How to Buy a Cheap Computer Chair

Sitting in a bad posture makes an ergnomic computer chair nearly useless.

People who spend many hours seated at a computer need a good quality, ergonomic chair that can properly support the body. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the four most important elements of a computer chair include the backrest, seat, armrest and base (legs and wheels). Many find that expensive chairs include superfluous features, such as massaging beads, that unnecessarily inflate the price. Armed with the knowledge of what comprises an ergonomic computer chair, easily go about finding the cheapest chair that fits within your budget.

Instructions

1. Visit a major office supply store to find cheap computer chairs. The largest retailers are Staples, OfficeMax and Office Depot, at the time of publication. Ask an office furniture sales specialist at the store for assistance with finding a cheap, ergonomic chair. Alternatively, navigate to the office supply retailer's website. Use the filters on the Web page to sort computer chairs by the features important to your comfort. Then, use the pricing filters to bring up the cheapest chair.

2. Read local newspaper circulars and sales advertisements to find cheap computer chairs from a variety of stores. Many retailers publish the best sales -- or the cheapest price -- in the weekend edition of the newspaper. Alternatively, visit the online website for retailers, such as Walmart, Target and Kmart. In fact, most of the nation's largest retailers publish their sales via the ShopLocal website. Type the term "computer chair" in the search box on ShopLocal's site and the Web page lists the results from local store sales. Other comparison websites include Shopzilla and PriceGrabber.

3. Navigate to online marketplaces to find computer chairs. These companies include Amazon.com, Buy.com and Ebay. After searching from a wide variety of computer chairs you can place the order online and then have your purchase shipped to your home -- in some cases with free shipping.

4. Attend federal, state and local auctions to find cheap computer chairs. In many cases, the furniture is used, but it is still functional and in fairly good condition. The auction might offer high-end computer chairs at a steep discount. Also, visit local the Goodwill, Salvation Army or other thrift stores to find used, but often refurbished computer chairs.

Tips & Warnings

• Download a comprehensive computer workstation checklist from OSHA's website, which includes information about buying a desk, keyboard and personal computer monitor (see Resources).

• Double-check that a new or used office chair has not been recalled. Besides mechanical failure, the fabric and leather materials in a computer chair can emit harmful chemicals that might have adverse affects on your health.

References

• United States Department of Labor: OSHA Ergonomic Solutions: Chairs
• National Institutes of Health: Office of Research Services: An Ergonomic Chair?
• CNN Money; Will Office Superstores Be the Next Retailiers to Fall?; Mina Kimes; March 2011
• ShopLocal: Company Overview

Resources

• United States Department of Labor: OSHA Ergonomic Solutions: Computer Workstations eTool: Checklists
• ConsumerReports.org; Is Your Leather Sofa Making Your Sick?; Don Mays; May 2009
• ShopLocal
• USA.gov: Government Sales and Auctions
• Forbes.com: Best of the Web: Comparison Shopping