Before buying
Turn product dimensions into a real footprint
A few marks on the floor can reveal what a product photograph leaves out.
Before buying
Read the details, compare the whole purchase.
Before buying
What a product photograph does not tell you
Use the photographs to inspect details, then use the written specification to establish what is actually supplied.
Before buying
Read the material description past the headline
A headline material can describe only one part of an object. Read the construction underneath it.
Before buying
A set is useful only if you need its pieces
Count the pieces you will use, including the cupboard space they require, before treating a set as a saving.
Before buying
Compare quantities before comparing prices
Bring the quantities onto the same basis before deciding which pack costs less.
Before buying
Check the route from the door to the room
The destination may have room for the furniture even when the doorway does not.
Before buying
Read the return conditions before ordering
Read the policy attached to the exact item, then work out how a return would happen from your address.
Before buying
Keep a warranty record you can find later
Keep the identity of the product and the proof of purchase together, where you can find both months later.
Before buying
Look for replacement parts before you need them
A replaceable lid or wheel can matter more than an extra accessory included on the first day.
Before buying
Use reviews to find questions, not just stars
A useful review describes a situation you can compare with your own, rather than simply approving the purchase.
Before buying
The care a purchase asks of you
The routine after purchase can determine whether an attractive object remains useful.
Before buying
Let a shopping wish list wait a little
A short waiting list can separate a recurring need from a moment of browsing.