Would you want to sit on this chair for 8 hours a day?
Do you sit at your desk for endless hours and at the end of the day every part of your body hurts? It is not age. It is what we are sitting on. I know since I have been sitting in a hard rigid wood chair for 4 hour stretches a day. It feels like sitting on your hemorrhoids for those who know what that feels like. And for the young’ins reading this Article, it feels like an intense butt sunburn or sitting on just your bones with no extra padding. Ouch is an understatement.
When I could not bear the pain anymore, I graduated to my bedroom pillow as my cushion for relief. Then my back started to get in the act and said, “hey what about me?” Between my back, neck, and tush, I could not tell who was winning the contest for my sympathy.Why not an elegant seat cushion or a new chair, you might ask? I kept saying next week, I will look for a chair or a cushion. The following week would come and go. This nonsense ritual went on for weeks until I said enough. Kind of like the shoemakers’ children who do not have shoes, well, I was the writer without the perfect chair.
My Goldilocks adventure started to unfold as I went to Staples to sit in all of their chairs. This one did not support my back. This one’s lumber support did not land in the right place. That one was too expensive. Then I threw in,” are any of these made of recycled materials?” Why not make life complicated? Welcome to my own personal American Idol competition where my tush was Randy Johnson, and my back was Simon. I am not sure which of my body parts was Paula Abdul…
Then Glenda, the good witch, from the Wizard of Oz showed up in her blue bubble and said, “why buy a new chair when there are all these lovely used office furniture stores with ergonomically correct chairs for the picking. Buying used furniture will save you some green as well as be good for the environment.” Glenda, the good witch, has sooo evolved since her stint on the Wizard of Oz. To boot, she hasn’t aged a bit. (Extreme Makeover…)Where to begin to adopt a lonely office chair needing my love and devotion?
First stop was Craig’s List. There was nothing. Then off I went to my friend, Google, to see what wisdom she could impart for used office furniture. Of course Google started rambling and gave me so many names I felt overwhelmed. I emailed a few companies telling them what I was looking for.
I wanted a Herman Miller or Steelcase chair since both were known for their environmental commitments. (See Herman Miller’s sustainability report and Steelcase’s environmental commitment.) In addition, the chairs were ergonomic and good quality. Some of both companies’ chair models have received the Cradle to Cradle certification. The fully loaded Herman Miller aeron mesh office chair I liked cost $949 online. I could not fathom spending this on my tush.
Of course, none of the companies that I tried to contact emailed me back. Why on earth do businesses have email addresses or “contact us” when they never reply? What a waste of time and energy! So, last Friday, I had had it. I kept forgetting my extra pillow for my bed and my back was getting just a little too demanding. Google and I were no longer BSFs (best search friends.) since I had had enough of her ramblings. I turned over the reins to my husband, who has a master degree in expert googling to find a used office furniture place near us.
Of course he found a few and made some phone calls. Off we went to Glenwood Office Furniture in Hillside, New Jersey. When we walked in there were office chairs, beautiful office desks, conference tables, and cubicles. Some were new and some were old. I had my choice of big leather chairs, open mesh chairs, fabric ergonomic chairs on wheels, and stationary chairs. The Company sold Steelcase, Herman Miller, and others. I was in chair heaven. We immediately started sitting in all the chairs and thank goodness, the owner, William Sorvino, intervened. He explained that most of his used furniture came from companies in New Jersey. The age of the furniture ranged from 3 to 7 years old. He further explained that most of the used furniture he sold was at least 75-80% less than retail. Since the company’s inception in 1996, he figured that he has sold over 20,000 chairs.
In his shop, he reupholstered chairs as well so if the chair comes in a color you do not like for an up-charge, he will change the upholstery. Some of his commercial fabrics were comprised of a certain percentage of recycled materials. The fabric choices were very diverse and could work in anyone’s home or office. He also was willing to use water based glues to reupholster the chairs provided I paid for the water based glues.
Glenda, the good witch, smiled and said “remember, dear, buying used furniture is good for the environment and if any nasty chemicals were used, well they probably already off-gassed.” Obviously, she has not read my blog yet because she would have known she was preaching to the choir.
So, did I find the perfect chair? Sorvino, the chair doctor, listened patiently to my endless needs for the perfect chair. As he explained there is not a one fit all solution for chairs since each person’s body size and proportions are different. In my case, I needed a chair that could support my back and neck and of course make my tush happy too. It was a tall order but he patiently worked with me and adjusted the seats so I could find the perfect chair. Mind you this was not a half an hour ordeal. It is almost like finding the perfect car. You have to sit in a lot of lemons before you find the perfect one. I strongly recommend going to a used furniture place and sitting on the chairs.
We ended up purchasing 3 ergonomic fabric chairs, one for each of us and one for a kitchen computer for the kids. My Steelcase Sensor chair cost $225.00! We did not need to change the fabric since we were happy with the black fabric. If you are starting a business or just need office furniture, click your ruby slippers and say, “there is no place like a used office furniture store. There is no place like a used office furniture store.” Take Glenda, the good witch’s advice. You can’t beat the green savings or the environmental benefits! If my tush and back are happy, then I am happy!
Ideas for searching for used furniture stores:FurnitureFinders.com (Us and Canada)
Used Office Furniture For Sale From 800 Members Nationwide (Us and Canada)
Green-Works (providing heavily discounted used business furniture to UK charities, not for profits, schools, volunteer and community groups, and start-up businesses)
Office Furniture Desk and Chairs (UK)Your local yellow pages. (On the web there was a lot of local area used furniture places, but I did not list them since you could easily do a search for a local used furniture place.)
Ebay or Craig’s List
Mark @ TalkClimateChange says
Nice post. I have terrible trouble finding a chair that doesn’t give me backache.
There are some good auctions around sometimes which sell off office furniture from bankrupt compaies. these are usually excellent places to get a wide range of quality used office furniture.
Mark @ TalkClimateChange’s last blog post..The End of Cheap Electricity in Europe?
Green Talk says
Mark, take a look at either a Steelcase or Herman Miller chair. Go sit in them and see if someone can adjust them for you. Believe me if I can find a chair, anyone can. Anna
Houston Realtor says
Great advice – I like your search – I have to go through one just like it one of these days. My chair is awful and I find myself typing on the bed and couch to get a break. Did you also get any of the ergonomic toys (mouse, armrest, wrist support)? PS that hermann miller aero mesh chair is just fantastic!
Houston Realtor’s last blog post..Tips on How to Have a Great Weekend in Houston
Green Talk says
The chair is ergonomic. It is a steelcase sensor chair. I have the armrests that go up and down. I don’t have wrist supports on my chair. What is a mouse? I don’t think I have that either. I have to tell you my butt feels alot better and my back is not hurting as much. Plus I sit up straighter which is so much better for my posture. I love my new chair and highly reccommend getting a used office chair or a new one that used recycled materials such as Herman Miller and Steelcase. Whatever you do, go sit in a bunch of chairs before you buy! Anna
Stefanie says
I had no idea that you could get used office chairs from any kind of organized business. The idea occurred to me when I was shopping for one a few weeks ago, but the postings I saw were from individuals, and I definitely don’t have the time to drive all over the area to try out chairs. I ended up getting a great one at the local office store, but next time I may try a little harder to find a place that deals with used stuff.
Green Talk says
Stephanie, I am a used furniture junkie. Besides it being green to buy what already is, you can’t beat the price for the value. Take my office chair. $225 for a Steelcase sensor chair which probably would have cost me $600 and up for a new Steelcase chair. I probably don’t have all the latest and greatest features, but that is okay. Thanks for visiting Green Talk. Visit again. Anna
Adam says
I have no problem with my Herman Miller chair….!
Bill Stevenson says
Based on London, UK, we are proud to supply recycled furniture as we help reducing the impact on the environment. Some of the advantages of opting for used furniture over new are:
o You can enjoy both excellent quality and condition furniture at a fraction of the original price.
o You get more for your money. While the depreciation of new furniture is as high as 75%, reselling your second-hand furniture can be as little as 25%.
o You contribute saving the planet. Wooden items not recycled end up in landfills where they can take years to break down.
o You save time. New office furniture can sometimes take four to six weeks to be delivered. At Stevensons we can deliver within 48 hours or less.
Allowing Stevensons to furnish your office can be a wise and attractive decision both financially and aesthetically.ure.co.uk
http://www.stevensonsofficefurniture.co.uk
Armand says
I have steelcase and herman miller in my office for the last 6+ years. All were ‘used’ when I bought them, All are still perfect and comfortable. I found out about them when the new chairs from the office superstores fell apart in a year or 2. I don’t have the best back, and these chairs are so comfortable I replaced all the task chairs. I even have one at home for the computer. Once you try one, you wouldn’t have a office superstore chair, even if they gave it to you.
Green Talk says
Armand, thanks for backing me up on used office chairs. I am glad you love yours. So, do I! Visit again. Anna
Office Furniture says
It’s what’s so good about furniture. Recycling is widely available and it only takes the initiative of one to influence many.
Pine Wardrobe says
Thank you for the post and sharing your views on modern office furniture. Yes, modern furniture unlike their predecessors uses steel and artificial materials and plastics instead of wood. They are really good but whatever may be the trend for modern furniture they cannot surpass wooden furniture. An antique pine wardrobe when compared with a modern wardrobe has lot of differences. A pine wardrobe has a real and a rustic look which is natural and this beauty cannot be found in a modern furniture. Wooden furniture has a majestic appearance which is unique and natural. I think that wooden furniture can also be designed specially for comfort and office use.
navada says
Second Hand Office Furniture – The Smart Way Out in Recession!
http://www.stevensonsofficefurniture.co.uk
Galvin Green says
Finding a decent office chair that is far more difficult than it should be! I’ve often found that the budget chairs are more suitable than the expensive full back leather chairs.
Amish Furniture says
Oh! The ideal chair for comfort and working is forever allusive. I am not certain that one chair meets all of our bodies needs particularly if we are at those desks for most of our working days. Exercise and stretching is a necessary by product when you have a sedate job behind the desk.
Office Partitions says
Sitting on that chair for four hours per day would destroy my back let alone the average ten hours that I sit at my computer.
how to reupholster a chair says
You’ve mastered the art of chair restoration. If the client doesn’t ask, do you promise something anyway or just let the work
go to the bottom of the pile. Well, this begins to add up,
and that means so do your options.