Naturally, you want to get the best deal for your money, and shopping around
is your best protection against outrageous claims. When shopping for furniture,
look for: quality, quality, quality. Every manufacturer is able to provide a
specification sheet that details the durability tests, loading capacity,
building components, and dimensions, including thickness. Request this
information from your vendors or look them up online, and compare notes.
If you are someone that constantly changes your living arrangements, then
you want a product that is modular, meaning it can be moved easily and
frequently. Many of the pressboard components fall apart after the first
disassembly, and it’s not difficult to lose the parts and pieces needed to put
it back together. Metal components are generally more modular, although heavy.
Compare warranty information. Most office furniture comes with a very
limited warranty, usually about 1-2 years. Desk chairs can have warranties that
last much longer. Read the fine print. Chairs generally have a different
warranty for different parts. For example, arms and other small components will
be warranted 5 years or less. The pneumatic cylinder is usually around 10-15
years.
Step Four: Receive, Assemble, and Install
If furniture is not in stock when you go to pick it up, you will be faced
with a lead-time. Most office furniture averages between 4-8 weeks to ship and
deliver.
Installation is rarely ever included. When purchasing your furniture, you
may be able to negotiate installation if the given manufacturer has an
agreement with the local dealer. Dealers generally charge an average of $40-50
per hour for assembly, delivery, installation, and refuse removal. If you live
in a 12-story building with no elevator and no dock, and live 45 miles from the
dealer, then it will take the installers longer to get the job done, resulting
in a higher charge.
When searching for the right furniture, keep in mind that many types of
furniture come in multiple parts and pieces. If you will be the person
assembling it, you might want to limit the amount of work required to put
everything together by choosing a set that has fewer pieces.
Bolting file cabinets to the wall or floor to avoid tipping is a good idea
if you decide to purchase a 4- or 5-drawer file cabinet. You don’t want your
two-year-old to come along and tug on one of the drawers, only to have it fall
on top of him. If the top drawer is pulled out all of the way, it could cause
an out-of-balance situation and the file could end up falling on you and result
in an injury. You didn’t decide to buy office furniture only to end up in the
hospital!