Part of being an expat is of course buying furniture in Germany, and this is the source of woe and nightmare for many. Here, we have compiled a list of the top 5 Reasons Why You Will Hate Buying Furniture in Germany. Read an on enjoy this insider’s knowledge:
. Delivery is from 2-6 months when buying furniture in Germany.
If you are someone who is used to buying furniture and getting out of the store with it, this is a near next to impossible thing in Germany. Usually, when buying furniture here, the furniture is made after you’ve placed your order. Yes, you got that right, most furniture are only made when someone orders them. This is why it takes at least 8 weeks for the simplest of pieces up to 6 months in the most extreme and difficult of pieces.
2. Buying furniture in Germany comes with a mix-up of sizes.
Not to complicate matters more but beds in Germany may not be the same size you are accustomed to at home. Often a king size in Germany is only a queen in any other country. The sizing mix-up can also be seen in cabinets, tables, and even the refrigerator and cars. Things are smaller in Germany compared to how things are in say, North America.
3. There is often no turning back when buying furniture in Germany.
Beware of the fine print folks! If in your home country you can cancel within a certain time after placing an order, it is not the same thing in Germany! There is almost no way to cancel, and if there is, the amount of paperwork and the fee you have to pay makes it not worth the trouble.
4. Refunds when buying furniture in Germany comes for a hefty price.
Ah refunding your money… Sounds good eh? Well, for refunds, you will be lucky if the store only asks you for 25% of the price of the product you wanted to buy. This applies even if you cancel just hours or the day after placing the order. And in case you have not paid yet? The furniture company will find a way to charge you a certain fee which would make you wish you just bought the furniture in the first place.
5. Buying furniture in Germany is very expensive.
It might be as expensive as Switzerland, but buying furniture in Germany is certainly expensive for those with a limited budget. Combined with the fact that you need to wait for a very long time before you’ll even get to use your furniture, wouldn’t it be wiser to look for other options like leasing furniture instead?
In case you still decided that you still wanted to buy your furniture in Germany, at least you would have an idea of the things that you’ll have to face. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!