New Home - Furniture Lead Times?

3 years ago

Hey,

I’ve just moved into a new home and begun the process of furnishing it, I don’t know if it’s a knock-on from Brexit combined with COVID but everything seems to be one ridiculous lead times.

What does everyone do to manage or mitigate these types of issues? As it stands at the moment I won’t have a bed for 8 weeks, a wardrobe for 12 and a sofa for 16 (almost everything else seems to be on a minimum of 4-8 weeks lead time from the big-box stores with a few items like my coffee table at 16-18 weeks). This definitely wasn't something I had planned or prepared for, and I’m really at a loss as to what to do, one item on a longer lead time might have been manageable but I wasn’t prepared for this...

The only thing I’ve been able to source with next day or within 5 days delivery are all of my appliances which seem readily available and I stock across most major UK suppliers (AO, Curry’s, Argos).

Anyone else going through a similar thing, how’ve you managed it and what advice can you offer?

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Comments (11)

Jonathan
3 years ago
I think you can either have fast or great quality or cheap but you can’t have all three.
Daisy England
3 years ago
Those lead time are what we are all being told. If you can get appliances then get them while they’re available. Lots of people can’t even get appliances.

At work our timescale has been up to 6 months and depending on the work to be carried out some people have had to wait 9 months. We are in the construction industry.

What you have been quoted is reasonable. Lots of furniture is imported and due to restrictions at the ports ships are not being offloaded as soon as they dock but are stuck there for weeks. It all adds to the delays.
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B Izard
3 years ago
Horrible situation! Look on ebay or similar... you may be able to pick up something cheap to get you thru. Plus you can collect it within days.
Chris Jones
Original Author
3 years ago
I guess our definition of “reasonable” differs somewhat Daisy as to me 18 weeks for a coffee table isn’t in the realm of reasonable. 9 months lead time is absolutely crazy, I can’t imagine moving into a home and then waiting 9 months to get a bed, wardrobe or sofa....

Unfortunately I’m unable to collect any furniture as I don’t have a suitable vehicle.
Sonia
3 years ago
I agree it’s both reasons. Things that are made to order are taking ages, but my washing machine arrived within a week, and my new dining chairs arrived within a week from John Lewis, but my armchair from John Lewis is 16 weeks lead time. Only another 6 weeks to go.........feels like forever!
minnie101
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Yep, it started with COVID and then Brexit. I was meant to have a chest of drawers delivered from John Lewis last month and they told me it had now been delayed to June due to the Suez Canal blockage?! There are also shortages of construction materials, plumbing, sanitary ware etc and things that may go into the manufacturing process of furniture, I was told there was a shortage of foam for sofas for example.

I take it this is your first house so don’t have any furniture? Could you borrow anything from friends or family for a few months? Most areas have a “man with a van” if you can’t pick things up yourself.

This company, as an FYI, do next day delivery sofas although I can see they’ve sold out of a number of colours,

https://swyfthome.com/collections/shop-all?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Swyft+-+UK+-+EN+-+Generics+-+Sofa+-+Delivery+-+BMM&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImq_fyd2J8AIVkAwGAB1jwAcQEAAYAiAAEgKAV_D_BwE

for a wardrobe you could pick up an IKEA clothes rail in the meantime and I’m sure they have a few cheap coffee tables

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/mulig-clothes-rack-white-60179434/

I recently waited 13/4 weeks for a bed but the mattress ordered separately was next day delivery. Not ideal but at least you’d have something to sleep on.

or you could pick some things up secondhand?
Chris Jones
Original Author
3 years ago
So I’ve actually moved from Canterbury to a small village near Darlington for a job, previously I was living with parents/student so don’t have any furniture of my own and only had a couple of boxes to move up with me (mainly clothes and personal items).

This puts me at a huge disadvantage as I simply know no one, I don’t start my job until May so I don’t even have any colleagues that could help.

Money is fairly tight in the sense that I’m currently living off my savings, my parents have paid my first three months bills and have put aside money to help furnish my home but I’m reluctant to use that on temporary items and it’s mainly to help me with the bigger purchases (bed, sofa, wardrobe etc) and once it’s gone it’s gone. The mattress I would be ordering is available within 3-5 days (I’m current sleeping on a camping bed, it’s not a good nights sleep....) so I could always get that ordered so I have it to sleep on.

It seems a little strange, as I really didn’t expect to just be living in an empty shell and having to wait so long for stuff to arrive (my own fault for not researching things before the move). I’ll see what I can do but I’m guessing it’s just a case of grin and bare it until stuff starts to arrive, I just never expected to be moved in but still not “moved in” until almost 5-6 months later.
Jonathan
3 years ago
https://swyfthome.com/products/model-02-velvet-3-seater-sofa-vine?variant=32048769400881&currency=GBP&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Swyft+-+UK+-+EN+-+Smart+Shopping+-+3+Seater+Sofa+-+Model+02&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1PSDBhDbARIsAPeTqrfteY4K1aWt9qO_6mFC2E5qaMXeSYe1dcVUQ0GvdtBlhlaC1MySUQkaAprREALw_wcB

These guys do deliver quickly
minnie101
3 years ago
That is tough. There is normally x weeks wait for some furniture depending on where/what you buy but it’s been exacerbated by the current situation.

You could try local shops now they’re open again, there may be ex display items that are available now and you could cancel any online orders.

you could also try somewhere like this and hire a van for collection (you need to register to see items)

https://trade-secret.co.uk/products/bradley-medium-sofa-john-lewis?_pos=9&_sid=8241ac57b&_ss=r

or spend a money on an armchair that will be used so money not wasted. Habitat at Argos have some really reasonable ones or try IKEA again

personally I’d definitely buy a clothes rail. I couldn’t afford a wardrobe in my first flat, as I prioritised other things, and it was a nightmare literally living out of bin bags 😂

Made.com also have a filter so you can see what items are available immediately
HU-641676817
2 years ago
I hope you managed to get sorted however if you're still on the look out Solid Wood Warehouse generally deliver within 10 working days, including their range of Chesterfield Sofas!
PRO
laatka
2 years ago
Unfortunately made to order items have always had a relatively long lead time. We have had our lead time up to 12 weeks but managed to actually have the tables delivered within 8-9 weeks. Now with Covid and Brexit new customs rules we actually need those 12 weeks..

New Home - Furniture Lead Times?

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