Hickory, NC - Worth a trip for furniture?

[DisneyLovingMama]

Hi guys! Asking a question for my neighbors (we were talking about it over lunch) - Is it worth a trip from PA to Hickory, NC to buy furniture? They need dining room, bedroom and family room furniture, at least. They were thinking of flying to Charlotte, and renting a car, then spending two nights at a hotel. I think that that sounds like a lot of money to spend, hoping you'll save on furniture...anyone know if it's worth it?

 

[eyeoreismyhero]

Head a little north on HWY 321 out of Hickory towards Boone. Its known as the 20 miles of furniture. You will save 40-50% off retail at all the outlets on this highway.

 

[Cyndirella]

IMO, their expenses would offest (and maybe exceed) the savings. We have bought most of our furniture in Hickory, and saved a lot of money, but we are only an hour away from there.

I think most of the places ship...they could find what they want locally and call for a quote.

 

[ECU Pirates]

You can't find better quality and selection anywhere else, plus we throw in the Southern Hospitality for free!

 

[N.Bailey]

IMO, their expenses would offest (and maybe exceed) the savings. We have bought most of our furniture in Hickory, and saved a lot of money, but we are only an hour away from there.

I think most of the places ship...they could find what they want locally and call for a quote.

Do you have any idea of what % in savings we're talking about here? I've bookmarked the site and have thought about the trip myself.

 

[Cyndirella]

I think we saved around 40% from the retail prices we were seeing in Charlotte. We also found big price differences from place to place in Hickory. The cheapest place we found was Bonita Furniture Gallery. We actually found our bedroom furniture at the Furniture Mart, then I called Bonita for a quote (we had ordered from them before) and they were around $300 less than the store at the Mart. This was about 6 years ago, so I don't have any recent experience, but it would definitely pay to shop around.

 

[N.Bailey]

This is the only store I'm familiar with and the one I believe anyway that the OP was asking about.

http://www.bonitagalleries.com/manufacturers.html

Looks like it's called Bonita! I didn't realize that till just now. I thought the store was called Hickory.

 

[Cyndirella]

That's it!

 

[N.Bailey]

That's it!

Thanks for your help. Someone on the board mentioned it about 6 months or so ago and I bookmarked it at that time. I'd bought an Ashley living room suit about a year ago. We paid roughly $2000 for it and feel it is nothing but a piece of junk and had planned on buying a new one within a year. I might just have to go shopping and write down model numbers, then give them a call. I think I'd just pay the S&H though. I would love the southern hospitality, but that's quite a drive to pick up furniture and the cost of gas for my FIL's truck, well.......

 

[tar heel]

I think coming to North Carolina for a quick trip to look at, decide on, and buy furniture would be very hard and frustrating.

Here's what she should do: look at stores in her area until she finds what she wants. Then contact the manufacturer and ask for a list of stores that carry the brand. Make a few phone calls and price the pieces she's chosen over long weeks/months of really considering everything that's out there. I've lived in North Carolina all my life, and this is how I buy furniture. I highly recommend buying quality pieces that will be around for decades.

 

[chell]

Do they already have something in mind? If so, I would check on-line for the Hickory area stores and see if the prices with shipping are enough savings for a trip.

Any time you DISers are in the Hickory area let me know if you wanna get together.