If you’re looking to buy homeware online, then you will be spoilt for choice. Some of the biggest online retailers of these items include Hayneedle, Wayfair, and Overstock. But how do they stack up against each other? We compare the essential details you need to know here.
Hayneedle
Website: https://www.hayneedle.com/
Hayneedle started out as an online store called Hammocks, which was owned by a farmer in rural Washington. The website was purchased in 2002 by Doug Nielsen, Julie Mahloch, and Mark Hasebroock, who developed Hammocks into a portfolio of different websites which focused on particular products revolving around home and garden decor.
In 2005 the portfolio of websites was merged and re-branded as ‘NetShops’ and again re-branded under the name ‘Hayneedle’ in 2009. In 2016 Hayneedle was taken over by Jet.com, which is owned by Walmart, making Hayneedle now a part of the Walmart family. Hayneedle is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and the current president is Shelley Huff. It sells a wide range of homewares and furnishings.
Value
Hayneedle is known for offering good value for money on its products and is believed by some customers to be more affordable than competitors Wayfair and Overstock.
Hayneedle frequently runs promotions, sales, and offers, and it also stands behind a price match promise. If you find the same item for sale on a competitor’s website at a lower price than it is listed on Hayneedle, then you can contact Hayneedle, and they will drop their price to match the competitor.
Range
Hayneedle has a wide range of products, but it is significantly smaller than Wayfair and Overstock, with over one million products for sale. Many visitors to Hayneedle actually prefer having less choice of items because they find the website easier and less time-consuming to browse compared to similar websites, which offer a much greater amount of items for sale.
Navigation
Hayneedle is a user-friendly website with a pleasant interface that makes for an enjoyable shopping experience. It is intuitive to use, with a search bar that predicts possible items or categories as you begin to type. You can search by description such as ‘red chair’ or the actual item name. The search results can be filtered according to price, name, and customer review ratings.
Service
Shipping is free in the US if you spend over $49, or it’s a $4.99 fee for any order smaller than this. International shipping is available at an extra cost. Most items are eligible for return within 30 days of delivery, and details about this can be found on the order page in your account.
Wayfair
Website: https://www.wayfair.com/
Wayfair was founded in 2002 as a single physical store out of Boston. It has grown to become one of the biggest e-commerce businesses in the world selling home and garden ware, and is still headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, though it also has many offices and warehouses across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Ireland. It is still run by the original co-founders, Niraj Shah and Steve Conine.
Value
Wayfair offers a wide range of items that vary in price from budget economy buys to more luxury expensive products. It is generally considered to offer good value for money and often runs sales and discounts on whole categories of items. Wayfair also owns the retail websites Joss & Main, AllModern, Birch Lane, and Perigold, which sell similar products.
Sometimes customers have noted that they have found identical items for sale on their other websites, which are listed for a higher price on Wayfair, so it is always worth cross-checking.
Range
Wayfair has a catalog of over 14 million items for sale on its website, which is incredibly extensive. Some people find the choice overwhelming and get too confused trying to compare multiple different products, which are all very similar, while others appreciate the vast choice and enjoy scrolling through the many options.
Navigation
Wayfair is an enjoyable website to use, with a bright and colorful theme that feels modern and uplifting. Navigation is easy, with a search bar at the top of the screen or categories which are broken down into departments, such as ‘furniture’ or ‘kitchenware.’
Service
Wayfair ships for free on orders over $49 in the United States, with a flat fee of $4.99 for orders less than this amount. Some items costing under $49 are shipped for free, and you can spot these by looking for the free shipping icon on the product listing.
Refunds are available on most items within 30 days of delivery, but some items are non-refundable such as clearance products and personalized items. You can return purchases for store credit or have the money refunded back to your original payment method.
Overstock
Website: https://www.wayfair.com/
Overstock was founded in 1999 in Utah by Patrick M. Byrne. It started out as an online marketplace selling surplus merchandise at better than wholesale prices.
It liquidated the stock of multiple failed companies but has since grown to sell both closeout merchandise and new products. It serves more countries than Wayfair or Hayneedle, with an online presence in countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.
Value
Overstock began as a place where bargains could be found, and it still likes to market itself as selling good value products. Some products have the best price guarantee and will be price matched if you find the same item cheaper elsewhere.
Range
Overstock has a wide-ranging catalog of over one million products for sale. This includes furniture and homeware, along with books, movies, and games.
Navigation
Overstock has a bright and attractive user interface that is easy to navigate. It has a search bar at the top, or you can look for items by browsing the categories.
Service
Shipping is free for orders over $45 in the US, with a fee of $4.99 for other orders. You can ship to over 200 countries around the world, with expedited shipping available. Returns are accepted within 30 days of receipt, though some items are not eligible.
