[geeks] Three heads

[Bill Bradford]

On Tue, Aug 07, 2001 at 07:38:25AM -0700, Ken Hansen wrote:
> I think the real trick
> is to avoid the "used office furniture" stores on the
> side of the road - they are simply buying from the
> larger supliers and marking up the price - of price is
> your issue, I'd approach the larger companies
> directly...

I find a local used office furniture place, TOPS (Texas
Office Products and Supply, on east 5th) to be a GREAT
place to get affordable used office furniture.  I've been
going there at least 2-3 times a month since 1996 (sometimes
every weekend), and can haggle my way to pretty much "my"
wanted price on anything in the place.  Their normal prices
arent bad either - $50ish for a steelcase desk, $55 for nice
sturdy office chairs, etc.

The trick is to go often and to make friends with the people
that *own* the used office furniture places. 8-)  I've gotten
to the point where I can call them up and say "hey Mike, I 
need a couple more tables for my garage" and he'll drop 
as many as I want by whenever he has a delivery in my part of
town, and pick up a check.  ("tables" being basically standard
office desks with no drawers; just the top on legs).

Bill

-- 
Bill Bradford
mrbill at mrbill.net
Austin, TX