Everyone knows the “big 5″ (Staples, Office Depot, Office Max, Circuit City, Best Buy) can be a pain to deal with sometimes, but they fill an important niche by providing technology to the masses at a reasonable price. Just be prepared to deal with the hassles if you actually have to return something. ;-)

• Staples - Staples Holiday Center + Free Shipping on most orders over $50 - Posted on 11/15/09 and Expires on 12/26/09
• Staples - Free Delivery on most items w/ $50 Purchase - Posted on 8/7/08 and Expires on 12/31/15

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How to Choose the Right Office Chair

There are so many different types of office chairs available. From swivel task office chairs to an executive office chairs even ergonomic office chairs.

There are also low back, mid back and high back office chairs.

The options are endless from an office chair with adjustable arms or an office chair with no arms at all.

So how do you choose the office chair that is right for you?

Before choosing which office chair is right for your needs, first consider what are you going to be using the office chair for?

Are you purchasing an office chair for the work place or is this an office chair for your own use at home.

If you’re shopping for an office chair for the work place, consider the person’s position this office chair is for.

If you are looking for an office chair for someone whose in an authoritive position, like a C.E.O., President, or Manager. You would probably look for an office chair that states, “I am the boss!” This type of office chair would most likely fall in the category of an executive office chair. These types of office chairs usually have a high back are pillow soft or leather. It is important for this office chair to be very comfortable, especially when the person sitting in it is making important company decisions.

Maybe you need to purchase an office chair for a secretary or receptionist. Some factors to keep in mind for this type of purchase are how easy does the office chair move around?

Usually you would want to choose a swivel office chair. Swivel office chairs usually have the option of low, mid or high back. A swivel office chair is ideal for someone who needs to move around the desk a lot. Secretaries are constantly moving from the computer, to the fax machine, to answering the company phone. You may also want to consider an office chair with adjustable arms or an office chair with no arms at all. You wouldn’t want to restrict an employee who needs flexibility.

You should also consider how long you would be sitting in your office chair. For those who will be spending a long period of time in their office chair it is important to pick an office chair with the right lumbar support.

Maybe you need an office chair for someone who works in something like printing production. Quality assurance production requires someone to be in the same position for a long period of time. Usually those in this position have a high desk or work station. You would probably want an office chair with a high lift and excellent back support. Usually these office chairs are mid-back or high-back.

If you are purchasing an office chair for yourself at home consider your needs. What kind of back support do you require? There are office chairs that can be specially contoured to your own back. What color office chair best fits your décor? Office chairs come in a variety of colors from black to burgundy and many more. There are many different kinds of office chairs to choose from if you can clearly define your needs.

• Staples Cyber Monday Sale
• How Not to Put Together a Home Office

The Staples Cyber Monday Sale will go live on December 1, 2008. Until then here are the current coupons and deals at Staples:

• Staples - Staples Holiday Center + Free Shipping on most orders over $50 - Posted on 11/15/09 and Expires on 12/26/09
• Staples - Free Delivery on most items w/ $50 Purchase - Posted on 8/7/08 and Expires on 12/31/15

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• Staples Coupons
• How Not to Put Together a Home Office

My home office is still coming together… at a snail’s pace. Peter Cirigliano’s advice could’ve come a bit sooner for me:

Chris – About 8 or 9 months ago, I was looking to improve my home office. I was getting a new computer that had dual monitors and the slap-it-together-yourself hutch that I had would not accommodate that and provide desk space. I started looking at the mass merchandising places such as Staples, Office Depot, or Office Max and was disappointed with their offerings. In addition to the crappy fiberboard kits, they had modular systems that could be bought piece-wise and assembled, but the people selling them split their time selling paper clips, ballpoint pens, and other stuff – so no real competency was found. Moreover, the prices were fairly high when you finally cobbled something together and you had to cart and/or assemble yourself.

Instead, I found a local business that catered mostly to small and medium-sized businesses. The place operated out of what looked like a garage-like roll-up in an industrial part of town. However, office furniture was all they did and they knew their business and their product. They made useful suggestions and things for me to consider. In addition, they brought everything over, charged nothing extra for delivery (if order was over $500), assembled everything on-site drilling cable access holes where I needed them, placing pencils draws and keyboard slide precisely where I wanted them, and removed my old hutch to the garage. In the final analysis, they were cheaper than what I would have paid for– even more so when you consider the value-added service and the higher quality material that comprised the furniture. (Since they sell to businesses and offices, their furniture is more durable.)

While this place is too far from your residence, you may have similar types of businesses in your local area. Their “showroom” is abysmally dreary– mostly piles of assembled and unassembled furniture and chairs in a garage setting– but you probably don’t want to pay for the slick store layout of the mass-merchandising outlets, anyway. Better to use that lower overhead and put it into better quality and individual service. I suggest, if you are still in the market, that you seek out one of these places instead.

No, I’m still licking my open office (not to be confused with OpenOffice) wounds. I’ve got another email into Office Depot corporate, as they recently responded to my earlier request with two wholly incorrect order numbers. Unimpressive.

• What Does Your Computer Desk Look Like?
• Microsoft Office 2010 Comparison Screencast
• Microsoft Office 2010 Screencast
• Office Max Coupons
• Office Depot Coupons
• How Do You Put Together Your Home Office?
• Chris’ Desk
• Mac Office 2008 Alternatives
• Buying a Desk
• My Home Office