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Good bets on where to find the best bargains and greatest selection

Home office veterans may remember the days when buying a desk or chair meant foraging through the dusty office furniture reseller store located downtown. Once there, you'd likely find repossessed commercial furniture from a defunct company. A little ding there, a small scratch here--what did it matter that the oversize green metal desk in your price range wasn't in perfect condition, or that it didn't match your decor?

Fortunately, in the 1990s, office supply superstores sprouted up everywhere, selling affordable, brand-new, ready-to-assemble furniture, ergonomic chairs, and durable file cabinets--all designed to fit residential spaces and the growing needs of the home office professional.

Since then, the industry has flourished, and retailers, online sites, and catalogs are tripping over each other to sell you the latest and greatest in home office furniture. If you're like most people, you'll play it safe and go to the office superstore where, no doubt, you'll find a great selection to fit your budget and decor. But it might be worth your time and money to be a little more adventurous and look beyond the superstore to other retailers, e-tailers, and catalog houses that stock distinctive home office furniture.

Home office furniture emporia can be roughly divided into four categories to suit the four types of shopper:

Full-Service Retail stores are your best bet if you prefer to see, sit on, and test-drive the furniture before you buy. Your options include office supply superstores (such as Staples, Office Depot, and Office Max), traditional furniture stores (such as Ethan Allen), and "lifestyle" stores (such as Crate & Barrel).

Some Hand-Holding If you don't need to touch before you purchase, yet crave a live voice to answer questions about the furniture you're interested in buying, catalog shopping is the way to go. Turn back the corners of a catalog page and mull over your decision for a few days, then shop whenever you like.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:43 AM