2009 November | The Shop Cop

By: Ivanhoe Newswire
For: Smart Woman

(SEATTLE) — From city to city, one furniture store to the next, she goes undercover to find the best quality at the best prices.

Jennifer Litwin Now, this furniture expert wants to share her tricks of the trade with you.

Jennifer Litwin checked out more than 500 furniture stores nationwide. The long-time furniture buyer traveled incognito for a year looking for the best in quality, price and service. “I decided to help other consumers make their lives easier by going across the country,” Litwin explained.

Easier for people like Gretchen Hamm who had a hard time shopping for a couch. “I had no idea that the legs shouldn’t screw in and that you should look for any exposed plywood or staples on a couch.”

Other tricks of the trade from Litwin — ask for a manufacturer’s written warranty. Find out exactly what materials went into the piece.

And negotiate the price. She advised, “If you’re afraid to ask for a discount, ask for other things, like free local shipping or free assembly, because many dealers will go the extra mile to make that sale.” She wants her knowledge to empower you.

Wood sliders are more expensive — but more durable. More furniture reviews from Litwin mean more tricks of the trade for you.

The result of Litwin’s extensive furniture store reviews is a new furniture buying guide. Furniture Hot Spots — The Ultimate Coast-to-Coast Guide rates stores nationwide on price, quality, ambience and service.

By: Christine Delsol
For: San Francisco Chronicle

Publishers evidently believe Americans are ignoring the $2.75-a- gallon gas prices and taking to the road this year. Here are three new U.S. driving guides, as well as other recent titles that take a sweeping look at these United States.

“Roadtripping USA: The Complete Coast-to-Coast Guide to America,” by Let’s Go Publications (St. Martin’s Press, $24.99, 1,010 pages). The country’s sheer size makes “complete” a bit of an overstatement, though not for lack of trying. The student writers of the lively Let’s Go guides fashion eight cross- country routes, some classic (Route 66, Highway 1, the Oregon Trail), others stitched together through the southern border, the northern states, the East coast and the nation’s midsection. An epic North American trip stretches from Mexico City to Anchorage, Alaska.

Taken as a whole, this hefty guide paints a portrait of the nation in all its grandeur and its quirkiness. A history of the road trip (beginning in 1903) is more entertaining than it has a right to be, and some elementary road- trip culture in the form of book, film and music lists adds further inspiration. The trips are fairly straightforward road almanacs with well- organized maps, parking information, sights and food and lodging suggestions, enlivened by short features on roadside attractions, local culture and legends, and the writers’ memorable experiences and encounters.

Most readers who answer the call of the road should supplement this book with more in-depth guides to areas of particular interest. Lodging and entertainment recommendations are skewed toward young travelers on a budget, but the emphasis on meeting locals and respecting the environment is welcome at any age.

“USA and Canada on a Shoestring,” by Robert Reid, et al (Lonely Planet Publications, $22.99, 740 pages). Thirty years after its landmark “South-East Asia on a Shoestring,” the Australian publisher’s venerable series for “backpackers” (Australian for all budget travelers, regardless of luggage preference) finally gets around to the United States and Canada. Though it covers more ground than “Roadtripping USA,” this is a road-trip book at heart, laying out 17 itineraries — some regional, others thematic — keyed to its regional sections. Though lodging and entertainment are aimed at the younger crowd here, too, “splurges” extend the range.

An outdoors chapter suggests mountain biking, surfing, kayaking and other active pursuits. The writers’ picks for the best cities, college towns, national parks, activities, hostels and off-the-beaten-path destinations is fun if not necessarily useful; any North American will surely dispute their choices. Written for the foreign traveler, the guide is an eye-opener at times, saying North Americans “prefer not to sit back and make snide remarks over a failure … but rather roll up their sleeves to fix it” and advising visitors not to “rush to criticize the USA or the president, unless the person you’re with takes the lead” or be surprised or offended by “a complete lack of awareness of your home country.”

“The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips” (Reader’s Digest Books, $30, 400 pages). At the other end of the spectrum, this large- format, full-color, hard-cover is an armchair book as much as a guide, but it makes you want to get the car tuned up. It doesn’t recommend lodging or dining. Brilliantly photographed, it devotes all its ink to scenery, tracing beautiful and dramatic landscapes in all 50 states, from the Olympic Peninsula’s rain forests to the mining towns along Colorado’s San Juan Skyway to the burbling springs of Missouri’s Ozarks to Georgia’s Atlantic seaboard.

“Trip Tips” include mileage, best time to go, where to look for lodging, road conditions, nearby attractions, special events, caveats and information contacts. Maps are colorful and easy to follow, and short features sketch out scenic shortcuts and add details on some distinctive features.

“The 100 Best Art Towns in America,” by John Villani (Countryman Press, $19.95, 388 pages). Villani, something of a hero in Northern California since he elevated Chico to the ranks of Carmel, Laguna Beach and Mendocino, is a well-known arts writer who produced the first edition of this book in 1998 (when it was “100 Best Small Art Towns in America”) because nothing like it existed. Now in its fourth edition, the book includes newly blossomed art towns along with such mainstays as Santa Fe, N.M. and Provincetown, Mass. This edition expands the parameters to populations up to 100,000, which qualifies Miami Beach and Galveston, Texas, for the first time.

Travelers who enjoy browsing galleries on a weekend getaway and art- lovers looking for a place to settle should be equally well-served by Villani’s research on the towns’ arts scene, venues and events, and lodging and dining. Fair warning: Some fans of the previous edition have expressed dismay at the new edition’s reorganization, which jettisons the old ranking system and has fewer entries in the “Essentials” sections.

Also on bookshelves

“Mammals of the National Parks: Conserving America’s Wildlife and Parklands,” by John H. Burde and George A. Feldhamer (Johns Hopkins University Press, $29.96, 224 pages). Coffee-table book describing the animals’ appearance, behavior, range and habits, with description of each park’s history, landscape and conservation issues and tips on sighting the animals.

“Superlatives USA: The Largest, Smallest, Longest, Shortest and Wackiest Sites in America,” by Melissa L. Jones (Capital Books, $16.95, 150 pages). Nothing profound here, just a subjective compendium of the nation’s fastest glacier, sunniest spot, biggest fake dinosaurs, oldest wooden whaling ship and other esoterica, with directions. Random and fun.

“Furniture Hot Spots: The Best Furniture Stores and Web Sites Coast to Coast,” by Jennifer Litwin (Lyons Press, $14.95, 304 pages). Written by a furniture broker for shoppers who travel rather than travelers who shop; stores across the country are rated Zagat-style. Not for the Ikea crowd.

Having trouble finding furniture you love in your hometown stores? It might be time for a road trip, says Jennifer Litwin, author of Furniture Hot Spots: The Best Furniture Stores and Web sites Coast to Coast (Lyons Press, $14.95).

After years of scouring the country for furniture to fill her store in Chicago, reviewing furniture for Consumers Digest and maintaining a Web site of top shops nationwide, Litwin set out to profile 12 top shopping destinations. Here, Litwin tells USA TODAY’s Gene Sloan about her picks for a furniture-focused trip and how to get the best deals.

Q: OK, our U-Haul is ready. What’s your favorite destination for quirky furniture finds?

A: The most comprehensive selection is definitely in New York. But it depends on what you want. If you’re looking for Asian furniture, Seattle has the best I’ve seen in the country. And for over-the-top designs, it’s Los Angeles. There are many emerging artists in L.A. who are being commissioned by furniture galleries to design furniture, and there are lots of really high-end stores selling pieces made by recent grads of design schools.

Q: New York is a big place. Where do you focus your time?

A: The great part of (furniture) shopping in New York is that there are wonderful pockets everywhere. In East Harlem, I love Antiques at the Lafayette Warehouse. In Chelsea, I love Q Collection, where you can buy an organic sofa to eat your organic peach on, and Mantiques Modern for a most unusual selection of mid-century modern furniture and accessories. In Tribeca, I visit the reasonably priced mid-century modern knockoffs at White on White.

In Soho, I like the rustic, yet chic wood designs at BDDW, and the French Deco and ’40s-style furniture and accessories found at Distant Origin. For more low-key shops, I visit some of the stores along Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. My favorite furniture department stores in the country are in New York: ABC Carpet & Home and Conran’s.

Q: What about a pilgrimage to High Point, N.C., the famed mecca for furniture outlets?

A: High Point is actually a more difficult place to shop for furniture than many people realize. During “Market” in April and October, a trade show for furniture-store buyers, they won’t even let non-dealers in to look.

Many furniture showrooms that are open to the public year-round have 40%-off signs everywhere, which really confuses the public into thinking they are getting huge bargains. That isn’t necessarily so. In fact, some of these showrooms carry furniture that has been discontinued or styles that are not totally current, or maybe only carry special lines for their High Point showrooms.

Q: What about flea markets? Any worth a cross-country trip?

A: The Canton Flea Market outside Dallas, the Sandwich Fairgrounds outside Chicago and the Chelsea Flea Market in New York. (But) the best flea markets are in Europe. The ones in north Paris are really the best in the world. They have permanent dealers that come every week, and you walk into spaces that are full of Louis XV furniture and interesting Deco and other things you just don’t find at U.S. flea markets.

The problem with U.S. flea markets is that you will meet dealers that you won’t necessarily be able to find again if something should go wrong with your piece. I would never buy anything important at flea markets for that reason, but they’re wonderful for getting accessories.

Q: You recommend attending auctions to find deals. Which are your favorites?

A: I prefer auction houses that are not as nationally well-known: Leslie Hindman in Chicago, New Orleans Auction and Neal Auction in New Orleans and Freeman’s in Philadelphia. You’re more likely to get a bargain.

Q: What is the biggest mistake that people make when buying furniture?

A: They don’t ask the right questions. You might think you’re buying a chair made from solid wood, and when you take it apart you find it’s made out of particleboard. You want to find out how the piece is made before buying it, and don’t assume that because it’s expensive, it’s a quality piece.

Ask for a manufacturer’s warranty in case something goes wrong when you get it home. It’s surprising, but many big retailers will not stand behind their products. You can’t expect to get a warranty with an antique, but you can expect to get a certificate of authenticity. If a dealer won’t give one to you, that should be a red flag against going ahead.

Q: Any other tips?

A: Ask for a discount. More than 85% of the stores I reviewed in the book said yes when I asked if they’d drop the price on a piece of furniture. Dealers want to turn over their inventory; otherwise the store’s look becomes stale.

Chain stores often don’t offer discounts, but ask if there’s an upcoming sale, and if there is, ask if they will extend the sale price to you in advance. Another way to negotiate is to ask for free shipping or free assembly. You’d be surprised how many stores will do that.

By: Helen Fields
For: U.S. News & World Report – USA

Former mutual fund analyst Jennifer Litwin’s frustration with furniture drove her to an internship at Sotheby’s and a career as a consumer advocate. For her book Furniture Hot Spots, she went undercover, visiting and rating hundreds of stores.

What do furniture shoppers do wrong?

A lot of people feel they have to do their whole house at once and want everything coordinated. But the most important thing is to take your time to watch how you live in your space. And I think people overpay for things like couches.

Does a good couch cost thousands?

I saw a couch at Ikea in the $500-to-$600 range. It was very attractive. But the cushions were sort of lumpy. For a couple hundred dollars, a local furniture store can put in new cushion filling.

So you love Ikea? I’m amazed!

I [also] love Urban Outfitters. People don’t realize that they sell vintage furniture online at very good prices–really well-constructed furniture.

Any nightmare shopping experiences?

At a store in New York, I saw these shabby pink suede chairs that looked like they came right out of the dentist’s office. The guy wanted $6,000. He said they’re by [20th-century designer] George Nelson. I said, “How do you know?” And he said, “They’re signed.” I turn the thing over and, sure enough, no signature.

And what was his response?

He looked like he’d just been caught!

This story appears in the November 21, 2005 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.

By: Debra Prinzing
For: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Buying furniture is as overwhelming a process as car shopping, says Jennifer Litwin, author of “Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever.” Litwin visited Seattle recently to share her advice and offer an insider’s guide to getting the best value on furniture purchases.

“Today’s shoppers aren’t going to do everything themselves,” Litwin said while leading me on a tour through the Ethan Allen showroom in Tukwila. “Most people don’t have time.”

She offers consumers a crash course on buying everything from a basic sofa to period antiques. And her advice couldn’t be more timely. January and February are two of the busiest furniture-buying months of the year.

“That’s when people are saying, ‘Let’s cocoon,’ ” said Bradley Renner, president of Ethan Allen Home Interiors stores in the Northwest.

Armed with an MBA from the University of Chicago and having trained with the illustrious Sotheby’s auction house, Litwin is one of the home furnishing industry’s top consumer advocates. She is also a reporter for Consumers Digest magazine in the furniture category.

Unlike many product categories that require accurate labeling, the furniture industry is not regulated, Litwin said. “Is it solid oak or plywood? Is there a warranty? These are the questions consumers need to ask — and what people should watch out for.”

In writing her first book, “Furniture Hot Spots: The Best Furniture Stores and Websites Coast to Coast,”, Litwin spent a year as a secret shopper, visiting more than 500 stores, including several in Seattle.

While talking with furniture salespeople and store owners, she devised a checklist to help consumers find the best-quality pieces in low-end, mid-range and high-end categories.

You almost have to “kick the tires” when comparing sofas, dining tables and other big-ticket items, Litwin said. We invited this savvy consumer expert to illustrate her points at the Ethan Allen store. She lifted a few cushions, turned over ottomans and opened drawers and cabinet doors to reveal her secrets.

When it comes to sofa cushions, Litwin says there is really no right or wrong material. “It can be foam, polyester, cotton or really good down, but what’s important is that the cushion moves with your body,” she said. A cushion should spring back into shape once you get out of a chair; it shouldn’t stay mashed or misshapen.

One way to revive an older sofa, or improve an inexpensive one is to replace the cushions. “If you can’t afford a $2,000 couch, go to a retailer like Ikea and buy a $500 or $600 sofa and have a local upholstery shop or fabric store make new cushions to fit inside the covers,” Litwin suggested.

Always remove the cushions to check for exposed staples or unfinished fabric edges on the inside of the sofa frame. “The biggest error we make in buying furniture is not looking under the piece,” Litwin said.

In her book, Litwin suggests taking a “test run” to make sure a sofa frame is sturdy and is reinforced with blocks — simple, rectangular pieces that are glued onto the frame of a sofa at stress points (usually at the inside corners).

“Don’t be self-conscious about getting down on the showroom floor and stealing a peek underneath a couch to see if it has blocks,” she said.

“As further insurance that the piece has sufficient support, I even recommend that you ‘kick the tires’ a bit by shaking the couch lightly. If blocks are positioned at the proper stress points, they will reinforce the piece and prevent it from wobbling.”

Screws and staples are often to blame for unstable furniture. Litwin likes to see furniture sections joined first with hot glue, then reinforced with screws.

If you’re buying a dresser or any other non-upholstered piece made from wood, look for joinery techniques such as dovetailing. This is where the corners or sides are attached together snugly with cutout grooves that fit like puzzle pieces. Drawer glides made from wood are more durable than metal or plastic ones, she said.

“Be sure to pull the drawers out all the way; feel whether the wood is smooth inside and out,” she said. “Don’t fall in love with a piece with a very expensive wood on the front and then find that the whole thing is made from particleboard inside.”

When shopping for an ottoman, turn it over and check to see whether the piece is filled or hollow. Litwin says it’s easy for kids to punch through the flimsy finish fabric of a hollow ottoman. The legs of an ottoman should be attached with the same finishing techniques as on a sofa or upholstered chair, using hot glue plus screws.

Here are some of Litwin’s general guidelines for furniture shoppers:

Shop at a store that makes its own furniture — A store that carries its own line usually employs salespeople armed with product information. “There isn’t one person who works here who doesn’t know the product, what wood it’s made with or any other detail,” she said while walking through the Ethan Allen showroom.

Shop mom-and-pop furniture stores — Smaller retailers often will go the distance to make the sale, offering discounts, free delivery or assembly. On her Web site, Litwin offers links to dozens of furniture retailers around the country, many of whom post discount coupons for her readers’ use.

Don’t be seduced by designer labels — As far as Litwin is concerned, having the name of a famous designer on a sofa, chair or table often means it will cost you more. When she compares a $1,000 sofa with a $5,000 sofa, Litwin observes that “the name of a well-known designer or manufacturer attached to the piece can make one piece substantially more expensive than another.”

Ask for a written warranty — Litwin believes that retailers should back up their products with a warranty. “Stores that offer such warranties — especially in writing — are much more likely to offer full replacement if a piece becomes damaged or broken,” she advises in her book.

Her favorites — Litwin is high on Ethan Allen and La-Z-Boy Furniture, both of which provide warranties, while she gives Crate & Barrel low marks for not giving buyers a written warranty.