Sofas 2

[configman]

For this sort of money I expect stuff to be delievered within an hour on the same day of purchase - especially on weekends.

I recently furnished our home in China and when we ordered a new sofa some small man brought it home on his tricycle with trailer and took it up to the 30th floor same day. He even beat our taxi home. From time of payment to actual delivery was about 45 mins - and it was good quality.

 

[d000hg]

That was the original plan, but I thought to go a bit more upmarket this time...

Ikea do (more) expensive stuff too. Real wood and so on, even if you still have to build it you can at least get it up the stairs (modern houses are not designed to fit proper furniture).

Also why do you expect fast delivery when you pay more? A £10k sofa would probably be hand-made to order...

 

[DimPrawn]

Next Day Sofas

 

[AtW]

Next Day Sofas

Full marks for delivery time, however how the fook would you know if its any good by pictures? The brand/model names totally unknown, how to choose?!?!

 

[MarillionFan]

Nearly 2 grand sofa should be more upmarket than stuff you get in IKEA warehouse...

You really are very naive.

I buy my Indian furniture from the same supplier as Harveys.

Here's an example of how it works.

Supplier A sells a really good quality Sheesham table & 4 chairs for £275 exc vat. I have a copy of Supplier A's catalogue which has 40 different table & chairs. I do the table for £599.

Harveys selects 4 tables from Supplier A and puts one in every store. They pay £275 exc vat. They then advertise table & chairs for £2600 in some stores. The rest are advertised at £1300.

Twice a year Harveys does a massive sale, where the price is slashed to £650!!!!!!

They then take orders at £650 stating 12 weeks. 12 Weeks is the time to put in an order in the far east and get it shipped. Because they are buying containers, Harveys then gets another 40% discount. So they pay £175 exc vat per table. They then sit on your money, delay you if they are delayed and you get your table for £650/£1300 or £2600(if you were stupid) some 3 months down the line.

Alternatively you buy from a small retailer who gets you the direct from the supplier from stock.

Go to an independent retailer.

 

[AtW]

I understand how it works.

My issue is not with their margin, but with the fact I have to wait fooking 12 weeks IF I place order for an overpriced item. Harvey, DFS are national stores - at least one of them advertises on TV, they got scale high enough to have some fooking stock bought in the same containers in anticipation of high sales.

When I worked for an early e-tailer selling IT stuff (like dabs does), then not having stuff in stock means you won't get many sales (unless it's highly desireable pre-order). Basically - no stock == no sales.

 

[Cliphead]

I understand how it works.

My issue is not with their margin, but with the fact I have to wait fooking 12 weeks IF I place order for an overpriced item. Harvey, DFS are national stores - at least one of them advertises on TV, they got scale high enough to have some fooking stock bought in the same containers in anticipation of high sales.

When I worked for an early e-tailer selling IT stuff (like dabs does), then not having stuff in stock means you won't get many sales (unless it's highly desireable pre-order). Basically - no stock == no sales.

Seems that people are willing to wait 12 weeks to pay for overpriced tat. That being the case they'll always be in business.

Edit: Maybe the finance offers they have make it more acceptable to a large portion of their customers?

 

[MarillionFan]

I understand how it works.

My issue is not with their margin, but with the fact I have to wait fooking 12 weeks IF I place order for an overpriced item. Harvey, DFS are national stores - at least one of them advertises on TV, they got scale high enough to have some fooking stock bought in the same containers in anticipation of high sales.

When I worked for an early e-tailer selling IT stuff (like dabs does), then not having stuff in stock means you won't get many sales (unless it's highly desireable pre-order). Basically - no stock == no sales.

Again. I will repeat. They only manufacture when they have enough orders. That is how their business works. If they get stock quicker it's because they have purchased some containers who are using existing stock from suppliers. Even if the supplier has stock, on the whole they will not buy it because they don't get their discounts.

Go to an independent of otherwise just pay your money, wait and shut up.

 

[AtW]

They only manufacture when they have enough orders. That is how their business works.

Well why the fook most other businesses work on - if it's in stock, then it sells? If they don't want to take risks manufacturing and holding stock, then their margins should be super keen - and I strongly doubt at prices they sell their margins are low.

It's not like I am after rare sofa made by Leonardo da Vinci - surely they'd sell a lot more if they could say: IT'S IN STOCK, WILL DELIVERY TOMORROW!

 

[MarillionFan]

Well why the fook most other businesses work on - if it's in stock, then it sells? If they don't want to take risks manufacturing and holding stock, then their margins should be super keen - and I strongly doubt at prices they sell their margins are low.

It's not like I am after rare sofa made by Leonardo da Vinci - surely they'd sell a lot more if they could say: IT'S IN STOCK, WILL DELIVERY TOMORROW!

No.

Because it costs to hold stock in terms of space, storage and inventory. Better to have customers pay you up front, sit on their money for 3 months and then only pay out when they receive their goods from the supplier/manufacturer.

I work on a 80% margin on furniture. Industry standard is 1.25 times. The big boys manage 2 - 2.5 while also sitting on your money.

Good isn't it.