Excellent question 👍 — because this is one area where costs can quietly inflate if you don’t clarify upfront. Many interior designers in Delhi NCR handle furniture sourcing differently, and whether they add a markup (commission) or not should always be transparent.
✅ Common Practices for Furniture Sourcing
🔹 1. No Markup (Transparent Billing)
- Designer helps you select from vendors (Pepperfry, IKEA, Kirti Nagar, BoConcept, etc.).
- You pay directly to vendor.
- Designer may charge a sourcing fee / consultation fee instead.
👉 Most transparent model.
🔹 2. Markup Added (Hidden Commission)
- Designer sources on your behalf, adds 10–25% markup on furniture price.
- Sometimes justified as “handling, logistics, warranty management.”
- If undisclosed, it can feel like double-dipping 🚩.
🔹 3. Vendor Tie-Ups (Discount Sharing)
- Designer has tie-ups with vendors.
- Vendors give 10–20% designer discount.
- Some designers pass this discount to you, some keep it as margin.
👉 Fair model if discount sharing is transparent.
✅ What You Should Ask Your Designer
- Do you add a markup on vendor-sourced furniture?
- Do I pay the vendor directly, or through you?
- If you get designer discounts, will you pass them on?
- Do you charge a flat sourcing/consultation fee instead of markup?
- Can you give me a written furniture sourcing policy in the BOQ?
⚠️ Red Flags
- Designer insists you pay them, not vendor, without showing vendor invoice. 🚩
- No mention of discounts/commissions → lack of transparency.
- Markups added quietly in final bill.
✅ Pro Tip
- Best model = Direct vendor billing + designer charges flat sourcing fee (₹5k–₹20k per shopping trip, or fixed % for sourcing service).
- If designer insists on handling payments, demand original GST invoice from vendor.
- Ask them to list sourcing fees or markup % clearly in contract.
👉 Do you want me to create a Furniture Sourcing Transparency Checklist (Direct Pay vs Markup vs Discount Pass-On) so you can use it during negotiations and avoid hidden charges?