Outdoor Lawn Furniture

The use of outdoor lawn furniture is as American as apple pie. From college students to campers and restaurateurs to homeowners, affordably priced furniture for porch, patio, or pool enables budget-conscious consumers to furnish exterior spaces without breaking the bank. And discount furniture doesn't have to look cheap. Retail stores, warehouses, and shops that specialize in factory seconds or shop-worn merchandise carry a large selection of name brand, quality units at surprisingly low prices. Discount shops buy lawn furniture in big lots and pass the savings onto the consumer. One of a kind designer pieces, mismatched or incomplete ensembles, scratch-and-dent units, or unclaimed custom orders are all examples of the kinds of great buys savvy shoppers can expect to find.

The best time to shop for discount outdoor furniture is during the off seasons or at the end of the summer. Retailers must move shop worn merchandise in order to make room for the next season's stock. At the end of the summer, anything that has not sold is marked down for exceptional savings. Merchants don't want to have to store leftover goods or lose money on inventory. Consumers can save as much as 50% to 70% on off-season merchandise or inventory reduction sales. Understanding the right time to buy requires insight and judgment. "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: ... A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away" (Ecclesiastes 3:1,6). How do you find the bargains? The best way is to watch the newspaper circulars for end-of-the-year clearances. Retailers will usually advertise summer specials just before school starts. Shoppers can pick up some hefty bargains by watching and waiting. Sales reps will be happy to give good customers tips about upcoming specials and bargain basement buys.

Most outdoor lawn furniture left at the end of the season may be a little shop weary. Cushions may be missing, glass tops may be chipped or missing, or ensembles may not include all of the original chairs. Display units and patio sets can get torn or look worn simply from customers handling or sitting on them in the store. A small tear, a stain, or a chip takes hundreds of dollars off of the original asking price, and the smart shopper can go home with a bargain. When it comes to shopping for discount items, pride has to take a back seat to prudence. That gorgeous designer patio set priced at half the original cost may look a little seedy; but a brand new set will soon look worn simply from everyday usage. Prudent shoppers won't think twice about snatching up a bargain.

If discount outdoor furniture has a missing chair, shoppers can ask about special ordering a replacement. If the cost of the replacement is still less than the cost of a new ensemble, the savings are still worth the money. Outdoor accessories can also be purchased at a savings from home improvement stores or online discount shopping websites. The advantage of shopping a home improvement store is that merchandise can be inspected prior to purchasing and there are no shipping and handling charges. Online discount sites that post used outdoor furnishings and allow browsers to competitively bid on merchandise are great if you can afford shipping and handling and if the vendors are reliable and truthful about the condition of items for sale. Buying heavy articles online may save money, but the shipping and handling might make the purchase equal the same price as a new or discount unit bought locally.

Other great places to find discount outdoor furniture are flea markets, discount warehouses which sells donated merchandise to benefit the poor, or garage and yard sales. Flea markets and stores run by charitable organizations may carry a wide variety of outdoor lawn furniture that is still serviceable, or that might require a little paint or stain. Here is where a discriminating eye comes in handy. Shoppers who can look beyond the scraped paint or a little rust to see a diamond in the rough can get a real bargain. If furnishings look a little dilapidated, consider restoring them. Add new cushions to a patio table and chair ensemble, purchase a new piece of glass for a table, or sand and paint rusted wrought iron or cast aluminum frames to freshen furniture that still has good bones.

Garage and yard sales are a bargain shopper's paradise! Homeowners who are relocating or just cleaning out the garage may be willing to part with lawn furniture that is just as good as new, at low prices. Individuals sometimes purchase new pieces and want to get rid of older sets for little or nothing. The best things in life are free and the best discount outdoor furniture will cost absolutely zilch! Garage sale junkies and dumpster divers can scope out the neighborhoods for discarded curbside pieces that are still serviceable, but require a little sprucing up. Plastic outdoor furniture may require spray painting with new acrylic paint. New webbing material can give an aluminum folding chair new life. Scratched cast aluminum frames can be sanded and spray painted, while missing or soiled cushions can be recovered or replaced. Rattan outdoor furniture may need a little TLC: reweaving loose fibers, painting or staining faded seating, or replacing cushions is all that's needed to cash in on great bargains on outdoor lawn furniture.

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