Consumer Reports' Hack To Save Money When You Buy Furniture Is So Genius

Around here, we're big fans of shopping your home to save money on furniture and home décor, but let's face it: Sometimes, you just need a new piece. But with a recent rise in furniture prices (e.g., dining and living room furniture cost 25% more in late 2025 versus early 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics via NPR), more and more folks are searching for a deal. In the store, you can strike up a negotiation with the salesperson, but online? When shopping on a website, it feels like the price is, well, the price, right? Not really. The next time you're shopping online for furniture, take a tip from Consumer Reports and pull up the website's chat to ask for a sales code.

We've all heard the tip saying to negotiate the sticker price on everything from cars to couches, but asking about discounts in the chat is perhaps among the best advice for furniture shopping online. The important thing to remember is retailers want you to buy. They want to make that deal and move that end table or sofa or ... you get it. And Consumer Reports research backs it up: In its survey, it discovered that the majority of online furniture shoppers who asked for a discount code successfully got one. Meaning that dining room table you dreamed of could be yours for less than you thought.

So, you've found the right furniture for your space on your favorite store's website. You then pull up the site's chat function to ask about a discount, but your mind goes blank. How exactly do you ask for a lower price? First up, ask to speak to a human customer service rep instead. It's not uncommon for bigger furniture retailers these days to use an AI chatbot for initial customer support and to answer basic questions. And while some bots may be programmed to offer customers discount codes, they may not always understand your request, or have the same leeway to offer a discount the way a customer service representative would.

Once you're connected, though, what do you actually say? There are a few different methods out there. One of our favorites is to simply ask if there are any discounts available for your order or product. Or, because furniture shipping can be on the pricier side depending on the retailer and item, ask if there's a code for free shipping. You could also compare prices at other websites and ask if they could match the price. Remember, the key to this negotiation is to be courteous throughout the entire conversation, because, yes, the old adage is correct: You'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Don't see a chat function? Check the top right corner of the website or the footer for ways to get in touch.