Always on sale...
Furniture Companies & Market News

I have being getting a few items sorted for my new pad and it appears that some shops always seem to be on sale... Reids have a sale every week, Carpetright have 60% but did they ever sell at that price. Any shops with consistant value and no gimicky Sale campains

There is some merit in your point it is often referred to a deceptive pricing. In the UK this is monitored and companies have to prove that the item was available for sale at the price for a certain length of time. Reffered to as price establishment If anyone has a problem with an advert they are advised to approach the ASAI www.asai.ie Richard www.furniture.ie

Shops that quote a sale price against an RRP are generally the worst offenders on this front. For sale reductions I think you are supposed to have had the item on sale at the higher price for 3-6 months. Generally this highlights the vast mark-ups that many of the multiples take on container stock...Right Price Tiles being a good example of this.

As the number of multiples grow here in Ireland we will see more and more of this. It will get to a stage where it will be hard to find the genuine sale. I believe that shops that do this are their own worst enemy as I regard it as a self - defeating act. Richard

I agree. For the multiples it isn't about value for the customer rather than it is about having something eyecatching to advertise. If you believe the "sale" price you are offered is best then you are less likely to take a step back & shop around in the face of a hard sell approach. The traditional furniture sale is in January to allow the retailer to clear lines(trade shows normally take place in January & February)they want to replace, but all goods should be reduced in store. Garden Furniture sales should be starting now for similar reasons(end of season, trade shows in September). There are a few shops in Cork who tend to stick to the traditional approach(these are usually the longer standing independents who have always done this) such as Pine Pitch, Walls, Noel O' Sullivan Furniture and to a lesser degree Caseys. Don't be taken in, make sure it is a genuine deal. There really isn't any need to compromise on what you want because of glitzy sale advertising!

Generally you will find that companies will tend to have goods at the higher price for 28 days. ( normally in December and just before their Summer Sale.).I believe this means they can then advertise a reduction on that price for up to 6 months, this usually means you are not really saving at all during these so called sale periods!.This seems to be a current trend among our overseas retailers, while the home based stores tend to be more genuine in their sale terms. My advice is to shop around, when you see stores at sale for virtually the full year, you can rest assured everything is not as it seems.

Hi Michael, I agree, at the moment I believe it is a great time for shopping for the home as there is a large amount of competition out them. Saying that though it is important to shop around and make sure you are happy with your purchase. For example when buying a sofa compare the total price of all items and not just the discounted 2 seater price. Thanks, Richard www.furniture.ie