[Kristin]

By: Abe Abbas

Source: www.babygizmo.com

Do you know how to buy furniture at sales? If you're like most people, you may hold off on major furniture purchases to wait for a sale. The expectation is that you may be able to buy something for much less than everyday prices.

While that is true to some extent, know that furniture sales are held for two reasons. One of them is to create a sense of urgency and drama. Know the feeling when you see a sign that says "Prices good till Monday" or some other day or date? You know that these special prices are only going to stay around for a limited period.

The other reason is to move inventory to make room for new products. Discontinued lines or older inventory often get marked down, as do seasonal items.

And you may have noticed that major furniture sales always take place around major holidays. The idea is to give people time to shop at leisure.

So while you can certainly benefit from shopping at different kinds of furniture sales, it helps if you do a little homework before you shop.

- Know what you want to buy beforehand. This way you will know which furniture sales to attend. When you do attend a sale make sure that your desired piece of furniture is on sale. Don't assume that everything in the store is going to be marked down to the same extent.
- Know your budget. "50% off" means nothing in itself, and is a very relative term. Only buy what you need at a price you can afford.
- Do some research to get an idea of what your intended purchase generally costs. When you comparison shop, look for the same or a comparable brand at different stores.
- Check out upcoming sales. There are sales that are held around special holidays, moving sales, quitting business sales, clearance and floor sample sales. Each sale will have different types of items that are discounted, depending on the venue, time of the year or type of sale.
- It is often possible to get even better discounts by negotiating, but not always. Department stores may not be open to negotiations, but you might find independent retailers more willing to give you special discounts. But don't be afraid to ask (politely!) if they can do something for you.
- Sometimes you may get sale prices on furniture even before or after the announced dates. Always ask when you go furniture shopping if that can be done.



Article Source: http://furniture.about.com/