Whilst shopping for new office furniture actually sounds quite simple – you need a more functional desk, so you just go out and buy one – there are actually a number of measures that you need to take to ensure that you’re getting the best deal. This can be quite daunting for many people, especially if this is the first time you have ever thought about bargaining or if you’re purchasing a whole lot of items. The good news is that you could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars just by shopping right.
• Look out for sales
One of the best ways to save money on your office furniture purchase is to keep an eye out for sales. There are a few times of year – particularly the end of the financial year and just before Christmas – where most dealers will run sales to simply get rid of old stock. Most dealers will also run a sale or two at other times throughout the year in a bid to get customers through the doors.
• Lots of stock
If you find a piece of furniture that you happen to like, ask the dealer how many they have in stock. If they have a large number they might be willing to cut you a deal just to get some of it out of the store, especially if they are having trouble selling it. Just remember that the dealer won’t be willing to admit that they are having trouble moving inventory, so a large number is usually an indication of this.
• Very little stock
If you don’t require many pieces of furniture (perhaps a desk for a home office or a couple of chairs for a small reception area), ask the dealer which items he only has one or two left of. Because most people prefer to buy in bulk, the dealer might be happy to sell their odds and ends for a discounted price just to get rid of them. This could also include display or factory second items.
• Negotiate the price
Remember that most office furniture is sold with a mark-up of 50-100%, so don’t feel like you’re ripping the dealer off by negotiating. Just make sure that your offer is reasonable. If a desk is priced at $500 there is no way you’re going to get it for $100, but you might be able to talk the dealer down to the $350 region. Your efforts can be helped by saying that you plan to shop around a little more.
These days, there are plenty of great office furniture deals out there just waiting for you to come along and snap them up. The key to getting the best possible deal on your purchase is a thorough knowledge of what you’re looking for and what it’s worth. If you aren’t quite sure how to negotiate or you aren’t confident in your skills, it always pays to bring someone else along with you. Once you have proven that you mean business, the dealer will usually be more than happy to accommodate your budget.
