TV Stands

I’ve always been one who enjoys the convenience of online shopping over dragging myself to the mall and fighting off the crowds – especially when I am looking for something specific. Now that I have a home that is in desperate need of furniture and décor, my preference for online shopping concerned me a bit. With not being able to see the furniture before I buy or having the immediate assistance from a salesperson, I thought the time had finally come to put online shopping behind me. So, I put on my best furniture shopping shoes and hit the pavement.  I bought all new living room furniture and a new bedroom set.  Not to say that I do not love what I bought BUT shortly after my venture into the brick and mortar world of furniture shopping, I went back to my online shopping roots. I wanted to see what was out there.

Like all of us, I have my own personal taste and therefore I often have an image in my head of exactly what I am looking for. I started browsing and before long, I came across some pieces that were just ME.  I started ordering. And ordering. And ordering some more. Pretty soon, most of the furniture I had purchased for my home was ordered online. “Well, you never had the chance to see it first”, you might say. True, but I was willing to take the risk. In my experience, everything I bought looked exactly like it did online because I did my due diligence.

For the larger purchases like a TV lift cabinet, I carefully read reviews. Other buyers give the best insight into quality, function and how true to the online image the product actually is. Buyer reviews were usually the make it or break it final word for me. Some items I loved had reviews that the color was different in real life or the soft bedding that looked so comfy online was rough to the touch. Always read reviews and you can’t go wrong.

“But what about not having the assistance of a salesperson?” I actually preferred the online shopping environment when it came to getting assistance for my questions. Most online shopping sites now have some sort of live chat, which allows you to go to go the salesperson, not the other way around – no pressure furniture shopping, who knew? Whenever I needed to call in to speak with someone directly, I always spoke with a live person.

I found the best thing about online shopping to be that the options are almost endless. Whenever I went into a furniture store, I felt constrained to what they had available on the floor. Like I said, I love the furniture I bought from the brick and mortar stores, but the pieces were bought out of necessity and were the best of few options. It is great that when you are shopping for a TV lift cabinet or TV console for example, you can just look it up online and have tons of options available to you.

I am definitely a convert to shopping for furniture online. I wanted to share my experience to help people who might be hesitant to take the plunge. If you are a dedicated online shopper like me, I’d love to know what your pros and cons are of shopping on the web. Is there something you feel that online retailers could do to improve your experience? Let me know in the comments!

Did you know that shipping furniture can be quite expensive and cost up to several hundred dollars for one piece of furniture?  Sadly, this cost is expected to increase in the next few months as gas prices keep climbing.  Many retail furniture companies have been forced to charge a shipping fee to customers to help cover the cost of shipping.  This can range from $100 up to 10% of sales price.  Imagine you have just purchased your TV lift cabinet, dining room table set and living room furniture for your new home for a total of $10,000.  Ten percent of that is $1,000 that you would have to pay just to ship your furniture!  Yowsers!

Well, I have some good news.  At ImportAdvantage, we offer FREE shipping and In-Home Placement.  Yes, you heard me right.  I said free shipping.

Your TV lift cabinet will be delivered and placed in the room of choice.  At which time the delivery people will unpack your TV lift cabinet in front of you, allowing the chance to inspect.  Once inspection is completed to your satisfaction, all packing material will be removed from your home.   Simple, easy and best of all free. Now how do you like them apples?

Can’t decipher all the jargon you find when shopping for a new flat-panel TV? Outlined here are a few pointers to help you decide if a plasma TV or an LCD TV is right for you and your room.

Plasma TVs are known for their warm colors and deep blacks. They excel in rooms with multiple viewers, as people can still see the picture clearly if they are sitting off-axis, or off to the side instead of directly in front of the screen. Plasma flat-screen televisions also work well when the room doesn’t allow much direct light on the TV screen, which means not placing it on an opposite wall to a big picture window unless you have heavy drapes that are capable of blocking out most of the light. Plasma TVs can also be found in large to very large screen sizes, over 42”.

LCD flat-panel TVs are great for smaller screens, which are less than 42”. If you will be watching television in a relatively bright room or mostly during the daytime, an LCD TV might be best for you. Also, LCD TVs usually consume less electricity than plasma TVs of the same size.

Before you head out to purchase your LCD or plasma flat-screen TV, be sure to view and print out our Measurement Guide so you’ll know that whatever you bring home will work with the TV lift cabinet that you want. ImportAdvantage offers TV lift cabinets both for small screens (Notting Hill XS) or large screens (Banyan Creek XL).

If you’re considering buying a new television set, you will also need to consider how you are going to have your new TV set displayed.

Although several options are available at ImportAdvantage.com to display a TV, one option you may want to consider is a TV stand.

A TV stand allows you to display your television, store gaming systems, and your audio/visual equipment.  There is also a built-in vent and fan that is designed to keep your equipment safe and cool.  Our models also have the Infrared technology to allow you to change channels without opening the cabinet doors.

Here are some tips to keep in mind while you look for your TV stand.

1) Color – We have a variety of colors available in our TV stand selection.  Make sure to do some browsing to ensure that the TV stand you chose, will fit into your home decor.

2) Size – If you spend the money on a TV stand, you want to make sure that it will actually fit into your house.  Once its in your house, you want to make sure it will fit into the room where you plan on having your TV.  You also want to make sure that the TV stand you select is also large enough to support your brand new TV.

3) Storage Capability – Some models have more storage space than others.  If you only need space for your TV and your DVD player, you won’t need as much storage space.  But if you’d also like to try to fit your DVD collection, then you’ll need a bigger storage space.  Take some extra time to see which TV stand will have the storage capacity to best suit your needs.

Researching to find which TV stand is the perfect fit for your home is important.  Hopefully these tips will help make that process easier.

While parents often go above and beyond when it comes to safety devices on electrical outlets and child-proof locks on cabinets, often times they neglect to remember one of the most dangerous parts of their homes: the TV.

According to a study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 134 children died between 2000 and 2006 as a direct result of furniture and televisions falling on them. Another report by the Center for Injury Research and Policy, part of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, found that 264,200 children were injured between 1990 and 2007 due to furniture and television mishaps. Lara McKenzie, one of the study’s authors, said in a recent interview that injuries increased 40 percent over the study period and about half the injuries involved televisions.

So why is there a rise in activity? Is it because of the parents, or is it the TVs? In many cases, the rise is attributed to families replacing older televisions with lighter, flat-screen models that can easily be tipped. In addition, many families are also keeping their old models, which can weigh up to 100 pounds, on furniture that may not be able to support the added weight. As a result, the furniture becomes unstable and it becomes more likely that the TV will fall should it be bumped or pulled accidentally by a small child.

To prevent these injuries, parents are encouraged strongly bolt all television sets to furniture and to secure the furniture to walls by using straps or brackets in order to prevent them from falling and causing disaster. Remember, by taking the precaution now, you and your family can avoid the danger.

Recently I Googled TV lifts and found many different options. Perhaps the most surprising was the one listed under “Home Automations” offering instruction on how to “build a pop-up TV lift cabinet using an off-the-shelf dresser drawers and an off-the-shelf pop up TV lift kit in about 3 hours, all for only $500.”

Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for the DIY trend and on smaller, less important projects; I might fully endorse such an undertaking.

However, most people who would consider an automated TV lift also enjoy watching their TV; and in order to watch it, it needs to work, right? Imagine, after your 3-hour “sweat equity” investment (not to mention whatever you invested in the dresser and your pricey plasma TV), your home automation project comes crashing down, TV and all, because the online instruction omitted a crucial step?

Why put yourself through the agony?

Today there are many reputable TV lift cabinet/console purveyors who will customize your TV lift cabinet to your specifications. Everything from the number of shelves you want in your cabinet, to the height at which you want your TV to rest when in use, to the color and design of the hardwood cabinetry for your TV lift.

By going through a professional, you also have various options in mechanical operation and design, including motorized lifts, lifts that pivot, and lifts that drop down and retract back into the ceiling. Many manufacturers offer their TV lifts with rack and pinion operating units, while others offer telescopic technology for their TV lift systems. Almost universally, these manufacturers offer warranties on their TV lift units, too, which is why they are designed with structural integrity using high-quality components; not make-shift pieces and parts from the tool shed, or clearance furniture from a big box store (as may be the case in the home-spun version.)

Another benefit of working with a turn-key manufacturer verses the DIY option is that the furniture (cabinet or console) generally arrives fully assembled; no worries about “washer #22” missing, or the wrong size screw for a key part of your home automation project.

Do-It-Yourselfers beware: certain “projects” – including a safe, fully-functional TV lift – are best left to the professionals!

Shopping for furniture is never an easy task, however, at this time of year – it’s the best thing you can be doing. Right now, there are tons of great furniture sales happening as many retailers look to sell off the year’s collections before new pieces start to arrive. With so many deals to take advantage of, it’s no wonder that so many people choose to redecorate during winter!

This season, as you try to stay warm, think about warming up your home with some brand new entertainment furniture from ImportAdvantage.com. Right now, we have some great deals on TV lifts, TV cabinets, and TV stands that are simply perfect for adding that final touch to your favorite space. Plus, with tons of options to choose from, you can always find the right fit for your home. Shop our selection today and take advantage of fantastic savings on beautiful, real wood furniture that’s sure to become an heirloom piece.

Enjoy our furniture for many years to come and add beauty to your home by letting ImportAdvantage.com provide you with the best in home entertainment furniture today.

A new year is almost upon us and it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to make 2010 the best year for your home. Will you redecorate a room? Will you choose to remodel? Will you redo some hand-me down furniture? No matter what project you’ve decided to take on in your home when it comes to redecorating, remember that ImportAdvantage.com will be here to help when it comes time for you to pick out the right entertainment furniture, TV cabinets, or TV lifts.

Deciding to revamp and update your home entertainment center? Great! ImportAdvantage.com is ready to help out with a great selection of TV cabinets and lifts that are sure to please, especially in the upcoming year. With tons of styles to choose from, you won’t have to worry about slipping out of trend either. These stylish and beautiful pieces of furniture are made to last, so you won’t have to stress over replacing them come next year!

Start off the new year right by letting ImportAdvantage.com assist in any of your home redecorating or entertainment center upgrades. Happy New Year!

The holidays are here and you’re bound to want to give you and you family a special gift before the season ends. After all, you’ve earned it after all of the craziness of the holidays! Give your family the gift of entertainment this year by buying a few DVDs, a new TV, or an even better TV Stand. Any of these gifts are sure to delight, plus, they add something special to your living room. Make sure that you don’t miss out on some great deals this holiday season and spend your money on a gift that everyone in your home can enjoy. Get a new TV stand today at ImportAdvantage.com and feel free to go from there!

Don’t want to replace your old TV? Then don’t! Revamp it with your new stand. Don’t want to spend a ton on new DVDs? Then don’t! Try getting your DVDs used or signing up for a rental service like Netflix. Either way, a few new flicks on your TV will be sure to delight everyone in your home. So gather around your TV this winter and enjoy the gift of entertainment – no matter what its form!

The holidays are here and it’s time for you to start thinking about how you’re going to show your family just how much you care this year. Sure, you may have thought about sending everyone on a family vacation, but when it all comes down to it, right now that’s just to expensive. So instead of stressing over finding the right kind of gift for the entire family, let ImportAdvantage.com help. This year, get your family a brand new TV, a DVD player, a few great movies, and a new TV Stand to put it all together.

Family gifts are always a challenge to think of, but when you give your family the gift of entertainment, you can be almost certain that everyone will have a happy holiday. From family movie nights to playing games up on the big screen, this fantastic package of gifts is a great way for families to save money on holiday shopping and instead invest in a gift that everyone can use. Plus, with great deals on movies, TVs, DVD players, and of course, TV stands, everyone can take advantage of some savings!