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Frequently Asked Questions
This section of our site is aimed at helping with many of your initial
questions. We are continually updating this based upon requests and questions
that are sent to us. You can also ask any further questions on our on-line
school furniture quotation form
(click here) (please see our
contact us page for further information).
Questions - click on the headings below and then the questions
to see the answers:
* Company background
* Quotation
* Ordering
* Special requirements
* Set up and usage
Company background - click on the questions below
to see the answers:
* Where is the furniture manufactured?
* How is the furniture distributed?
* Why is the furniture of such high quality?
* How long have you been manufacturing furniture for schools?
* Where in the UK do you deliver?
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Quotation questions - click on the questions below
to see the answers:
* We have a small room but need to fit a lot of children
around the desks, is there a solution?
* Are site surveys free?
* I have an odd shaped room and it is difficult to measure,
how can I get prices?
* We are not in the UK, how can we get Varitech furniture?
* Can I get a quote?
* I'm not sure what to order for my needs - can you help?
* Can I speak with someone about my needs?
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Ordering - click on the questions below to see
the answers:
* What are payment terms?
* Is there a discount for cash payment?
* What are the warranty terms?
* How long does an order take to get to us?
* How do we order?
* Do we need a site survey for fitted furniture?
* How do we arrange a site survey?
* Can we have the furniture delivered directly to the room
and set up.
* I am ordering a room full of furniture, do I get a discount?
* Are there any discounts available?
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Special requirements - click on the questions
below to see the answers:
* We wish to lock the systems out of reach of the children
with only monitors, keyboards and mice available - solutions?
* Can we secure trolleys and benches to walls?
* We need high security trolleys, can you help?
* I have lots of equipment and want to hide the cables away,
can you help?
* I don't want children to be able to touch the plug sockets,
can you help?
* I want power in my benches, can I have plug sockets?
* I want to network the computers on my benches or trolleys,
can I hide the cables away?
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Set up and usage - click on the questions
below to see the answers:
* How do I stop monitors and other equipment from falling
off trolleys when I move them?
* How easy is the furniture to set up?
* How does the furniture arrive?
* What if I need after sales help?
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Company Background
Where is the furniture manufactured?
Ans: All the furniture is UK manufactured at a 36,000 sq ft design,
manufacture and distribution centre in Blackburn, Lancashire.
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How is the furniture distributed?
Ans: In order to help prevent damage in transit, distribution is carried
our by Varitech directly to your site Deliveries are generally of assembled
units, which are delivered to the ground floor of your building.
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Why is the furniture of such high quality?
Ans: The furniture is produced under strict control by Varitech in
their own centre, using their own engineers. Only suitable materials are
used and every care has been taken to ensure hard wearing surfaces and
robust framework and design. Please ask for a catalogue to see the full
range of materials used.
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How long have you been manufacturing furniture for
schools?
Ans: We are an agency for Atkinson Varitech, who are a UK family
firm having manufactured specialist school furniture for over twenty years.
We have established close ties with the company and believe the furniture
to be some of the highest quality within its price range for the UK. Our
company was established in 1996 and our staff have many years experience
before and during this time in the educational sector.
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Where in the UK do you deliver?
Ans: We supply school furniture throughout the UK
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Quotation Questions
We have a small room but need to fit a lot of children
around the desks, is there a solution?
Ans: Yes. We will maximise the room layout to best fit your requirements
for pupil numbers, offering the best fit design suitable for your needs.
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Are site surveys free?
Ans: Yes for most room based quotations. You will be told prior to
the survey if there is a charge for any reason.
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I have an odd shaped room and it is difficult to measure,
how can I get prices?
Ans: We will carry out a site survey on all room based supply. This
is free for most room sized quotes throughout the UK.
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We are not in the UK, how can we get Varitech furniture?
Ans: Please contact us and we will put you in touch with a local sales
agent in your country if one is available. For large overseas orders we
may be able to deal directly with your site(s).
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Can I get a quote?
Ans: Yes! Please use our on line quotation form (click here), or contact
us for a quotation (click here)
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I'm not sure what to order for my needs - can you
help?
Ans: Yes! Please use our on line quotation form (click here), or contact
us for a quotation (click here)
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Can I speak with someone about my needs?
Ans: Yes! Please use our on line quotation form (click here), or contact
us for a quotation (click here) and someone will be pleased to call you
back.
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Ordering
What are payment terms?
Ans: For state schools, payment is within 30 days of delivery and
requires a purchase order. For other establishments, and businesses, a
credit account may be provided. A 2.5% discount is available for cheque
with order payments.
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Is there a discount for cash payment?
Ans: There is a 2.5% discount for cheque with order payment
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What are the warranty terms?
Ans: Warranty is one year from delivery.
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How long does an order take to get to us?
Ans: All trolleys, desks and benches are made to order. There is usually
a four week delivery period. Please ask for an estimate at the time of
order.
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How do we order?
Ans: Private individuals please send a cheque with order. For schools
and businesses we require a written order by post or fax.
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Do we need a site survey for fitted furniture?
Ans: For all fitted room designs the answer is usually yes. This is
free for room sized orders and there is no obligation on your part to
proceed just because you have had a site survey. The site survey establishes
clearance within the room, suitability of height of the furniture and
dimensions and gives an accurate figure for the final price. During a
site survey clearance for doors is also measured to make sure that you
can get ready assembled furniture from the ground floor entrance to the
room in question!
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How do we arrange a site survey?
Ans: Please contact us and request a site survey or use our on-line
form to request a quotation. Site surveys usually free for room quotes.
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Can we have the furniture delivered directly to the
room and set up.
Ans: Yes. Standard delivery terms are directly to a ground floor of
the site (please see full terms and conditions for details before ordering).
If you wish us to deliver directly into the room and set up the furniture
in the correct layout, please ask for a quotation. This will involve us
sending two staff, rather than just a delivery driver and therefore costs
£350 per day plus overnight expenses if it is a large job. For large
jobs, please ask for costings as set up may be given as part of a discount.
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I am ordering a room full of furniture, do I get
a discount?
Ans: We will unusually offer a discount for a room full of furniture,
depending upon the size of the order and any special requirements you
make, such as free set up. Please ask when we make the quotation if a
discount has not been made clear.
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Are there any discounts available?
Ans: Yes. We offer up to 15% off or more depending upon the size of
the order and 2.5% off for cheque with order. We may also offer discounts
or composite orders over a borough / LEA or large purchasing organisation.
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Special requirements
We wish to lock the systems out of reach of the children
with only monitors, keyboards and mice available - solutions?
Ans: Our Octagonal desk system provides just this solution. Please
ask us for details on our request for (click here) or contact us (click
here fore details).
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Can we secure trolleys and benches to walls?
Ans: Yes. Please ask before ordering for this as we will need to add
this into the quotation and manufacturing process.
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We need high security trolleys, can you help?
Ans: Please contact us as we have a shuttered trolley that will secure
to walls and is lockable for high risk environments. These are made to
order.
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I have lots of equipment and want to hide the cables
away, can you help?
Ans: The unique cable management system available as options on both
desks and trolleys allows you to tidy cables for power and networking
within a trough at the back of the units. Where this is chosen, the bench
will slide backwards and secure in place to help prevent tampering with
power and network cables.
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I don't want children to be able to touch the plug
sockets, can you help?
Ans: See answer ) click here
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I want power in my benches, can I have plug sockets?
Ans: Yes - we offer power socket accessories to fit within our cable
managed trolleys and benches. Please ask for a quotation.
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I want to network the computers on my benches or
trolleys, can I hide the cables away?
Ans: Yes. We offer cable managed options to allow you to securely
hide network sockets away.
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Set up and usage
How do I stop monitors and other equipment from falling
off trolleys when I move them?
Ans: Most of our trolleys have secure monitor rails to help prevent
tipping off of equipment during transit. Please ask for details before
ordering.
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How easy is the furniture to set up?
Ans: Most of the benches are delivered assembled but where units are
sent unassembled, the unique fixing system allows quick and easy assembly
of items. As part of the site survey, the visiting engineer will fully
assess the access to the room in question to make sure that assembled
units are able to fit through doorways and access points.
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How does the furniture arrive?
Ans: Fitted furniture is generally delivered ready assembled, as it
is delivered directly from the manufacturing centre to your site, using
in house lorries. Certain furniture is delivered flat packed.
An assembly service is available on site for complete set up of the items.
Please ask for cost and availability.
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What if I need after sales help?
Ans: After sales help is available by calling us (click
here) or using our on line request form (please
click here).
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