Fountain Retailers: How to Choose Where to Shop

If you're in the market for a decorative water fountain, you may have noticed that you have an awful lot of retailers to choose from. In the warmer months, local retailers in your area may have displays of garden fountains out for customer to browse, and there are dozens of online fountain shops that operate year-round. You might wonder what the difference is between these different fountain stores, and what you should be looking for when you're making a purchasing decision.

There are many factors that can influence which store you decide to go with. Here is a list of things you should keep in mind while browsing for an indoor or outdoor fountain:

Price. Most people consider price before anything else when shopping, online or at brick and mortar stores. Look for stores that offer a price match guarantee - you might be able to get the fountain you want for one company's low price at a more reputable and trustworthy shop. While price is important - naturally, you want to get the best deal you can - it shouldn't be the only thing you consider when making a purchase.

Shipping cost. Here's where some retailers will get you. Their prices may seem like a great bargain until you find out that they've artificially inflated their shipping costs. When doing price comparisons, always check the shipping and handling cost. Consider looking for a retailer that offers flat-rate or free shipping. Retailers with a high volume of sales often have money-saving contracts with shipping companies. You should also know that while shipping costs for some large, heavy fountains may seem very high, they often have to ship via common carrier (i.e. freight trucks) and require special packing and handling. Lift-gate fees for heavy fountains are common and when disclosed on the retailer's website, they save you from a shock later in the purchasing process. (A lift gate is a special mechanism on a truck that lowers heavy items to the ground and is necessary if you don't have a forklift or a loading dock).

Return policy. Always check it out before making a purchase - you should look for a retailer with a flexible, no hassle return policy to make your life as easy as possible if you decide you don't want the fountain after you've seen it in person. Granted, when you're buying from a site that has clear photographs and descriptions, you're far less likely to need to return anything. In most cases, you should be able to return an unused product within 30 days of receiving it (not from date of purchase) unless it's a custom order or clearance merchandise.

Trustworthiness. Look for a well established company with a professional website, top-notch web security, and a good privacy policy. If their website looks like it was slapped together by someone with minimal web design and programming skills, it probably was - and who knows how secure your order will be on a site like that. The last thing you want is to find out your personal information has been compromised, or that the website is a scam.

Good communication. Can you reach the customer service representatives easily? Many online retailers have toll-free customer service lines as well as online contact forms and even live chat during business hours. When you know you'll be able to reach the company when you need to, you'll feel more secure throughout ordering, shipping and setup.

Easy site navigation. Websites should be easy to browse, with everything divided up into intuitive categories. For example, fountains should be categorized at least by price, material, and type of fountain (like wall fountains, tabletop fountains, garden fountains, etc.).

Expert product information. Shop with people who know their products, and you're sure to have a better experience overall. Look for a retailer that has lots of informative FAQs and buyer's guides on their website, so you can easily find answers to most of your questions without having to pick up the phone. Expert info at your fingertips makes the whole process a lot easier. Plus, when you call to speak to the company directly, you'll find that they're able to easily answer any additional questions you may have.