You have got to be kidding me!

Send_Judah · Status: Offline

You have got to be kidding me!

Deanna · Status: Offline

I understand. We have been through the chair purchase thing many times. What we have done in the past is to ask everybody to "sponsor" the number of chairs for their family, if possible. For instance, if they have four people in their family, purchase 4 chairs. And in some cases we have ordered chairs, then reordered more when we had the money later on.

It definitely is best to get a little more of a durable chair if you possibly can (not the absolute cheapest) because especially if you use your facility for multiple things and the chairs are stacked or moved often, they do get wear and tear.

I feel your pain!

Hugs,

Deanna

Send_Judah · Status: Offline

We're going to start with good old fashioned metal folding chairs. We'll have to grow into $30-$50 chairs!

A lot of the info that I've read said the same thing you did and that's to buy a quality chair if it's going to have multiple uses which they will.

God is moving, stuff is happening and I'm in awe of it all -- and that's no reason to raid the pantry!

PastorTara · Status: Offline

Check with Sam's- with cost, tax, and shipping you should be able to get them for about $22 each. Of course, it depends on which one you choose...

Here is the link to the one we are getting...

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=105100

We asked each family to purchase chairs for their family, we also did a special thing where we asked our co-signers to list their "top five" that needed salvation and then asked them to purchase chairs for them as we all prayed for their conversion. It takes time sometimes. Unfortunantely chairs are pricey...

Tara

Send_Judah · Status: Offline

Thanks Pastor Tara!

That's good info to have!

Trace · Status: Offline

Hi, Pastor Tara: Great to see you on the board.

Hi, Send Judah: You've been in my thoughts & prayers. We could use some of the rain that you've been getting. How great is it that you could purchase a podium off ebay! I never would have thought to look there. Praying for the chairs.

Love ya,

Tracy

Send_Judah · Status: Offline

Ebay has been very good to the ministry! We bought communion ware for a fraction and I do mean a fraction of the cost of retail. They are silver-plated. I bought 2 bread holders and 2 cup holders for 40 bucks.

We bought hymnals for dirt cheap.

I bought hubby 2 very basic cassocks for little of nothing. I bought one for myself which was a real steal because it actually fit ALL of me! LOL!

And now the podium.

The chairs are a bit harder because shipping is so expensive and we need so many. I try to find sellers in my area which was the case for all the items purchased for the church. I didn't have to pay shipping. Just went and picked them up.

Ebay is great for ministry on a budget!

-- Edited by Send_Judah at 11:11, 2006-06-22

puppetmaster · Status: Offline

I was going to say Sam's Club, too - our YP got some really nice chairs on sale for the youth room a few years back - those of you who have heard my stories about my former church treasurer will know that these chairs had to have been a steal in order for her to approve a purchase of 30 of them!!!

Or...make the people sit on uncomfortable folding chairs for about 6 months. Then, put out a plea for people to sponsor chairs, lol!!

Send_Judah · Status: Offline

puppetmaster wrote:

I Or...make the people sit on uncomfortable folding chairs for about 6 months. Then, put out a plea for people to sponsor chairs, lol!!

ROTFL!!!!!!! Folding chairs is about all we can afford right now. $1200 will get us 140 folding chairs and that will have to suffice.

I got a quote for some beautiful chairs from a somewhat local manufacturer. Almost six grand for 150 chairs but no shipping costs. He'd put them on a truck with another load headed towards our neck of the woods. They came out to be 38.50 per chair. Another mfg in Florida had lower price of 33.50 per chair and another 600-800 dollars in shipping so they end up being about the same.

Still six grand? We can't do right now. This is our first edifice and we are in need of everything. Especially just being a year old.

Deanna · Status: Offline

Great ideas here, and don't forget ladies...you usually don't have to order them all at once. Start with what you can afford...even if you order 50 now, then 50 more a little later when you have more money, then just keep adding them as the finances come in.

We ordered chairs in 3 installments one time, like 6 months apart.

I wish things like this were not so expensive...........

FLOW_RCTB · Status: Offline

We had a similar experience at our first church, but we had favor... We bought used chairs from a local party store.... I think when it was all said and done we had 200 folding chairs for less than $500... You may want to call there or check with the surplus departments of the local school systems... I know when I used to work for BellSouth they had a surplus department where they sold their used conference chairs and they would have hundreds of matching pieces that they would sell... Non-profits usually have first choice... Also try the US government surplus... I have not had to do this in the past few years so I don't have any links, but you should be able to find them easily enough.

Praying that you will achieve a great success.