Assurance for consumers

Choosing furniture depends largely upon personal preference and taste. There is a massive choice of styles, colours, designs and function; so much so that buying furniture can be daunting.

It is impossible to give advice on the aesthetic elements of the choice process. However, there are a number of factors that can be taken into account to give the consumer greater confidence when making a final purchasing decision.

Reliability of the retailer

In an ideal world all retailers would be perfect, as would all furniture. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Whilst, as a consumer, you have legal rights, in can often be difficult to pursue a complaint.

By choosing a retailer who is a member of The Furniture Ombudsman you can be assured that it will abide by a code of practice and that, should you have a complaint, this will be dealt with by an independent body.

FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association) also operates an independent after sales service on behalf of a number of retailers and manufacturers. This service is geared up to deal with consumer problems quickly and effectively.

Does your retailer have this relationship with The Furniture Ombudsman or FIRA?

Quality of the product

There are few independent measures of furniture quality in the market place. Your confidence can be greatly enhanced if you deal with retailers, or buy brands, that have been proven traditionally to represent quality.

FIRA is an independent body and its Gold Award has been won by a small number of product ranges, especially in the kitchen arena. For a company to gain this award they must have their products and processes rigorously and regularly tested.

In the absence of a Gold Award you could ask whether the furniture has been tested. FIRA’s independent laboratories undertake a wide range of tests on furniture and produce reports and certificates for those products that meet the relevant performance standards.

Flammability and fire

Sofas, mattresses, padded chairs and many other upholstery items must meet the UK furniture and flammability regulations. Reputable retailers and manufacturers will have appropriate records to demonstrate compliance and items will have a visible label to assist the consumer. Further details of these regulations are summarised elsewhere on this web site.

What else is there to look for?

After all this advice you may still need some help in making your choice. FIRA and The Furniture Ombudsman have devised a series of easy to understand articles called “Buying furniture”. These are available on this web site by following the links below.

Further Links

• The Furniture Ombudsman
• Gold Award
• HST
• Buying furniture:
• Cabinets
• Kitchens
• Upholstered furniture
• Furniture and flammability regulations