Furniture guidebook from Stiftung Warentest

Many customers are dissatisfied with their furniture purchases. At any rate, this is indicated by the high number of enquiries to Stiftung Warentest and the consumer centres. One reason is certainly the lack of tests in this area. Even though Stiftung Warentest examines mattresses, furniture for children and young people's rooms and recently children's highchairs - continuous test work as in other areas is not possible.

The reasons are obvious: the range is too broad, there are many unbranded products on the market and the models change too quickly. The only way to avoid expensive bad purchases from the outset is to shop knowledgeably and critically. The Furniture Buying Guide aims to provide the necessary preliminary knowledge. The Deutsche Gütegemeinschaft Möbel e.V. (DGM) has developed test requirements for furnishings and awards the RAL quality mark - the "Golden M". In addition to stability and durability, the test criteria also include human quality, i.e. healthy living. Furniture manufacturers can join the quality association and have their products tested for compliance with standards and quality by neutral testing institutes. In the guidebook "Buying Furniture", the professionals reveal, among other things, how to recognise quality, which questions to ask when buying furniture and how furniture can be optimally cared for. Practical checklists help to put the advice into practice. But even if the child has fallen into the well, the guidebook "Buying Furniture" offers legal assistance. As far as the complaints concern furniture dealers - for example, because delivery dates were not met - this is still relatively simple. However, it becomes costly and nerve-racking when there are disputes about materials and workmanship and expensive repairs are threatened shortly after the warranty period has expired.