worth buying.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Buy Home Furnishings Before Reading This Book, July 30, 2002
This review is from: The Insider's Guide to Buying Home Furnishings (Paperback)
I always heard you could save a great deal of money buying home furnishings direct from manufacturers in North Carolina, but I never knew where to begin. Well, this book is where to begin. A great primer and full of excellent info. (I also note that the information in my book is current, unlike a previous reviewer's. I think the author is correct in stating that it depends who you buy the book from. Some booksellers may be keeping an old version on hand.) I bought mine from (...) and it was all new, updated info. After reading this book and the author's other book, I went to North Carolina with my sister and we were both astounded at the savings. If anything, the books understate the deals you can get. And we never bought such high quality before -- this book tells you how to recognize and purchase quality also. I will never buy any home furnishings again without referencing these books -- whether I buy in person or via telephone ordering. She tells you exactly how to do both.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
