I have many customers say that it's cheaper to buy new, which I've always agreed on. I thought people slipcovered and upholstered furniture because they wanted it to fit their style more than retail could offer, because the furniture had sentimental value, or because the quality of the piece couldn't be found in stores.
I was wrong.
After pricing out a chair and ottoman yesterday the price I thought was high and that the client could find it cheaper in store. I visited Richard Allen's website For a ottoman alone it was over $500. The chair alone was over $1000.
Well Richard Allen is on the expensive side so I decided to look at Rooms To Go. Their cheapest chair closest to the clients is $350. Ottoman $200.
The price quoted was less than $1000.
The price includes labor and fabric. It's in fabric that went with the client's decor. It's fabric she can't find on furniture in a retail store. She got the chance to shop in home versus seeing something in a store, ordering it, and finding out it doesn't work in her home.
After shopping it and seeing what retail had to offer, I will no longer be saying it's cheaper to go retail. The quality and options just aren't there.
