The PROBLEM with Wayfair Furniture (DTC)

Through the wonders of VR, online payments, and modern delivery expectations we now see it as normal to order a dining room table and chairs to your front door. Direct to consumer furniture is here and with it come the good, and the bad.
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Script: Holly Maley
Editor: Matthew Veal
Lead Editor: Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand
Want to work with Future Proof? Suggestions? Hate mail? Get in touch with the project manager, Lu: [e-mail]

[@fazzitron]

As someone who was in the market for a new table recently, the ones I found in stores are just as bad as the ones online. Even my dad, a furniture salesman, said that everything coming out right now is very low quality.

[@angieemm]

I've found that you almost have to find an estate sale or a local furniture maker in order to get the kind of quality our parents had.

[@michaela9548]

I walked through a furniture store recently for a new dining table and everything was MASSIVE. Huge sectional couches, long tables that fit 8 people, etc. I told the sales guy initially that I live in a small apartment and he told me he had nothing for me. What's even the point if furniture stores are made for rich people with huge homes that are buying a $2000 dining table set to seat 10 people?

[@angieemm]

@@michaela9548 I don't even know 10 people in the same town I like enough to WANT to have dinner with. Can you even buy tables with leaves in them anymore? It's all just so frustrating. And this video was definitely right about a few things, most importantly that online shopping has conditioned us to have low expectations and just live with the BS we're delivered. It's working out beautifully for mainstream media and governments too. The resale shops know the industry and that's why you're paying a premium for anything hardwood now!

[@heyitsemily677]

a "mahogany table" nowadays is just poplar (or other cheap soft wood) with heavy stains and lacquer or veneered, but their still actual mahogany prices,,,,,

[@chouchounah]

@@michaela9548 Take a trip to North Carolina. I'm sure they still have nice furniture stores (High Point, Jamestown, etc).

[@luizurtiga]

It's really weird how the roles reversed and going to the charity shop is what you do when you want quality furniture while new stuff uses cheap MDF in the best of cases

[@Timmakesmusic]

So true! Even a lot of higher end modern furniture isn't that well made either. Charity shops and second hand dealers have been my go-to for getting furniture for my flat, much to the amusement of friends and family. Much better quality for the same or lower price. In my opinion, the quality of furniture (and a lot of other manufactured goods) has steadily declined over the last century, but especially in the last 20 years. Growing up, I remember my grandparents' pre-war furniture was much better quality than things they'd bought in the late 1950s-1970s. Even today, I have several 'identical' IKEA bookcases purchased over a span of about 10 years where newer versions of the same item are of noticeably poorer quality.

[@NoZenith]

If you have the ability to pick it up and get it home without knocking it apart, sometimes you can get that MDF furniture for like five bucks at a second hand store instead of paying 50 or 75 at a retail store. A few extra Tac nails to stick that back cardboard on very securely and you're done!

[@lovedfriend2020]

They expect people to move and not care about the stuff they bought.

[@Chicago48]

I see very good furniture at Salvation Army, et al.

[@Chicago48]

@@NoZenith Also moving sales. And estate sales.

[@dameazize]

I have found a lot of joy in learning to tailor my clothes and refurbishing old furniture items. I can't make the stuff I want, but I can take old things and make them look like they fit me perfectly. It has also been really good for my mental health to have projects like this that let me be creative and learn new skills, and definitely good for my wallet!

[@TheWutangclan1995]

You should probably start taking up wood work. It’s a natural instinct to build things. We’ve discovered fire, built houses, and cook. Your pride and joy in doing those things will translate well in creating your own furniture. You know what type of wood to use, have a design, a purpose, and know that it will last forever.

[@NottyGurlStyle]

Yes, I would love a video on fake reviews. I am a person that if I’m looking online for something I do read reviews and if I see too many that are questionable then I won’t bother with it. As for ordering furniture items or even clothes…I still would prefer to see it in person especially the furniture. I would see nice items but I would rather have a chance to sit on a couch, get to see the color etc. I don’t shop at Wayfair..I’ll look but the prices are way too high for the what they are selling. I bought a room divider from Overstock and it looked like someone put their foot through the box, they didn’t wrap it to protect it and it was broken…I immediately told them I wanted a refund and they told me to keep the screen. I was going to throw it out but I’m a diy person, so I patched it up and will work with it to make it look like a brand new piece. As for IKEA…lol I do love their items. I have a closet and a dresser from them and love it. So I’m no opposed to shopping there. Plus you could always hack it which I love too.

[@LeviHildebrandYT]

Yeah it's practically impossible to be 100% sure of what you're getting when buying off sites like these, because picture quality and available information always varies. The thing with IKEA is at least you can go to their brick and mortars and check out what you're planning on purchasing in advance to make a more informed decision. Thanks for adding to the conversation here!

[@sarahwatts7152]

I look at the mid range reviews, but I'm just never sure which comes from a real purchase and which is a computer riffing on capitalism

[@NottyGurlStyle]

@@sarahwatts7152 very true..I always like reviews with pictures so I could at least see what a person is telling me. But I’m always good about leaving reviews for items too

[@vaguelyweird]

i like to look at the bad reviews. if *someone* isn't unhappy, i don't trust it 😂

[@bonniea8189]

​@@vaguelyweirdI do that too, but even that can be rigged. Sellers can pay for their competitors to get bad reviews, so their own listing looks better.

[@thedavidj1996]

Minor note, west elm isn’t a traditional online retailer, they are a brick and mortar store with online shopping available. And their quality generally better than the DTC online brands. Most couches at west elm for example are solid wood or solid engineered hardwood frame, which lasts much longer and is refurbish-able. It’s totally worth reupholstering a solid frame couch.

[@bigvalley4987]

David, You are on point. My first low quality couch. I desired to reupholstered it. Because I thought it Wouk’s be cheaper. The couch was still in pretty good shape, but I wanted a different material. The upholstered judging how young I was at the time. 18 years old at the time that I bought the couch. But I was about 21 years old at the time. She ask me do my couch have a solid wood frame. If not it would not be worth the money to reupholstered. Of course I did not know the answer. So she gave me the secret to determine if it was solid wood. She advised me to go the bottom edge of the couch where the wood is. And press your fingernail into the wood. If it leave an impression on the wood. It is not solid wood.🤔

[@daediaz186]

It's expensive tho

[@thedavidj1996]

@@daediaz186 not all of it is. There are a few pieces that are solid wood that are under $1000, some close to $600-$700.

[@geofftucker9622]

@@daediaz186quality furniture is worth paying for

[@GarrettXHolder]

It’s all a lie

[@TheEagleEnigma]

I bought a rug from Wayfair that was delivered early when I was on vacation and it got stolen off my building’s porch, and Wayfair sent me a new one no questions asked which is wild considering it’s a $300 dollar rug and i’ve had customer service departments give me the runaround over an order of like $70 shoes. It’s a great rug, FWIW

[@jazzjensen]

It's not worth $300 then. Was probably made for very little, hence why they're willing to eat the cost.

[@Dennis-vh8tz]

​@@jazzjensen Anything bought for $300 in retail store probably cost about $30 in labour and materials, with the rest going to multiple layers of 100% markups. If Wayfair charge $300 for a rug that cost $50 in labour and materials, it's probably better than most of what you 'd find for a similar prices in stores.

[@VanillaButtercreamFrosting]

I love Wayfair.

[@sirstroam]

Fast furniture is probably a reflection on how people live. Our grandparents got houses in their early 20's and only switch houses maybe three times in their lifetime. Large heavy furniture that'd last a lifetime was the economical choice. Now many are finding themselves moving every one or two years from the time they leave their parents up into their late 30's. Heavy furniture is very costly to transport, store, and may not fit your next place. Much better to get cheaper and lighter furniture you can sell at a heavy discount or trash before move to your next place and get all new furniture that matches the space.

[@Kizzabell]

So true! There is furniture in grandparents house that seems like it would be impossible to move. Huge wardrobes from the 1800s and those roll top desks. My dad inherited their house and doesn't even want the furniture but it would be so hard to move and people don't want to buy heavy antique furniture these days. They are beautiful pieces but don't really match the house. I moved into my own place last year and bought cheap Flatpack furniture. I love what I bought. It looks modern and it's so light weight.

[@dickiewongtk]

Exactly, when I need to move every year, I want my furniture cheap, simple, light, and easy to disassemble (Ikea)

[@benjalucian1515]

@@Kizzabell He should put them up for sale. There are people who will be happy to pick up such well built furniture at a good price.

[@apelle92]

Let's be honest, the assumption that quality furniture is heavy is probably not why people are buying cheap furniture. They're buying it because it's cheap and they don't want to dish out the money for quality pieces, and likely want to change up their furniture every couple years just for the sake of it. Same goes for pretty much everything nowadays. Shein, Temu, new phones every couple years. List goes on. If people really cared about the environment, they would be considering BIFL products wherever possible and where it makes sense. Sure, they may be more expensive, but nobody said you need to have everything right now. Previous generations accumulated things over decades, they didn't have to have everything right here right now. Practice delayed gratification and buy quality products at the pace that you can afford.

[@sirstroam]

@@apelle92 People are people. Many of the older generations bought cheap for its time pieces out of Sears catalog. Adding yet another concern to the end consumers ever growing checklist is active sabotage to any environmental goals.

[@RedSmellsLikeOrange]

I try so hard to buy second-hand quality furniture, but as someone who does not drive it greatly increases the difficulty. Most people don't offer delivery. If I only did that I wouldn't have much in my home. But one day, my home will be full of nice items that last my lifetime.

[@beverleymason8011]

Not driving does make it a lot more difficult 😢

[@erikapauley7391]

There are often pick up truck owners on Craigslist or at Home Depot looking for $$$ to move furniture

[@robertlogue3794]

I also wish I could buy used but I'm blind and don't drive and it's hard even to get to look at things. I can't afford posh stuff. And how the heck do I buy furniture online when I can't even see the pictures? Thanks for bringing this subject up. Being disabled and shopping has really changed.

[@chouchounah]

I have a ninety-dollar table (I don't remember what I paid for the four chairs and the bench) that I bought almost 20 years ago from World Market. That table is solid hardwood through and through and it's there to say. I also have some furniture that I bought more than 20 years ago in North Carolina. You wouldn't know it looking at the pieces.

[@treslechestogo]

This is my problem too. I just found kaiyo that sells consignment pieces with affordable white glove shipping and that solved it for the key pieces. They ship to the tri-state area if you are there. I then took advantage of affirm to buy the remaining pieces from high quality websites: casper, schoolhouse.

[@buggydust]

no one makes shit to last anymore sadly. my grandmother had the same furniture for almost 60 years and even though it's dated compared to today's trends, all her pieces are SOLID and still look like new. i'm very fortunate that my parents gave their blessing for me to keep a few pieces of hers after she passed. you just can't find new things being manufactured today by big retailers that are of comparable quality vintage pieces.

[@leeraewi]

You absolutely can. It will just cost you more and you will need to know where to look. There are still furniture companies out there offering lifetime warranties, or at least 20 years.

[@juliebrocklehurst-woods5247]

I have kept some furniture from my childhood bedroom. The finishes need some touching up, but they are very well-constructed.

[@frankbaran5698]

@@juliebrocklehurst-woods5247 I agreed. Older furniture holds up longer than the crap being sold these days.. I have my maple (real maple) bed frame and dresser from my childhood, which was 60 years ago.

[@bzb500]

Today's furniture like everything else is junk. I shop second hand stores. Even the clothes are crap. I like solid quality.

[@QuyAnNguyenHuu]

Wayfair is like the online IKEA with free delivery. But at least with IKEA the assembling manuals work well on most occasions and the level of quality is consistent. With Wayfair, you'll never know how it goes.

[@grizzlybear4]

And IKEA has real stores!

[@Jodiebird45]

Fact worst experience ever

[@kathleenservita3240]

@@Jodiebird45I feel the same way, such a cluster were you able to return and get a refund?

[@LaoTzudonym]

Agreed. Some brands sold on way fair are great (for the price) and some are crap (at any price). Their 3rd party delivery companies vary too. Some have been very professional, but once I had one dragging my furniture on my grass to the door.

[@hawkatsea]

Yes, definitely an episode about review farms. I just joined Amazon VINE and am debating the economic and environmental impacts of my significant leap in online/shipped orders just for some free stuff, most of which comes from China. I take my reviewing seriously but not everybody does, and now people say how untrustworthy the program is.

[@striderstache99]

I quit Vine Voice. I kept collecting no name pieces of junk, spending time taking photos of each thing, and writing a detailed review like an idiot. None of those reviews got favorited or really looked at. And it is why I did it in the first place, in order to prove myself as a decent reviewer for furthering my side projects. But I have to be honest; it was the worst thing I did this year. And the fact I couldn't review the stuff on my own website while accruing things I never wanted in the first place made it enough for me to quit.

[@hollandguthrie2005]

I’m one of those people who knows exactly what they want before they even start shopping, and I can tell you it’s actually a nightmare. This is because I have to spend days or weeks trying to find the website or store that makes precisely what I’m looking for. For example, when it came to buying a couch, I couldn’t just go to a store and pick a comfy one. I needed to find a cranberry Chesterton couch with a pull out bed or storage. It doesn’t exist, and I’ve been unsatisfied with what I got instead ever since. Be happy that you don’t know exactly what you want, trust me you’re better off that way.

[@jennromero2261]

This thooo!!! Literally the reason I learned how to sew because I had an exact idea of how I wanted my clothes to look and I could not find them in the style, material or design I wanted.

[@bleuumscarlett7977]

Exactly why i learned to sew and why i want to learn how to make basic furniture too. Like, I saw a great murphy-bed-style cabinet, perfect for my 3 fold mattress, but 1, it's 2k USD and I'm canadian (so it would probably go up to 3k CAD 🤷‍♀️), 2, is it truly great quality, or is it just expensive? And 3, it's not even in the look i want, but where would there even be the exact style i want for this exact product? Better make it myself then

[@JR-gh8lp]

I’m also a cursed “aware” shopper

[@lovly2cu725]

IM WITH YOU ON THAT. I DONT IMPULSE BUY

[@DuskLegend]

Don’t teach people that, that’s a ridiculous lesson for so many reasons I wouldn’t even know where to start

[@mariehernandez5878]

I bought several pieces from Wayfair. I have been scoping out many possibilities. I was in no hurry as I would not be relocating for a while. I checked out weight capacity and material as well as dimensions. In other words, I did my homework and took my time. I am very happy that I could find what I was looking for and be happy with the price. Patience paid off.

[@VanillaButtercreamFrosting]

I love Wayfair!

[@jadedflames]

I’m that weird person that managed to buy furniture online and it was exactly what I wanted and fit exactly where we wanted it in the home. That said, my partner and I spent months looking for the furniture we wanted online and started with small individual pieces to the bedroom set before getting the more expensive pieces (the dressers) to ensure that we really did like the style and quality.

[@LeviHildebrandYT]

That's a sound way to go about it! Measuring spaces, comparing with similar products, and researching materials and build quality are some really great ways to ensure you'll be happy with whatever's sent to your door

[@josemv25]

Doesn't really make you weird lol

[@angelfieseler5358]

I’m shopping for a sectional right now , I just have not figured out what manufacturer makes a well built one

[@jennromero2261]

I’m also one of those that has loved every piece (except one tbh) of furniture I’ve bought from online

[@angelicjacobs9983]

Same. I bought my first piece of furniture online in 2008. I still have it & it’s in great condition. You just have to know your brands. I do research and look for quality manufacturers.

[@ivyclara9782]

I recently bought a mattress from a local store that I found very uncomfortable. I could have received a total refund if purchased online, but the store only offered store credit and I did not like any other mattress at the same price point and did not want some other random furniture. I ended up giving the mattress to my son and purchasing my replacement online so I could get a refund if I hated it. It worked out great. I love the 2nd mattress. I have purchased several pieces of furniture from Joybird and I like them all. Going on 4 years now.

[@TinsTins]

Off topic but I am switching to a credit union because of your video. I appreciate how direct and easy to understand your videos are.

[@Vromiaris778]

YES, please! We need the fake review exposed! That also touches on KZbin reviewers… I’ve been duped a few times...

[@Artofcarissa]

Wayfair isn’t really a brand it’s more of an online marketplace for a lot of different brands. It’s kind of similar to Amazon. I stopped shopping at IKEA cause I was sick of their furniture and I do think wayfair does have some good stuff, it’s just hit or miss

[@angieemm]

You really have to read all the descriptions and every bit of words on the product page! I've bought a few things from them and was able to make them much better by just using upgraded screws and wood glue.

[@ediewall6360]

Wayfair sells children

[@htsunmiku]

​@@angieemm yep. You can also look up the actual product. You will find your way to the manufacturers

[@angieemm]

@@htsunmiku that's how I found the headboard I wanted at a better price! Saw it on wayfair but searched the manufacturer.

[@tasneemshariif8788]

@@htsunmikuhow do you know which is the manufacturer name ? I am trying to purchase

[@jeanrainier]

Oh, if only this video had come out a few weeks sooner! I just recently had to furnish a new home, and bought a LOT of stuff from wayfair thinking it was a nicer option than say amazon. (And after a truly HORRIFIC experience with Ashley Furniture scared me off options like that.) Well, turns out I paid 900$ for a couch that /crinkled/ when you sat on it for how cheap the materials were, and it was so small and low to the ground it was more like pet or child furniture! It was so unlivable I sent it back, which meant I had to somehow compact it back into the VERY beat up box it came in, and then I had to forego part of my refund to cover the return shipping! Which was, somehow, 200$! I basically paid wayfair 200$ to ship me cheap, imported flatpack furniture with nothing to show for it now. The dresser and other things I ordered from them have also all proven to be cheap, made to look better on the site than they really are, and are basically all just amazon flatpack for double the cost!

[@ambergerhelper7852]

I’d rather sit/ sleep on the floor than buy from Ashley ever again.

[@lovly2cu725]

WAYFAIR IS ALSO WOKE

[@baublesanddolls]

Woke?? Such an original word! 🙄

[@grizzlybear4]

So sorry. What a bitter ripoff.

[@jenniferroberson9701]

Ashley does bait-and-switch. I had to go to the BBB to get my order canceled and my money back.

[@vbrown6445]

I must be in that 1%. I bought all my living room, office, dining room, and bedroom furniture for my condo online (on Target's site) 15 years ago. Loved all the pieces. Still have them all today. They are all good quality and have served me well. I have been considering getting a new sofa bed, only because the old one is slightly discolored with age and use, so I've been tempted with all these new furniture sites. But I hate being wasteful and the old/current futon-sofa is still in fantastic shape. I'm glad to not have contributed to landfill waste in the past 15 years, but I feel like I can trust my instincts with choosing furniture online (with research).

[@jessek8114]

40 dollar stool from the local carpenter? 😂 I wish. It is at least 800 per stool from the local carpenter (white oak stool), produced in small batches. This is like the buy local/organic thing again but for furniture.

[@thehungrygoldfish]

Then steal it from him and then it’s free!

[@Yoon_gibiased]

800 but it’s not made of cardboard and breaks in a few months. And what horrible carpenter is living near you, it is no where that expensive to make a stool my dad would sell a stool he made for 50 CAD atleast.

[@idraote]

One problem with furniture is that houses/flats are progressively becoming smaller (unless you've got big, big bucks). This means that you cannot use your granma's wardrobe because either it doesn't fit in your bedroom or it does but it leaves a lot of space unused on a wall that is the only place available to you to store your clothes. I have perfectly functioning kitchen furniture bought by my parents when they married in the 1960s. It's astonishing quality, it's still perfect. But it's also quite small with not a lot of room in the cabinets. When I move from my current house, that furniture will have to be ditched in favour of custom furniture that will make a better use of space in my future kitchen. It's sad and wasteful.

[@Timmakesmusic]

This is definitely an issue. We had to take out a window to get some of the furniture into my flat, but there was no way I was letting it go! One item is a wardrobe that's 130 years old and made of solid quatersawn oak. It should see me out and I'm sure it will still be giving good service to someone else in another 130 years!

[@sophiathye1209]

Not to mention the hassle of moving such heavy and bulky furniture by ourselves to a new apartment every 12-14 months because rent went up. I wish I could have taken more hand-me-down furniture from the family, but it just doesn’t work with my lifestyle the same way a cheap, light, and easy to disassemble ikea piece does.

[@Default78334]

My uncle inherited his grandmother's old writing desk. The thing is absolutely tiny by modern standards so he passed it on to my cousin's daughter who is still small enough to make productive use of it.

[@evelynsaungikar3553]

Why not leave the furniture for whoever is moving in?

[@idraote]

@@evelynsaungikar3553 as a habit, in my country, you receive an empty flat and you are contractually obligated to leave it just as empty

[@von186]

we resorted to buying furniture online because there aren't any decent furniture stores around. its either junk furniture being sold for $$$ or super high-end furniture we can't afford.

[@benjalucian1515]

Yup.

[@indi-f8j]

This is making designers life so hard. So much junk polluting the planet. Vintage is flying out the door, while shortages on quality pieces and skyrocketing prices make the purchasing experience terrible. Great video.

[@lover12112]

Lol, you're gonna hurt the airbnb host's feelings crapping on their ram lamp 😂

[@angieemm]

I have a wardrobe that was flat-packed and brought over to the US from Germany on a boat by my ancestors in the 1840s. It has been moved to 5 houses in my lifetime. It's still gorgeous and solid. I'm in the middle of moving and a rep came to evaluate the job. He said even the particle board bookcases I got secondhand in the early 90s are built better than the cube storage unit the movers won't take because they're so cheaply made now. Buying online may be more convenient (the place I'm moving has 2 furniture stores and they're horrible quality, and no thrift/resales) but it's certainly not easier due to the amount of research you have to do.

[@RobertWicks]

A major problem with quality furniture and one reason it will not be as common as in the past is that moving 50 year furniture every few years when you change apartments is a pain. Quality furniture is mainly compatible with a relatively permanent residence and a lot of younger folk simply do not live that way any more. They are not buying houses and staying in the same place for a decade or more.

[@j.bennette3390]

Very good point 👆🏾

[@glamgodess01]

I just moved after living in the same place for 9 yrs….

[@lw7822]

@@glamgodess01your singular, anecdotal evidence obviously completely refutes the point he was trying to make about the general public

[@glamgodess01]

@@lw7822 mold had no choice

[@glamgodess01]

@@lw7822 like I stated before I had no choice it was mold that made me move. Probably would’ve still been there if it wasn’t for the mold.

[@auapplemac1976]

Many people of a certain age no longer have the strength or desire to unpack large pieces of furniture and assemble them. Especially when the parts don’t fit together properly. I’ve had that happen too many times! It’s actually hard to find fully assembled pieces - even when buying from a brick and mortar store.

[@benjalucian1515]

Those weird bolts only attach the furniture once. You try to disassemble it and reassemble it else where, the bolts invariably strip and the holes in the pressboard wood, widen so that the bolts no longer hold.

[@11jess1122]

I think this video hit the nail on the head, but failed to mention the world white labelling furniture in the fast furniture market. As a first home mover, I’ve noticed the same tables, chairs, and a lot more products at a vastly different price point depending on the seller across websites like wayfair, walmart, canadian tire and others. It’s not the white labelling doesn’t exist in other markets, and may be worth an entire video on it’s own.

[@almal4940]

I moved into a house about half the size of my previous place last year and needed a new kitchen table that fit in the relatively specific dimensions of my kitchen. I ended up buying something on Wayfair because it allowed me to shop by size, but it was SO HARD to even find a table that was not particle board. I managed to find an actual wood table, but it was surprisingly difficult and about 2x as expensive. The difference is that I know I will continue to use this table even if I move again because it can be refinished/repainted/used as a desk/etc.

[@cloakofanonymity]

I bought two very nice leather couches from Wayfair ( real leather at $1600 apiece ) as well as four glass and metal end tables and one glass and metal coffee table. Have had them for 8 years. All in perfect condition and at a way better price and quality than the local furniture stores when I purchased them. My home theater recliner I purchased a year ago at a local furniture retailer pales in comparison to the Wayfair couches.

[@blazingasn]

This is very timely as I was sofa shopping. I was going to go with Article which is online only but based in Vancouver where I live. I ended up visiting a King Living showroom and picking a sofa with custom fabric there. It's tough to beat seeing what you want in person.

[@dharma6481]

In the 1990s I got a mahogany dining table, 8 chairs and 3 other matching pieces (manufactured in the 1890s) for 2K and spent 4K to have all upholstered and refinished (they had all been painted 😢). Still have all the pieces - 30 years and going strong. At that time a much inferior table would have cost 6k

[@pinkfreud62]

As I get older with aching hips, having more things being able to be delivered is great for me and other older or disabled people.

[@Cha0s.Bring3r]

I’ve been collecting vintage furniture to slowly make my home exactly what I want but it’s definitely hard to find the kind of stuff I want 😔

[@jacklyndavis7671]

I have soo many issues with Wayfair. I work for a furniture company who tested the waters selling with Wayfair. Wayfair has such a markup initially because they love to clearance their items. "Double the price to mark it down a percentage" (Honestly, walk into a store- its most likely cheaper.) We got away from them for several reasons, one being they didn't pay us for product received.

[@ktizzle3]

Side note, that ram lamp is hilarious!! And so random 😂😂 Also I would love to see a a video about fake reviews!!! I feel like I’ve been seeing more of them recently when I go to buy beauty products. All of the good reviews seem to be incentivized by the reviewers stating they were “gifted” the product. Love your videos, I need to check out your other channels! 💜💜

[@vialogan]

Following many (way too many) disappointing online furniture purchases and the resulting hassle no-hassle returns, I now have a hard rule. It is " ignore the picture". Retailers have gotten so adept at producing beautiful images that we may forget that, just like clothing, fit is king. This means measure, and measure again. Find out if the company offers fabric swatches and take advantage before buying. Many offer virtual room try-ons, which are a quick way to visualize the item in your space. Think through whether you really need velvet (not with pets!) or can live for years with all that tufting. In other words, don't just click cuz the pic is pretty! Hope this helps someone ❤

[@somerset6646]

I bought a sofa from Wayfair. When they delivered it, I sat on it and realized it was much too firm. I contacted Wayfair and they scheduled a pick up, no questions asked and gave a full refund. I ordered another sofa from them which I've had a long time and very happy with it.

[@poetrygirl5309]

Which sofa did you buy and liked?

[@nullsleep5178]

Watching this video laying on a sectional I got from wayfair aboutttt idk 8 years ago. This thing is great. I also have a bar cart in my kitchen from wayfair and it's very helpful in providing an extra surface to use and a bunch of storage

[@henrys3629]

I bought a cabinet designed for vinyl records. With a few extra thrifted pieces from a used building materials store, I made it a solid piece. People complained online because one screw was missing, dented corner or too flimsy. None of which affected me because I knew how to solve those problems with a tiny bit of DIY.

[@Alin_Mtl]

Your videos are amazing and I love how in most of them you always have some local, small, often Canadian company offering an alternative to the big wasteful brands. Keep up the good work!

[@LeviHildebrandYT]

Thanks for being here! 🥰🙋🏻‍♂️

[@jamesodell3064]

We have bought most of our furniture at house/estate sales. We have been able to get great quality at very fair prices. My grandmothers house was purchased by her grandparents in the 1850s and sold in 1974. My grandmother got more money from the sale of the furniture then from the house.

[@littlewhims]

idk if this is unfortunate or not but i personally really like ikea and some of their products. one of the first things i bought for my house was a lamp from ikea and that thing has been the best for three years now. i know that people are buying trendy items but i just want things that look nice and are affordable. i find a lot of ikeas things do that for me without being trendy and wasteful.

[@vanessap7393]

I like Ikea too. I find many of their items are functional, utilitarian, and have good resale value on Facebook.

[@riss337]

IKEA has a great mix of high to lower quality items, so it’s good for a variety of budgets. Even with their cheaper items, if you take care of them it can last a lifetime. Everything is simple, functional and matches any home. I think IKEA is also the most accessible furniture company for these reasons. The average consumer is not an interior decorator and going to an IKEA is fun, but higher end places can feel very intimidating and too expensive.

[@lindak1768]

They have some great lamps! We are getting ready to move somewhere that has no ikea. I’m going to buy a lamp for our sunroom before we move.

[@BoudicasQuest]

Once upon a time in America, you could buy a PREFABRICATED HOUSE from a CATALOG (Montgomery Ward/Sears Roebuck). In the 1970's I loved Back-to-School, because that's when those catalogs and the JC Penney catalog came out. They were massive volumes. You could order by mail or over the telephone. My parent's dining room set, made of solid walnut that includes a hutch, sideboard, table, 3 leaves, and 6 leather-upholstered chairs. My grandmother bought it for my parent's wedding from the Montgomery Ward catalog. I suppose it feels new, because it took us so long to figure out how to monetize the internet properly...

[@star2705]

My parents literally now have the grandparents' table. It's _dad's_ grandparents' table. The chairs are upholstered in awful orange vinyl, my parents want to change it, my sister and I _won't allow it._ I friggin love that table. I will face my sister in hand-to-hand combat when it needs a new home.

[@JohnMoore-rv4zm]

Mom and Dad downsized their empty nest into a smaller place that needed a small sideboard next to the kitchen table. They found what they thought would be a good fit and ordered it online, paying for concierge service to have it assembled after delivery. The box came quick, as did the assembly guy. I hope he made what it was worth, because he struggled with it over three visits failing to get both the doors and one problematic shelf to fit or function correctly. But they said he was a very nice man. Finally, customer service gave up after a couple of weeks messing with it, refunded their money and told them to keep the sideboard. They still use it, though the shelf is still collapsed and only Dad can open one of the doors. When the company's jingle comes on tv, Dad has new lyrics. It's "(Company name) it's shit but it's free."

[@littleblue15]

Cozey is actually a pretty good DTC furniture brand! I was enticed by the lego-ness of their couches, so i bought it. And it's actually a really comfy thing to sit on. I'm really glad I never bought anything from Wayfair. I recently stayed at an Airbnb that had a wayfair couch and oof could I feel the wood beams in it.

[@BM-rd4ms]

My wife bought some massive bookshelves for our living room through them. One piece came slightly dinged and they refunded 25 percent of the whole order! We easily fixed it and now have beautiful shelves that look built in.

[@alfonseal]

thanks for the very insightful video!

[@coolsnake1134]

As an electrician. I hate Amazon and Wayfair because a lot of the electrical products they sell especially on Wayfair either are 100% not safe or not compatible with North American electrical systems or they are not UL listed or the mounting hardware is for European electrical boxes. So I have to fabricate my own mounting bracket's and I never guarantee the product after it's installed. And 80% of the time when those two companies are involved, the product doesn't even get installed because it's either so unsafe or it just will not work with North American voltages

[@metasymphony]

I’m one of those rare people who know what they want….whatever I find for free on the street and can upcycle 😆 This trend for redecorating your house every year/season/whatever really is just fast fashion for your house. I am amazed people have the time and money for to do it.

[@All2Skitzd]

I used to work for a service Wayfair offered to go build the furniture and I learned to always look at the build instructions before committing and when it arrives carefully inspect your new junk before building

[@qleap25]

So I bought two recliners from Amazon. The price was lower than any retail store and it's amazing comfortable. I will definitely buy again from Amazon. Never dealt with Wayfair.

[@tyleralberico]

I love the transition away from clips that interrupt the flow of the video. Nice job!

[@LeviHildebrandYT]

Thanks for the love, Tyler!

[@cooperwesley1536]

I grew up in a home with expensive high-quality "brown furniture," so I was spoiled. I inherited a few pieces, but over the past 10 years I've furnished my home with nothing but high-end solid wood furniture that I purchased for almost nothing at GoodWill, Habitat ReStore, and Salvation Army. Add in estate sales and antique malls, and you have a smorgasbord of weekly choices that literally never ends. The new stuff offered online is overpriced crap imported from China that falls apart in a couple of years. This video only served to reinforce how I acquire things... now and in the future. Many thanks!

[@Nicksonian]

Furniture goes fast fashion. My friend bought a Wayfair sofa recently. It was so light, one guy was able to carry it up three flights. It replaced one she bought two years before that had already broken. I bought a Burrow sectional which is okay, but not great. It was much more difficult to assemble than advertised, and the cushions not as supportive as they should be.

[@MendeMaria-ej8bf]

Strangely enough, I've never found my favorite furniture. Not online and not offline. 😢 Thank you for your tutorial. ❤

[@apawstate]

Most of my furniture is from Herman Miller. It's expensive, but of the few cases where something will still keep a ton of value and Will even go up in worth once it's vintage age.

[@itsmegiorgio]

Yeah good furniture might have been good for my grandparents, also because they hardly ever moved. I moved 4 countries in the past 10 years and even more apartments. It's just not feasible to move around and keep using the same furniture.

[@felixbechtoldt]

This was your funniest video yet! Loved every second :D You are quite the comedic genius Levi!

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Imagine tuning into a KZbin video and seeing the guy you rented your AirBnB to putting your lamp on blast 🤣

[@adollerhead]

I'd really like to see a video looking into Consumer Reports - a bit of a companion to the B Corp video. Does consumer reports provide true, unbiased information? What do they prioritize when recommending products? How have they changed the way people shop?

[@MrNightro]

I still have my grandparents' bedroom furniture (very solid furniture that was built to last), which dates back to the 1950s. This is one of the reasons I am hesitant to buy replacement furniture from places like Wayfair (even furniture from some brick-and-mortar furniture stores), as I know I will have to replace most of it in a few years. That said, last year, I bought all new furniture for each of my kids' bedrooms from Wayfair, and it's all still holding up well for now.

[@Liialy]

One reason i for the pull of 'deliver to my door please' that wasn't touched on was how do you get that quality second hand table from the thrift store or yard sale to your door. There've been many times I've thought wow i could get a that sofa but I'd have to rent a truck to go pick it up. Ordering online by contrast is just a bit more straightforward on the last leg issue for buyers.

[@gaillewis5472]

The dresser I bought from Wayfair had drill holes that didn't align with the handles and was flimsy. When I called to complain, I was immediately offered a refund but just wanted the correct handles. I was sent a 50% refund and new handles. When the second batch didn't fit, I was told the manufacturer stopped making the dresser and I was sent the rest of my money. I had to tear down the subpar furniture cart it out and buy another one from a more reputable store for $1,000 more. Long story short, you get what you pay for.

[@jannacamp]

I've found the big thing with ordering off Wayfair is to double check all the dimensions. I see so many review that complain about how small something is. I've never had something not be the size it says - I live in a small house so I'm generally looking for small furniture items. If you take care of even the cheap furniture, it will last for a while. I have an ikea dresser that is almost 15 years old and still in perfect condition.

[@ShermanWilliamsVideo]

The Wayfair ad roll at the end of the video was the cherry on top.

[@luciedagesse53]

I purchased an upholstered chair for my living room from Wayfair and it is just as shown and described. I paid under $200 for it and it is beautiful. I have had it for about 4 or 5 years now and use it every day and still looks like the day I got it.

[@Broken6141]

I had an AMAZING online experience while shopping for new furniture. On Amazon, they are so detailed with product information. The prices were not any more or less than retail stores. Free shipping too.

[@marthahines1979]

So true! Buy used , the quality is so much better. I hate online buying. Great video. Thanks!

[@philmoe5392]

You mentioned West Elm. While they’re terribly overpriced for the low quality of their pieces, at least they do have physical stores here in Chicago and the suburbs, to actually see and touch some of things they offer online.

[@auggiedoggiesmommy1734]

I lived in a super nice neighborhood in Alpine, Utah. I owned an Ethan Allen dining set in maple …which I LOVE …..can’t tell you how many times I got told how I should get rid of it because that color wasn’t in. I didn’t get I’d of it! But I did buy a desk Tom Wayfair BECAUSE when I tried to buy from a furniture store they had NOTHING but particle board to choose from and even that was limited. The desk was damaged in shipping …someone dropped on the “This Side Up” side which happened to be the middle drawers…one was jammed shut and was pretty much beyond repair. Wayfair gave me 60% of my money back to keep it. I did NOT want t to end up in a landfill so I kept it …especially for that price. And it is a nicer piece of furniture than anything I could find in mid-range stores or wasn’t $3,000+ in a higher end furniture store like Thomasville.

[@gypsybelle4757]

Love the cameo shot with your dad and you in his shop. ❤ I was blessed to grow up with DIY parents who could fix up and refinish anything and taught my to do the same. I’m currently shopping for used furniture on Marketplace/Craigslist and will get a better quality product for my money because of it. Thank you, Mom and Dad!

[@Camie.in.Philly]

I furnished my entire apartment with online or thrifted items. I only purchase furniture people showing the furniture and their homes. For way you get a much better idea of how it will look in your home. I also made sure to look for designer reviews on sites like this. A good example is i saw a sofa on Amazon but was unsure if the actual height and weight capacity. Well wouldn't you know it, i few months later i happen to see the same show on a designer's channel on KZbin. She was tall like me, so when she sat down on it, i knew I had come across a winner. Next, I found the actual manufacturer and contacted them directly for a much better deal. 😊

[@rk28984]

About the price of direct vs store: I worked at a wholesale shoe company and the stores sold everything about 60% higher than they bought it from us. So even if there is a half price sale they make a few bucks.

[@jennaphillips2368]

As a young professional moving into their first (unfurnished) apartment, I needed this reminder. Still, it's so hard to afford better quality/longlasting upfront - and without a car, thrifting furniture is almost impossible. Still, gonna delete all my wayfair bookmarks lol

[@rhys1264]

That's why I try and always go for antiques - a lot of solid wood furniture. Usually its just a little bit of scuffing but it will last longer than cheap online particle board things.

[@striderstache99]

I watch interior design channels to understand what I like, what my budget will work with, and the channels I watch are the least subversive about sponsorships. I learned so much from them and I take my time before I make a purchase. It takes time, but it's worth it. I mean, it's an investment so treat it like it.

[@elinordrake9716]

Did you ever make a video about the fake reviews? I'd love to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff there. Good video~!

[@notme123123]

Nice video. I have one comment. Near the end you talked about “built by exploited people”. I’ve heard this argument many times, but no one ever thinks about how much worse off these people would be without these jobs.

[@lostboy8084]

The thing is what constitutes as exploitation. The main thing I see is labor conditions, wages,and age of employees. The labor conditions few people will say are actually better than some local conditions for workers but that will be case by case. The problem is that it doesn't look or follow western idea of work conditions. A lot of times cramped areas, long hours, and much more. The wages are very low what you would think of as pocket change. The thing is that for similar work they get even better pay most of the time it's just low because a lot of the work is not technical that have requirements of some kind of schooling. Now age also because a lot of times they employ children but people fail to understand that children earning money is for such places good as they help support their family. Also some times adults in some areas can be 12 to 17 years of age and marriage and even having children so what western ideology called children really in their culture are adults.

[@notme123123]

If people are not being forced to work at a particular company, then we have to realize that these jobs are their best option. And without these jobs, they would be worse off.

[@weird-guy]

That’s because western people want cheap prices and companies want huge profits. Probably for me is not the job itself or pay, but the work condition they are force to work in. Also everyone thinks only happens in poorer Countries but even in advance economies this happens , in my country Indian, nepalis people in the agriculture sector were being rob by their traffickers counterparts and made to live in a house with ten people, there’s being reports from the Uk,nyc and heard also in Italy with leather. A lot people also say to by high quality or expensive items but that type of brands also use cheap labor.

[@karinfugle1315]

Strangely enough I bought a sectional, exactly as I wanted, from Wayfair 3 years ago. I still am pleased with exactly what I bought!!!! It is great

[@laurachristianson1688]

Funny to watch considering what my husband and I endure every time we opt for a new piece of furniture we literally go to every local store see what’s available and decide after a lot of discussion, very time consuming but worth the effort. As far as quality it just doesn’t exist like it used to. I still have a couple of tables owned by our grand parents that with a little refinishing are still usable and attractive. My parents likewise had furniture that was easily 40 years young when they finally downsized and sold a lot of it.

[@joelman1989]

The whole video I was thinking about the fully desk I just got. Happy it turns out there was positive feedback on that company. I’m very happy with mine.

[@CiarnaK]

It's interesting you bring up the grandparents' kitchen table specifically. My grandmother just had a chair break on her over the weekend, and she tried to laugh it off as "well, it IS thirty-five years old!"

[@beverleymason8011]

I still have the dining room table and chairs from my grandparents home... Lots of memories of holiday and special dinners😊

[@cheprince2894]

I have ordered a couple of items from Wayfair.. I was sent serving trays when I ordered a lamp. Then ordered a metal locker cabinet which arrived dented. Both times they refunded me told me to keep the item instead of shipping it back. It suspect it was because shipping cost, restocking, etc., would have costed more than the items.

[@omaralkhuwaytim1935]

Small correction AR is augmented reality which is what Levi is talking about "adding virtual things to reality" and VR is a complete virtual experience which requires a headset

[@mikeski8827]

10:13 I have a wooden dresser that was literally my grandparents before they used it in my father's room while he was growing up. Sure, it's scuffed a little, but there's no splintering and the pieces that make it up (drawers, knobs, ect) have never needed repair. I may even try to refinish it sometime in the future and that would have it looking like a brand new piece of furniture.

[@Rspsand07]

Idk about their couches, but Wayfair has amazing desks. I use them for all my gaming setups. They're deep, long enough, solid, and inexpensive. All the "ikea hack" desks between the extra drawers, the extra legs end up costing a lot more than they appear, and since they're just cheap cardboard on the inside end up sagging from just a couple monitors in a few months. I've had 3 27" monitors, my PC, and a CRT monitor on one of my desks for ages and it has no sag or give.

[@jessicabixler1658]

Im a furniture artist and flipper I love solid older pieces and making them chic. And marketplace is cheaper. The only subsantial piece in our home we bought new is our solid wood scraped indian table. We did buy it at a box store but it is a beaut and will last...heavy and solid.

[@lisabrown8772]

I've seen some artist friends post that Article rips off local artisan designers. I haven't shopped with them because of that.

[@EdgarVerona]

I made the mistake of buying an Ikea couch 3 years ago. I remembered it being "sturdy enough" when a roommate had one a decade ago. Well, 3 years later and the arm has literally broken off. I pulled up the upholstery to try and DIY a fix and found it was particle board held together by staples. Tried metal brackets to reattach, and a week later the wood broke off around said brackets. What a waste of natural resources, I will never buy an Ikea couch again. I went to an actual furniture store and spent about 4x more this weekend to get what I hope is a real couch that will last. But I have my lingering fears that even this couch will turn out to be a poorly made mass manufactured piece of junk. I am having a harder and harder time trusting any manufactured products with how many times I have been burned at this point.

[@jellocubez7]

We paid 6k on a couch from Bo Concept back in january and it finally arrived this month! We love it! We spent several weekends going around to furniture warehouses and furniture showrooms before pulling the trigger on what felt like was our only option and as the other stores used particle board or cheap fabrics or fillers.

[@classical421]

I think it also has to do with housing becoming so unaffordable. The more people have to move (due to rising costs) the cheaper it can be to just 'buy new stuff' so I feel like we're living in a trap.

[@chuckfinley5206]

One of my neighbors tore down a 30 year old deck on his house. Making shelves, and several other pieces of furniture out of it. Nothing goes to waste at my house. My Broyhill couch i got from Habitat restore for 65 bucks 14 years ago still looks nice.

[@avalonrector5345]

At 7:15 when you say the thing about getting a new office desk to put in the corner of your living room, I lost my shit laughing because that was EXACTLY what I was about to do. To the letter XD

[@coolsnake1134]

When i got my house i got all the furniture that I needed for patio, kitchen, living room, etc. Off of Facebook marketplace and got way better. Quality for a way. Cheaper price than even buying it on sites like Wayfair and that cheaper price even included fuel costs and the cost of renting a large box truck from home Depot to transport everything

[@edwardbutka4750]

Wayfair has been a very positive experience for our family. We have made four purchases (Multi-media console, bookcase, kitchen chairs and a kitchen table) and have been very pleased with the quality and service. That said, if you are looking for "can't miss," high quality furniture that you can pass along to future generations, seek a genuine Amish furniture source.

[@bonoki3870]

yes, please have an episode bout "review farmming". heard you mention it before & will be interested in knowing more from you. also, this is the main reason why i enjoy shopping inside physical stores than on-line... thanks for another great & informative episode.

[@setaindustries]

I bought 2 office chairs from an online store and the lesson I learned: DON'T BUY OFFICE CHAIRS FROM AN ONLINE STORE!! The first one was flawed the day it arrived (it had a metal bar running through the seat) and the second one, the one I'm currently sitting on, broke and I can't stop the back from swiveling. I'll be heading to a local shop to buy my third one in a few days, I really hope my terrible luck ends and I can score a chair that lasts forever.