A few weeks ago, Theo was looking for a desk and took us to a used office furniture outlet he had found. The store was located in an old warehouse district and used to be some kind of a factory. The building had four floors each filled with buyouts obviously from offices that had closed. There were desks, chairs, file cabinets, and every other thing that could have been in an office. Interestingly enough, it was also an art gallery. Around the high ceilings, sagging steps, and brick walls were hanging paintings from local artists for sale.
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The store had one employee who greeted us when we came in and said that we could explore on our own. I don't know if that was because we looked trustworthy or that she didn't want to leave her space heater because the building had no heat. We began our way up the stairs and discovered that each floor was dark until we turned on the lights. We spent our time winding among the mazes of stuff, calling out when we found something interesting. Some of it was interesting because it was really old or seemed out of place like the panty hose we found, and sometimes it was interesting because it might be a potential item for purchase.
Theo eventually did find a desk to fit his needs and Ward and I found two office chairs we wanted. Now how to get them to the car from the fourth floor? After we found the store employee, she got the building's old freight elevator working for us. When we got them to the first floor, the desk and chairs were awkwardly loaded from the old loading dock to our car.
It turned out to be a fun and interesting couple of hours. We were happy that we shopped there because we felt we got a better bargain than we would have at most other places. Later I wondered if that was because we had to work for our purchase in a place that appeared to have a very low overhead. Of course, a smart shopper knows their prices no matter where they are shopping, but I wonder if sometimes we can get caught in the idea of a good deal in a place where we think we should be getting one?
Are you ever influenced by the place you are shopping whether it is really fancy or just bare bones?
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| This sign assured me that we were getting good prices. :) |
I think the shopper's mindset can go wither way. Some people, shopping in a high-end place will be more inclined to make a purchase, because they think they're getting quality. While other people, shopping second -hand in a bargain basement environment, will be inclined to make a purchase because they think they're getting a deal. Environment has a big influence for a lot of folks shopping, and savvy retailers know this about us!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you guys found some pieces that will work for you!
Lili,
DeleteGood point about retailers knowing the human nature of shopping traits and using them to their advantage. It just makes sense because they are a business after all trying to turn a profit. However, it's our duty to not be overly influenced by them.
What an awesome store! I'm slightly envious :)
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty awesome. I was kind of sorry that I didn't need more things.
DeleteI love that sign. Just because something is used doesn't mean we can bargain it down to nearly nothing. They do have overhead and you never know what they had to pay for the item to begin with. I too am envious, only not because I want to shop but because I would like to have my own shop full of found items to sell with room for them.
ReplyDeleteI think you will eventually get your shop. I know you could fill it easily with your creative fixes of your finds.
DeleteI like a little of "quality" stores and also quirky stores. A few years ago we had a furniture outlet store in a similar setting to what you describe--unheated warehouse style. Unfortunately it's gone out of business but at the time they had higher-end scratch-and-dent furniture. I bought our entertainment center there (it's an armoire style with retractable doors--I know, I know, not "cool" anymore, but I wanted to be able to close the door on our TV/DVD player and not have that be the focus of our living room, since we don't have a family room to put this stuff in!). We didn't have to move things down stairs but getting that heavy beast out was difficult!
ReplyDeleteWe have a armoire style entertainment center also, but we're not moving it back it in. It was okay for our old house, but has always been too big for the room it's been in here. I'm not sure what we're going to do with it. Even though it's very good quality, no one seems to want it. I was at a thrift store the other day and they had one on sale for $29. I guess they really aren't "cool" anymore. Who knew?
DeleteHave you ever been to Second Storey (or Story) Books in RV? It has a similar (awesome) vibe.
ReplyDeleteI have been there, but not for a long time. Yes, it is a great place.
DeleteLooks like a fun place! And yes, the sign would make me feel like I was getting a good price!
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun place with something for everyone. My husband enjoyed looking at all of the building architecture as much as anything else.
DeleteThat looks like a great store and I bet the furniture is much more sturdy and long-lasting than the cheap furniture sold new these days :)
ReplyDeleteGood point about the furniture being sturdy. Several years ago, we got a file cabinet from an old office. Since then, we have never been able to find one of as good as that one. For those of us out in the casual world, they just don't make things very well sometimes.
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