Buying Patio Furniture Online: What is a guaranty really worth?

I bought a set of Adirondack Chairs online and wanted to share my experience with you. So here is what I learned. 

All companies who sell adirondack chairs offer some kind of satisfaction guaranteed - but do they really guaranty anything? When buying adirondack chairs online here are the things to look for when it comes to guaranties:

RETURN POLICIES:

Probably the most important guaranty a company offers is their return policy guaranty. Here is a typical breakdown of the expenses incurred if you aren't happy with an adirondack chair that you bought online:

Shipping charges: If you are buying an adirondack chair online the average shipping charges within Canada and the US usually runs $30 to $80 per chair. This charge is almost never refunded if you arent happy and return the chair.

Return shipping charges: Most companies are NOT willing to pay the return freight if you aren't happy and want to return the product. Again these charges are usually between $30 and $80 per chair if shipped within Canada or the US.

Restocking fees: Most companies will charge you a restocking fee if you return a product just because you didn't like it. Average restocking fee is 10% of the price of the adirondack chair - this usually runs between $19 and $39 per chair on average.

Re-packing fees:  If you are unable to repack the chair back the exactly the way it was originally packed you could be charged a re-packing fee on top of everything else. A repacking fee usually runs around $10 to $20 per chair on average.

Let's do the math...

I buy ONE adirondack chair for $200 plus $40 S&H - total cost $240.00 (plus taxes)

Adirondack Chair arrives and I am NOT happy with it (in fact I can't even put it together as it is missing parts) so I want to return it...

They deduct my $40 original shipping charges (most don't refund shipping charges)

then I have to pay $40 to ship it back to them (most don't pay the return freight)

then they charge me a restocking fee of $20 (if it isn't damaged you have to pay for them to put it back on their shelves) and a repacking fee of $10 (its almost impossible to get it back in the box exactly the way it arrived).. and they make the paperwork insanely difficult to discourage people from returning products. Then I have to wait up to 90 days to actually get my refund less all the additional costs.

What does all this mean?

It means I am out $110.00 for a chair I didn't keep

(and that is a very conservative estimate as some shipping & return charges can add up to over $150 per chair - my personal experience expense cost me $220.00 for 2 chairs that I didn't keep!)

This is the ultimate in insanity! If I can't try it out first they ought to at least give me a trial period or offer a decent return policy.

But that's not the worst of it... Many return policies are 3 days from the time it leaves their warehouse! By the time you actually get the product the return policy may already be expired! Therefore even if you send it back they may not have to refund you.

So how do you protect yourself when buying online?

READ THE FINE PRINT!  

READ THE FINE PRINT! 

1. Do they have a guarantee posted where you can see it?

2. What are the terms of their guarantee?

3. What does their guaranty actually cover?

4. How difficult is it to return something if you aren't happy?

5. What penalties do you have to pay if you return something?

You have to know what it is going to cost you if you don't like their product.

There are a few companies that do offer good return policies and written guarantees on workmanship (that means if a piece breaks they will replace the piece at their cost) but they aren't easy to find. In fact I have only found one that offers consumers risk free buying.

My choice recommendation: 

I've only been able to find one adirondack chair company online so far that pays the return freight and refund in full if you are unhappy with your order for any reason - all you have to do call them toll free (no endless paperwork or hoops to jump through).

www.SuperGardenFurniture.com

If you hear of any other exceptional companies online with no risk buying please let me know and we will be glad to add them to this article in a future publication.