Seeing double
May 24, 2024 11:10 AM Subscribe
How do you handle navigating a purchase when you find multiple examples of an item online, sometimes using the same photos? Example inside.
ONLY AN EXAMPLE: Table One and Table Two
I come across this kind of thing every now and then, and what's a consumer to do? What are your strategies for evaluating what's real here, or if a deal is stealing a photo from a higher quality item? Please don't fixate on Wayfair or these particular items, it's an example only, thanks!
ONLY AN EXAMPLE: Table One and Table Two
I come across this kind of thing every now and then, and what's a consumer to do? What are your strategies for evaluating what's real here, or if a deal is stealing a photo from a higher quality item? Please don't fixate on Wayfair or these particular items, it's an example only, thanks!
I think you're believing one of these listings made the table and the other is using their stock photos.
It's more likely neither of these listings made the table and simply bought an unbranded table from a wholesaler and are using the wholesaler's catalog photos rather than creating their own.
Essentially, you're just buying from middlemen who try to pass themselves off as manufactures.
My suspicion is that both of these tables are shit quality and it's mostly irrelevant who you purchase from as they're the same table. It's possible you'll see a difference in shipping times and prices but it's also possible neither seller has the table and the wholesaler will be shipping you the table after being paid by the WayFair seller. They're essentially drop-shipping. I have no proof, but that's my suspicion.
posted by dobbs at 11:39 AM on May 24 [9 favorites]
It's more likely neither of these listings made the table and simply bought an unbranded table from a wholesaler and are using the wholesaler's catalog photos rather than creating their own.
Essentially, you're just buying from middlemen who try to pass themselves off as manufactures.
My suspicion is that both of these tables are shit quality and it's mostly irrelevant who you purchase from as they're the same table. It's possible you'll see a difference in shipping times and prices but it's also possible neither seller has the table and the wholesaler will be shipping you the table after being paid by the WayFair seller. They're essentially drop-shipping. I have no proof, but that's my suspicion.
posted by dobbs at 11:39 AM on May 24 [9 favorites]
Response by poster: I think you're believing one of these listings made the table and the other is using their stock photos.
Not the case, simply wondering what the question states - when confronted with two extremely similar listings for a similar or actually the same item, how to distinguish what might be more legit/better quality? They don't have to be on the same site either, just an example.
posted by tiny frying pan at 11:44 AM on May 24 [1 favorite]
Not the case, simply wondering what the question states - when confronted with two extremely similar listings for a similar or actually the same item, how to distinguish what might be more legit/better quality? They don't have to be on the same site either, just an example.
posted by tiny frying pan at 11:44 AM on May 24 [1 favorite]
Best answer: In this case, vendors are buying the same mass produced items and selling under their own brand - referred to as "white labeling." You can use Spoken to search for items you find online to check this or compare prices. In most cases, I don't think the products are different. When confronted with 'too good to be true' prices, those might be copies (see: Temu) and the quality or size shown in images may be deceptive.
posted by maya at 11:49 AM on May 24 [14 favorites]
posted by maya at 11:49 AM on May 24 [14 favorites]
Best answer: Since it seems to be the same product in both listings, what your really deciding on is the company sending you the product so I look at reviews and shipping times. In reviews people will talk about their shipping experience, returns, etc. And then shipping times for selfish reasons because I don't like to wait on things.
posted by CleverClover at 11:54 AM on May 24 [7 favorites]
posted by CleverClover at 11:54 AM on May 24 [7 favorites]
Also I own this table. I bought it at a local furniture store. Since them I've seen it several times, both online and in stores. It's definitely sold by multiple vendors. I like the table, so if you're actually considering this table, I give it a thumbs up.
posted by CleverClover at 11:57 AM on May 24 [3 favorites]
posted by CleverClover at 11:57 AM on May 24 [3 favorites]
Some background with wood types is helpful. The type of wood impacts looks and longevity. If you go to a furniture store and look closely at the different price points, you can start getting a feel for what each tier looks like.
Solid wood is better than engineered wood, which is better than veneered particleboard. Within the category of solid wood, single-plank is better than pieced wood (where they take smaller planks and glue them together), which is better than pieced and veneered. It's basically the difference between steak and hamburger.
Both descriptions mention solid, manufactured rubberwood. Rubberwood is a sustainable wood, chopped down after the tree stops making rubber latex. There doesn't seem to be a veneer, so scratches can be sanded away.
From the picture, this is not a single plank, but rather pieced. However, the picture shows long, wide planks with beautiful grains, and you will likely get sent one with short narrow planks with wonky grains. This is a bit of a cheat, since it would still meet the specifications. This is where the return policy comes into play.
You have to use your background knowledge to guess at the actual wood composition from the pictures and the description, and look at the store policies for if it doesn't meet the representations. Like others have said, this is likely from the same wholesaler, so the deciding point for me is what I can hold them up to, if a truly crappy specimen shows up.
posted by dum spiro spero at 12:05 PM on May 24 [3 favorites]
Solid wood is better than engineered wood, which is better than veneered particleboard. Within the category of solid wood, single-plank is better than pieced wood (where they take smaller planks and glue them together), which is better than pieced and veneered. It's basically the difference between steak and hamburger.
Both descriptions mention solid, manufactured rubberwood. Rubberwood is a sustainable wood, chopped down after the tree stops making rubber latex. There doesn't seem to be a veneer, so scratches can be sanded away.
From the picture, this is not a single plank, but rather pieced. However, the picture shows long, wide planks with beautiful grains, and you will likely get sent one with short narrow planks with wonky grains. This is a bit of a cheat, since it would still meet the specifications. This is where the return policy comes into play.
You have to use your background knowledge to guess at the actual wood composition from the pictures and the description, and look at the store policies for if it doesn't meet the representations. Like others have said, this is likely from the same wholesaler, so the deciding point for me is what I can hold them up to, if a truly crappy specimen shows up.
posted by dum spiro spero at 12:05 PM on May 24 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I've worked for a company that was exactly "middlemen who try to pass themselves off as manufactures." We bought product from a factory in China, imported it, named and priced it, and then sold it in the U.S. The company I worked for also sold through Wayfair/AllModern, but we tried to build in a little profit for the cost of doing business through them, which is why the pricing might be different.
What's more, the factory often supplied us with "lifestyle" photos to use in our sales materials, so it's very likely you're seeing the identical table made in the same place.
posted by gladly at 12:27 PM on May 24 [4 favorites]
What's more, the factory often supplied us with "lifestyle" photos to use in our sales materials, so it's very likely you're seeing the identical table made in the same place.
posted by gladly at 12:27 PM on May 24 [4 favorites]
I shop online, but for furniture, I use craigslist & fb market place, along with Habitat's ReStore. So much great furniture is available and much of it is built well and sustainably. For consumer goods, I buy from whoever is most efficient for getting it soon if I need that, price, shipping. I kind of give up on assessing the ethics of companies with exceptions for Habitat's ReStore and a few others. I try to just buy less, though amazon's crappy business practices - not showing useful searching, and other BS makes me buy elsewhere when it's reasonably easy.
posted by theora55 at 12:34 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 12:34 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
They are both relisting this Aliexpress item at 200-300% markup.
You can order this directly from China. It'll be shipped to you in about 3-4 weeks, I think. You can put it together yourself and save the money.
posted by kschang at 12:39 PM on May 24 [4 favorites]
You can order this directly from China. It'll be shipped to you in about 3-4 weeks, I think. You can put it together yourself and save the money.
posted by kschang at 12:39 PM on May 24 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Sometimes when there are a lot of sellers of (virtually?) the same design there can even be multiple white-label manufacturers, because they're all riffing off the same trend or the same original design. (In this case, they look like some tables Ikea currently has, and even more like tables Ikea was carrying a while back; not that this kind of look is original to Ikea, but it's possible Ikea made it trendy enough right now to copy.)
When all else is pretty much equivalent, sometimes I choose by "rewarding" sellers who give the most complete and useful product information, which not everyone does.
posted by trig at 12:41 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
When all else is pretty much equivalent, sometimes I choose by "rewarding" sellers who give the most complete and useful product information, which not everyone does.
posted by trig at 12:41 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
They are both relisting this Aliexpress item at 200-300% markup.
That Aliexpress item seems to be a different table. At least its listed dimensions are different (smaller).
posted by aubilenon at 12:44 PM on May 24
That Aliexpress item seems to be a different table. At least its listed dimensions are different (smaller).
posted by aubilenon at 12:44 PM on May 24
You're right, I pointed to a 47 inch. Here's a 59 inch one: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806585646726.html
posted by kschang at 12:50 PM on May 24
posted by kschang at 12:50 PM on May 24
They are a large drop shipping company
Table is less quality than one made in USA. Might not
be important if table is not heavily used. China uses cheaper wood, often veneers, and spray painted to look more like woods we favor in the west.
posted by Czjewel at 12:52 PM on May 24
Table is less quality than one made in USA. Might not
be important if table is not heavily used. China uses cheaper wood, often veneers, and spray painted to look more like woods we favor in the west.
posted by Czjewel at 12:52 PM on May 24
For furniture it might not be viable, but for smaller items that fit in an envelope or small package, I always image-search for the photo with "aliexpress" added. That often does get you the original manufacturer, someone who'll be able to answer questions about the item or maybe even offer customisations, plus you can see what else they've got in a similar style. I've had a couple items undelivered from Ali or something wrong with them and disputes have been resolved in my favour very quickly.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:53 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:53 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Coincidentally, Caitlin Dewey's newsletter covered this earlier in the week: A glitch in the matrix of online shopping.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 3:55 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 3:55 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks, all, a few good points here. I am amused some of you did get fixated on the table and Wayfair anyway! Ah, AskMe.
posted by tiny frying pan at 5:16 AM on May 25 [2 favorites]
posted by tiny frying pan at 5:16 AM on May 25 [2 favorites]
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If you're concerned about provenance, I'd avoid Amazon/Wayfair/any site that acts as an aggregator for lots of different vendors and instead go to a brand directly. Conversely, I also find that listings on Taobao and Aliexpress will often provide a lot more detail on the actual product being resold on other storefronts, especially if you translate the page & images.
But were I shopping for this exact table, I'd decide whether or not Wayfair quality was what I wanted. If it was, I'd just choose the cheaper table; if not, I'd be looking for something outside of the low-price furniture ecosystem where this sort of product duplication is common.
posted by sagc at 11:17 AM on May 24 [6 favorites]