Restaurant Furniture Blog

When buying restaurant furniture it is important to understand all the finer details of the sales contract. Some restaurants have been caught, particularly when buying from overseas, because they didn’t understand the sales terms.

Buying from overseas direct does not always save money. You have to factor in shipping costs, and that is one area you have to double check as some shipping costs are only port-to-port. You still have the added road transport from port to your door. Other costs could include importation fees and government fees and taxes. You may suddenly find that your cheap restaurant furniture is now pretty expensive. Why? Because you failed to read your restaurant furniture shipping information properly.

Even if you buy locally, there are fine details in the sales contract that need checking and confirming. Lead times; that is, the time it takes from order to delivery may be an important factor if you are running to a tight opening day timetable.

Freight costs must still be factored in although these will be a fixed-to-your-door cost - no hidden extras. Generally speaking, resellers do not carry large quantities of stock so when you order it will most likely be a direct manufacturer to your door delivery. There should not be any hidden costs in this process - the sales price should include all fees and charges.

One aspect of your sales contract that needs close scrutiny is the warranty and the terms and conditions of that sales contract. Warranties can be from one to ten years and generally cover defects in materials and construction. However, if your restaurant furniture says a maximum loading of 150lbs, they mean 150lbs and not 151lbs so your warranty won’t cover a broken piece in that situation.

Restaurant furniture is one of the biggest cost factors for any new restaurant. Be sure to read and understand all the print details of a sales contract. This way, you will not be caught with any hidden surprises. Your restaurant furniture will arrive when expected at a cost that you have budgeted for and in perfect condition for use.