Best value for money is a topic that I love to write about. It does not matter what you are looking for, the chances are there are dozens, if not hundreds of suppliers and brands for you to choose from. Then, there will be those companies that like to differentiate themselves from the competitors with fancy websites, packaging and more importantly prices.

Knowing the product you are looking for, and understanding the features you actually need are crucial to pay a fair price on the product. If you are in the market for a sit-stand desk, or other high-priced item, this is even more important, as it is very easy to find brands and suppliers promising the best product ever and charging top dollars for it.

Keep reading this article if you are interested in the best sit-stand desk in Australia and do not want to pay more for it. Below are a few highlights of what I have found in the market to justify high prices.

Material of Construction

No doubt this is very important to guarantee the product is a long lasting one. Sturdy and reliable sit-stand desks definitely need to be made of good quality material. However, some brands overrate their material and charge more than they should for it.

I have seen slogans saying: “we give trees a second life in our sit-stand desk”, “the type of wood we use comes from South American forest, they need to be tough to survive in the wilderness, so they will last longer in your office”. Statements like this are untrue! The desk is likely to be kept in an office with controlled temperature and humidity. A good particle board (MDF) tabletop is more than enough to last years.

Curve Tabletops for the best user experience

Of all the important features that make a sit-stand desk a good one, the shape of the tabletop is definitely not one of them. The user is not supposed to touch the desk with his or her body, just with the arms leaning onto the top. I can admit it may look nice but nothing more than this.

Eco-Friendly Materials

We all do what is right, we all want to save the planet and use fewer natural resources. I can only imagine it is very hard to be eco-friendly if wood is the primary raw material to make the product. Unless the manufacturer is buying a large amount of raw wood to refine it itself, and demanding a certificate of origin, it is impossible to guarantee the wood that is being used is eco-friendly. However, it is so easy to write this statement and charge more for it.

What Features Really Matter

Obviously different brands will have different features, but a few of them are a must have, as they will make the sit-stand desk really useful and more importantly make your day at work healthier and more comfortable.

• Material Finishing – Features like anti-scratch, smooth edges, rounded corners, not only make the sit-stand desk look good, but it gives the user a nice touch, it also adds durability to the tabletop.

• Cable Management– A good sit-stand desk must come with space to run the cable through the desk frame. Life is busy and we often have two or three monitors, plus a keyboard and laptop on the table. The ability to hide all the cables that come with it is crucial.

• Electric Motor – There are some models that feature gas spring operation. It is not a bad feature, but a motorized motor makes a lot of difference in the daily use. Being able to move the desk up or down just by clicking a button will make the user’s life a lot easier. Besides, it allows you to have more advanced features. So I strongly suggest an electric sit-stand desk.

• Programmable Height Adjustment – If your sit-stand desk features an electric motor, and if it is a good brand, it will have programmable heights. It means you can pre-set your most comfortable height.

• Time Reminder – This is another unique feature of electric operated sit-stand desks. The benefit of this desk is not standing in front of the computer every day, instead it is the ability to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. It is easy to get caught up in the work and forget to sit or stand. Well, if your sit-stand desk has a timer reminder it is not a problem.

So, next time you are in the market to buy a sit-stand desk, do not get deceived by fancy and over price features that are not important and will do nothing to make your experience a better one. Stick to what is written above and get value for money.