Quality office furniture is essential for any business. Whether you and your employees spend the whole day in the office and receive visitors or only drop in the office for a couple of hours per day to fill up some reports and pick up documents, your office setup will in many ways determine how efficient the overall operation will be.

Office desks with drawers, mobile and under-desk storage units, bookcases and shelves help to organize the space, find a perfect place for every document and tool and create a professional atmosphere. It is equally important for people working in the office and those who visit the place.

Not to mention the fact that quality office furniture is an important business asset that can be re-sold and repurposed in the future, helping the company optimize its budget.

Luckily, today there are so many designs, colours and styles of office furniture that every business can fund a setup that will fit perfectly and be functional and stylish at the same time. 

But here comes another problem. When options are so wide, it may be hard to make an informed decision and find the perfect office furniture. Overwhelmed by the vast inventory of offline and online office furniture markets, people often tend to buy impulsively, get pieces that don`t fit their space or forget about some important items.

Today you may also choose between offline and online shopping options, which may make a choice even more complicated. Some people believe that you should never buy an office desk or chair before seeing it physically. Others claim that they simply don`t have time for travelling between offline shops for the sake of a small white desk and therefore prefer to buy office furniture online.

In this article, we shall discuss the benefits and things you would want to consider buying office furniture online or in the nearest store and try to understand who may benefit from either option.

Myths and reality of offline and online office furniture shopping.

It goes without saying that online office furniture markets always have a wider choice of items. Moreover, it will definitely take you much less time and effort to go over the collections, compare different models of office desks with drawers and choose the one that fits you perfectly.

However, despite the fact that people got so used to buying everything online today, some may still be reluctant when it comes to such important and big purchases as office furniture.

The main concern and the biggest myth about online office furniture stores are that despite the quality of photos you see on the website, the items themselves may leave a lot to desire. It is impossible to understand the material`s texture and quality from pictures in catalogues, and colours may sometimes mismatch due to different screen settings and lighting.

That is why buying from reputable office furniture sellers is so important. The best thing about Internet shopping is that the word spreads incredibly fast online. Reputations are being built and destroyed by endless shoppers` reviews and feedback that are available for anyone to read and make an informed decision about addressing a certain online office furniture store.

That is why a business that values its reputation will always ensure that people get exactly what they expect from shopping online. A quality online office furniture seller will have responsive customer service that may provide you with more “live” photos or even videos of the item you choose. And, of course, they will make sure that all the issues and shortcomings are resolved as soon as possible if you are not fully satisfied with the final item.

At the same time, even if you buy offline and have a chance to touch and try your office chair or desk before purchasing, some issues may occur several weeks or even months after receiving the item. That is why the opinion that offline furniture sellers are more reliable is also a myth.

Another common misconception about offline and online office furniture shopping is the time that it takes. Some people believe that buying online is the fastest way to build an office setup. Another person will argue that buying by the principle “office furniture near me” is the most time-efficient method as all those desks and chairs are the same everywhere anyway.

Both these claims may be equally true and false. By buying online, you may see the inventory and make a choice faster. But many online office furniture stores import their items on demand. It means that even if you find your perfect office desk with drawers within 20 minutes, you may have to way for several weeks until it arrives. 

The same may be true for the offline sellers also, as the items you see on display are often samples, and after you finally see all the desks and cupboards in person and make a choice, you will have to wait until the item is manufactured and delivered to you.

Last but not least is the belief that online shopping is always cheaper as an online office furniture seller does not have to spend so much on storage and logistics. It is not entirely true today. As we have already mentioned, there are lots of different models and variations of seemingly the same office desks and chairs on the market. The price depends on various factors such as materials, unique design and construction details, customization options, etc.

The idea that online shopping has to be cheaper is not that relevant when it comes to the office furniture market. But it is definitely easier to monitor prices and find the best options online.

Final thoughts.

Both offline and online office furniture shopping may have their perks and pitfalls. However, no matter which seller you choose, it is essential to clarify the most important details before closing the deal. Does the seller provide thorough support and customer service? What reputation does it have on the market? Are the items you choose manufactured locally or have to be imported on-demand? Why is the price lower or higher than you saw at another place? Asking all those questions and making sure that you know what to expect, you will easily find your perfect office furniture dealer and build the perfect workplace setup for your business.