Should you purchase new or used office furniture?

Your company is moving or you’re setting up a new office and you’d like to save some money.   You’ve heard there are a lot of good deals on used furniture but you’re not sure where to start.   Believe me when I say that, as a move coordinator, I’ve been down that road many times with clients and I know exactly what you’re going through.   The first question you need to answer is whether used furniture is for you and the second questions is – where do you find all these good deals?

There are several things that you need to think of when wondering if used furniture is for you: cost, convenience and flexibility.

Cost. Used furniture is definitely less expensive than new furniture.   A used cubicle (with installation) will probably run around $650 each while a low-end new cubicle (with installation) will probably run around $1350.

Convenience. The installation on used furniture probably won’t go as smoothly as new furniture – which may increase your costs and delay your move.   Be sure to have a solid space plan drawn beforehand – with a confirmed inventory of the parts needed – and schedule your installation several weeks before your move-in date so that if you need to order new parts, you’ll have time.   You also won’t have much flexibility in selecting colors and features and, instead, will be subject to purchasing whatever’s on the market at the time of your move.

Flexibility. If you think your company will be increasing it’s headcount in the near future, keep in mind that it will be next to impossible to find matching furniture if you purchase used.   To solve this problem, you can either plan ahead and purchase enough used furniture for your future headcount or purchase new furniture for your current headcount and order more only when you need it.   Reconfigurations can also be tough if you’ve purchased a discontinued line of furniture and need to order more parts so you may want to call the manufacturer to double-check before making a used furniture purchase.

And for those who would like to green their office, re-using furniture is the best thing you can do for the environment, without question.   However, keep in mind that most new furniture manufacturers are using sustainable materials and processes these days, so if you decide to go the new route, you can ask your dealer about those particular lines.

So, where do you find all these deals?

Craigslist. This is where you’ll find the best deals, hands down.   This is where you’ll find companies that are selling their surplus furniture so you’ll get the extra benefit of not having to pay a broker or dealer.   However, I’d like to add a word of caution here.   First, Craigslist people are flakes.   You should especially keep this in mind if you’re selling your used furniture here.   Not being furniture experts, they may tell you things about the furniture that isn’t true so take everything they say with a grain of salt.   Second, it can be pretty beneficial to have a broker or dealer involved who has experience in installing cubicles and can tell you what’s going to work and what won’t.

Used Furniture Dealer. Although you’ll pay more than if you purchase your furniture directly from Craigslist, most used furniture dealers will draw a space plan for you and confirm the inventory has the parts you’ll need to build your layout.   They’ll usually oversee installation and will have access to several different inventories at one time which will give you purchasing options.   Used furniture dealers can be found easily through a simple search on Google.

When looking for used furniture, feel free to contact me with a list of what you’re looking for.   Not only do we have several relationships with reputable used furniture dealers (who ship anywhere in the country), but we have clients who are moving and may be liquidating exactly what you’re looking for.

Purchasing used furniture can be more time-consuming and complicated than new furniture but it can also be less expensive.   When deciding whether to purchase used or new furniture, it’s critical to weigh your options before making a decision because price isn’t everything.