About Liquidated Office Equipment

When a company goes bankrupt or suddenly must close its doors without the time or funding to pay its bills, the creditors sell the office equipment through a liquidating company. Businesses that upgrade, downsize or relocate often call in liquidators to buy their used equipment instead of trying to resell it themselves. Sometimes an auction is held on the premises, or liquidators may bring the furniture and electronics to a warehouse. Purchasing liquidated office equipment can be a great deal for a start-up or other business looking to save resources.

What Liquidators Sell

Liquidators sell desks, chairs, filing cabinets and computers. Fax machines, telephones and other reusable furniture and electronics often are available through liquidators. Liquidation specialists clean up the used equipment and resell it for a profit. They check the operations of any electronics and make necessary repairs.

Where to Find Them

Liquidated office equipment is available through online liquidation companies such as the Furniture Wholesale Group and A-Z Computer Liquidators, companies that will ship nationwide. Their online catalogs provide pictures and prices. Most large cities have a local liquidator that advertises auctions or operates out of a warehouse that is open to the public. Wholesale liquidators provide furniture and electronics to retailers for resale. They offer pallets and truckloads of mixed offerings, which usually provide resellers with deals for pennies on the dollar.

Function

Companies such as Herman Miller, Steelcase and HON make office furniture to last for decades. Whether buying from a company that went under or from a firm that is upgrading its look, the used products usually are in good working condition. Small adjustments, such as fixing stuck drawers or touching up scratches on file cabinets, can make the furniture look like new, for a fraction of the cost. Electronics should be purchased from a reputable liquidator that is known for its quality used equipment.

Considerations

New business owners should consider liquidated office equipment to save on start up costs. Small or large businesses that are growing can easily accommodate the costs of that growth by buying used office furniture. Particularly when image is not an important factor in a company's operation, used office equipment makes a lot of sense. Liquidated office equipment is another way to help the environment by keeping that excess equipment out of local landfills.

How

Rent a truck to visit local liquidators and used furniture outlets to take the equipment immediately and save on delivery. Most liquidators have in-house or contracted delivery teams to deliver the products and set them up. Consider hiring professionals when purchasing used cubicle systems, as they can be complicated to set up. Most liquidators also offer professional design services that can measure a space to make sure the furniture purchased fits in the office.

Resources

• Furniture Wholesale Group
• A-Z Computer Liquidators