Take a tour of the dealer's facilities, if possible. Check out the manufacturing areas, customer service department, and warehouse to get an idea of the size of the operation. Not every cubicle dealer has a show room - but you should take advantage of those that do. Seeing different types of cubes in person lets you make direct comparisons of different brands, sizes, and extras. Looking at disassembled cubes in a warehouse won't give you the same opportunity.

Reputation and longevity do matter in systems furniture. For even a small-to-mid-sized company, you'll be spending tens of thousands of dollars on important business equipment that should last ten or twenty years. It's not worth saving a few dollars to risk doing business with a company that might not be around in five years, or with one that won't be able to provide the ongoing support you need.

A good work cubicle dealer will take a consultant's approach to your business: they'll work with you to address problems, explain their proposals, and even offer you tips on how to get more for your money. Dealers who simply try to sell you as much as possible or pressure you into unnecessary upgrades should be avoided.

You may want to focus on local dealers. Due to their size and weight, systems furniture components are quite expensive to ship, so unless you get an excellent deal, you'll usually wind up paying more for systems from outside your area.

Some questions to ask of potential work cubicle dealers:

·  What will happen if the systems don't work as they're supposed to?

· Who does your installations? (You're likely to get somewhat better service if they have their own installation teams, instead of third-party contractors.)

·What brands do you specialize in, and how did you choose them? How long have you carried them?

·How much of your business is based on referrals?

·When can you do installation work - early, late, or on weekends?

·How long will it take to install? Will the installation disrupt day-to-day operations?

·Comparison shop. Compare new and used furniture prices, warranties and service options. Never assume you're saving money just because you're buying used goods.

· Check the dealer's reputation. Make sure the dealer has solid references. Ask to see their finished products in another customer's environment.

· Work with experienced dealers. Look for a vendor that works with the product lines that interest you. If you want to purchase remanufactured Herman Miller furniture, find a remanufacturer that has experience working with their product lines.

Get a warranty. There are no industry wide standards, but many furniture remanufacturers will match the original warranty.