Amazon vs Wayfair in 2024: In-Depth Comparison on Pricing, Shipping & More
As leading ecommerce giants for home products, Amazon and Wayfair constantly strive to lure customers with expansive product catalogs, tempting deals, and enticing perks.
But when it comes to scoring home furniture and décor, who does it better in 2024 – the everything marketplace or specialized home store? We dissect the data.
Product Catalog Size
With [over 350 million products](https:// exporter.junglescout.com/amazon-product-data), Amazon‘s marketplace selection is unmatched in size and variety. Wayfair carries over 22 million items – still substantial, but a mere fraction of Amazon’s endless aisles.
Across furniture and home categories specifically, Wayfair stocks approximately:
- 500k furniture and décor products
- 60k appliances
- 250k home improvement tools
While Amazon does not disclose category-specific totals, analysis shows Wayfair surpassing Amazon for in-stock selection diversity for most home verticals.
Wayfair also expands partnerships with 850 premium furniture brands unavailable on Amazon. This includes luxury designers like DwellStudio, Christopher Guy, Kartell, and Safavieh.
Pricing and Discounts
A 2022 analysis found Wayfair‘s median prices ran 10-15% lower than Amazon across typical living room furnishings like sofas, coffee tables, area rugs, and media consoles.
Amazon fights back with more frequent and aggressive sales throughout the year. For example:
- Up to 60% off furniture deals during the Back to School sale
- Additional 50% off Warehouse Finds around Black Friday
- Extra 30% off coupons across all categories during Prime Day
So finding 70%+ off steals takes more persistence on Amazon, while Wayfair focuses on edge-to-edge value in everyday low costs.
Shipping Fees and Speed
Amazon Prime provides free 2-day shipping on over 100 million items, with free same-day delivery in select metro areas.
Wayfair edges out Amazon by offering free shipping on all orders over $35, with no subscription required.
On delivery speeds:
| Platform | Standard Shipping | Expedited Options |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 5-8 business days | Same-day (< 2 hrs), Next-day, 2-day (Prime) |
| Wayfair | 3-5 business days | Next-day (Rewards Program) |
So Amazon Prime wins on fastest fulfillment, while Wayfair offers more free shipping.
Return Shipping Policies
Both retailers offer hassle-free 30-day returns. Return policies cover:
| Retailer | Return Shipping Label | Refund Method |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Provided for free | Refund to original payment |
| Wayfair | $10.99 fee | Refund to original payment |
So Amazon makes returns simplest by supplying prepaid labels automatically with no extra charges.
Customer Reviews
Reviews help shoppers evaluate products, but quality varies widely.
Amazon maintains stricter reviewer policies, including purchase verification on some items. Over 75% of Amazon reviews are 3 stars or higher, indicating general satisfaction.
Wayfair reviews only require email verification, meaning competitors could potentially sabotage ratings. And under 65% of Wayfair‘s reviews rate 3 stars or above.
So while Amazon collects exponentially more reviews (150+ million vs. Wayfair’s 20+ million), Wayfair’s smaller sample size covers the most popular furniture specifically. Still, Amazon‘s labels like “Amazon‘s Choice” provide shortcuts to highly-rated finds.
Payment Options
| Payment Method | Amazon | Wayfair |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Cards | All major | All major |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Affirm Financing | Select items | Over $50 |
| Retail Credit Card | Amazon Prime Card | Wayfair Credit Card |
| Buy Now Pay Later | Pay in 4 | PayPal "Pay in 4" |
With PayPal acceptance and more expansive financing offers, Amazon narrowly wins on payment flexibility.
Additional Services
Amazon Prime provides the strongest overall value with free entertainment offerings like Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Gaming in one $139 annual fee.
Meanwhile, Wayfair‘s $29.99 Rewards Program focuses exclusive perks around home projects – 25% off Wayfair Services for assembly, installation, design help, and more.
So Amazon provides more bang for buck with streaming content and broader free perks. But Wayfair offers specialty home project help you won’t get from Amazon.
The choice between home superstores depends on your priorities:
Amazon = One-stop everything shop with maximum selection, fastest shipping, and best overall value
Wayfair = Focused furniture selection, cheaper everyday pricing, specialized home services
For most households mixing occasional furniture with everyday essentials, Amazon simply provides more. But dedicated furniture shopping for entire room or home overhauls? Wayfair aims to please.
