1/5/2009 7:55:52 PM

Used Office Furniture - buying second-hand desks

If you are looking for the best bargains around, then used office furniture could be for you.

The first rule when purchasing second hand is to check out the reputation of the person or company that you are purchasing from. Goods advertised online, especially through online auction sites will often provide previous customer satisfaction information, so you’ll have a better idea of whether the seller is trustworthy or not.

Search for used office furniture at ebay.com

So, what do you need to look for when buying used office furniture?

The most important thing is that the desk meets your requirements. If it is fully functional and all hinges and drawers are in good working order but the desk top has scratching all over it, don’t be too worried. When you have your phone and computer and various documents in place, a few scratches will probably become invisible. However these superficial scratches may mean you get an even better bargain so make sure you bring the seller’s attention to such imperfections.

If you are buying the item ‘unseen’, in other words you are basing your purchasing decision upon the vendor’s description without seeing the furniture for yourself, then ask them to evaluate the condition of the goods by giving it a mark out of ten. This ‘grading’ system will give you a good idea of what to expect and can help you to avoid items that are in a really bad state of disrepair.

Some so called ‘used’ office furniture may only have been bought from new a few months earlier, so do not always dismiss the term ‘second hand’ as equalling worn, antique tables and chairs.

If buying over the internet, always use sites that provide a photograph of the product as you will not then be relying solely on their grading of the item. Similarly if you can find an offer that provides a money back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied with the furniture, then this is a useful tool in case of disappointment or misinformation on the part of the seller.