Chairs Buyer's Guide

Choosing a vendor

When shopping for office chairs, you have three purchasing options:

• Purchase from a superstore
• Buy direct from a mid-market or budget supplier
• Work with a dealer

Retail superstores purchase chairs in bulk so they can sell them to the public for very low prices. However, the chairs are typically not durable enough for everyday use: even if the initial purchase price is cheap, you may find yourself buying new chairs every year or two. Selection and customization is also severely limited at superstores, and their chairs may not have the ergonomic benefits your employees need.

Direct vendors can offer office chairs for 20% to 40% below retail prices because of exclusive relationships with a select few manufacturers. Although you can get a good deal, you may not get the support and attention of a dedicated dealer. Also, vendors may require you to ship damaged items back to them for repairs.

Chair dealers may cost the most of the three options, but you get more in-person support to review your chair options and test samples. If a chair needs repairs, dealers can send someone to your office or ship new product and pick up damaged goods. Since dealers work exclusively with furniture manufacturers, you also have access to a broader selection of different brands.

What to look for in a vendor
Above all, make sure the vendor offers chairs that are ANSI/BIFMA compliant. This means their chairs adhere to specific safety, durability, and structural integrity standards for furniture. They're also required to note their weight capacity so you know how much stress they can handle. Buying compliant chairs will assure your employees get comfortable seating without injury risk.

When shopping for office chairs, look for established dealers with a solid reputation. Longevity is a strong indicator of a business' ability to keep customers happy and provide quality service long after the sale.

Whenever possible, it's beneficial to meet with chair vendors in person rather than shop out of a catalog. You can either meet at their showroom to see what they offer, or invite them to your location to examine your office space and suggest which chairs may work best. Vendors may even provide you with sample chairs to try for a few days to see if they're the right fit.

Make sure you consider factors other than price as you evaluate vendors. For example, see what kind of attention the vendor shows you during the buying process to get an indication of how they might treat you after the sale. Also, what kind of customer service they offer if there's a problem such as phone support, email, on-site repairs.

Finally, get a list of references from the vendors you're comparing. Request references from businesses similar to yours to find out how the vendor met their needs. Be sure to ask such question as:

• What kind of chairs did you purchase?
• How quickly did you receive the chairs?
• Did the vendor offer the features you needed?
• What kind of warranty did your chairs come with?
• Were you able to test out chairs before buying them?
• Did the vendor charge extra for delivery and assembly?
• How was your relationship with the vendor after the purchase?

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