Design Within Reach

It has been one year since I am trying to get off their catalog mailing-​list, but they still continue to send me this junk-​mail. I have told them I will never do business with them again.

It’s really not fair to negatively review this place because they sell expensive furniture or because they operate as a showroom and don’t carry stock for people to carry out of their store. The «within reach» part of their name wasn’t meant to refer to budget so much as geographic availability at the time it was started in the US.
I’ve purchased several small items from here (mostly Eames) and have always had great service. I was slightly annoyed I couldn’t take a coat rack (Eames Hang-​It-​All, still love it years later) with me my first time visiting the store but the shipping was quick as I recall and possibly even free.
Eames have sales twice per year which can help, and unlike the «designer» furniture you buy from companies like Urban Barn that bring in container loads of mass manufactured furniture that looks good for all of 10 minutes, most of what you’ll buy from DWR are timeless designs with true quality craftsmanship to go along with it. Shop here when you’re a bit settled down and you want to have some furniture that will last. I still can’t quite get my head around someone fully decking out their place with this price tier of furniture, but a few nice pieces will definitely elevate your décor.

Not sure if this is entirely a fair review ’cause I was just browsing, as opposed to blowing thousands and thousands of dineros on 1 item.
As per what Richard S. said, the name of the store is totally questionable: Design WITHIN Reach, but who’s exactly? Not mine (yet), that’s for sure! ;)
Visually, I *love* the stuff that DWR sells. The lines are clean, materials look quality, and designs are classic AND modern! I have an Aeron chair and it was the best purchase that I have made. And I totally want an Eames lounger.
Aside from the out-​of-​reach price tags, the pressing questions are:
— What exactly is on the job description of working at DWR?
— Do workers get a discount? If so, how much?
— And more importantly, how can I get a job there?
When I dropped in on a Saturday evening, around 5−6pm, there were like 6 associates and only 1 was occupied, closing a deal. The rest looked like they were just surfin’ the ‘net…seriously. I’ll give props to the one dude who offered me a bottle of water while I browsed. Otherwise, it was crickets.
In short, lovely to window shop here, but unsure about the customer service as I didn’t purchase anything.

Shameful customer service. Missed deadlines. No returned calls. Total lack of professionalism. Spend your money elsewhere.
We spent $ 3,000 with Design WIthin Reach instead of EQ3 (or similar company) because of what we were promised in terms of shipping time and in-​house stock. Turns out this was a blatant lie to get the sale and now my calls are not being returned by the associate who ‘helped’ us, Andrew. We had planned to come back for an Eames lounge and will ABSOLUTELY not purchase from this establishment again. My money is better spent elsewhere.
There’s clearly a reason why this company has a 1 star review. You can get all of their stock elsewhere and I implore you to do so.

Here’s the lowdown: DWR doesn’t work in Canada. Their whole system centres on everything being warehoused in Kentucky, expensive delivery costs are hidden, and in-​store service is questionable.
Yes it’s all designer furnishings, but it’s over-​priced, particularly given the staff’s limited knowledge — and god help you if something goes wrong with your order. When the storage bed I purchased didn’t fit up the top flight of stairs (even after the salesperson assured me it came in «components» which would make moving easy) I was unable to take delivery and so they insisted on returning the whole set to Kentucky. Not only was I expected to pay a $ 1,000 «restocking» fee, but there was a $ 1,600 delivery fee heaped on top, despite the quoted delivery fee of $ 199.
The store manager is a decent guy, and I appreciate that he truly did his best to bring down this exorbitant charge, but the bottom line is… if the staff misrepresent an item, you’d better be prepared to end up paying a big coin if you don’t (or can’t) take delivery. Take a look at their fine print on returns and be sure you’re comfortable with it, because God knows they won’t mention this in the sales pitch.
If you still want designer furnishings, go over to Quasi Modo on Queen. They are LOCAL, they know their product, and service is exceptional.

Great looking furniture looks right out from the interior design magazines.
If you looking for something that make your living room looks stylish, Yes! But if you looking for something really comfy that you can just relax in. I look somewhere.
Prices wise is reasonable if you looking for designer furniture for your boutique style condo.
The only complain I have are the people working there. We were wandering around the front showroom and no one even greet us or even acknowledge us. All the staffs were just typing away on their Keyboards without making any eye contact!
Poor customer services and even I might be just looking, it is just polite to at least ask if I need any help.

I walked in, originally looking for a fabulous light … I was ready to spend $$$$$$!!
But walked out after I was completely ignored by the sales staff who were ‘busy’ talking to each other.

Please note that I have only shopped at DWR in the U.S., but based on my visit to the Toronto store I am pretty sure the buying experience will be the same here (all of their furniture is shipped out of the same distributing centre).
DWR has been getting a lot of criticisms from the average consumer about it not being within reach (pricewise), but you really have to look at its context.
I really appreciate high quality modern classics such as Knoll, Herman Miller, Cassina, Artemide, etc. but buying directly from them or through selected authorized dealers could be obscenely expensive.
This is where DWR comes in. They sell furniture from Knoll and Herman Miller much cheaper than directly from the company, but often you could not custom order specific finishes or upholstery which you normally can (you are limited to a handful of color/​finish/​material choices). Also because of this turnaround/​delivery times are much shorter.
Over the years DWR has introduced lower priced, but still high quality European made furniture designed by respected young designers. So they have anything from a $ 150 to a $ 2000 bar stool, which I think is within reach to a wide range of consumers.
Sure I have done some serious damage to my credit card at DWR a number of times, but the furniture I have bought from them are the highest quality, stands the test of time, and some of my most enjoyed pieces. I think it is unfortunate that our culture still sees value in disposable furnishings (such as IKEA, etc.). I would rather buy a $ 1000 chair that feels good, looks good and last a lifetime rather than a $ 100 chair that would look tired and/​or fall apart after a few years. This is what I think is value, especially when it could retain its value over its lifetime (you could always sell it at a good price if you need to part with it).
Anyways, enough of my preaching. As DWR does not carry any inventory in their studios everything is shipped directly to your home. They also offer the best customer service, so if anything goes wrong they will do everything they can to make you happy.
If you are serious about furniture and design, then DWR is definitely the store for you.

My question to this retailer… «Design within who’s Reach?!»
This place is very very expensive. If you need an office chair and only have $ 700 to spend, you’re s.o.l. (you might be stuck with a measly $ 75 foot stool instead).
To me «Design Within Reach» implies high design, at a reasonable price to the consumers. Perhaps the «Reach» refers to proximity? As in you live in the area and you can get to the store? Hell if I know.
Another oddity with this place (which I must admit has a super nice King-​West lofty showroom) is that anything you buy you HAVE to pay to ship it. Come in for a $ 300 book shelf with the intention of carrying it the 5 minutes to your downtown diggs? Tough sh! t buddeh! DWR ships everything whether you like it or not. You’re gonna pay $ 80 bucks to have some one bring it to you, and you’re not even going to get a plaque saying «I’m so loaded I paid $ 80 to have some guy bring this shelf here from a distance barely longer than my best golf ball drive!»
The people in this store are super nice, I’ll give them that, but their name is laughably misleading unless you have the financial reach of a giraffe, and their shipping policy is industrial grade retarded.