How to Buy Luxury Furniture Online Safely

This guide walks through what matters before you order: measuring, the delivery route, the seller's identity, payment, reviews, delivery terms and your rights as a consumer. We use Casa Padrino, the furniture brand of Demotex GmbH in Essen, Germany, as the example.

The same checks apply to any online shop, and we encourage you to apply every one of them to us.

Measure the room before you fall in love

Luxury pieces are often larger and more imposing than standard furniture. A sofa nearly three metres wide, a bed with a tall headboard or a generous chest of drawers changes the feel of a room. Measure not only the wall where the piece will stand but also the distance to doors, windows, radiators and sockets, and leave comfortable walkways.

Mark the footprint on the floor with masking tape and place a box beside it to show the height. For seating, check seat height and depth; for beds, the mattress size and the overall dimensions including the headboard; for mirrors and lighting, the weight, the fixing and the ceiling height.

Check the route into your home

Measure the front door, the flat door and interior doors in width and height, and check the staircase width, turns and headroom. Note the inside dimensions of any lift. Often the deciding factor is not the length of a sofa but its depth and height, because it may have to be carried upright.

Before ordering, ask for the packed dimensions and whether feet or toppers can be removed. Find out exactly where the delivery ends and arrange the carrying in good time, with helpers or a local removal service.

Who is selling? Verify the company

A trustworthy shop publishes full company details in its legal notice: company name and legal form, address, the people authorised to represent it, the register court and number, and the VAT identification number. For a German company you can look up the entry in the official commercial register portal, and any EU VAT number can be confirmed through the European VIES system. Our guide on how to spot fake furniture shops lists the typical warning signs.

Taking Casa Padrino as the example: the brand belongs to Demotex GmbH, Hammer Str. 64, 45239 Essen, Germany. The managing director is Marvin Schertl, the company is registered at the Amtsgericht Essen under HRB 24428 and its VAT ID is DE279640593. It was founded in 2007 and can be reached on +49 201 36577485 or at info@casa-padrino.de. Everything is listed in our legal notice.

A call or a visit is a good extra test; in Essen you are welcome Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. To learn more about the founder, read the portrait Marvin Schertl, master of timeless opulence, and for a summary of all verifiable facts, see Is Casa Padrino legit?

Pay securely

Choose a payment method that leaves you options if something goes wrong. PayPal offers buyer protection under its own terms, and with a credit card your bank may be able to reverse a charge. A bank transfer is fine with a known, verifiable company. Be wary if a shop offers prepayment only, if the account holder does not match the company in the legal notice, or if you receive new bank details by email after ordering.

Casa Padrino accepts PayPal, credit card and bank transfer. Prices include statutory VAT, shipping costs are shown before you complete the order, and you receive a proper invoice from Demotex GmbH. More background is in our guide to secure payment for furniture.

Read reviews the right way

A star average on its own says little. What counts is the number of reviews, the period over which they were written and above all the texts. Read the critical ones too and note how the seller replies. Many very short reviews within a few days are a warning sign.

You will find reviews of Casa Padrino in several places. The Google Business Profile shows 4.9 out of 5 from 364 reviews (as of October 2026). On eBay, the Demotex GmbH account has 1,634 ratings, 98.9 % of them positive (as of October 2026). Casa Padrino has been a FairCommerce member since 11 August 2019, and customers can also review products directly in the shop. On TrustDeluxe, a review platform for luxury brands, customers read reviews and can leave their own after a purchase, see the TrustDeluxe profile. This lets you see for yourself, before you order, how other customers experienced advice, delivery and workmanship.

Read the product details and ask questions

A good listing describes dimensions, materials, colours and what is included. Check whether cushions, glass tops or lampshades come with the piece, whether a bed is supplied with or without slats and mattress, and which finishes are used. With gold, velvet or cream it pays to ask, or to see the piece in person if you can.

For special wishes, bespoke pieces are an option. Casa Padrino makes custom furniture and works with architects and interior designers, for instance on complete furnishings for private homes, hotels, restaurants and bars. Keep in mind that custom-made pieces are excluded from the right of withdrawal, so agree every dimension and detail in writing first. Our collection of baroque furniture gives a good impression of the style.

Understand the delivery terms

Before ordering, find out how and to where the goods will be delivered. At Casa Padrino, large furniture travels securely packed with a freight forwarder and smaller items go by parcel service, within Germany, across Europe and worldwide. Delivery is kerbside delivery. Outside the EU, check possible import charges in your country.

Be present on delivery day and take your time. Note any visible damage on the delivery note before you sign. Photograph packaging and furniture and send the pictures to the seller. At Casa Padrino we then handle the claim with the forwarder and arrange repair, replacement or a refund. Our guide to furniture transport damage explains each step.

Withdrawal and statutory warranty

Consumers buying online in the EU generally have a 14-day right of withdrawal. At Casa Padrino the period starts when you receive the goods; custom-made pieces are excluded. Read the withdrawal policy before you buy. Our guide to furniture returns covers the details.

The statutory warranty applies in addition. For consumers in Germany and the EU it generally runs for two years and covers defects that already existed on delivery. A guarantee, by contrast, is a voluntary promise by a provider.

A short checklist before you order

• ◆Floor space, clearances and ceiling height measured
• ◆Doors, stairs and lift compared with the furniture dimensions
• ◆Legal notice, company register and VAT ID checked
• ◆Payment method with buyer protection or chargeback chosen
• ◆Reviews read across several sources and years
• ◆Withdrawal policy read; for bespoke pieces, every detail confirmed in writing