Customer Reviews

The Insider's Guide to Buying Home Furnishings

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I've never moved into a house where my old furniture "fit" into my new space. This last time the transition was huge--but my budget wasn't! This book helps eliminate costly mistakes as well as educates you to become much more self-reliant than the average home-furnishing consumer. You'll be surprised how much you'll be able to do and save if you invest the time! Put it in your bathroom and study it--you'll be glad you did!

I recently received my copy of this book. I have found the information valuable, enlightening and biased. The author seems well versed on the pros and cons of the furniture and decorating industry, giving detailed information and tips on everything. As a consumer who delights in finding a lot for a little this gets my creative juices flowing and awakens my sluething to find bargins in places I hadn't thought of. Quality is very important to me and the book gives very detailed information on what to look for and avoid. The resources for finding places to save is well covered too, so you are not left salivating with no way to quench your appetite. With all this said I was however quite annoyed with the authors bias against interior designers, decorators. She gives you the impression that ALL retailers, designers and decorators are unnecessary, greedy, snobbish, untruthful and in business to take advantage of you as consumer and should be avoided. Giving the reader cautions is great but the way she words it clearly indicates her bias against them. Surely once was more than enough! Retailers, designers and decorators all have their place in the food chain. As I read this book I realized that not all "mark-up" is a waste of my resources because it buys service, guarantees and refunds that I won't get when dealing direct. So if you want an education on this industry and practical things to put into practice and look out for, I recommend the book, just look beyond the bias.

I saved thousands of dollars by following Ms. Causey's tips and advice - on furniture, fabric, and even custom-made drapery! It's hard to believe how easy it is to furnish with top-of-the-line designer goods at a fraction of the retail price.

With the help of this book, I have been able to purchase fabrics, furniture, and lighting fixtures all at considerable savings. The book was published in 1996 so some of the sources in the book are no longer in existence but there are enough resources to find whatever you need or want! This book is a definite must for the person who wants to do some decorating or remodeling and wants to save some money too! I highly recommend it!

Can regular people actually pull off faking it in the Home Interior Decorating World? I plan to find out just as soon as my new business license arrives! Wonderfully informative tips and clear instructions on achieving all those expensive looks for the same price as the designers pay.

The Causey Book is outdated. The information included is available online in a more professional format. A good internet browser will get you more information than this book.

This is a great explanation of how to save money when buying furniture. However, I tried the number that Kimberly Causey suggests in her response to this fact and the people I spoke with said that the 1996 version of the book is the most up-to-date.

Either Kimberly is mistaken or the people selling her book are mistaken. Either way the only version I have found is the one that is 5 years old.