Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Discount Desk & Office Supply, Inc.

The chair featured in this photo is an old Steelcase model (purchased used for $100 about 15 years ago). It died a painful wobbling death over the past couple of weeks. A replacement was in order.

A cheap chair is murder on my back, and a new Steelcase runs $800++, which (just as it was 15 years ago) is not within the budget here at The Offices of Erin O'Brien. Hence, I contacted an architectural associate of mine who specializes in office design and asked her if she knew of any good used office furniture places.

She referred me to Discount Desk & Office Supply.


Discount Desk & Office Supply is an unlikely shopping destination for some people.


There are a lot of used office chairs at Discount Desk & Office Supply.


The displays are at once patriotic and avant-garde.


Security is very tough at Discount Desk & Office Supply.


Terms of payment are clearly posted.


The bustling floral department:


While browsing, I heard a vaguely familiar sound. I investigated and found a ringing telephone. As shown in the following photo, the telecommunication department at Discount Desk & Office Supply has three lines, line #1 of which is in use.


The office supply department:


Self portrait courtesy of a used mirror on display:


The art department:


The maintenance department:


Understandably, Discount Desk & Office Supply has garnered a number of awards.


Here is the chair I purchased today:


It is a gently used Steelcase Sensor model, which retails new for about $850.

I paid $60.

This establishment is pure genius and I advise anyone in Northeast Ohio looking for great used office furniture to travel to Discount Desk & Office Supply at 8123 Carnegie Avenue (216-791-3375) before they go anywhere else.

Owner Steve Marks (shown right with staffers Roy [left] and Judge [center] said that he sometimes sells furniture directly from the parking lot. These Discount Desk & Office Supply convenient Economy Sales feature more experienced furniture.

"Say it's got a little stain or tear," said Marks. "We sell it for ten, maybe twenty bucks."

He also sells new furniture and caters to large clients. Be that as it may, Steve and the guys made me feel like my $60 chair transaction was the most important sale of 2009 and I will purchase every piece of office furniture at Discount Desk & Office Supply for the rest of my life.


People, this is how it's supposed to be.

* * *

20 comments:

(S)wine said...

thumbs up.

ahclem said...

If I weren't 2500 miles away, I'd be on my way to buy a chair there right now.

Wonderful post.

Alanna Klapp said...

Wow, I've been wanting a new chair for awhile now and it hasn't been in my budget, I think it may be worth the travel! Thanks Erin! This is a great post! Funny and informative!

Unknown said...

Unless walmart opens a used furniture division, theres one business they won't undersell.

Jen said...

ok, that's one of my favorite posts. awesome!

Julie, The Wife said...

Love it, love it, love it. That group of scissors looked menacing, but the men pictured looked nice. I am inspired to find a similar establishment in the Quad Cities, as I need a chair too!

Al Penwasser said...

Too funny!!

DogsDontPurr said...

Ohhh...I love places like that! Sometimes you can find some real treasures. And finding the perfect office chair...priceless!

e said...

Right up my street...Do they ship???

Jack Cluth said...

Well said...and how sad is it when we're reduced to celebrating what by all rights should be the norm- simple, decent, human customer service?

Amy L. Hanna said...

Could use a more proper desk chair (and chairmat) as well, will keep this place in mind.

Coll said...

The art department, with its blond paneling, dismal posters, and strategically-placed fire extinguisher looks a lot like my uncle's office when I was a kid. He was a used car salesman.

cherish said...

Erin, Please Marry Me! (Well, really not available in the U.S., but you get my drift.)

cherish said...

Oh, and you may already know this site, but for your readers:
http://www.govdeals.com/eas/

Erin O'Brien said...

Love the govdeals site, Cherish.

Seriously, if you are a NE Ohioan, this place is a must-see.

They have it all. I'm pretty sure Discount Desk can set you up with a chair or file cabinet or whatever you need no matter what your budget is.

Glass Houses said...

I love love love local businesses like this. And I love love love pre-owned items. I try to think about who may have used them, and why, and when, and all that. Endlessly fascinating.

Erin O'Brien said...

I am hoping the previous owner of this chair did not suffer from severe flatulence.

Deodand said...

Febreeze removes all sins.

Anonymous said...

I bought an indestructible metal desk there that got me all through college and into my 'professional' life. Can't even remember now when I got rid of it. Given how heavy it was, I probably left it behind during a move.

One of the first stores I visited when I moved to Western Mass was the used office furniture store. Treasures troves, one and all.

discount furniture stores said...

I agree and will bookmark this page and be back to follow you more.