About used office chairs

Buying second-hand chairs is just like purchasing shoes or clothes. You have to stick to the leading brand and not allow yourself to be deceived by the look and appearance. There are tons of low-grade office chairs imported into New Zealand every month, and we have seen a lot of people fall victim while trying to purchase cheap nice looking chair. People always show up with their damaged chair to be repaired, and we often dish out same advice to them.
It is not worth it because something else will break in a few weeks and they will have to repair it all over again costing them more time, money and energy.

Avoid buying chairs online if it’s not from a trustworthy company. The reason being that you cannot know the quality of a chair from pictures as pictures can look so good and similar to the quality chairs but not the same quality. Ask for the best brand and go to the store physically to see the chair yourself. If you can’t see the brand name, look at the bottom and structure of the chair if you are still in doubt. The steel component should look strong; the thicker and bigger the frame under the seat the better.

Recently, I saw a chair on a trademe website, and someone claimed their office chair has a 200kgs capacity. I was very annoyed that some people still lied to this extent; I actually believed this deception for a few hours or days, but I wondered how many people fell for that.
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Low-cost chairs are not all bad news, as long as you know what you are getting yourself into. However, if you are comfortable with buying a new chair every two years, then there is no problem with a cheap chair. Maybe, you are buying it for a kid or someone less than 60kgs. In that case, it’s okay but don’t expect it to last long.
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Cost of the chairs
If you are looking to purchase second hand office chairs, it is best to do your homework so you know the brands associated with office furniture, from the finest brands like Herman Miller, Vitra, Formway to quality New Zealand brands like EOS, Buro, Damba, Vidak, With this knowledge, you will be able to source only the best seating that will serve you for years.
You can save a lot of money by purchasing used office chairs. You can buy high-quality office chairs for a chunk of the price of new chairs. Here is an example
• A new Herman Miller Aeron will cost around $2600 - The second hand price starts around $700 to $1200
• A new Formway Life Chair will cost around $1500 - A second hand life chair costs around $350 to $450
• A new spectrum 3 chair will cost you $600 in New Zealand – We sell the second-hand version of this chair from $90 to $160
​• A new buro metro 11 will cost around $580 - The used metro will cost around $180
• A new buro roma 11 cost around $350 - The used chair cost around $150

The whole idea behind an office chair is to provide you with maximum comfort so that you can concentrate on the task ahead. Office chairs have come a long way in terms of design. From wooden structures, to wheels, gas-lift, padded, mesh back, to what we refer to as full ergonomic chair.
The best advice that we will give to people is to teach your self to sit properly. People have different sitting habits, some good and some bad. Your chair can only help so much. If you learn to sit right in the first place, you can avoid some of the pains associated with bad posture. You can make a start and remember to religiously remind yourself to adjust to the correct sitting position. You will get used to it after a week or two. 

Chair Parts and Functions

1. Neck Support
Not every chair have a neck support, but this part is useful for keeping your neck straight. This part is vital when you recline the the chair down, it allows your body to completely relax. The weight of your body is fully supported by the back of the chair and the neck support.
The average weight of a human head is 5 kg. By tilting your head by 45 degrees forward or backward, the force that is applied to your neck increase to 22 kg. Now, that is a lot of weight so a neck support could be something for you.

2. High Back
In order for your chair to have a neck support, it must have a high back. Mid-back and low-back chairs can't have a neck support. High back chairs are more in demand, they provide the user with better support, especially when you are a little tired. Some chairs have a back height adjustment to adjust the height from a mid-back to a high-back position.

3. Lumbar Support
An adjustable lumber support is better. It can be moved up or down to where the support is most needed. Some chairs like the spectrum range by EOS have an internal lumbar support. It can be adjusted by moving the whole back of the chair up or down. 
4. Arms
Some chairs have arms, and some don't. It is unnecessary to have arms, but arms are essential for keeping your posture in the correct position. The recommendation is have your elbows form a 90 -100 degree open angle and keep a neutral straight wrist. Chairs with adjustable arms work better. The height can increase or decrease to the desired position. It is a great function, especially when pushing the seat below the desk. One problem with fixed height arms; is that you can't move close enough to the desk because the arms are hitting the desk-top.

5. Seat depth and width
Proper seat depth should leave between 5 and 10 cm between the edge of the seat and the back of your knees. If the seat is too far forward, it may put undue pressure at the back of the knees. Some chairs have a seat slider, This function allows the used to adjust the depth of the seat by sliding it forward or backward. The height of the seat is also important. The best position is to align the seat top of the seat to the top of your knee caps.
6 Seat Height
The ideal seat height should allow you to place your feet flat on the floor, which is why having an adjustable seat height chair is essential because everyone is different. This is not an issue these days. Most office chairs are height adjustable.  The standard seat height is around 40 to 53 cm off the floor.

7. Chair Adjustments.
The 3 main adjustments are; a. Seat height adjustment b. Seat tilt c. back angle. These are the 3 most important adjustments of a chair. The extra adjustments are useful but the cost of the chair increases dramatically

8. Castors
Bigger castors are better; they roll across different surfaces with ease. They are most useful on soft carpets. Some castors can leave marks on the floor. If this happens, get a chair mat. A chair mat will protect your floor but enable the chair to move smoothly.

9. Mesh chair
Mesh chairs are trendy due to their ability to allow airflow. Mesh back chairs only have mesh on the back, but other chairs like the Herma Miller Aeron have a mesh seat. Mesh chairs were very expensive, and only a handful of companies produced them. Now, more of them are available on the market at a very affordable price. 
10. Fully Ergonomic office chair
This type of chair suppose to have it all. All the functions that are described above and more. An excellent example of a fully ergonomic chair is the life chair by Formway. You can look it up on google. There are videos on youtube that describe how it works. There are others as well, but they cost a lot more than your ordinary chairs.
Used Chair Problems
The number one problem is the gas cylinder failure. Fortunately, parts are available for most chairs. The repair cost should be around $60 to $100. Secondly, the wheels break or fall off the base; again, the replacement wheels are not expensive. Other parts also wear out over time, depending on the user's weight. Used chairs are sometimes filthy. Steam cleaning is the best option
Poor assembly is a primary contributing factor to the low lifespan of a chair. More people buy kitset chairs online, but the lack of assembly knowledge leads to a broken chair.

Below is a chart showing recommend height of a person with the recommended chair height

Different Types of office desk

Home office Desk; Smaller desks are better for homes. Often, other furniture in the house makes it harder to fit a bigger desk. Keep in mind that the depth of the desk is just as important as the length of the desk. The recommended desk size for a home is between 1200 mm to 1500 mm in length and 600 mm in depth. You can get a bigger desk if you have the space.

Standard Office Desk; These are rectangular desks that starts at 1500 mm in length up to 2000 mm. They are popular in many office applications due to their versatility and size. They can be relocated and re-positioned easily. There is enough space for your computer and other office necessities. These are by far the most widely used office desks.

L Shape Desk or Corner Desk: This desk style is very useful if you need more space on your desktop. They can be used at home if you have a big room, but they are prevalent at commercial offices because they can hold more things on top. They are shaped like the letter "L", and that's where the name originated. People often place them next to a corner, and that is where the term "Corner Desk" came started. The standard size starts from 1500 mm x 1500 mm up to 2000 mm x 2000 mm. Other sizes are also available; size 1200 mm x 1500 mm or 1200 mm x 1800 mm. 

Executive Desk; This kind of desk comes in different shapes and colours. One thing they have in common, they are more prominent. Some are built with extended parts to allow for two or more people discussions. This is the king of desks, built for the executives and often designed differently to give the impression: this person is in charge.

Desk Pods or Desk Systems; This refers to a group of desks that are built as one. They share legs with just enough space in between people. They may also have a screen divider in between.
Some people prefer this style of desk because it maximizes space. You have the desks together, leaving space around the office for other things. It is also easier for staff to communicate and share information directly rather than emailing or calling.

Ergonomic Desk, Standing Desk or Height Adjustable Desk;
Some people refer to this desk as a sit to stand desk. The height of the desk can be adjusted to allow the user to sit or stand. The adjustment comes in the form of an electric or manual winding mechanism. The electric one is easier and quicker, therefore, more popular. The downside to the electric desk is parts and services. There are not many parts and services available locally in New Zealand to repair a broken electric desk. It means that there will be a few months delay to have your desk fixed if it broke down.
There is also a Stand-up desk accessory that turns a regular desk into a stand-up desk. It is known by a few different names; Deskalator, Desktop riser, varidesk.  
Another desk that falls under this category is a fixed height standing desk. This desk is permanently fixed in a standing position of about 1100 mm to 1200 mm and can't be reduced.

Trestle Desk;
This type of desk is not very common, but it is effortless to work with. There are no tools required to put it together. You have a desktop and a pair of legs. The legs can stack on each other or foldable. These two different designs make the desk easy to store or move.

Reception Desk, Reception Counter; This is often the most admirable desk. It is the one right in front of the front door when you walk into a business. This kind of desk usually is costly to make. Many of them were custom made with the required colors and measurements to suit the businesses' theme. The cheaper alternative is; buy a second-hand reception counter that is as close as possible to the one you want and modify it to your liking.

Other desks:
There are other desks that we didn't mention here. They are not very common, but we will list the names below. You are welcome to contact us for more information about them.
1. writing desk
2. roll-top desk
3. credenza desk
4. wall desk or floating desk
5. bunkbed desk
6. secretary desk
7. glass desk
8. flip desk
9. foldable desk
10. mobile standing desk

Frequently asked Questions about Office Desks

Is buying a used desk worth it?
Most definitely. If you've purchased a used car before, you can also buy a used desk. There are many used desks available on the market that will save you a ton of money. Spend some time doing your homework. Some top brands sell their desks new for over a thousand each. Other commercial brands sell their desks for around three hundred to six hundred each. Here are some brand names that supply good, quality office furniture. Aspect Furniture, Bourneville Furniture Group (BFG), Herman Miller, Schiavello, Thinking Works, Vidak, Vitra.
Don't forget you are doing the planet a lot of good by buying second-hand desks. The more used desks you buy, the fewer trees we need to cut down, the fewer machines used, therefore less pollution released to the atmosphere.
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What to look out for when buying a used desk? 
It is easy to examine a used office desk physically. You can have a closer look at the surface for any scratches or wear. Look under the desk to make sure that the structure is intact. Check that the measurements are correct. You don't want to take the desk back to your home or office and find out it does not fit. Some desks are impossible to dismantle. The legs and supporting frames are permanently welded together. This type is solid but inconvenient to transport due to its size.

What should you never do to a desk?
​The most common mistake that people make to a desk is dragging it on its legs. Do not drag any desk. You can only drag a desk around if it was on wheels. The best thing to do is dismantle the desk before moving it, or ask for help and lift it completely off the ground when relocating it.

What are the most sought after colours?
Most people are after white or black office desks, but more white desks are available than black desks. 
The beech colour is still very trendy, and it's the next go-to colour when white is not available.
The Tawa(woodgrain) colour is no longer in high demand, but many offices still have them and for the right environment.

What is the best way to transport a desk?
Used desks are difficult to move. The best thing to do is dismantle the desk, but you first need to take some photos and mark the parts to make it easy to put it back together. A desk is not something you often move, so you must measure the vehicle to ensure it will fit. A rectangular desk is more accessible to carry than an L shape desk. Some L shape desktops can be separated into two parts, making them easier to transport. You may also want to consider paying the professionals to do the moving. It may save you money and trouble in the long run.

Are Steel legs or wooden legs better?
There is a misconception that steel legs are more robust than wooden legs. It is correct to some extent but also incorrect in some cases. Many desks with steel legs are strong, but others are very light and weak. An excellent example of a solid imported desk is the "cubit desk" This model is well made. It is easy to assemble and dismantle. The legs can come apart from the supporting frame and the top to make it easy for transportation. The steel is strong. The joints are strong, and the top is made good MDF.
When we refer to wooden desks, it is important to note that this is not natural wood but pressed wood made from wood shavings, sawdust, wood particles bonded together by adhesive, pressure and heat.
A commercial wooden desk is strong as well. It can handle up to 200 kg once it's put together, but it requires careful handling when it is dismantled or moved. The advantages of a wooden desk are; it can be dismantled flat, easier to repair and modify if required.

Can desks be recycled? 
A scrap metal dealer will definitely take the steel parts of the desk, but not many places will accept the MDF. It is best to try and sell the desk or gift it to someone so that you don't have to pay for the recycling of the desk.

Can desks be painted?
With the technology available today, you can indeed find the correct paint to paint a desk. Depending on the level of experience you have, it could be challenging to find that perfect finish. It can be tough to successfully express a high-quality coat without extraordinary efforts of sanding and priming. A desk is something that you use almost every day, so you need to make sure that the desk's surface is beautiful and durable. 

Can a desk be repaired?
Yes, A person with the skills, the suitable screws, brackets, and a cordless drill can repair most damages to the structure of a desk. The top of the desk, however, is not so easy to repair. It requires special tools and materials to fix the damaged top successfully. The reason is that you need to match the colour and create a smooth finish.