Buying things online, including affordable kitchen cabinets, has become increasingly convenient. Consumers have shifted from in-store purchases to online shopping. Various items like groceries, flat-screen TVs, vehicles, and kitchen cabinets can now be bought with ease. Given the accessibility of online shopping, should individuals consider purchasing inexpensive kitchen cabinets online in 2024?
Why People Purchase Kitchen Cabinets Online
During the pandemic, with people being locked in their homes and taking on DIY home remodeling projects, cabinets have become a popular purchase online without the need to visit big box stores. In previous years, cabinets have standardized what is expected. Cabinet luxuries once thought to be expensive add-ons are now standard practice amongst many cabinet companies. Most kitchen cabinets will typically have plywood boxes and soft closing hinges. Now more than ever, shopping online for cabinets is easier and assuring for the consumer. Just like shopping online for anything else, buying cheap cabinets online saves the consumer money, time, and convenience.
1. Saves Money
There are two main options available for kitchen cabinets: premium custom cabinetry and cost-efficient RTA (Ready-to-assemble) cabinets. Not everyone can afford the luxury of custom cabinets, making RTA cabinets a more affordable choice. Unlike custom cabinets that are hand-cut to specific measurements, RTA cabinets come pre-cut and prepackaged in standard sizes. This cost-saving difference allows for budget-friendly renovations and house-flipping projects to maximize their investment. One key difference to keep in mind is the disparity in information between local stores and online retailers.
2. Saves Time
Time is crucial in today’s fast-paced world, where instant gratification is the norm. RTA cabinets offer a convenient solution for those seeking quick and efficient remodeling options. These cabinets can be shipped in flat boxes for swift delivery and can also be requested pre-assembled to expedite the installation process.
3. Saves Convenience
Nobody wants to sacrifice their day with a kitchen designer. The design process in a kitchen can be a long and tedious process. A lot of back and forth can happen to get the ideal and perfect kitchen finalized and ready for the next step. Kitchen designers can create the ideal kitchen based on your preferences, even without having to ever sit down with them. Not only can you complete the whole order and even the design by email or phone call, but you can also do it from the comfort of your home or during a lunch break. The time saved can be put into other everyday tasks. As they say, the less time spent, the better.
Be Cautious When Buying Cheap Kitchen Cabinets Online
Cheap cabinets not only mean cheap prices but can sometimes even be of cheap quality. Although the naming may reference a cost-friendly option, this may hide details from the customer making the purchase. This can mean cheap materials or even cheap services. Shopping online is easier, but without being able to examine each detail in person, you might be mistaken and shocked by the final product. Always do the research before committing yourself to the purchase.
Cheap Materials
Not all cabinets are made the same. Some use a different type of wood and material for the overall build. Although most cabinets will carry a plywood interior box and shelves, the door quality may be subpar. Particleboard is a lighter option that is less durable than solid wood doors. These doors will not last as long and may need to be replaced earlier than expected. Even the term “engineered wood” may sound durable, but actually, a product may be made artificially using ANY part of the wood. This can imply a cheap wood product like particleboard rather than a more durable wood.
Soft-closing hinges and slides should be expected nowadays for all cheap kitchen cabinets. Not all hardware is designed the same way. Hinges need to be specific to certain cabinets due to the construction and location of the hardware. The more complex the hinge location, the more difficult it is to implement a soft-closing hinge on specific cabinets.
There are also many options for drawer slides. Side-mounted drawer slides reduce the actual size of the drawer, while under-mounted slides retain the full drawer dimension of the cabinet body. These slides might have plastic connections, which can break or deteriorate over time. Even though the hardware is often overlooked, it is crucial to the cabinet.
Better Safe than Sorry
Many customers are first-time buyers of kitchen cabinets. Many things can go wrong in the blink of an eye. Incorrectly measuring your kitchen may result in wrong dimensions, meaning cabinets may not fit, or there is too much space. When ordering cabinets, accessory items like fillers, crown molding, and toe kicks may seem unnecessary to get more. If you take one wrong measurement, you may be left with a missing hole or will have to order more at a later time. These items are typically made in long dimensions of 8 feet, not something small to ship quickly. It may be wise to check your work multiple times when measuring your kitchen or even order a spare piece.
Even if you’re excited about ordering the ideal dream kitchen with a simple click of a button, take the time to check. Like an order, check the details and make sure everything needs to be purchased. Multiple orders may result in high shipping costs and cause later delays. A double or even triple-check might save more than the time spent finalizing an order.
Likewise missing items, damaged items, and factory defects may happen. Since cheap kitchen cabinets are all in flat boxes, it is nearly impossible to detect which cabinet may have been damaged or defective from the start. Companies will more than likely ship out a new replacement based on the defect or corresponding damage, but this may delay the project schedule. When remodeling jobs, leave space to breathe in case an error occurs. Scheduling too tight of time may result in later on jobs to be delayed, leading to stress for everyone. Time is important, but not everything can happen immediately.
Customer Trouble
Customer service is second for a company outside of the product. What happens when your online purchase gets damaged, has missing parts, or just needs to be replaced? Providing service to customers to resolve problems and issues is important to keep a good reputation. No one likes to have to sit with problems regarding a purchase. Having a customer service that ignores these problems will drive the customer insane. To prevent these, do research into the company. How? By reviews. Please read about the companies and how they have resolved issues with online consumers. This will give you an idea of whether the company will help resolve potential problems if they arise.
Suggestions On How To Shop For Cheap Cabinets From The Internet
The material of the Cabinets
Always try a sample before you eat something new. This rule applies to cheap kitchen cabinet companies as well. Cabinet companies will all have sample doors they sell, which will give the consumer an idea of how the cabinet feels. Not only would they see and feel the material of the wood, but even the paint. Customers can test the door to see how durable the door actually is, how easy it is to clean, and even what potential damage it may suffer. It’s a small price to pay for such a significant investment in your home.
Online cabinet stores may also feature videos showing the cabinet’s assembly. These might not be generally helpful to everyone, but they do show the hinges and drawer slides that might not be presented to the buyer. They can see how the hardware looks and see the functionality of the supposedly “soft-closing hinges and drawer slides.” Even the cabinet as a whole is presented in these videos. Customers can break down the structure of the cabinet to see what they are looking for before ever buying.
Service
Like any company, they should provide a good service for anyone purchasing or looking to purchase anything. The last thing for them to do is scare off potential customers. How the representative talks on the phone, the urgency they do to help out, and how they handle any of your problems all matter. It makes the overall purchase less stressful. Designing a kitchen and purchasing it all online can be a nerve-racking move. The service of online cabinet companies will make or break the overall decision to continue with them to make that purchase.
Reviews
Which customers actually leave reviews? Typically, customers who had bad experiences with the purchase flock to the review section. Leaving a bad review leaves a scar on the company, as other potential clients and customers will see the company for who they are. However, some customers write reviews of companies that helped them through these troubles and ones with flawless transactions. Many customers may idolize individuals working at the company as the “go-to man.” Always read up on the company to see its true colors.
Policy
Nobody likes the hidden policy of companies. The small fine text is hidden in paragraphs of disclosures that they need to provide. The last thing customers want to hear is that they are not liable for anything. This ties in with the company’s service. Always ask for the company’s policy on returns, shipping costs, and replacements. It is better to know all these in the early stages of the project to know if problems arise later.
Find Professional Help or Become An Expert
Professionals deal with cabinet companies and even online companies on a daily basis. Contractors order from them for many projects. The average individual may not know what to look for or expect, but they do. Contractors build these cabinets and are the most familiar with the product. If buying from an online company is too much of a burden, let the professional help out. Not only do they know the whole process, but even assembly and installation are achievable through the same person. It may also be wise to make sure the contractor measures the kitchen out a few times as well. They may be professionals, but human error is always still prevalent. The contractor might catch a mistake that would have ended up being costly. When ordering online cabinets, having professional help can be game-changing.
Anyone, in theory, can become an expert themselves. It’s all about shopping smart. Not just looking for the best bang for the dollar’s worth but the best investment for the overall project. Find out and do research beforehand. The more you know, the safer your purchase will be.
Overall Conclusion
Like ordering anything online, purchasing cheap kitchen cabinets online is definitely a lot easier than ever imagined. Customers can do it leisurely on their own time without having to sacrifice their whole day meeting the designer. With all purchases, do the research beforehand before recklessly shopping. Without background knowledge of the quality of the cabinet and service of the online store, buyers may walk into a dangerous trap. Expert online shoppers who do their research can find the dream kitchen for the best bang for their buck.
