How to create a better office environment with furniture, supplies, and products

As you may remember I decided to try and find out if the Freecycle Network is a good way to get office supplies. As you might also recall, I had to sign up for an account before I could see the goods.

I’m all signed up. As also previously mentioned I don’t enjoy when groups like the ones found at Yahoo, make you sign up for an account simply so that you can read posts. Here’s a good example of why; after I got myself signed up for an account I headed to my email box to check for further instructions. This Freecycle group had sent me no less than eight emails. Eight! I don’t know about you busy workers but I get a lot of email. I don’t need that much extra. The good news is that it all came at once and I haven’t gotten anymore.

Now let’s check out the goods. This particular group for my hometown seems pretty busy. There are 204 new messages since yesterday. It looks like if you have a good moderator (which this group seems to) it’s fairly easy to follow the list. Everything is either a “Wanted” or an “Offer” so you know what you’re looking at.  They also switch offer to “Taken” once someone claims an item.

I went through the last three days of messages (oh, the things I do to find an office deal) and here are the office minded supplies that were up for grabs.

Remember all the stuff at Freecycle is completely free; you just have to go pick it up.

• Bookshelf
• Office chair
• Business clothing for women
• Computer Desk x 3
• Metal office desk & file cabinet
• Three way desk lamp

From a three day sampling I’d say that this is pretty good. Four desks alone are surprising. I wasn’t expecting to see so many. The other deal is that there were other items available that could be office related, depending on how you use them. Items like coffee can (storage), mirrors, plants, and an assortment of other miscellaneous items that someone with a little imagination could use it an office setting.

The down side I’m seeing is that some of these items need a bit of TLC but it’s free, recycled, and doing a little restoration work never killed anyone.

I’m going to have to recommend Freecycle as a very good place to get office supplies. The benefits of getting items here are too good to pass up. If you take an item that’s one less landfill item (always good). The negatives I can see is if you have to drive too far to pick up a small item it may not be worth your time and also consider safety. As far as driving to a complete stranger’s home to pick up an office chair; be careful. If possible I suggest setting up a public meeting place or taking a buddy along with you.

If you want to sign on with your local Freecycle group visit the Freecycle Network. It’s highly possible at a busy group to furnish your whole office and get some supplies to boot.

While we’re here, I thought I’d share the weirdest items up for grabs at my local group.

• Cute bunny (not stuffed, real!)
• Tin full of assorted diet candy bars
• Door handle
• Large zucchini

Give it a try. Free office supplies are a pretty great deal. And if you like bunnies, this is an even better deal.