Price or quality: how to compare the real cost of office furniture (useful life, warranty, spare parts)

Compare office furniture by its cost per year of use, not by the ticket price: purchase price plus expected replacement parts, divided by the years it will last full-time. With that in mind, for an 8-hour position, a synchronous chair with a 3-year warranty and spare parts available is almost always suitable, even if it costs more than one for occasional use. This guide explains the calculation, what to ask the supplier, and when retail is enough.

What is the cost per year of use?

It is the formula that makes two different prices comparable:

Cost per year = (purchase price + expected spare parts over useful life) ÷ expected years of use

An example with letters, so as not to depend on prices that change: chair A costs P and is expected to last 3 years full-time; Chair B costs 2P and is expected to last 8 years with a change of wheels and a piston along the way. Chair A costs P ÷ 3 per year; B, (2P + spare parts) ÷ 8. As long as the spare parts cost less than two-thirds of P, chair B is cheaper per year even if it costs twice as much.

It's the same with desks: a 25mm MDF top with high-pressure laminate on a steel frame lasts longer than a thin board with lightweight legs, and withstands the office being disassembled and reassembled on another floor.

How much does a full-time office chair cost?

To give the example in pesos, these are the starting points of the Dunati price list by category, rounded down. The sale to companies is by quote, and the final value depends on the quantity and configuration.

If the position is used 8 hours a day, aim for a chair with an adjustable seat depth and adjustable lumbar, like the Axis: these are the adjustments that are noticeable in the afternoon, and the price difference, spread over the years of use, is less than it appears on the bill.

What components are used up first?

On a chair, the usual order of wear is: wheels, height piston, seat upholstery, arms and, much later, the mechanism and frame. On a desk or chest of drawers: slides, locks, levelers and edge covers. Therefore, rather than "how long does it last?", the question that is useful is "what is replaced and how much does it cost?"

Dunati maintains spare parts for the chairs it assembles in Chile: armrests, mechanisms, mesh backrests, star bases, wheels and pistons, for example for Axis, Grace, Cooper and Aquila. After the warranty, only the damaged part is replaced, and themaintenance servicemaintains availability of pistons, wheels and mats for its lines. A piece of furniture that is repaired spreads its price over more years.

What does the warranty cover and how is it used?

Ask for the warranty by product family, not a single number: a store that says "warranty" without saying what or for how long is not saying anything comparable. In Dunati it is like this:

The legal guarantee of Law 19,496 runs separately and is not replaced. To use it, write to info@dunati.com with the order number and details of the case; Photos are requested, Dunati technicians validate the failure and an executive confirms the procedure before moving the product. Pay attention to this when comparing: the guarantee is worth what the process to make it effective is worth.

How do you know if a chair can last 8 hours a day?

There are three tests that do not depend on the seller's word:

• The certification.The ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 standard tests the resistance of office chairs. In the Dunati catalog it is declared, according to its technical sheet, by Axis, Amara, Aquila, Eros, Grace, Midas and Cooper, among others. Ask for the details of the chair you are comparing.
• The settings.Synchronous locking mechanism, lumbar support and adjustable seat depth separate an 8-hour chair from one for occasional use.
• The actual use.Try it sitting for more than a few minutes. Dunati lends chairs to companies to evaluate them before purchasing (coordinates with the advisor), and in the Vitacura showroom there are several office models on display, including Axis, Grace, Cooper, Aquila and Amara.

What to ask before buying office furniture?

1. How many years of warranty does each family have?(chairs, desks, storage) and how is it made effective?
2. Are there spare parts, which ones, and can only the damaged part be changed?
3. Will the model still be available?When the team grows and we have to add ten equal positions?
4. How thick is the cover and what gauge is the steel?“25mm MDF with high pressure laminate on 1.5mm steel” is a given; "resistant" is not.
5. What upholstery does the chair have, how many Martindale cycles does it withstand, what density is the foam and does it hold up to disinfectants?
6. Does it have certification declared in its technical sheet?
7. Who installs the furniture and who is responsible for after-sales?A single person in charge saves weeks when something goes wrong.
8. Is there a technical sheet?If there isn't, there is nothing to compare with.

When is retail appropriate and when is a project supplier?

Both options have their place, and the cost per year account helps you choose:

• Department stores, home improvement stores, and marketplacesThey are suitable for a few units, occasional use or a home office that is not used for 8 hours. You buy it today, it arrives soon, and if it lasts three years it will do. The warranty and spare parts depend on each seller.
• An office equipment supplierIt is convenient when there are several positions, intensive use and plans to grow: it quotes by volume, provides technical sheets, proposes the layout in plan and 3D, installs the furniture and responds to the warranty and spare parts with a single interlocutor.

The signal to move from one to the other is this: when the cost of a piece of furniture failing (a person without a chair, a drawer that doesn't close at the reception) outweighs the difference in price.

What does Dunati make and why does it matter for cost?

Dunati manufactures covers, melamine storage and custom furniture in Chile; The metal structures are imported and the chairs are assembled in Chile with imported components, while the sofas, armchairs and booths are of imported international design. For the cost per year that weighs on two things: what is made here can also be made to measure, without buying extra to fill, and the chairs that are assembled here have their parts on hand when something wears out.

How to renovate an office without changing everything?

Before replacing, check what is being repaired: pistons, wheels, mechanisms and armrests on the chairs, worn upholstery, covers in good condition that can be used again in the new layout. Ask that the plant proposal start from an inventory of what is preserved, and buy only what is missing. The furniture with the lowest cost per year is the one you already have, repaired and well located.

Which stores have a good price-quality ratio in office furniture in Chile?

It depends on the use. For few units and occasional use, department stores and marketplaces; for full-time positions, a supplier of office equipment with a family guarantee, spare parts and technical sheets, such as Dunati.

How do you calculate the real cost of an office chair?

Purchase price plus expected spare parts, divided by years of full-time use.

What warranty does Dunati furniture have?

3 years on chairs, sofas, armchairs, armchairs, poufs and booths, and 5 years on desks, storage, tables and receptions, in addition to the legal guarantee of law 19,496.

Can you buy spare parts for the chairs?

Yes. Dunati maintains spare parts for its chairs (armrests, mechanisms, backrests, bases, wheels and pistons) and, after the warranty, only the damaged part is replaced.

Does Dunati manufacture your furniture?

It manufactures covers, melamine storage and custom furniture in Chile; The metal structures are imported and the chairs are assembled in Chile with imported components.

How much does it cost to renew office furniture?

It depends on the positions, the product families and what is kept. Sales to companies are by quote.

Where can you see the products?

In the showroom at Av. Vitacura 6577, Vitacura, Santiago, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with parking. The visit can be coordinated at +56 9 8583 5709.