****A Warning to All Shoppers, Especially Active-Duty Military and Veterans*****…read more
My recent experience at this Ashley Furniture store was a stark lesson in aggressive sales tactics and the illusion of a "magnificent deal." My goal in writing this is to arm and help future buyers with the information they need to avoid similar pitfalls.
For my fellow military members and veterans, I have a particularly important piece of advice: always check the Exchange Online before you buy anywhere.
Our visit began pleasantly enough. We were greeted by a kind sales associate named Amit, who helped us navigate the store and even followed up with us about a 0% interest financing deal. We appreciated his straightforward approach, and we were left to browse on our own. It was a positive start.
As we moved through the showroom, we found a beautiful bedroom set that caught our eye: the "Signature Design by Ashley Foyland Panel Storage bedroom 5-piece set." We quickly realized that, priced at roughly $8,000, it was well outside of our $4,000 budget. Disappointed but resolute, my wife and I decided to leave and consider our other options at Living Spaces and Rooms to Go.
This is when the experience took a turn. As we walked toward the exit, a man in a Tempur Pedic-branded white coat, who introduced himself as the sales manager, intercepted us. He asked what it would take to earn our business and offered to "make us a deal." My gut feeling was already on high alert when he confirmed he was the store manager, a common red flag in high-pressure sales. He asked for our price range and went to his desk to "see what he could do." He also claimed it was real wood, but we all know today's furniture from Big Brand Name stores is not real wood and made primarily of plywood or particle board with the faux wood laminate.
He returned with a seemingly incredible offer: the full bedroom set, plus an extra nightstand, for $4,500. However, there was a catch we had to purchase a $1,000 furniture warranty, bringing the total to $5,500. The deal was contingent on us qualifying for the 0% financing, which required me to share my credit information. When I asked for an itemized breakdown, he left again, and returned with a tablet, all while repeating the typical sales jargon about how great a deal this was and how happy we would be. He sounded like the kind of salesman you see in movies like The Wolf of Wall Street. I quietly texted and told my wife we were not taking the deal, and we politely thanked him and walked out.
We left feeling relieved and confident in our decision to walk away from the high-pressure situation. On our drive home, we talked about how much we loved the bedroom set but knew we couldn't justify the price. It was then that I thought to check the Exchange Online website, something I should have done from the start.
And there it was. The exact same "Signature Design by Ashley Foyland Panel Storage 5-piece bedroom set." Before any sale, it was listed for roughly $4,700 with the extra nightstand, which already included free shipping and no sales tax. This price that was nearly $3,300 cheaper than Ashley's initial quote and $800 cheaper than their supposed "deal."
The true savings came with the Exchange's ongoing Labor Day sale. With an additional 20% off and an extra 10% discount for using my Military Star Card, we ended up paying a total of just $3,608. This price included everything we wanted: the full bedroom set, the extra nightstand, and even two lamps (Signature Design by Ashley Sharolyn 30 in. Table Lamps) we had liked in the store. We got two years of 0% interest, no sales tax, free shipping, and best of all, there was no mandatory $1,000 warranty.
This experience taught us a valuable lesson. What might seem like a once-in-a-lifetime "deal" is often a carefully constructed sales tactic designed to make you feel like you're getting something special.
For all shoppers, it is crucial to do your research and price-compare online before making any major purchase.
****For my fellow Active-Duty military and veterans, the advice is even more specific: shop the Exchange Online. They offer significant discounts and perks that a salesperson cannot match, and they do it without the pressure and deceptive practices. A quick search can save you thousands of dollars and spare you a bad experience.****