The Home Decor Items You Should Never Buy At HomeGoods
If you find something at HomeGoods that grabs your attention but feel wishy-washy about placing it in your cart, there could be a very good reason. While other stores sell specific product lines and products, HomeGoods has a different philosophy. Its buyers are opportunistic, and negotiate deals when designers overbuy or overproduce products. The prices can be lower, but finding specific things at HomeGoods can be tricky. The selection changes constantly, and you never know what you might find.
According to The Huntswoman, HomeGoods store inventories vary by location, just like its sister brands, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. All three are owned by TJX Companies. Keeping all this in mind, it might make sense to visit several HomeGoods stores as well as T.J. Maxx or Marshalls to find what your heart desires. If you don't find what you need at one of its locations, Chain Store Age reported that HomeGoods.com became an e-commerce website on September 28, 2021, so you can now place online orders, increasing your chances of finding what you need. The Huntswoman recommends HomeGoods for holiday decor, kitchen gadgets, mirrors, and organizer bins, but there are certain things that you're better off skipping. From certain linens to kitchen gadgets, here are some suggestions to keep in mind when browsing through the aisles.
The bedding linens selection is hit-or-miss
Nest Bedding explains that January is one of the best times of the year to buy bedding since stores often lower their prices to help out consumers who overspent during the holidays. The first month of the new year also brings feelings of renewal: This is another reason you see more bedding in stock in linen and department stores. But since HomeGoods is an off-price retailer, they don't usually run promotions like white sales.
If you don't mind paying full price for sheets, then there is one specific type to avoid in the HomeGoods aisles. It carries inexpensive microfiber sheets that can feel nice enough but are made from thin polyester. And while you may save money on synthetic bedding linens, they are not necessarily great products to buy. Prudent Reviews shares that microfiber sheets can lose their softness and pill up after repeated washings. You might need to replace them sooner than sheets made with more durable materials, which means paying more in the long run.
SouthShore Fine Linens points out that microfiber sheets have different grades of quality determined by GSM (grams per square meter) instead of thread counts. The range for GSM bedsheets is 90 to 110, so if you find a set on the higher end, you might be okay. To launder microfiber sheets, read the manufacturer's label for washing instructions first. In most cases, they can be washed in warm or cold water (never hot), and do not use fabric softener as its waxy residue sticks to its threads. Dry microfiber sheets on low heat or the air-only cycle. You can also throw in a few dryer balls, which can increase the fluffiness.
That fine art is not so fine
HomeGoods devotes large portions of its stores to art, but you can't expect to find works by major artists in its aisles or on its walls. Real Simple explains that the store does not carry pieces that cost thousands of dollars, but has a variety of styles that can include modern art and landscapes. Of course, this means that the selection is a bit limited. If you want something original, funky, or in a specific style, you will have an easier time shopping elsewhere.
Driven by Decor has not had much luck in HomeGood's art department, but managed to find artsy decor in other parts of the store. One example was a door knocker featuring a lion's head that was found in the accessories aisle. Feel free to browse the other sections for art, as you might find a cute little print for the nursery in the baby section or something similar. You can also check out the wall decor on the HomeGoods website, which has more options.
Don't invest in its large furniture
You can find brand-name furniture at HomeGoods, but finding matching seating can be challenging. There might be a lovely accent chair, but if you need a second one, you might be out of luck. If you have a certain product in mind, you could call around to other HomeGoods locations, and a staff member might be able to check for you, but you're not guaranteed to find a double.
The HomeGoods business model is all about "opportunistic shopping," and this applies to corporate ordering the products and consumers who scoop up deals. A HomeGoods head buyer might take advantage of a specialty store inventory cancellation, which could lead to just a few brand name chairs being at different stores. HomeGoods is designed to create a treasure hunt-like experience, so mixing and matching are often part of the deal.
Another problem with buying large furniture at HomeGoods is the absence of extended warranties. If a problem shows up later rather than sooner, you might have no recourse. For example, if you look at Lane Furniture's warranty for pieces purchased at its authorized dealers, it will make repairs (restrictions apply) for up to one year. HomeGoods purchases must be returned in 30 days, but there is no information on the website about warranties.
The clearance items have seen better days
Stores like HomeGoods have clearance sections to reduce excess inventory and maximize shelf space for newer items. The Houston Chronicle reports that these items have lower price points and can increase company customer bases. Strategically-placed sales sections can be at the backs of stores, but they can also be found close to regular-priced merchandise in the different departments. Clearance items can introduce customers to brands they would not have tried otherwise, and turn them into loyal customers.
Value-conscious shoppers tend to check out clearance sections, but the selections in HomeGoods stores can be disorganized and random. According to Clinicinus, products that are not selling, are out of season, or are damaged might later be moved to clearance sections. Ones that sit on shelves for a long time can be shuffled around by customers and staff, get damaged, and be marked down further. That means you're not getting a piece in the best condition.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the clearance section can be good for purchasing one-off items, but not sets. Instead of scouring the clearance section, it might be better to shop according to when HomeGoods restocks its shelves with new things that might be offered in larger quantities. The store generally restocks furniture every two weeks and smaller items every one to two days.
Avoid buying small kitchen appliances here
While HomeGoods does not sell large appliances like microwaves and dishwashers, shoppers often try to scoop up deals on small ones like blenders. HomeGoods.com has "kitchen & dining" on its menu, but there isn't a specific category for kitchen appliances. If you click on "gadgets," you'll see things like knife sets and cocktail shakers. Mashed claims that it is possible to find things like French press coffee makers, but adds that the shelves can be disorganized due to limited space. If you dig deep enough, you might find a hidden gem like a brand-name blender.
However, well-known small kitchen appliance brands like KitchenAid provide one-year manufacturer's warranties, but might not honor them on products not purchased through its licensed retailers. However, according to Consumer Reports, you can contact the manufacturer to request a refund, repair, or replacement if a product is defective. There is no guarantee of the outcome, but hold onto your receipt and locate the bar code before calling or emailing.
Should you want to return or exchange that broken blender, HomeGoods gives you 30 days (or longer during the holidays) to do so. It's also important to know that while HomeGoods, T.J. Maxx, and Marshalls are all owned by TJX Companies, First Quarter Finance reports that returns must be made at the same brand store they were purchased at. So if you found that immersion blender in the home section at Marshalls, it cannot be returned to HomeGoods. Sorry!
The shower head selection is practically non-existent
At the time of this publishing, there were no showerheads offered for sale on HomeGoods.com. There might be some in stock at a store near you (look in the bath section), but the quantities could be limited. And since HomeGoods promotes opportunistic shopping and chooses inventory from thousands of different vendors, you might not be able to find that particular brand you want. Cnet notes that American Standard, Kohler, and Moen are brand leaders, but you're not guaranteed to find them when you go.
If you're still wondering how the opportunistic shopping model works, Design and Marketing Dictionary defines the process as negotiating lower prices for products that the original retailer didn't sell for whatever reason. This can mean products that didn't sell as well as they were supposed to, were left over at the end of the season, or were slightly faulty. HomeGoods snaps these deals up and passes on the savings to its consumers. So if you want a trendy or top-brand name showerhead, you might be better off shopping at a plumbing showroom or home improvement retailer.
It's hard to find matching dishes and silverware
Though dishes and silverware are sold in sets, Kitchn points out that open-stock dinnerware can be a great fit for people that don't want complete five-piece sets or matchy-matchy dishes and bowls. NJShoreBeachLife shared a HomeGoods walkthrough video, and you can see where there are open stock pieces in different colors. There might be five matching dinner plates and three coordinating bowls, but the rest could be missing. HomeGoods.com shows a few flatware sets by Oneida and Made in Italy, and you can sometimes find sets of these and other brands in its stores.
The opportunistic shopping model is alive and well in HomeGoods' dining department, where the constantly changing, diverse mix of goods keeps customers coming in. Yahoo! Finance reports that the continuous inflow of new goods entices consumers to check out the latest trends in home furnishings, whether it be plates, artsy doorknobs, or a set of mismatched bowls. But if you want a big, complete set, this might not be the store to look in.
If you do happen to find seven matching plates but need eight, check the manufacturer's website or visit one like Replacements, Ltd. The latter has exhaustive lists of china, glassware, silver, and flatware brands; yours could be on there. You can also search for those elusive pieces on eBay.