Wayfair has brick-and-mortar outlet locations in just a small handful of states: Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Massachusetts—and now Florida. The Orlando outlet location is the only one Florida and opened this year, and I was curious to see what the online furniture retailer might have in store for shoppers.
So I headed up the road to the Orlando Wayfair outlet to see if it’s worth the journey for steeply discounted furniture and homeware savings. Is the inventory of any quality? How often do new trucks come in? Here’s what I found.
Shopping Tips
Look for the White Sticker
A sign at the front of the store boasts 50% off items with white price tag stickers. The white sticker prices reflect those you might see online. Sometimes even a half-off price drop isn’t enough to make the item feel like a good deal. Other times, the 50% reduction offered a lot of value—for example, a 9-foot-by-12-foot thick pile wool rug priced at $475 would ring up around $238.
Other stickers are red and already marked down. These red-stickered markdowns were often due to minor imperfections as I noticed the product was frequently scratch-and-dent.
New Inventory Comes in Twice a Week
The staff told me a truck of new inventory is delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays. This leads me to believe inventory moves quickly, and there’s always something new to see. I only went once, but I’m curious to stop by again in a few weeks to see how much the floor has changed with new product.
Lighter Selection of Small Homegoods
There were only a few bakers’ racks full of smaller homegoods, which took me just a few minutes to look through. The best deal I found was $60 for a green 16-piece set of made-in-the-UK ceramic plates, bowls, and mugs. This seems like a section you really never know what you’ll find.
Great If You’re Renovating
If you flip houses, or are looking to renovate a bathroom on a DIY budget, the Wayfair Outlet’s bath section seemed like the section of the store offering the most value. This zone was filled with vanities, tubs, and sinks, with prices that would beat out your typical big-box home store.
What To Expect
The Interiors are Stark
For a furniture and homegoods store, the interior of the outlet is not cozy. The vibe was definitely that of an outlet, with bare beige walls and fluorescent lighting. This isn’t a warm, cozy shopping experience. It’s a vast warehouse of furniture pushed up against each other, and arranged in standard homeware zones (outdoor, sofas, rugs, lamps, dining chairs etc). About the size of a Staples, the outlet only took me around 20 minutes to peruse, so don’t expect an Ikea like all-day wander.
Quality Is Hit or Miss
I found the quality of the goods in the store varied greatly. Some products seemed of good build quality, while others already needed repairs, had chipping veneer over particle board, or required fresh paint. I liked a wavy edged mirror, but its chipped frame and still $300 price tag seemed too steep. Conversely, a large upright full-length arch mirror was half off of $214. A mirror that size for a little over $100 is a rare find. I noticed many end tables and consoles were veneer-covered…