Rating: 
Summary: Good, but don't rely on everything you read
Review: Although this book was published in 1999, the information within it is seems to be considerably older. I know this because after reading the book, I took a day trip to high point (I live about 2 hours away), and found that several places in the book were no longer there, or were carrying much different lines. If you are planning to make a longer trip (like a vacation) based on the information in the book, be sure to verify that what you are going to see is actually there. The other fault with the book is that the descriptions of the stores seem written like some travel guides, where everything is great, every store is wonderful, and so forth. It gets you excited about a store, then you go see it and it turns out to be a dump that carries one brand of furniture that nobody has ever heard of. However, even with the above mentioned faults, the book is worth the money, and the read. This type of information is hard to find in a single place, and the book is well-organized, and easy to use as a reference. Just be careful to do some additional research before counting on it, especially if you are travelling far. Overall, I'm recommending it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great resource but not updated since version 1
Review: First let me say that this book and its previous version saved me thousands -- I'll never buy retail again. For the simple xreference and "all in one place" numbers -- the book is worth its price.Now for why I gave it only a 3. I bought this version because I thought it would be up-to-date (now I see there's a 2003 version!) but it wasn't. Almost no one had a web site or e-mail listed but through my investigation I found most of the companies did. In searching for a vendor that carried a maker of furniture, I heard "we stopped carrying that line 3 years ago" == fine for the older version but not what I expected. I suggest you check out the 2003 version -- hopefully they've scrubbed the listing. The blurb under almost every outlet reads the same "great prices, worth a phone call" but I found that the same outlets seem to always be the cheaper so don't take the author's word -- call around.
Rating:
Summary: Great resource but not updated since version 1
Review: First let me say that this book and its previous version saved me thousands -- I'll never buy retail again. For the simple xreference and "all in one place" numbers -- the book is worth its price. Now for why I gave it only a 3. I bought this version because I thought it would be up-to-date (now I see there's a 2003 version!) but it wasn't. Almost no one had a web site or e-mail listed but through my investigation I found most of the companies did. In searching for a vendor that carried a maker of furniture, I heard "we stopped carrying that line 3 years ago" == fine for the older version but not what I expected. I suggest you check out the 2003 version -- hopefully they've scrubbed the listing. The blurb under almost every outlet reads the same "great prices, worth a phone call" but I found that the same outlets seem to always be the cheaper so don't take the author's word -- call around.
Rating:
Summary: Great resource but not updated since version 1
Review: First let me say that this book and its previous version saved me thousands -- I'll never buy retail again. For the simple xreference and "all in one place" numbers -- the book is worth its price. Now for why I gave it only a 3. I bought this version because I thought it would be up-to-date (now I see there's a 2003 version!) but it wasn't. Almost no one had a web site or e-mail listed but through my investigation I found most of the companies did. In searching for a vendor that carried a maker of furniture, I heard "we stopped carrying that line 3 years ago" == fine for the older version but not what I expected. I suggest you check out the 2003 version -- hopefully they've scrubbed the listing. The blurb under almost every outlet reads the same "great prices, worth a phone call" but I found that the same outlets seem to always be the cheaper so don't take the author's word -- call around.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific Guide!
Review: I am furnishing a new house and looking for all types of furniture. I had heard North Carolina was the place to go. With this guide, all the questions I had have been cleared up. As a matter of fact, since I already knew the make/model # of the items I wanted I was able to call up many of the places in the guide and do my shopping over the phone!! On one item- an end-table, it is retailing for $... - I got it for $... plus only $... shipping (includes set up in my house) from North Carolina to NY!...I know I will save thousands. I have already saved hundreds! The trick to using this guide is KNOWING the make/model# of the item you are after so you can specifically ask for that when you call/visit places in the guide. Otherwise the guide will help you map out a trip to NC if you just want to browse.
...
Rating:
Summary: A Great Source
Review: I have purchased items from several of the stores reviewed in this book and have visited a number of them. My experience has been consistent with the author's comments. While I have owned several guides on NC furniture, this is the best that I have seen. I wouldn't shop without it. It will pay for itself many, many times over.
Rating:
Summary: READ THIS BEFORE YOU GO SHOPPING
Review: I love fine furniture and I don't pay retail for anything. I was planning on going to North Carolina this month to pick up a new living room set when I saw this book. It probably saved me over $[money]. Thanks to Kimberly and her marvelous guide I saved time, money and wasn't overwhelmed by all the outlets. Having read the book and highlighted the most interesting stores I got exactly what I wanted in a timely fashion and within my budget.
Rating:
Summary: Great reference - a must have for anyone buying furniture!
Review: I recently bought The Furniture Factory Outlet Guide, and it is fantastic. Well written, organized, thorough. Painfully easy to locate a number of Furniture Outlets that carried what I was looking for, with store addresses, email addresses, phone numbers. WOW!
Rating:
Summary: She has done all the research for you!
Review: My husband and I were fairly certain we would go to North Carolina to purchase some new furniture. After reviewing Causey's furniture shopping anthology, we are VERY certain. She has detailed information about most discount furniture stores in the USA, payment methods, shipping information and whether or not the store has in-store financing, plus a complete list of manufacturers carried in the store. I am so impressed by this compilation. It is a discount shopper's dream come true!
Rating:
Summary: This book has paid for itself!
Review: One thing a buyer should know is that this book is a GUIDE. You have to do all your research before you call a company. Luckily, most manufacturers have web sites where you can view their collections, get product information and get the item numbers that you need before you call for a quote. A note about old information: I do not consider this to be a defect of the book. I have the 1999 edition, which I have been using all week to look for a bedroom set. Many of the companies I called were listed in the book as carrying the Stanley line. Many of the stores I called no longer carry Stanley. After a few of the same responses, I finally asked why many stores no longer carry that line. The answer was simple-- Stanley asked for more room in the showrooms and if the showrooms didn't enlarge the Stanley line within their companies, Stanley pulled the line from that store. Since many companies didn't have the extra room (plus they didn't agree with Stanley's practices) they were no longer able to carry Stanley. How is that a problem with the book? I don't hold the author of the book responsible for the politics that go on within the furniture industry. I do believe that the information was correct at the printing of the book and that if the information has changed, it will be reflected in newer editions. Since I have to buy furniture for every room in my house, I also have ordered Ms. Causey's other book "The Insider's Guide to Buying Home Furnishings". I am saving about ...including freight on the queen bed, dresser, mirror and nightstand that I plan to buy. ...x a house full of furniture is a lot of money and I am grateful a book like this exists to help me find the best deals! My friend and I plan to visit High Point and Hickory next year and we do plan to call companies first to verify they still exist and if they carry a particular line I want. I have heard visits in person to North Carolina save you more money because you can buy from the outlets and the savings on the furniture (including freight) more than pay for the trip to go look. What fun!
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