When it comes to finding quality furniture at affordable prices, RC Willey and Ashley Furniture are two of the biggest names in the industry. Both retailers offer a wide selection of living room, bedroom, dining room, and home office furniture to fit any style and budget.
But with so many options to choose from, it can be tough deciding which store is right for you.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare RC Willey and Ashley Furniture to help you determine the pros and cons of shopping at each retailer. We’ll cover everything from product selection and quality to pricing, delivery, and more.
By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to find the perfect furniture at the right price.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Category | RC Willey | Ashley Furniture |
| Product Selection | More limited, focuses on major brands carried in-store | Vast selection of over 100 furniture collections |
| Quality | Typically higher quality materials and construction | Affordable prices mean some cheaper materials used |
| Pricing | Competitive for major brands, frequent sales | Low everyday prices, up to 30% below competitors |
| Delivery | Basic delivery starts at $59, white glove service $99+ | Standard delivery $99+, full service with assembly $129-$259 |
| Additional Services | In-store design help, interior design for a fee | Complimentary in-store design, custom furniture orders |
| Customer Experience | Helpful sales staff, family-friendly environment | Large appealing showrooms, knowledgeable associates |
Overview of RC Willey
Founded in 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah, RC Willey is one of the largest furniture retailers in the Western United States.
They carry over 50 major brands of furniture for every room in your home.
RC Willey has built a reputation for offering quality merchandise at competitive prices combined with top-rated customer service.
Some key facts about RC Willey:
- Operates over 20 stores across Utah, Nevada, Idaho, California, and Oregon
- Carries national brands like Ashley Furniture, Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, and more
- Products include furniture, mattresses, appliances, electronics, and home decor
- Offers in-store design services and special order options
- Provides in-home delivery on most products
Known for its family-friendly shopping experience, RC Willey strives to make furniture buying easy and affordable. They frequently run sales, financing specials, and other promotions to fit a variety of budgets.
Overview of Ashley Furniture
Founded in 1945 in Chicago, Ashley Furniture has grown to become the largest furniture manufacturer and retailer in the world. They operate over 700 stores globally along with an e-commerce site selling their wide range of home furnishings.
Some key facts on Ashley Furniture:
- World’s largest furniture manufacturer with over 20 million pieces produced annually
- Operates more than 700 stores and showrooms in over 30 countries
- Carries over 100 styles of furniture collections including living room, bedroom, dining, and more
- Products range from budget-friendly to high-end designer collections
- Online ordering available with in-home delivery service
Ashley Furniture is best known for offering a tremendous selection of today’s top furniture trends at affordable price points. Because they manufacture most of their own furniture, they’re able to pass production savings directly onto the customer.
Key Differences Between RC Willey And Ashley Furniture
Now that we’ve covered the basics on each retailer, let’s do a deep dive into how they compare across some key factors:
Product Selection
One of the biggest differences between RC Willey and Ashley Furniture is the breadth of their product selections. Ashley offers a much wider range of furniture styles and types across their retail locations and website.
Ashley carries over 100 furniture collections ranging from contemporary to farmhouse chic. With new products constantly being introduced, you’re sure to find trendy and stylish pieces for your home. They also manufacture kids and teen furniture as well as outdoor living and patio sets.
In contrast, RC Willey has a more limited selection focused around the major brands they carry in-store like La-Z-Boy, Serta, and Ashley. You’ll find all the typical living room, bedroom, and dining room furniture you’d expect along with mattresses and home appliances. The selection tends to be more classic and traditional styles.
So if you’re looking for a truly vast range of furniture to suit any taste or style, Ashley Furniture will be the better choice. But RC Willey still offers plenty of options for furnishing an entire home.
Quality
When buying furniture that you expect to last, quality is an important consideration. Both RC Willey and Ashley Furniture aim to provide quality pieces at affordable price points. However, there are some differences in their manufacturing methods.
Ashley Furniture mass produces their furniture using assembly line techniques that allow them to sell at lower price points. While their products offer good value, some collections may use cheaper materials like composite woods rather than solid hardwood frames. There have been some complaints over the years about durability issues.
RC Willey works closely with leading national brands that utilize quality materials and construction in their furniture. Brands like Sealy and Tempur-Pedic must meet high standards in how their products are made.
You can expect these pieces to hold up well over time. RC Willey also has a reputation for rigorous quality control over the brands they carry.
When it comes to quality and durability, RC Willey may have a slight edge. But Ashley Furniture’s products offer decent quality for the low prices, especially if you take care of them properly. Checking furniture specs closely can help determine the best value.
Also Read: Differences Between Regency And Ashley Furniture.
Pricing and Value
Given their different business models, RC Willey and Ashley Furniture take different approaches to pricing. Ashley focuses on maintaining the lowest prices through high-volume manufacturing. RC Willey offers competitive pricing by building partnerships with major brands.
Ashley uses their production efficiency to offer furniture at up to 30% below average market prices. They run regular sales promotions both online and in stores to keep prices low. You can often find big discounts on clearance items as new collections are introduced.
At RC Willey, you’ll typically find pricing in line with competitors on the name brands they carry. By buying in bulk from major companies like Ashley and Serta, they’re able to access volume discounts that are passed onto the customer. Frequent sales and financing specials also make RC Willey’s prices more affordable.
When comparing specific products at both stores, Ashley will nearly always have the lowest price. But RC Willey offers fair, competitive pricing while also focusing on quality brands that back up their value. Ultimately Ashley has better budget options, while RC Willey excels at getting deals on premium furniture.
Delivery and Setup
One factor that often sways furniture shoppers is how easy and affordable delivery and setup will be. Here’s an overview of the delivery options at both RC Willey and Ashley Furniture:
- RC Willey – Offers basic delivery starting at just $59 on most items. White glove delivery with setup, unpacking, and debris removal is $99 and up. Financing specials sometimes include free delivery.
- Ashley Furniture – Standard delivery fees are $99 and up depending on location. Full service delivery with assembly and room placement runs between $129-$259 based on how many items you purchase.
Both retailers provide prompt delivery timeframes, with most furniture delivered within 1-2 weeks. Delivery is free for online orders over $999 at Ashley Furniture.
When it comes to setup and installation, Ashley Furniture has the edge for providing assembly on all their items at reasonable fees. RC Willey’s white glove delivery fills a similar role for large furniture pieces. But basic RC Willey delivery requires customer assembly.
Additional Services
Beyond just furniture sales, both RC Willey and Ashley Furniture offer some useful services that support customers during and after purchase:
RC Willey Services
- In-store design consultants to help plan furniture layouts
- Interior design services available for a fee
- Product protection plans – covers stains, damage, and wear & tear
- Their credit card offers 5% back in rewards points
Ashley Furniture Services
- In-store design assistance for completing whole rooms
- Custom furniture ordering available
- Extended warranty plans on mattresses and upholstered items
- Ashley AdvantageTM credit card for special 6-18 month financing and rewards
RC Willey has the benefit of full interior design services while Ashley Furniture focuses on complimentary in-store design help. Both retailers help take the guesswork out of furniture buying with useful protection plans and financing options.
Also Read: Differences Between England Furniture And Ashley Furniture.
Customer Experience
Providing an enjoyable shopping experience and helpful customer service gives retailers like RC Willey and Ashley Furniture an advantage. Here’s how customers rate their time shopping at each store:
RC Willey
- Helpful, non-pushy sales assistants
- Store layouts make it easy to browse
- Knowledgeable staff for design advice
- Responsive customer support via phone/chat
- Free cookies and kids play areas for family-friendly environment
Ashley Furniture
- Wide open showrooms to view furniture fully assembled
- Styled room settings to envision pieces together
- Sales assistants readily available for product questions
- User-friendly website with live chat for online orders
- Vision Centers in stores for trying out new mattresses
Both retailers aim to offer good in-store experiences along with knowledgeable service. Ashley Furniture tends to have larger, more visually appealing showrooms. Yet RC Willey delivers more personalized attention. Online, the retailers are comparable in ease of ordering and customer support.
Pros and Cons of RC Willey And Ashley Furniture
To summarize the key advantages and disadvantages of RC Willey and Ashley Furniture:
RC Willey Pros
- Reputation for quality merchandise from leading brands
- Competitive pricing with frequent sales and promotions
- In-store design services and interior designers available
- Helpful sales associates and family friendly environment
RC Willey Cons
- Smaller furniture selection compared to competitors
- Pricing not as budget-friendly as discount retailers
- Requires customer assembly on basic delivery
Ashley Furniture Pros
- Unmatched selection of furniture styles and collections
- Low pricing due to high-volume manufacturing
- Assembly included with all delivery options
- Helpful online ordering with virtual room planner tool
Ashley Furniture Cons
- Some quality and durability issues with lower-end products
- Pushy sales tactics in stores reported by some customers
- Extra fees for full-service delivery and setup
As you can see, each retailer has their own strengths based on pricing, selection, and services. Defining your priorities will help determine if RC Willey or Ashley Furniture is a better fit for your furniture needs and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Still have some questions about RC Willey and Ashley Furniture? Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions:
Ashley Furniture is so popular because of their unbeatable combination of broad selection and low pricing. The vast range of styles and designs appeal to diverse customers, while the affordability brings in budget-conscious shoppers. Their hundreds of stores worldwide and effective marketing also drive Ashley’s success.
Yes, Ashley Furniture is the largest furniture manufacturer in the world. They operate over 20 manufacturing facilities globally and can produce more than 20 million furniture items per year. This massive production volume provides the cost savings that allows Ashley to offer low retail prices.
Ashley’s biggest competitive advantage is pricing. By controlling manufacturing, wholesale, and retail, they cut costs at every step and provide furniture that is up to 30% cheaper than competitors. Their wide selection and financing offers also give them an edge with broad appeal to customers.
While Ashley Furniture has manufacturing facilities worldwide, the majority of their furniture is produced at factories in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Locating plants in Asia allows Ashley to benefit from reduced manufacturing and labor costs.
The Bottom Line
When weighing RC Willey against Ashley Furniture, Ashley comes out ahead for overall selection and budget pricing thanks to their manufacturing infrastructure. But RC Willey is the better option for customers focused on quality construction and branded products.
Where you shop ultimately depends on your priorities and needs:
- If price and variety matter most, Ashley Furniture has the edge
- For quality pieces from top national brands, choose RC Willey
- Ashley is better for the latest furniture fashions and trends
- RC Willey excels at furnishings for a more classic or traditional home
With this detailed guide comparing RC Willey and Ashley Furniture, you now have all the information to choose the right furniture retailer for your next purchase. Keep their respective strengths and weaknesses in mind, and decide whether quality, price, selection or another factor is most important for you.
Whichever store you select, inspect products carefully and use available services to get the best value. Happy furniture shopping!
