| When your local brick and mortar furniture store | | | | doesn't work for free. The delivery truck itself is not |
| offers free local delivery is it really free? Really think | | | | free. The insurance for the truck is not free. The gas |
| about this one. Nothing is free. Think about that one | | | | for the truck is not free. We are currently |
| too. There is no "quid pro quo." | | | | experiencing record high gasoline prices mainly due to |
| When you purchase a piece of furniture, it has to be | | | | high global gasoline demand in relation to supply. |
| delivered and set up in your home. The moment you | | | | Other factors contributing to elevated gasoline prices |
| purchase the furniture of your choice at a local brick | | | | are clashes in some of the main oil producing regions, |
| and mortar furniture store, certain events start to | | | | not to mention the diminishing value of the U.S. dollar. |
| take place. If that particular piece of furniture is not | | | | In order to compensate for all of these costs, the |
| in stock, it has to be delivered from the | | | | furniture stores include all these costs in the price of |
| manufacturer to the store's warehouse. If it's already | | | | every single piece of furniture that they sell. They |
| in stock, it has to be picked up from the store's | | | | make a profit from it. The furniture store like any |
| warehouse. The delivery staff, usually the store's | | | | other business exists in order to make a profit |
| own knowledgeable delivery staff, has to drive from | | | | otherwise they would go out of business. |
| the store's warehouse to the customer's home. Then | | | | But, what if you want to pick up the furniture |
| the furniture is unloaded and placed inside the | | | | yourself and not have it delivered? Too bad. You are |
| customer's home. If any assembly is required, the | | | | still paying for that delivery price that's tacked on the |
| delivery staff graciously assembles all the pieces. This | | | | price of furniture. Is that really fair? In essence, you |
| entire service in the furniture industry is well-known | | | | are paying much more for a particular piece of |
| as White Glove Service. | | | | furniture. Isn't it better to charge a minimum delivery |
| Some of your local furniture stores may offer free | | | | fee and give the customer an option to pick up the |
| delivery and set up (White Glove Service) locally. Is it | | | | furniture? By doing so, the customer is not paying an |
| really free though? The entire process that I | | | | inflated price. |
| described above costs money. The delivery staff | | | | |