"We were very pleased with the quality and workmanship of the cabinet."

Simon B. of CT

"I absolutely love the table that Vermont Woods Studios made for me. When it came time to replace my hand-me-down dining table, I purchased - and returned - two other high-end tables that had issues with design or wood quality. I wish I had known about Vermont Woods from the beginning. The table is designed with clean, modern lines; I can customize the sizing with the additional leaf; I was able to get it in maple to match other furniture; and because of the lacquered finish, I don't worry about spills at dinner. This is everything I wanted, done by skilled artisans, and at a better price. I couldn't be happier."

Alison T. of Woburn, MA

The Berkeley Bedroom Set in natural cherry wood by Copeland Furniture
Copeland Furniture is one of Vermont's most recognizable high-end furniture brands. Since 1976, Tim Copeland and his family have been building a reputation for world-class furniture in a variety of crisp, clean designs. Based in Bradford, Vermont, Copeland specializes in mid-century modern wood furniture. In their own words, Copeland calls their furniture "transitional. Neither strictly contemporary nor traditional but rather a combination of elements that incorporate classic proportion with modern simplicity."
Here's what our customers are saying about Copeland Furniture:

• "We are absolutely loving the new bed! It's so well-made and is a great match to the other furniture we have in the room." - Crisanto G, Massachusetts
• "Perfect piece for us, well made and delivered ahead of forecast." - Keith L, Florida
• "We LOVE the dining table and chairs -- just beautiful and so incredibly comfortable." - Mary S, New Jersey
• "My table and credenza are magnificent. I'm eager to show the furniture to my family and friends." - Audrey O, Florida
• "We could not be happier with our purchase. Absolutely love this solid maple with white finish platform bed. Beautifully finished. Delivery was quite a bit sooner than expected" - Yvonne B, California
• "We could not be happier with the result. Everything is just as expected." - Valerie W, Florida

We are the only Copeland retailer we know of to offer our customers a lifetime guarantee on their furniture. It doesn't make sense to buy Copeland Furniture anywhere but here. Here's 10 reasons why.

Assessing Fine Furniture Stores using Online Reviews

This is part of a series of posts on how to find the best furniture stores online. Bookmark this page or sign up for our newsletter to learn more.
If you're shopping for fine furniture, you know the importance of due diligence, especially if you're purchasing online. Today we share tips and advice on using consumer reviews to find the best furniture stores for your needs.

Use Multiple Online Review Sites to Find the Best Furniture Stores

You'll find hundreds of consumer review sites. The question is: which ones are credible and trustworthy? The USA Federal Trade Commission FTC stresses the need to read reviews and be skeptical when shopping online. Even the most "independent" review sites can be contaminated with conflicts of interest so check several different sources. Google, Facebook, Yelp, Trust Pilot and Site Jabber are among the most popular online furniture review sites.

Recognize Bias

The FTC has sued companies that posted “fake” reviews but most phony opinions fly under the radar. For example the reviewer may be:

• receiving a free product
• a paid reviewer
• a competitor of the seller
• an employee or affiliate of the seller
• a robot

Be skeptical. Only 2 of these 6 furniture reviews (posted on the seller's website) are from verified buyers. The majority of reviewers "received free product or an incentive for reviewing" or are "a member of the Wayfair team".

Compare Ratings on Several Review Sites

Below are 3 reviews of the same online furniture superstore. Follow the links to the review sites to see the ratings and comments consumers have submitted. Results are:

• TrustPilot review - average rating of 1 out of 5 based on over 500 reviews
• SiteJabber review - average rating of 2 out of 5, based on over 500 reviews
• ResellerRatings review - average rating of 2 out of 10 based on over 70,000 reviews

Full disclosure - this seller is obviously a competitor of mine. I apologize for citing them but I had to use someone for an example and they seem big and strong enough to be unaffected by my post. To their credit, they're certainly better than some online furniture stores, notably this one.

Reputation Management is Big Business

Reputation Management is estimated to be a $5 Billion industry within 2 years. Forbes describes this sector: "Part PR gurus, part tech experts, they specialize in providing online makeovers—often by burying negative search results and promoting content that accentuates a client’s desired image." Hundreds of companies like Hide Bad Reviews have sprung up recently. Need I say more?

Be Skeptical

Online reviews have a major trust problem. Furniture superstores have entire divisions focusing on reputation management. Although it's wise to check out online reviews, be skeptical. Read the seller's responses to both compliments and complaints. Your best furniture stores are likely to be small, specialty companies which you can assess yourself over the phone or in person. Don't rely solely on review sites. Instead give the store a call to discuss details and get advice. Avoid stores that focus on gaming the online review system. Find a company that's renowned for design, quality and a superior delivery experience. They are alive & well and living in the USA.

References

1. Reviews & testimonials for Vermont Woods Studios
2. Is that online review site telling you the truth? CNBC
3. The manager's dilemma ("a Prisoner's dilemma.. where engaging in manipulation is the most rational choice in an increasingly competitive market situation.")
4. The rise of fake Amazon reviews — and how to spot them

Buying Furniture for Your New Home?

Check out our wide selection of beautiful handmade furniture from Vermont. Learn more about buying furniture, including money-saving tips, on The Porch.