If you're in the market for chairs for your office, whether they're ergonomic desk chairs, sturdy conference chairs or waiting room seating, deciding to buy used is a smart move. Not only will you pay less money, but you'll also be helping the environment out, too, by ensuring that quality furniture doesn't end up in a landfill.
Not all used furniture is created equal, so make sure to do your homework before buying.
Before running out to your nearest thrift shop or cruising Craigslist, you'll want to make sure you can separate the good from the bad from the ugly. Keep in mind that if you shop from a used office furniture retailer like Arnolds, we'll have done some of the legwork for you by repairing and refurbishing pieces that need a little TLC (and you'll still save up to 70 percent over buying new).
Here's what to keep an eye out for when shopping used to ensure you snag the best pieces for your money:
Good bones: If you come across chairs with ugly, stained, tired and/or dated fabric but that is structurally sound and well-constructed, then it could be worth your while to give it a little facelift with some new upholstery. However, keep in mind that there's no need to dress up a dud. If the chair is otherwise cheaply constructed, don't bother spending more to spruce it up.
Rips or stains: Most used furniture will have signs of wear (you can't expect perfection), but you want to make sure any tears or stains can either be repaired, cleaned or aren't in obvious spots. Like we mentioned earlier, if it's a high-quality piece underneath some tired fabric, it might be worth your while to reupholster it.
Sturdiness: Before buying, sit down in the chair to make sure that it's both comfortable and solid. Skip chairs that are rickety, have adjustments that aren't functioning or have broken arm rests (or arm rests with overly worn padding). If it's a high-quality chair with a broken part, it might be worth your while to see if you can order replacement parts to repair it.
Brand: A used chair from a big box store doesn't have the same value as a used chair from a well-known, well-respected furniture maker. The great part about buying used is that you can probably afford the name brand pieces (think Steelcase, Herman Miller and Haworth) that you might not have had the budget to buy new. Even used these pieces retain their value because they're built to last and have timeless style.
Just because you're trying to pinch pennies doesn't mean you have to sacrifice comfort. You can still find stylish and sturdy chairs when you buy used.
Comfort: The nice thing about buying used is that the chair is already broken in. Of course, on the flipside, it could be a little too broken in. You'll want to make sure that the foam is still firm enough to support you comfortably rather than leave you sitting on a hard-as-rocks base.
Smell: While this shouldn't be an issue for most office furniture you purchase, it's worth it to take a whiff before buying. It can be almost impossible to get the smell of smoke out of upholstery (just ask any used car salesman), not to mention pet odors (should you be buying a piece someone used at home).
Start shopping for high-quality used office chairs at Arnolds.
