Office furniture is expensive. And for that reason alone, many small businesses save big money by purchasing used office furniture at a fraction of the price. An entire industry specializes in used or refurbished office furniture. Says one dealer, "If you can't tell the difference, why pay the difference?" In some instances, you can save as much as 80 percent off the retail price of new office furniture.
Fortunately the design of office furniture changes little year to year. Items for sale are generally castoffs from companies that have downsized, gone out of business or traded up.
But just because they are unwanted doesn’t mean they are in bad shape. Indeed, the industry makes a distinction between used furniture that has been refurbished and used furniture that is sold "as is".
- Refurbished items have been repainted and re-upholstered to "like new" condition.
- "As is" items will show signs of wear, like nicked paint or scratches.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Check the classifieds locally and online
Check local newspapers for news of area company closings or restructurings.
I recommend: Scan classified ads in your local newspaper, as well as on
Craigslist and
eBay. It may take a while to find all the pieces you want, but you will have more room to negotiate the price. This may be a viable option if you are not pressed for time.
Contact a used furniture dealer
Check used office furniture retailers. They will have a broad selection and if they don't have what you need, they will know where to find it.
I recommend: FurnitureFinders has a national dealer network that can also handle the logistics, shipping and installation of used furniture.
SystemsNews.com has listings of pre-owned, refurbished and "as is" furniture. They also offer assistance on space planning and office relocations.
247 Workspace offers 100 percent financing on used pieces.
Trade in and trade up
Trade in your current office furniture for something that better fits your needs.
I recommend: TradeIn.com buys and sells high quality office furniture, including cubicles, desks, tables, chairs, call center furniture, home office furniture and more.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Remember you are buying the furniture for its utility, not its beauty. The lowest prices will be among the nicked, scratched and mismatched pieces.
- Shop around. Many of the used furniture dealers sell the same brand names, like Steelcase and Herman Miller, so prices may vary.
- If you need furniture for a home office, some commercial furniture dealers won't deliver to residences, so check before buying.
- Ask if there is a discount if you handle the pickup yourself. You could score an excellent bargain by offering to cart away the items yourself.
The official source of Finding Used Office Furniture is
the Used Office Furniture page at Business.com
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