Prices are rising
Is this the right time to buy furniture? You bet -for some.
Virtually all the suppliers we use are sending us letters about price increases. This is like nothing we've seen before. It seems to be industry wide for all types of furniture and materials. Steel is rising, fabric is rising, padding and foam are rising, wood is rising. The prices of all the components that go into making just about every piece of furniture are going up. And, of course, the cost of fuel to get the furniture from its maker to the user has dramatically changed. Freight costs can amount to as much as half the cost of the merchandise. Especially on large bulky items like sofas. On top of increases for every sort of material, it seems almost required that companies disquise additional price increases as a "fuel surcharge" to be added to every order. As if they may someday eliminate the surcharge when fuel prices come back down. Don't count on it.
We're accustomed to rising prices, but this time, it's different. The particularly unsual aspect of the current increases, are the suppliers' willingness to forecast additional increases just as we digest this round. Most letters read of an immideate hike to be followed by subsequent rising prices in the near future with no apparent end.
Could this be an elaborate hoax to scare us into ordering more now, possibly - even probably to an extent. I beleive there is a bit of fantasy, and reality, in the increases. It's always a tough call. Increasing material costs are a good way to hide profit increases as well.
So, what should you do now? If you need furniture, buy it. If you will need furniture soon, consider buying it now. There is no doubt, furniture and mattress prices will be higher - everywhere - soon. We've decided not to stock-up before the price increases. Instead, we're laying back on our buying and concentrating on the really fantastic deals. Vendors are bringing us offers at 50% off and we're sending them away. The discounts must be bigger.
Furniture & Mattress Clearance Center
Virtually all the suppliers we use are sending us letters about price increases. This is like nothing we've seen before. It seems to be industry wide for all types of furniture and materials. Steel is rising, fabric is rising, padding and foam are rising, wood is rising. The prices of all the components that go into making just about every piece of furniture are going up. And, of course, the cost of fuel to get the furniture from its maker to the user has dramatically changed. Freight costs can amount to as much as half the cost of the merchandise. Especially on large bulky items like sofas. On top of increases for every sort of material, it seems almost required that companies disquise additional price increases as a "fuel surcharge" to be added to every order. As if they may someday eliminate the surcharge when fuel prices come back down. Don't count on it.
We're accustomed to rising prices, but this time, it's different. The particularly unsual aspect of the current increases, are the suppliers' willingness to forecast additional increases just as we digest this round. Most letters read of an immideate hike to be followed by subsequent rising prices in the near future with no apparent end.
Could this be an elaborate hoax to scare us into ordering more now, possibly - even probably to an extent. I beleive there is a bit of fantasy, and reality, in the increases. It's always a tough call. Increasing material costs are a good way to hide profit increases as well.
So, what should you do now? If you need furniture, buy it. If you will need furniture soon, consider buying it now. There is no doubt, furniture and mattress prices will be higher - everywhere - soon. We've decided not to stock-up before the price increases. Instead, we're laying back on our buying and concentrating on the really fantastic deals. Vendors are bringing us offers at 50% off and we're sending them away. The discounts must be bigger.
Furniture & Mattress Clearance Center
posted by Tampa Furniture Joe at
7:11 AM
1 Comments
