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Buying Rugs on eBay & Other Online Retailers: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
Jul 29, 2020
Thinking of buying an area rug from eBay or any other online retailers?
You may want to stop and read this first!
So, you have been browsing eBay for a new (or used) area rug from your home or office, but you aren't sure if you should go ahead and pull the tigger. You may want to stop and think a little longer before you make the move from buying such a big purchase from any online retailer, but especially from sellers on eBay. Keep reading to learn more about the good, the bad, and the ugly when purchasing rugs from eBay and other online retailers.
The Good:
One of the "good" reasons to shopping online is the fact that you don't have to put on pants to shop (ha). While you can shop in the comfort of your home, you cannot have your questions answered by trusted professionals. You do not know who you will be talking to behind the screen. That's why shopping the showroom here at Martinous Oriental Rugs is always a safe bet. Don't worry, you can come and shop with us in comfort, but we do ask for you to be fully dressed (ha).
Another "good" reason to shop for area rugs online is what appear to be HUGE discounts. Now while these "sales" look very appealing, they aren't the savings you think they are. Many online retailers will mark up prices for weeks before they plan on having their big "sale". Here at Martinous, we are different. When we have a sale, it's an actual sale. We also often can meet or beat most online retailers when it comes to our rugs.
One last "good" point of shopping for a rug online is the "fast shipping". Sure 7-10 business days sounds great, but that can come for a price. Then some companies will require you pay an insurance fee on top of the shipping fee. Oh, we forgot to mention those that offer "free shipping". What they don't tell you is that the "free" part is actually already built in to your price, taxes and mystery fees. Also, you don't really know where your rug is coming from on top of everything else, unless you are buying it straight from the manufactures website. This means that your order may not be correct or it could be damaged when you get it, if you get it at all. Here at Martinous Rugs, if we do not have your dream rug in stock, we order it straight from our trusted suppliers, so you know your dream rug will be to you in no time and will be correct.
The Bad:
One of the many bad reasons of purchasing a rug online is unless you are very familiar with a manufacturer or product line, you can be making a costly mistake ordering an area rug from any internet discount site. Many of these site are only third or even forth party sellers that do not manufacturer their own products. They just farm this out to cheaper manufacturers that use cheap resources and simply process orders. When you shop with us, you know what you are buy and where you are buying it from.
Another bad reason you will run in to when shopping online is the fact that you don't know the true color you will be getting. So, you are looking for a read rug for your dining room? Are you sure the rug you just bought from that random seller on eBay is a true red, or is it one of the 100's of shades of red that you did not want from your home. This is a common problem that we hear about from customers, and one of the many reasons to shop in a showroom. This way you can see the colors in the rug that you will be buy in real life and our team will even let you know how the colors will wear over time. Will your eBay seller do the same?
A pretty picture can be just that...a pretty picture. Yet another bad reason to buy online we hear about is that the rug looks nothing like the picture when they saw the rug online. From the pattern, to the thickness, to the construction, it can all be wrong. In our showroom you will be able to look at your new rug up close and feel the quality. Plus with 1000's of rug styles to choose from, you won't feel shorted on selection.
The Ugly:
So now the ugly reasons of buying a rug from an online retailer. We have heard time and time again that customers have bought a new area rug online, which is fine. Then, we hear that weeks have gone by, and they have yet to receive their new rug. This is becoming a bigger problem with more and more sites that have been copied by scammers. If you do not buy from a trusted site, you are taking the chances of throwing your money away.
One other ugly reason from buying rugs online is the fact you do not know if the rug is actually NEW. Some sellers may not tell you the whole truth behind the rug you are buying. There are also cases where sellers will put the defects of a rug in the description, but it can be so small that you could miss it. We can promise you the best in quality when you shop with us.
Another ugly reason to not purchase an area rug online is the fact that if something goes wrong with the rug, shipment, or order, do you know who you would call? How long will you wait on hold just to ask who is responsible for re-packaging and shipping your rug back? You can easily avoid making these mistakes by working with us here at Martinous Oriental Rugs.
We all know that one of the hardest things to keep clean in your home, it's your rugs. That doesn't mean that you should avoid cleaning them, but there are things to consider that you should avoid doing! Here are some tips to help you out when cleaning your rugs:
Soumak weave area rugs are works of art for your floors and unlike most other rugs you usually see. The construction of Soumaks is different from that of the hand-knotted rugs. The ancient and complex construction technique used to make these rugs produces a flat-weave rug that is thick, strong and exceptionally durable. Another advantage of today's Soumak rugs is that they are double sided and can be reversible, if you choose, since they are finished on both sides. Each side in the modern take of these rugs are just a little different. One side of the design being a little more distinct on one side than the other side. The Soumak rug can be suited for situations where a thinner rug is needed, but where you need more durability. These rugs can offer vibrant colors combined with subtle abrash (variation in depth of color) or more natural tones that will create a look and feel that pleases the contemporary eye while honoring tradition. Soumak is named for the village of Shemaka in the Caucasus where this technique was widely practiced, but it certainly was not invented there. Soumak has been practiced extensively across the world, from Central Asia to Iran. Today, Soumak rugs are primarily woven in the large weaving districts in India.
Rug today are made up of so many different materials and fibers. Choosing the right one for you will depend on your style, the amount of foot traffic your rug will receive, placement of the rug, and the amount of comfort you want under foot.
