Posted on 11/29/2009 8:48:54 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
If you're starting a new business, hiring on a shoestring budget, or simply sprucing up your home office, you'll need some new office gear, and you probably won't want to spend much. Believe it or not, Craigslist isn't just for used couches and one-night stands; it's also exceptionally good for finding standard office furniture (cubicles, desks, chairs, and so on) at unusually low prices. However, Craigslisting is an art in itself, so we've got some tricks that will help you seal the deal on whatever used gear your new office needs.
The Budget
Buying a basic, no-frills office chair and desk at OfficeMax will run you at least $170, a phone/fax machine will cost another $60, and brand-new cubicle units may be tagged at anything from $500 to $3000 apiece, depending on configuration, wall height, and filing options. Spend a few minutes on Craigslist, however, and you'll find plenty of office furniture that sellers need to get rid of for cheap--or even free.
The trade-off is your time. Though you could find a chair, a desk, a fax machine, and even some cubicles in Craigslist's 'Free Stuff' section, you have to be fast to pick up, because in many instances the stuff is simply left out on the street for the vultures (that's you) to pick over. We'll help you streamline your search process and seal the deal, but be aware that bargain hunting on Craigslist can be a time-consuming process--and you might be better off investing that time elsewhere in your business. When budgeting for your Craigslist searches, figure time into the calculation: If you end up spending an extra 3 hours to save $20, you might have been better off buying the furniture at full price in the first place.(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
I have shelves. I need books.
Make sure that you don’t get used wooden furniture that comes with the added gift of a few live bedbugs.
I started my own business back in April. I got about 30-40k worth of office furniture for 8k. Look up office furniture in the yellow pages, several will deal in used goods. They are paid to pick up stuff from closed out branches, firms, bankruptcies. The supply is HUGE, the demand is still slim. My supplier had to get extra warehouse space to fit it all in. The stuff I got was pretty nice, wood desks from an old law firm. I have a 3 person financial office.
Many libraries have used books for sale at $1-$2. Also 1/2 price used book stores often have a wide selection. Amazon has used books for sale, but dicey if they have what you want or how reliable the seller is.
See, this is where us honest FReeper types miss the boat. If we were in the Obama groove, we’d write a grant request to study the reproductive habits of those bedbugs, get a few million dollars worth of Porkulus grant money, spend it all on big salaries and lawyers to sue the makers of the wooden furniture, then take our settlement money and move to someplace warm.
Goodwill
Salvation Army
:-)
Good deals!
Ah! The gift that keeps giving!
Thanks for that reminder.
I shop at the thrift stores quite a bit - usually a coat, flannel shirt, gym bag, etc. It either goes in the freezer for a few days or right in the wash after I read something about the “new” bed bug problem. They sound nasty to try to get rid of.
I’ve always wanted to run an experiment when I move out (like this would happen if my mother got wind but...) I would love to take nothing more than my stuffed cow, clothes, cooking wear and small fridge and a blanket and see how much I could furnish my first apartment with found free on Craigslist. It would be a fun experiment :D. But yeah, you can get some amazing stuff on there!
Yes. Most of the time they have pictures too which saves you driving around. I am sure you probably can find free and cheap deals too.
Don’t know your area, but here in the Atlanta, Ga. region, you could get better deals on better quality items from used/surplus dealers.
The economy hasn’t given anyone a break, and businesses are still closing down in large numbers.
One of my neighbors is a roll off driver for Waste Mgmt. He only services commercial accounts. They’ve cut him to around 34 hours a week now. He’s number 3 in seniority, and usually max’s out on his allowable driving hours, 60 per week.
I did the same thing when I started my business. I got some really nice (albeit a little worn) furniture at a fraction of the price I would have paid for new but inferior merchandise at the local office supply store. And the selection was big enough that all the stuff I got matches.
mark for later: Craigslist shopping?
Also check to see if there is a ‘freecycle’ in ur area. It is a great resource for getting rid of stuff too.
freecycle.org
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