Where can I look at lots and lots of computer desks? (Raleigh: rental, buying)

[Indigoblue]

We have very very specific computer desk needs (e.g. have to have enough space for a big box, tray wide enough for keyboard AND mouse, no silly shelf at foot level...) and would like to go somewhere that has the largest variety possible - mostly since we'll have to take our four boys with us and they are patient but it has its limits

PS. We are looking for small - medium sized desks with hutches made out of run-of-the-mill woods - function and longevity are key - we use our computer desks a loooooot

Thank you in advance

[tee-tee]

You might want to try the state surplus facility off Hillsborough St kind of west of Buck Jones. They have a ton of stuff, plus your kids can have fun. I can't say for certain they have something that meets your exact needs, but at times they have a wide variety for excellent prices.

NC State Surplus site

[gastric]

I recommend skipping Staples, Office Depot, and the like. Their furniture is low quality when it comes to durability. Thin pressboard sags under weight quickly and connectors can break fairly easy.

Instead, look at an actual office store. I'm not sure what's available in Raleigh but go to someplace that sells Steelcase and other office-quality products. Up here we have Boise Cascade where I've purchased a desk and great Steelcase chair. The chair was $350 with upgraded casters for hardwood. I'm still using it 8 years later after 50 hours a week in it and it's still very comfortable. I have a plain 48x30x30 gloss black desk I bought from them as well. No nicks, chips in the laminate. Heavy as anything and rock solid. No wobble, no sag. And that's after kids jump on it, climb on it, drop things on it, etc. I can't say the same for my Office Max office furniture which is sagging, now has some scrap wood screwed onto it to hold it together, has a lot of worn spots on the laminate top, and has a hanging door that falls off. I'm not confident it'll make the move to Raleigh later this month very well.

[lamishra]

I was going to recommend the State Surpluss as well. It's on the corner of 54 (where Hillsborough street continues to Cary) and Nowell Road.

[Indigoblue]

Thanks for the recs After spending hours looking at desks we ended up buying ours at Office Max hehe. They were exactly what we were looking for - lots of room to stretch out our legs, extra wide pull out keyboard/mouse tray, yada yada.

I wanted to give a shout out to two great used/new furniture stores we found.

One was www.thriftyofficefurniture.com in East Durham, just above RTP. They sell all kinds of wholesale priced office furniture (which they can also order from various fat glossy catalogs), as well as a vast number of second hand office desks, tables, chairs, partitions, filing cabinets, etc. We are likely going back to get a table we saw to use as a gaming table for our bonus room.

The other was off of 15/501 in SW Durham - http://aaronrentsfurniture.com/ They rent furniture to corporations, students, etc, as well as sell it (new) in their stores. Everything from desks to couches to beds. Then once their rental furniture gets a ding in it they sell it (again in the store). We got some gorgeous nightstands and chest of drawers for our master, and a table for the boys' bedroom for $300 total. Each piece has a weenie chip of wood missing from a corner. If that kind of thing doesn't bother you, check out these places

[gastric]

Good info Indigo! I love it when peeps post follow-ups with all the info they learn.