Purchasing tiles from local brick-and-mortar stores was once the only option for professionals and DIY installers. Whether you wanted to look at the newest tile flooring trends or see a store’s porcelain tile selection, you had to visit the store. This was the case until the internet revolutionized how we shop for tiles.
Today, most savvy shoppers buy tile online. Thanks to its ease and convenience, purchasing tiles online has become more economical. However, online tile shopping should still be approached thoughtfully.
In this blog, we’ll discuss whether buying tiles online is a good idea, highlight key factors to consider, and highlight red flags to look out for. Ready to discover the smarter way to shop for tiles? Let’s dive in!
Is Buying Tiles Online A Good Idea?
Buying tiles online can be intimidating, but it is a good idea! Our goal at Oasis Tile is to make this process as straightforward as possible. So whether you’re looking for pool tile to revitalize your outdoor space or renovating your kitchen and need to learn more about purchasing backsplash tile, you’ve come to the right place. The following are some of the advantages of online tile purchasing.
Convenience
Customers enjoy the easy and fast experience of purchasing tiles online. First, browsing the selection of stone tiles is extremely easy. Oasis Tile has extensive search tools. You can look up tiles based on material, color, size, and shape. All you have to do is input the keywords that accurately describe the type of tile you need. When the tiles are displayed on the search page, you can click on the thumbnail images to get more details about each product.
Efficient
Buying tiles online doesn’t require back-and-forth conversations or multiple visits to the sales rep to ask questions. Purchasing tiles online means all the information you need about stock availability is on the screen. The online selection process is more immediate from the comfort of your chair or sofa. You can search through tile options quickly with a few swipes and clicks of a button or even your phone!
This unmatched convenience saves time and effort compared to traditional shopping trips to explore a store’s glass tile collection. Plus, many online stores, including Oasis Tile, provide helpful information, like our commercial kitchen and bathroom tile guide, to make your decision-making process even easier. Why spend hours in a store when you can find everything online in minutes?
Buying tiles online also means your purchases will be shipped and delivered within a few days instead of weeks. Online stores like Oasis Tile prioritize first-rate delivery, offering free shipping in the 48 contiguous US states, so you don’t have to worry about the product being damaged before it is installed.
Economical
Purchasing tile online is almost always cheaper than from a brick-and-mortar store. The reason isn’t quality, but instead, because an online store's overhead costs are much lower. Unfortunately, physical retailers increase their prices on tiles to compensate for the cost of operations. From the price of rent, power, supplies, and staffing, it’s a long list. Thanks to these overhead costs, buying wall tile, for example, from a physical store will always be more expensive than purchasing it online.
What to Consider When Buying Tiles Online?
Sure, buying tiles online is convenient, economical, and efficient, but finding the right store requires more than just browsing. The following are some key factors that can make all the difference in your buying experience.
Selection
The more extensive the selection of tiles, the more empowered customers are to make an informed decision. A vast online inventory reflects a well-established store confident in offering various options. At Oasis Tile, our extensive collection of flooring tiles is designed to cater to diverse styles, spaces, and customer preferences, ensuring that every customer finds the perfect fit for their project. With so many choices, you can trust us to help bring your vision to life while enhancing satisfaction and encouraging repeat business.
Positive Reviews
Thanks to platforms like Yelp and Google Reviews, finding reviews for tile manufacturers is easier than ever. These sites specialize in helping customers read and write reviews about businesses and ensure a reliable source of information. With their robust screening processes, you can trust the reviews to reflect genuine customer experiences, making evaluating a tile seller before purchasing simple.
The days of doubting the authenticity of reviews are over! Modern platforms empower customers to make informed decisions about buying tiles online confidently. Additionally, resources like our floor tile size guide can help you select tiles perfect for your projects, ensuring a seamless and satisfying shopping experience.
Brand Names
When browsing a tile seller’s online store, watch for brand names and logos from reputable manufacturers.
For example, if you plan to install a trendy kitchen backsplash, select top-of-the-line tiles that look stunning and offer durability. However, backsplash tiles are among the most sought-after products, and many online stores claim to sell premium options. Choosing a store specializing in high-end tile brands, such as Oasis Tile, is best to guarantee quality.
Customer Service
When purchasing tiles online, choosing a dealer with a reliable customer service team is crucial to help with any issues that might arise, such as selecting the wrong tile shape or overlooking common floor tiles problems, like mismatched grout lines or improper sizing for your space. Exceptional customer service sets the best businesses apart from the rest.
At Oasis Tile, we are proud of providing consistently high-quality support. Whether you need to clarify shipping details, help with our floor-tile buying guide, or have questions before purchasing tiles online, we’re here to help. We’ll ensure you have all the correct information to choose premium tiles confidently.
Affordability
When purchasing tiles online, affordability should be a top priority. High-quality tiles don’t have to break the bank, and it’s now easier than ever to buy ceramic floor tiles without breaking the bank. Online shopping has simplified the tile-buying process for commercial and residential purposes, and as a result, many online stores can pass significant savings directly to their customers.
What Sites to Avoid When Shopping Online?
Several indicators or red flags can help you identify a reputable online tile seller from a not-so-reputable one, including the following:
- Secure Website: Check for “HTTPS” in the URL, which indicates a secure connection. If it doesn’t have that, get off the website.
- Suspicious Prices: If the deals seem too good to be true or significantly lower than competitors.
- Poor Website Design: If you notice typical, broken links or confusing navigation, this strongly indicates that this seller should not be trusted.
- Lack of Contact Information: If the website has missing or vague contact details, this website cannot be trusted.
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No Customer Reviews: If there are only positive reviews on the website or no reviews at all, these are both red flags of a questionable online presence.
Oasis Tile: When You Need to Buy High-Quality Tiles Online
Online tile sellers like Oasis Tile take pride in their proven track record of exceptional customer service, quality products, and dependable tile delivery. We’ve been helping residential and commercial customers bring their visions to life for years. Contact us to order your tile samples or to discuss your needs. We’re happy to provide expert advice and affordable products to ensure your tile installation, whether for a kitchen, bathroom, entryway, or swimming pool, is thriving and seamless.
