Is Wayfair legit? See Our Team’s Honest Reviews!
Is Wayfair legit? Here are our team’s Wayfair reviews!
Thinking about shopping at Wayfair? Here’s what you need to know!
If you’ve been browsing the web for furniture or home decor, chances are you’ve stumbled upon Wayfair. The site has made quite a name for itself for selling trendy – and very affordable – home furnishings. You may be wondering how such attractive pieces are being offered for a way lower price than well-known furniture stores Williams Sonoma or West Elm. Is the furniture low quality and is Wayfair legit?
Many of us at Hip2Save have shopped there and we’re spilling the deets. Here’s what you need to know about this popular site!
What is Wayfair?
It’s an online store where you can find TONS of very affordable home furnishings. With 18 fulfillment and 38 delivery centers, they are home to over 40 million products from over 20,000 suppliers! From couches to floor rugs to artwork, they have pretty much everything you could need to decorate your home.
Wayfair hopes to make it easy for you to shop. Their mission is to be able to “help everyone, everywhere create their feeling of home.” The company is one of the world’s largest retailers, serving over 21 million people across the globe and counting! Last year alone, the company did almost 12 billion dollars in net revenue. Chances are, you or someone you know has shopped at Wayfair.
Plus, in addition to running the Wayfair website, the company also owns Birch Lane, AllModern, Joss & Main, and Perigold.
Why is Wayfair so cheap?
Anyone who has furnished a home knows that it can be really expensive. So why is Wayfair so cheap and is Wayfair legit? Well, there are a few reasons the company is able to offer such affordable goods.
The first explanation is that they have little overhead. Since the company doesn’t operate brick-and-mortar stores, it saves on expenses like retail employee salaries, retail employee training, signage, cash registers, real estate costs, utilities, etc.
Wayfair is really a host site for the listings of thousands of suppliers, essentially a marketplace. The second reason they can offer low prices is because they work with a ton of different suppliers and each supplier is competing with the others for your business. If two listings feature similar items with similar stellar reviews, chances are you’ll buy the one that costs less. The result is that many of the suppliers on Wayfair try to keep their prices as low as possible!
Is Wayfair high-quality?
Truthfully, the quality of items on Wayfair will vary. That’s because Wayfair uses so many different suppliers. It’s important to set your expectations accordingly. If you’re getting a good price on a normally high-ticket item, chances are the quality will be good but not luxury. It may be made of particleboard instead of real wood or faux leather instead of real leather so read each listing carefully so you know what to expect when the item is delivered.
Personally, everything I have ordered from Wayfair has met or exceeded my expectations and everything I have ordered has suited my needs. Just over the past year, I’ve ordered blankets, artwork, a coffee bar, and a light fixture. I think all the products look and function great and I definitely plan to order more from Wayfair in the future.
My teammate’s Wayfair reviews are similar and I’ll be sharing some of their thoughts below!
What is the Wayfair return policy?
Some of the negative Wayfair reviews stem from their return policy so it’s important that you understand it before ordering.
Fortunately, most items from Wayfair are returnable within 30 days of delivery. Large appliances may be returned within 30 days as long as they have not been installed yet. All other items must be undamaged and in their original packaging and if an item was delivered disassembled, the product must be returned disassembled.
Wayfair also has an extended holiday return policy. 🎁 Any items purchased between November 1st and December 31st can be returned up until January 31st.
Once Wayfair receives your returned item, it can take up to 2 weeks to receive your refund.
Unfortunately, return shipping is NOT FREE…
These costs will be deducted from your return which is a major downside of Wayfair. Additionally, any shipping or service charges incurred during the original order will not be returned to you.
The only exception to this rule is mattresses. They come with a 100-day free trial and can be returned free of charge during that time period (this does not include mattress toppers or crib, air, or open mattresses).
Some items cannot be returned at all. These include open box items, personalized items, gift cards, clearance items, live plants, swatches, bundled items that were offered at a discounted price, and any items marked non-refundable on the listing.
For full details, see Wayfair’s return policy.
What are the pros and cons of using Wayfair?
While there are many benefits to using Wayfair, there are some cons. For the best experience, assess each before ordering.
Wayfair pros include:
- Affordable pricing
- Massive selection of products and designs
- Online ordering makes it easy to price-compare
- Items are delivered right to your door
- Many items and replacement parts ship for free
- Customer service is available 7 days a week
- They often host sales throughout the year
Wayfair cons include:
- Inability to test out the product before buying (except for mattresses)
- There is only a 30-day return window (excluding the holidays)
- Customer pays for return shipping costs
- Shipping time may vary
- Quality may vary between suppliers
- Assembly is required for most items
How to save at Wayfair.
One of the main perks of Wayfair is that they offer a plethora of ways to save!
To score a discount at Wayfair, keep an eye out for these special events:
- Wayfair Way Day Sale – Usually occurs annually in April and offers free shipping and discounts up to 80% off.
- Annual Charity Sale – Around October, you can save up to 70% off at the Save Big, Give Back sale where $1 million of proceeds goes towards Wayfair’s Neighborhood Fund, a charity that fights homelessness.
- Black Friday & Holiday Sales – Come November, take advantage of Black Friday and any holiday sales.
- Surplus Sales – Occasionally, Wayfair offers a surplus sale where you can save up to 50% on overstock items.
- Closeout Deals – Keep an eye out for closeout sales where you can score up to 80% off.
- Flash Deals – Take advantage of these lightning deals that offer big savings for a short window of time.
Plus, try these other ways to save at Wayfair:
- Sign up for texts to save 10%
- Download the Wayfair app for app-exclusive deals
- Join The Home Team – Earn perks like gift cards in exchange for your opinion
- Check Hip2Save for the latest Wayfair coupons and deals
- Consider open box products – Get a discount on returned and like-new products.
To save, Hip2Save’s Sara suggests trying Wayfair’s open box products:
Hip2Save’s Sara recommends that if you’re flexible on the condition of your item, you should consider buying open box products. These returned items are like-new and you can often get them for a significant discount.
Sara took a try on a beautiful coffee table from the open box deals and ended up scoring it for FREE.
Here’s what Sara had to say about Wayfair’s open box deals:
“I wrote awhile back I shared how I got my coffee table from Wayfair completely FREE after already getting it at a discounted price from their “open box” section. I don’t often buy on Wayfair but if I have my eyes on something and an open box is available you better believe I’m scooping it up.” – Sara, Hip2Save team
You can read more about Sara’s experience in her post on how she maximized every purchase in her new home!
Is Wayfair Legit?
So, is Wayfair legit? Yes! The site is a legitimate place to buy trendy and affordable home furnishings.
Why does Wayfair have negative reviews on SiteJabber, TrustPilot, & Consumer Affairs?
You’ll find there is a mix of reviews on this sites – some good and some bad. It’s true that there are some 1-star reviews. We have no reason to believe these Wayfair reviews are fake. However, keep in mind that those who have a negative experience tend to leave reviews more than those who have had a positive one.
Some of the complaints are about lack of product assembly, damage during shipping, and return fees. Others are about the color appearing different in person or the furniture not being comfortable.
Are Wayfair reviews fake?
We have no evidence that Wayfair reviews are fake. In fact, our team has bought A TON of furniture and home decor there over the years and our Wayfair reviews are largely positive. The products we bought helped elevate our spaces and we found the quality to be satisfactory or above.
As quality can vary by supplier, our advice is to read the Wayfair reviews and product descriptions thoroughly. Set your expectations accordingly and keep in mind that in exchange for a great price, you are buying furnishings “sight unseen.”
With the right expectations, you can score some amazing and affordable finds!
Hip2save team reviews of Wayfair…
“Wayfair has such a vast array of art pieces for all kinds of budgets and they have so many unique options, too. I especially love art with meaningful words! I always get asked where I bought my pieces.” – Collin, Hip founder & CEO
“I LOVE Wayfair! My favorite thing about them is their pricing for such nice items from furniture to decor etc. I will say they aren’t always the BEST quality, BUT if you only have so much in your budget to spend, they are a GREAT option. 🙌” – Amber, Hip2Save team
“I’m a big fan of Wayfair! First of all, I love their selection! I have purchased a few things from there (and my wish list is HUGE lol). My bed is from Wayfair, I’ve had it for years and I love it! Everything I have gotten from there, I have been happy with. Aside from the one time I bought a cat tree that was way smaller than the measurements in the description, they gave me a full refund and told me to donate the cat tree instead of returning it, I though that was so sweet!❤️ Awesome experiences with Wayfair all around.” – Jenna, HIp2Save team
“I’m also a big Wayfair fan. I’ve ordered several items including an entryway bench, cat trees, outdoor hammocks, and a rug. Everything I’ve ordered has been of great quality and the customer service is fantastic. We had a shipping issue when I ordered an end table (it came broken) and they overnighted us a new one AND gave me a coupon to use on my next order for the inconvenience. I always check Wayfair before heading to the store to look for home items as I can typically get it cheaper and I don’t have to drive around to a bunch of stores to find what I’m looking for!” – Liz, Hip2save team
Need more feedback? Here are some Wayfair reviews from across the board…
“Ordering an expensive chair online without seeing and touching it was a bit scary. They had exactly what my wife was looking for and at a reasonable price. We ordered it and received it within a week. The packing was excellent, and the speed of delivery was great. The workmanship of the chair was also fantastic. I was quite leery about getting it online, but I am pleased and happy with our new chair.”
“The top is not as pretty as the picture. We have decided to return it and the faucet (because the faucet won’t fit the other vanity we decided to get) and get a different one. Buyer beware!! It is going to cost us $170 to return the two pieces. Still packed in original boxes. Read the fine print.”
“I ordered this beautiful white 55 inch TV stand. My handyman arrived on time so that part was great. However while putting the stand together he realized that there was a missing part (Letter O was missing). I called Wayfair and the representative agree they were sending me the part it has been three days now and I still have not received it.”
“Reading all of the negative reviews, I sometimes think that it’s just the luck of the draw. I have purchased seventeen items from Wayfair since September, including dining room furniture, lighting, stools and rugs, and my experiences have been pretty good. Delivery was as promised and the products met my expectations. This week, on Monday, I received a small round rug that had been ordered the prior week and it was damaged. On Tuesday I filed a claim online and the replacement arrived on Wednesday.”
I have bought a gray quilted headboard and a bench for the end of my bed years ago
Thanks for sharing what you’ve purchased from Wayfair, Jonesey! ❤️
I purchased a resin wicker set for my porch. The pillows faded and I wanted them replaced. Instead, they sent me a whole new patio set?? Needless to say, the patio set only lasted one year. The quality was crap and we threw them out. I also purchased a quilted headboard and it was super flimsy.
Oh bummer! SO sorry to hear that. 😔 Thanks for letting us know about the items you ordered.
I stopped buying from Wayfair a long time ago. Cheap products, restocking fees, have to pay for return shipping.
buying from Wayfair a long time ago. Cheap products, restocking fees, have to pay for return shipping.
Not in my opinion to answer your question. Never been happy with products received. Returns with other companies are much easier. Glad others like it but just not for me.
Thanks for the honest comment, Steph.❤️ We sure appreciate hearing what you’ve thought of their items.
they change name if the product so you can not compare the prices. most of the time much better prices on the same items found somewhere else.
what other places are you talking about? I would love to find more options to compare/buy. For the price and variety of items, I think Wayfair is worth it.
I have purchased three times from there. A couch, some blankets and a headboard. The couch lasted about 8 months before the cushions were flattened (and we only have three people in our house; all of us are ‘small’ sized), the blankets did not hold up well after washing them and the headboard is flimsy and generic looking but since we haven’t moved it and it’s on a spare bed that no one uses, it has not broke yet! From the weight and looks of it, I think it would break if it was moved or used a lot.
I have made a few purchases on Wayfair and have been pleased with my items. I have bought sheets, a large indoor cat house and large area rugs. I initially ordered only one area rug so I could see the quality before purchasing more. I immediately ordered another one when the first one arrived because it was such a great deal; $85 for a 7’10 x 10’6” heavy duty rug! They have held up great for 2 years and we have multiple large, high energy dogs running over them daily.
Awesome to hear their rugs have been a hit, Ashley! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review! 🤗💖
Prices are ok. Some items r overpriced. Others r a good deal. Customer service is slow and horrible. Used to be better several years ago. Don’t like the non-free return shipping. Overall, not my favorite place to shop. I’m going to try Overstock/BBB.
They don’t ship to AK.
Bummer! Thanks for letting us know about one of the shipping restrictions with Wayfair, alaskajoy79. ❤️
I bought two large rugs during COVID for our dining room and living room. Both rugs were ruined within a year by just vacuuming: the edges came loose, there were threads pulled everywhere, the backing anti-slip material was coming off. We are only three people in my household and my kids are older. Because I contacted them just a few days after the year, they refused to take any responsibility and referred me to the manufacturer who said they would refund my money if Wayfair agreed. Long story short Wayfair did not agree and I lost my money. The rugs went to the dump which broke my heart because I avoid buying disposable items. By the way, both rugs had glowing reviews and my bad reviews never went live.
So sorry to hear that these rugs didn’t hold up well and that customer service wasn’t helpful, Rebe! That does sound frustrating! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience! 🤗💓