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SKU: DK537

Brand: Watson

In Stock: 176 items

Units in Stock: 176

Wall Street Trading Desks Manufacturer: Watson Furniture Group SKU: DK537 Region: Chicago Warehouse Style: Facing Color: Black, Grey Size: 60"x30" Condition: Excellent 2 single arm mounts per seat, 1 stand alone/mobile box, box, file pedestal. Price: $850 per seat with arms.

Price: $850.00

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Labels: pre-owned office furniture, refurbished office furniture, refurbished seating, refurbished workstations, used office furniture chicago

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Labels: Cost, illinois, officefurniturecenter.com, pre-owned office furniture, Quality, refurbished, Sustainability

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Quality, Cost, Sustainability

Can fms have the best of all worlds with pre-owned furniture?

By Mason Awtry

When shopping for furniture, facility managers may find what they need from dealers holding inventories of pre-owned items. While selection may not be as vast as with new products, fms can save money and resources by buying pre-owned. (Photo: Rightsize Facility Performance, LLC)

Economic constraints and a desire to reduce material waste are two good reasons a facility manager (fm) might consider buying pre-owned furniture to outfit a new or existing space. In most markets, a broad selection of quality seating, desks, and related items in good condition can be found. When considering the options, fms should weigh the following details.

Product quality. The quality of pre-owned furniture can range from fair to excellent. Whenever possible, fms should visit their furniture dealer to gauge the quality of goods being offered. As might be expected, products originally manufactured to a higher quality tend to retain a greater value on the pre-owned market.

Brand name. Fms are well served to stick to products with a reputable brand because of the level of quality. The integrity of name brand products ensures they maintain their functionality for years to come.

As-is or refurbished? Most chairs, workstations, filing cabinets, and metal storage items can be painted and/or reupholstered. The refurbishing of assets adds to cost, but it also improves the overall aesthetic value of the items. Refurbishing also enables the fm to have the pre-owned furniture match the color scheme of existing assets.

Price. One of the most appealing aspects of pre-owned office furniture is the price. When comparing like products, fms will find that used office furniture always costs less. It is common to find used furniture in very good condition for 25% to 50% less than new.

Lead times. Most large used furniture resellers have warehousing facilities and will hold products until needed for installation. Under most circumstances, delivery and set up should take only a matter of days depending on the size and complexity of the order. Any additional services, such as refurbishing, will increase lead times.

Warranty. Warranties on used office furniture are typically more of the handshake variety than the legally binding type. The nature of used furniture is such that inventories are limited, and a dealer may not be able to repair or replace the product due to lack of supply. However, reputable dealers will do their best to accommodate a facility's ongoing furniture needs by providing a similar product or by going to the marketplace for a replacement.

Additional services. Some used office furniture dealers offer additional services such as space planning and design, project management, and white glove installation service. Using one vendor to provide all of these services is usually more cost-effective.

Lease financing options. When the upfront cost of office furniture puts the purchase of assets out of reach, leasing can be an attractive option. Rather than limiting cash flow, an fm can finance office furniture, make monthly payments, and retain cash for other business opportunities or emergencies. Depending on the dealer, this option might only be offered for larger installations.

Rental options. For temporary office furniture needs, some dealers will rent their pre-owned assets. An office space can be furnished in a short period of time, and when the furniture is no longer needed, the vendor can take it back.

End Of Life? Maybe Not

On the flip side, an fm's goal when disposing of furniture may be to receive compensation for the used items, ensure as much of the furniture as possible is kept out of a landfill, or both.

Dealer buy back. Many used office furniture dealers provide buy back services to organizations that have excess or unneeded office assets. Primarily, dealers will be interested in larger inventories of product by brand name manufacturers. More desirable items have value, and dealers may even pay to take them from a facility.

On the other hand, less desirable items with little to no resale value may incur a cost for removal. In order to valuate a product, a dealer will typically request pictures and a detailed inventory of the assets (including manufacturer, color, and quantity).

Local dealers may also want to visit the facility to inspect the product being disposed of before making a decision.

A dealer committed to sustainability will find the most appropriate application for the assets and repurpose them accordingly. These options can include:

Sold as-is. The majority of used office furniture is sold as-is to a new user. A good cleaning and a tune up is often all the furniture needs to be viable on the secondhand market. In that scenario, no additional materials are used, and the product life cycle continues.

Refurbished/reupholstered. Refurbishing is a way of giving new life to the items and extending their life cycles. Worn or broken parts are replaced with new or used parts in working condition. Stains and tears are remedied by replacing with new fabric. In most cases, only the smallest amount of new material is used.

Used for parts. Dealers carry a number of commonly used office assets by major manufacturers. Any working parts on a product that may be near the end of their life cycle can be salvaged and used to repair other office assets.

Recycled. When a product reaches the end of its life cycle, many of its materials can be recycled. Depending on the dealer handling the product, a large percentage of those materials may be kept out of a landfill.

Another option for fms is to donate the furniture to a not-for-profit organization or public institution. This is great from a charity standpoint; however, larger lots may require multiple charities and institutions to remove all of the items. (Read sidebar on for another charity based option.)

When dealing with a knowledgeable source that offers quality products, fms can successfully procure pre-owned furnishings that will help them to meet both their financial and environmental goals. And when the time comes to discard furniture from a facility, fms should look for a dealer who can put those assets to good use.

Mason Awtry (mawtry@rightsizefacility.com) is the principal and managing director of Rightsize Facility Performance, LLC, headquartered in Chicago, IL. Launched in 2004, Rightsize Facility Performance (www.officefurniturecenter.com) is a nationwide provider of office interiors and facility services to corporate clients.

Do you have a comment? Share your thoughts by writing to avazquez@groupc.com.

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Product Highlight: Kimball Private Office Components Pricing good through August 8, 2008. Quantities subject to change.
	Kimball Double Ped Desk • Size: 36”x72” • Condition: Exellent • Quantity: 19 • Price: $625 ea.
	Kimball Double Ped Desk • Size: 30”x66” • Condition: Exellent • Quantity: 35 • Price: $575 ea.
	Kimball Table Desk • Size: 36”x72” • Condition: Exellent • Storage: Multiple drawers • Quantity: 14 • Price: $475 ea.
	Kimball Credenza • Size: 19”x72”, 21"x78" • Condition: Exellent • Quantity: (10) 72", (5) 78" • Price: $350 ea.
	Kimball 2-D Laterals • Size: 36” • Condition: Exellent • Quantity: 4 • Price: $125 ea.
	Bookshelves • Sizes/Quantities: - 30”x53” (60) - 36”x49” (6) • Condition: Exellent • Price: $125 ea.
Steelcase Avenir Workstations	Customer Service: 800.815.8592
The World of Office Furniture at Your Finger Tips. Office Furniture Center is your portal to a complete spectrum of office furniture options. From new, used and refurbished options, to nationwide delivery & installation, Office Furniture Center is a single source for all your office furniture needs. Visit OfficeFurnitureCenter.com
moreinfo@officefurniturecenter.com | 800.815.8592

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