| It sounds so easy. You need a desk, just go online or | | | | me? A good office furniture dealer will not have a |
| stop at your local dealer and pick one up Right? | | | | problem answering all of these questions and will be |
| Wrong, there are a few questions you need to | | | | happy to provide you with all of the info you are |
| answer first in order to find the right deal. This process | | | | looking for. Be sure to contact at least 3 furniture |
| can be quite daunting especially when you are | | | | dealers before settling with one or two to work with. |
| purchasing multiple offices or cubicles. This article will | | | | And always try to get apples to apples price |
| help you make the right choices while getting the best | | | | comparisons from all. |
| deal on you office furniture purchase. You can save | | | | Getting the Best Deal |
| thousands of dollars just by being a well ejected buyer. | | | | Now that you have contacted several office furniture |
| The office furniture industry is a 4 billion dollar industry | | | | dealers and you feel comfortable with one or more it |
| in the US alone. Factor in the import market that has | | | | is time to get the best deal available. When purchasing |
| been taking over the industry for the past ten years | | | | used furniture keep in mind that the furniture dealers |
| and you have one of largest manufacturing industries | | | | with large amounts of used inventory will typically offer |
| in the world. Now that you know how large the | | | | you the best discounts. Ask your dealer if they have |
| business is, you can just imagine how many choices | | | | any current liquidations going on or coming up in the |
| there are in every category of office furniture. We are | | | | future. You can always get great deals when you |
| going to start by narrowing down those choices. In this | | | | purchase the furniture before it is removed from the |
| article we will pretend that we are in the market for a | | | | job site. You can save as much as ½ of what |
| desk. | | | | you would spend on already in stock items. This holds |
| Hear are a few questions you will need to answer in | | | | true especially for larger purchases. An office furniture |
| order to narrow down you choices. | | | | dealer would much rather discount the furniture and sell |
| 1. What size is the space you are looking to fill? This is | | | | it before they have the added labor costs of removing, |
| very important. You need to make sure your desk will | | | | bringing back to the warehouse and adding it to their |
| fit in your office while allowing you enough room for | | | | inventory. |
| your chair and guest seating if desired. If you can | | | | If you are unable to find what you are looking for in a |
| provide your furniture dealer with a layout including | | | | current liquidation job, don't panic. There are plenty of |
| dimensions of your space, you will be viewed as an | | | | great deals to be had on in stock inventory. If you find |
| ejected buyer and will likely end up with a better deal | | | | something that works for you in your office furniture |
| from the start. | | | | dealers stock ask them a few questions about it such |
| 2. What color or finish do you prefer? Office furniture | | | | as. How many to you have in stock? This is important. |
| comes in just about every color or finish you can | | | | If the dealer has a large amount of this particular item |
| imagine. Make sure you have a good idea of the the | | | | they will probably offer you a good deal from the start |
| finishes you might consider. You don't want to end up | | | | in order to move some of the inventory out the door. |
| with purple desk in a green room, or maybe you do. | | | | You can also get a great deal on items that are down |
| We will not judge you. | | | | to one or two in stock. Most office furniture dealers |
| 3. What type of workspace and storage do you | | | | are used to selling multiple like items and would love |
| need? You will need to evaluate how much space you | | | | the chance to get rid of their single stock items. You |
| or your employees will need. Desks and cubicles come | | | | may also wan to ask them what else they have that |
| in several different size work tops as well as | | | | is comparable to this item perhaps in a better price |
| underneath and overhead storage. Keep in mind the | | | | range. This is a good way of starting out your |
| more storage and the larger the workspace the more | | | | negotiation on the desk you really want. Don't be afraid |
| money you will be spending. It is very important to | | | | to haggle. |
| make sure you have enough space and storage but, | | | | Most office furniture is sold with a markup of |
| you don't want to pay for wasted space. | | | | 50%-100% something even more. State the price that |
| 4. Last but not least. New or Used? Obviously you will | | | | you would like to pay but, be reasonable. If a desk is |
| be saving by purchasing used but, you may not | | | | priced at $500.00 you are not going to get it for |
| always find exactly what you are looking. When | | | | $100.00. There is not reason why you shouldn't be able |
| purchasing used office furniture you must be willing to | | | | to get that same desk for $350.00 or less. If the dealer |
| compromise on your wants. If you feel that you can | | | | is staying firm on the price you can always use the "I |
| not compromise then new is the way to go. Most | | | | need to check around a little more" tactic. The office |
| office furniture dealers will offer you a choice of new | | | | furniture business is so competitive these days you |
| or used. It is usually best to work with a furniture dealer | | | | can almost always expect them to come back to you |
| who provides both options. | | | | with a lower offer. Keep in mind that some dealers are |
| Okay so we have narrowed down your needs, we | | | | being 100% truthful and are offering prices that are |
| are ready to purchase. Where do you start? Well if | | | | pock bottom to begin with. You can usually find this out |
| you are reading this article then you are obviously a | | | | by doing a simple apples to apples comparison with a |
| computer savvy buyer and the internet will be your | | | | few other dealers. If the dealer prices are in fact well |
| best shot. You can start by using your favorite search | | | | below the competitors you may have already found |
| engine to find office furniture in your area or simply | | | | your best deal but, be sure to ask them if they can do |
| open your local yellow pages to office furniture. It is | | | | any better on the price. Even the lowest prices can |
| always good to start local but, do not limit yourself to | | | | usually be a little bit lower. |
| the dealers in your area. Many great deals can be | | | | When purchasing new office furniture you want to be |
| found on the internet and even though you will have | | | | sure the company you are working with is a direct |
| additional shipping cost your savings may outweigh | | | | dealer of the furniture line you are purchasing. Most |
| those costs. | | | | dealers will tell you they can get you just about any line |
| For internet searches start by using simple keywords, | | | | of furniture but, chances are if they do not have |
| for example if you live in Phoenix Arizona search | | | | catalogs and literature direct from the manufacturer |
| Office Furniture Phoenix. | | | | they are purchasing the furniture from another dealer |
| For our tutorial let's stick with the idea of purchasing a | | | | or buying group and you will be a paying a double |
| single desk. Now that you have searched Office | | | | markup. Always ask if there are any closeout items |
| Furniture Phoenix start clicking through some of your | | | | similar to the item you are looking for. When |
| local websites. You may wan to check out some of | | | | purchasing new, closeout or scratch and dent items |
| the sponsored ads since they are usually targeted for | | | | can save you huge amounts of money. Before you |
| specific areas. For our tutorial I will click on our website | | | | finalize your purchase be sure to ask if the item |
| Once you are in take a good look around. Make sure | | | | comes assembled or disassembled otherwise referred |
| this dealer offers a variety of choices. Most local | | | | to as KD for knocked down. If you are having the |
| furniture dealers websites are not set up to purchase | | | | furniture delivered and installed a KD item could cost |
| online but, you can get a good idea of the type of | | | | you more than an assembled item once you figure in |
| company they are and what they offer by there web | | | | the installation costs. |
| content. If you feel you have found a company that | | | | Summary |
| may have what you are looking for it is time to | | | | There are many great deals on office furniture just |
| contact them. | | | | waiting to be had. The key to making a good deal is |
| Once you have contacted your office furniture dealer | | | | comparison knowledge of your needs and the ability to |
| do not be afraid to ask lots of questions. What | | | | haggle like a used car salesman. If you start out your |
| manufactures are you a direct dealer for? Do you | | | | conversation with a furniture dealer already knowing |
| stock your furniture or is it brought in from an out of | | | | what you need and what will fir in your space they will |
| town source? How often does your company do | | | | look at you as an ejected buyer. Once you have |
| large liquidations? What are your delivery charges? Do | | | | shown them that you know what you are talking |
| you provide CAD or professional floor plan services? | | | | about they will be more likely to lower there prices and |
| Can you provide multiple new and or used options to | | | | give you the best deal. |
