Grading Online Furniture Retailers’ Return Policies

Furniture shopping online offers convenience, a wide selection of products, and competitive prices. However, one aspect that many online shoppers often overlook is the return policy of the retailer they are buying from. When you can’t see the color in person or feel the comfort of a product, it can be risky to purchase online. Especially risky if billed restocking fees up to 20% on high price tag items as well as return shipping costs. It’s essential to understand the return policies of online retailers to ensure a hassle-free shopping experience. In this post, we will outline the return policies of four popular online furniture retailers: Modloft.com, Wayfair.com, Article.com, and Roveconcepts.com. Excluded are furniture retailers with ample store locations to try before you buy.

Modloft.com
Grade: D

Modloft is a contemporary furniture retailer known for its sleek and modern designs. Their return policy is a bit deceptive. They tout a “Risk-Free 30 Day In-Home trial,” however, in the fine print they bill a 20% restocking fee if you decide not to keep the item and do not refund your shipping cost. Even if the item is not shipped, you must cancel your order within 48 hours or else billed the 20% on a $4000 couch, a $800 fee plus the cost of shipping is hardly “risk free”.

Return Period: Modloft provides a 30-day return period from the date of delivery.
Eligible Items: To be eligible for a return, items must be in unused and like-new condition, with all original packaging and labels.
Restocking Fee: Modloft bills a 20% restocking fee. Orders not canceled within 48 hours will receive 20% restocking fee, even if not shipped.
Return Shipping: Customers are responsible for return shipping costs, which can be significant for large furniture items.
Refund Process: After receiving the returned item, Modloft will inspect it and process your refund, minus any applicable fees.

Wayfair.com
Grade: A

Wayfair is a well-known online marketplace for furniture and home decor. Their return policy is customer-friendly.

Return Period: Wayfair offers a generous 30-day return window from the date of delivery.
Eligible Items: Most items sold by Wayfair are eligible for returns, provided they are in their original condition with packaging.
Restocking Fee: Wayfair does not charge restocking fees on standard returns.
Return Shipping: Wayfair provides prepaid return labels for most returns and may charge a small fee to ship back the item.
Refund Process: Once the return is received and inspected, Wayfair will issue a refund or exchange.

Article.com
Grade: A+

Article is a modern furniture retailer known for its high-quality and stylish designs. Their return policy is designed to make returns easy for customers. It’s by far the best of the bunch. Don’t like the color or feel, simple contact them to pick up the item.

Return Period: Article offers a 30-day return period from the date of delivery.
Eligible Items: Items must be in like-new condition with all original packaging.
Restocking Fee: Article does not charge restocking fees on standard returns.
Return Shipping: Article provides prepaid return labels for most returns, making it convenient for customers.
Refund Process: Once the returned item is received and inspected, Article will issue a refund or exchange.

Roveconcepts.com
Grade: B+

Rove Concepts is a high-end furniture retailer known for its designer furniture. Their return policy is tailored to their niche market.

Return Period: Rove Concepts offers a 30-day return period from the date of delivery.
Eligible Items: Items must be in their original condition and packaging.
Restocking Fee: Rove Concepts does not charge a restocking fee
Return Shipping: Customers are responsible for return shipping costs.
Refund Process: After receiving the returned item, Rove Concepts will process the refund, deducting any applicable fees.

Conclusion

Understanding the return policies of online retailers is crucial for a stress-free shopping experience, especially when purchasing furniture or other significant items. While these policies can vary, the outlined return policies of Modloft.com, Wayfair.com, Article.com, and Roveconcepts.com should provide you with a good sense of what to expect. Always read the specific terms and conditions on each retailer’s website before making a purchase to ensure that you are fully informed about their return policies. This knowledge will help you make confident and informed buying decisions when shopping for furniture online.