The Internet is steadily becoming a trusted shopping source. Over the last few years online shopping has exploded and reached new heights. Consumers in North America spend over $300 billion annually on purchasing goods through the Internet. Some of the reasons for the continuous rise in annual sales are laziness and stinginess, in other words, comfort from shopping from home and the ability to find better prices. In the last decade, furniture has placed itself very well on the online market. Every year more and more people go online to buy their furniture. What is interesting here (and you won't hear me say that too often) is that it makes sense, it is logical for people to click around and add furniture to their online carts. Unlike penis enlargement pills and diet pills, buying your furnishings online can be supported by sober reasoning. This time around, shoppers are not possessed by the dark spirits of an over-consumptive society. So, let's look at some of the key factors why buying your furniture online will keep you away from the asylum.

First, it is cheaper to buy your furniture from an online retailer/store. Unlike huge and well known stores, online businesses don't need to have a 20,000 square feet showroom. Thus, they can save money on utilities and rent – this by itself is huge. Online hosting - $240/year; physical rent for a 20,000 square feet store in a major Canadian city – use your imagination (just make sure it's above $100k/year). On an average, buying a sofa online could save the consumer $200. But what about warranty and stuff, you might bluntly ask. I hate to break this to you, but warranties come from the manufacturer, not from the store. Whatever warranty you get from a big and well known store, you can get from an online retailer. Also, keep in mind that your furniture is not being shipped from the store but from the factory. Stores only keep inventory for their showrooms, your choice of furniture is shipped from the manufacturer (whom if you are lucky will be based in the same country as you, Oh Canada!).

Furthermore, shopping online lets you compare prices all the time. You find something that you like, just copy/paste the name in one of the few large search engines and you will get plenty of results. This is advantageous for you! No need to walk around in a store trying to run away from a salesman who is constantly on your tail; continuously switching between calling you "sir/ma'am" or "friend". Shopping online keeps your rage at a lower level, let's you explore more options, save items, read reviews and compare items.

Second, it is absolutely convenient to shop online. It is often unfairly associated with laziness, but what is not added to the equation is the fact that you can review far more items online than at any physical store. Imagine dragging your wife and kids in your many van from one store to another, looking for that perfect coffee table or baby crib. You could absolutely lose your whole weekend if you are on a mission to compare prices. Online, on the other hand, in an hour you could go through tens of websites and easily browse their coffee table or baby crib catalogues. Plus, how much easier it is to look at a high quality picture online; turn around, look at your room and decide whether or not the item will fit. Definitely much easier than being 10km away from the room, trying to remember the colour of the carpet you've had there for 2 years already.

Third, there is a far better selection online than at any brick or mortar store. As mentioned above, the latter keep inventory only enough to display in their show rooms. I am sure you are yet to visit a physical store's location with over 500 beds and sofas. Online inventories are usually in the thousands, often even tens of thousands. In addition, brick and mortar stores don't keep a variety of colours for the same piece of furniture. If you liked a black sofa, but you want to see it in white, they would most likely show you a printed picture of it and tell you they don't have it in stock but they can pull some strings and get it for you. Pfff (said the horse) pull some strings, you should let them pull on something else! Unless it's a closure sale, or cleaning up the inventory sale, whatever item you like it will be shipped from the manufacturer.

In conclusion, do not let myths related to warranties scare you away from online furniture shopping. Returning or exchanging items bought from online stores and brick stores could cost you the same (in terms of re-stocking fees). The difference is that while shopping online, you get to read all the information about shipment, return and exchange policies. No need to look around for someone who can explain to you, while you nervously type away on your smart phone or on a piece of business card with a fading pen. Just read it online as many times as you need and make a conscious and well educated purchase!