Q:
How long will it take my furniture to arrive after it has been
ordered?
A:
Furniture leadtimes vary depending on the manufacturer and what
was ordered. Leadtimes can vary from 2-3 days up to 12 weeks
or more. The average leadtime is between 4-6 weeks. Once
the furniture arrives in the warehouse we will call and schedule
a convenient
time for your installation, if it had not been predetermined
upon time of ordering.
Q:
Our company is planning to move to a new location and is looking
at many
different available spaces. We don’t have an exact
date for the move yet, nor have a specific floor-plan. At what
point should I contact you to start looking at furniture?
A: As soon
as possible. We will help you with space-planning, at no charge.
We will help you determine whether a space will fit
your current and future needs, if walls should come down or go
up, how to re-use your existing furniture to save money, and/or
what new furniture configurations will best work best for you and
focus on furniture that will meet your deadline. You will find
that your needs will not vary greatly with the space – but
how you can meet those needs can be accomplished in numerous ways.
With our experience and expertise, we can save you time and money
by quickly determining which locations will work for you.
Q: How long does the process take from the time I start looking
at furniture until the time it is installed?
A: That depends entirely on you and your situation. Realistically,
the average process can take 3-6 months, or longer. It is never
too early to start looking, learning about your options, and getting
ideas for creative ways to use your space. However, if you need
furniture immediately, we do have a variety of quick-ship options
that can typically be delivered in as little as a few days up to
2-3 weeks time.
Q:
I need to order office furniture and I don’t even know
where to begin. What should I do first?
A: Call us!
That’s what we’re here for. We will walk
you through all the steps and make sure you understand what you’re
getting, how much it will cost, and how long it will take to complete.
We’ll talk to you about your goals, learn about your workflow
and how your company works to help you come up with a solution
that you are comfortable with, both financially and aesthetically.
Q: What kind of warranty does the furniture carry?
A: Most of the furniture carries at least a 10 year limited or
lifetime warranty. All the furniture we sell is commercial grade
quality and you should not have any problems, but in the event
that something does go wrong, simply call or email us and we will
coordinate everything for you.
Q:
If I receive my furniture and decide that I don’t like
it or need it, can it be returned?
A: Unfortunately all the furniture is made-to-order to your specifications
and therefore cannot be returned. This is why we invest so much
time with you on the front end doing our best to ensure you will
be happy with your purchase.
Q: Do you have a showroom where I can see the furniture?
A: Due to the
number of manufacturers that we carry, and that new items become
available all the time, it isn’t practical
for us to have a showroom. To save you money (by keeping a lower
overhead), we utilize the manufacturers’ showrooms, which
are located around the Baltimore/DC metro areas, should you wish
to see something in person. We also have installations we can take
you to. We do have a sample chair program that is available for
you to try out chairs at no charge.
Q:
Your website mentions “test driving” a chair. What
does this mean?
A: While we cannot provide samples of every chair, we do try to
keep some of the most popular chairs on hand. Just let us know
what you are looking for and we will bring out a couple of chairs
for you to try out for a few days. We strongly believe in trying
chairs out before you buy them.
Q: When I look at the wood desks and laminate desks, some of them
look the same. What is the difference?
A: The difference
is what material the desk is made from, and some products can
use a combination of both wood and laminate.
There are benefits to both products. Laminate products are generally
more durable (think kitchen counter) and can look very much like
wood if you choose that option. Wood products are made of wood
veneer, which gives a rich, warm feel, and have more “depth” than
the laminate, but are also more susceptible to scratches. Wood
veneer will generally cost more than its laminate alternative.
The best way to decide is to consider your budget and use of the
furniture. We can also make recommendations for you.
Q: Does the color I choose affect the cost?
A: In general,
no. Some fabric items, such as seating or modular panels, will
have what are called “grades” of fabric
that will correlate to higher prices, however there are generally
10 or more options within each grade of fabric, so you can still
have many options without paying more. Also, if you choose to do
a custom finish or fabric, that can affect pricing. As we meet
and discuss your needs and budget, we will be able to help steer
you in the best direction to get the look you want at a price you
can afford.
Q: Do you guarantee lowest pricing?
A: We work
hard to keep our overhead costs low to save you money and we
offer very competitive pricing, however we cannot guarantee
that it is always going to be the lowest. We believe it’s
the value added services we provide, such as space-planning, design,
and the high level of personal, hands-on customer service, that
keeps our customers coming back and referring us to others. However,
if you have current pricing on a project and would like to see
if we can save you money, please don’t hesitate to contact
us. We’ll do our best to save you money without sacrificing
quality, design, or service.
Q: Do you have a catalog that I can look at with pricing?
A: We have
such a large offering, it’s not possible to put
together such a catalog without severely limiting your choices.
We found that catalogs that show one particular brand of furniture
are geared to get you to buy from that particular company, whether
or not it will best fits your needs. This is why we have the online
picture gallery, and have links directly to the manufacturer’s
websites so you can see the vast array of furniture available.
We do not show pricing because each manufacturer offers different
discounting, and often the discounting offered can vary with the
amount of furniture purchased. Some furniture that may look the
same can vary greatly in price. Also, factors such as whether there
are freight charges, and delivery and installation situations,
can all vary the price. We like to be honest and straightforward,
but never want to be misleading. If you need pricing or assistance
in preparing a budget, just give us a call we can help you do that.
Q:
How can I determine a budget for my furniture purchase if I
can’t
see pricing on your website?
A: Just give
us a call and let us do the work for you! Usually with just a
phone call or e-mail we can get all the information
you need. Generally within just a few days we can have budget pricing
for you, often with various options (such as laminate versus wood)
for consideration. Remember, we’re here to help save you
time and money, so relax and let us do the work for you!
Q: Your site says that you always discount for your customers.
What does this mean?
A: We purchase
directly from the manufacturers so there aren’t
any “middlemen”. This gives us the ability to sell
to you at steep discounts. The discounting varies from manufacturer
to manufacturer, and can sometimes be affected by the size of the
order, though not always. We work with you to always get you the
best pricing available.
Q: Your site shows comments made by customers. Am I able to contact
any of your customers for a reference?
A: Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. About 90% of our business
comes from referrals and repeat business.
Q:
I’ve
considered going to the local office supply store to purchase
furniture for our office. What is the difference between
the furniture you sell and what is available there?
A: Most office
supply stores sell furniture that is meant or geared towards
home offices or “light” use. Generally the
warranties are not as good and assembly is required. In addition,
the furniture available is often a stocked item, and cannot be
easily matched should it become discontinued. They generally do
not offer space planning or design services and only have limited
selections, which may not be the best option for you or best value
for your money. It really is not comparable furniture at all, and
will most likely need to be replaced in just a year or two compared
to the average lifetime of our furniture, which is about 15-20
years.
We look at
furniture as a long-term investment in your company’s
productivity, not a quick fix. The upfront costs of investing in
quality commercial grade furniture are worth the peace of mind
knowing that you won’t have to replace the furniture again
for 15+ years. All the furniture we sell meets or exceeds AMSI/BIFMA
standards.
In the unlikely event that a problem arises, all you have to do
is call us and we will take care of it. Should you find yourself
needing to move or expand, we will also have a record of all your
furniture to help you reconfigure to your new space and match your
new furniture to your existing furniture. Remember, the look of
your office not only affects how your customers see you, it also
affects the morale of the people working there.