• Extract raw materials and transport them to the manufacturing plant
• Process them into usable form
• Produce entirely new furniture
• Manage waste byproducts of the manufacturing process
• Distribute the end product from a manufacturing site to dealers and finally to customers

Recycled Cubicles Don’t Trash the Environment

If you visit our Green Cubicles page, you will learn that approximately 500 pounds of waste material is saved from ending up in the landfill for every cubicle that is recycled. High quality workstations can be refurbished over and over to extend their lifespan for decades. That’s a great reason to not only purchase used office furniture but also to encourage fellow business owners make the same smart choice.

Small businesses are as likely as large ones to go shopping for pre-owned office furniture. This means companies looking to sell their old furnishings to a dealer don’t have to have an enormous fleet of cubicles to make a deal. Just 10 matching pieces (desks, chairs, or workstations) is enough to make it worth a dealer’s while to offer a competitive quote. There’s also the possibility of using old furniture as a “trade in” when you purchase new or upgraded office furniture.

Accurate Inventory – Label each part prior to or during disassembly. This is especially important if not all of your cubicle models are identical. Use masking tape and only stick it to areas where it won’t leave an unsightly adhesive residue after removal. Make a full list of how many cubes you have – including sizes and accessories (work surfaces, shelving, etc).

Protection – When possible, layer panels between cardboard or moving blankets. This will keep metal and laminate surfaces from being scratched. Keep fabric panels away from sunlight or they may fade. Secure the stored panels firmly in place so they don’t fall over and injure an employee.

Does the owner know the brand?

The first question you should ask is about the furniture brand. If you buy high quality cubicles like Steelcase, Teknion, or Herman Miller second hand, they might easily have another decade of use in them. An off-brand that was originally constructed out of cheap materials may be falling apart already.

If you can get the collection name too, you will have a better idea whether the cubicles for sale will fit your office space. Not all designs are rectangular. Some can be configured in a honeycomb format that actually saves room while making each workstation feel larger. These are an especially good deal.

What’s included?

The seller should be willing to offer accurate information on what’s included in the deal. When some people use the term “cubicle”, they mean an entire workstation with overhead storage and a desk. Others are just referring to the panels. That’s an important point to clarify so you know if the pricing is high or low.

If the owner has kept their original packing slip from when the cubicles were first purchased, this makes a handy inventory checklist. Ask the seller if there are any parts missing. If so, you will need to negotiate a lower price to make up for the pieces you will need to buy from the manufacturer as replacements.

Are There Photos?

To save you and the seller both some time, it makes sense to view sample photos before you arrange to look at the cubicles for sale in person. Inquire about the overall condition and ask for close ups of a few areas of wear and tear or damage so you can see if refurbishing is required.

Calculate Total Cost

Once you have determined the condition of the cubicles, you can compare the pricing to similar items for sale by local used office furniture dealers. Remember that the cost and time involved in breaking down, transporting, and reassembling the cubicles will probably fall on you when buying directly from the previous owner. If you don’t have the experience or equipment to handle this, you will need to hire professionals to help out. This can make a difference in whether or not you are really getting a bargain.

Folks looking for items that are compatible with their existing systems might have better luck trying the manufacturer. Of course, that does mean paying full price. Plus, you’re out of luck if a particular component has been discontinued. If you are seeking specific parts for your older cubicle systems, San Diego used office furniture dealers who know all the best places to look might be able to source these for you. That’s a good approach to try if you don’t feel like placing an ad and taking your chances on an online transaction with someone you’ve never met.

He developed this concept to explore the idea that folks in Western societies feel most comfortable interacting with each other in a work setting. To quote JP, “By placing a work related object in the public space I created a “safe zone” for people to socialize and/or network without feeling awkward.” It certainly had the desired effect!

Used furniture is even more cost effective than refurbished. It’s an excellent choice if you can find components that blend well with your existing decor. That’s one of the reasons we like the Reff collection. Classic, warm wood tones are a perfect match for lots of different work environments. One additional perk with these manager stations is the sliding door. It turns a simple cubicle into an instant office for your mid-level employees.

Boulevard

Take a stroll along a line of Boulevard cubes and you will see a system with remarkable flexibility. Height can be added without taking a workstation apart. Overpanels can simply be stacked up as high as you like. Need a change of color? The panel fabric can be replaced in-situ as well.

Data cabling can be fed through the metal raceway at the bottom. You can run additional cables up top through a removable cap; both channels may be connected with an optional vertical cable manager. The entire panel system is easy to reconfigure using the universal post and single “knuckle-loc” connectivity.

Transit

For an office that requires a broad range of choices for configuration, Transit is on the right track. The on/off modularity of this system allows you to position components such as storage, work surfaces, and power access at any point on the panel. This makes it simple for you to fit everything in place without paying extra for customization.

In addition to an astonishing range of materials and finishes, Transit offers even more choices when used in conjunction with other Teknion products. For example, the Lyft space division system integrates to give you extraordinary load bearing capacity. You can tap into this sturdy structure at 15” intervals to make full use of vertically configured components.

T/O/S

If you have an office furniture SOS, try Teknion’s T/O/S cubicles. This efficient system is designed with performance in mind. The simple, clean design of these panels can incorporate many different applications while simplifying inventory administration. Interchangeability is built in.

The frames for this panel system are noted for strength and durability. They also support plenty of cable capacity and make access readily available at work surface height. You can choose Elements panels to quickly update the look of your office environment at any time. Each side of these panels can feature a different design.

Even with the wood based nature of this system, it still meets Knoll’s high standards for sustainability. It also doesn’t leave anything out when it comes to handling your technical needs. The Reff collection just makes high-tech look high-class. You can mix in glass, metals, fashionable textiles, and trims to create a vision of confident success for your office space.

Currell’s piece “In Out Again” features a row of identical cubes with overhead fluorescents shining their stark light over the commoditized workplace environment. Simon’s says he draws inspiration from his own experience as a call center employee. Art aficionados will no doubt find the repetitious nature of these telemarketing cubicle images reminiscent of Warhol’s famous soup can painting. The whole Currell collection is brilliant, so take a moment to browse – just don’t get lost in the maze!