Buying Used Office Furniture

Are you on a budget? Want great furniture at a reduced price? Check out used office furniture.

If you’re cringing at the thought, don’t. Office furniture is different from furniture for home use. You may not want to buy a used couch or a used mattress… but office furniture is different. Most office furniture is made of wood or metal, and a little cleaning (and possibly painting) can make it look and feel almost new. And, you’ll often pay less than half what you’d pay for a comparable new item – in some cases a lot less than half.
How do you find used office furniture? There are many places to look:

Classifieds. You can often find deals in the classified section of your local newspaper. Look under “furniture” or “office furniture” or a similar category. Sometimes the owner will be selling furniture used in a home office, or you may find a deal from a small business that is either upgrading their furniture… or going out of business.

Thrift Stores. Stores like the Salvation Army and Goodwill frequently have used office furniture. Many pieces will be in great condition – the owner may simply have donated it to the thrift store in order to free up space in the home or office. You can find $300 desks for as low as $20 and bookcases for $10 or less. You may have to paint or refinish them, but if you’re willing to add a little elbow grease you can pick up a bargain.

Local Colleges. Want a great deal? Place an ad in the local college newspaper or on a bulletin board saying you’ll buy used office furniture. Many graduating students have desks, chairs, and other equipment they will no longer need and will be happy to sell it to you at a bargain. You’ll have to locate those deals yourself, but the effort can be worth it. Most students will gladly sell desks for $20 to $50, and file cabinets and bookshelves for less than $40. They expect to receive yard sale prices, so you can get great deals.

Used Office Suppliers. You can find an office supply store in many cities specializing in buying and selling used or refurbished office equipment. They buy from wholesalers or from local businesses, refurbish or repair the pieces, and then re-sell them. Discount ranges vary, but in general you can expect to pay 30 to 50 percent less than for a new item. If the piece is in poor condition, you can pay significantly less as long as you’re willing to make repairs. You can find used office supply stores in the Yellow Pages under “Office Furniture and Equipment – Used.” You can also buy used office equipment online, but keep in mind you won’t be able to inspect the pieces for defects. You’ll pay more at a used office supplier, but you’ll also find a wider selection to choose from.

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