There are literally thousands of resources for purchasing furniture –
anything from tag sales and flea markets to third party dealers to online
auctions. Don’t limit yourself to places that come immediately to mind such as
Office Max or the nearby furniture store. Be creative in your hunt.
Corporations: There are many corporations out there that sell good quality
used office furniture. This is furniture that they have purchased in the past,
for which they no longer need. Don't hesitate to look there first for some
great deals. You can call the main number and ask to be routed through the
Corporate Real Estate or Purchasing departments. I can personally vouch for the
fact that larger companies dispose of non-standard product, even if in
extremely good condition. I have been witness to the disposal of beautiful soft
seating, wood coffee tables, wood desks, and many other varieties of furniture
- due mainly to the fact that the company isn’t "standardized" on it
for one reason or another. A good example of a large corporation selling to the
general public is Pratt and Whitney in Windsor,
CT. I bought my Steelcase desk at the Pratt
and Whitney store for $10. It was a light oak laminate which went well in my
house. Considering a Steelcase desk can sell for hundreds of dollars brand new,
that's not a bad deal.
Third Party Dealers: In some of the more sophisticated corporations,
furniture is sold to third party dealers for much less than the value; and
those third party dealers in turn sell to the general public. Transfer
Enterprises is one such company. These companies will often sell new furniture,
used furniture, and refurbished furniture. They have a large selection of items
to choose from.
Online: EBay has become a major Internet gateway to hundreds and hundreds of
used products. But there are other great sites to search through, such as
Overstock.com. Or just enter your search criteria into one of the search
engines and start shopping around. The wonderful thing about searching on the
Internet is that you can often view the different finishes and fabrics online,
while in the privacy of your home. It’s easier to be able match to your home
office decor when you’re sitting in that space as you shop. Also, when visiting
the stores, you may not see all of the options available from each
manufacturer. And the salesperson may not always be well versed in the various
finishes and fabrics produced by a manufacturer. You can order online and have
it sent to your house, or you may be able to shop online and then ask your
local Staples store to order the furniture for you, saving on high shipping
costs.
Stores: You can find inexpensive office furniture at places such as K-Mart,
Wal-Mart, Staples, Office Max, and Office Depot, brands such as Hon, La-Z-Boy, Safeco,
and National. In addition to the super chain stores, search the phone book for
furniture dealers in your area. Some Steelcase, Herman Miller, Haworth, and
Teknion dealers sell to the general public. You will get a better quality
choice of product and some great customer service by going this route. The
dealers will have a substantial library resource of different fabrics and
finishes that you can view in person, as well as some showroom mock-ups for you
to “kick the tires.” Another way to find a local dealer is by going to the
manufacturer’s website and doing a search through the network of dealers they
have housed throughout the country.