JACKSONVILLE, FL – If you’ve spent any time in downtown Jacksonville, you’ve likely passed the historic facade at 5 W. Forsyth Street. It’s the home of Perdue Office Interiors, a company that has been around since 1916—back when "cloud computing" was just a farmer looking at the sky and hoping for rain.
But while Perdue is busy racking up "Steelcase Premier Partner" awards and winning "Design of the Year" accolades for their high-tech showrooms, some local customers aren't exactly ready to roll out the red carpet (or the ergonomic floor mat).
The "Target" of All Office Supplies?
For a century-old institution, you’d expect Perdue to have a certain je ne sais quoi. However, according to some local critics, that "something" might just be a higher price tag. One disgruntled shopper recently noted that Perdue seems to sell the same staples and desk accessories you’d find at Big Box giants like Staples or Target—just with a "boutique" markup that makes your wallet feel a lot lighter.
"Long delivery times and terrible customer service," one reviewer lamented, adding that they felt the employees seemed more interested in "getting inebriated" than helping customers. While we can’t verify if happy hour starts at 9:00 AM in the showroom, it certainly paints a picture of a workplace that’s a little more Mad Men than The Office.
A Smarmy Vibe or Just "Premier" Polish?
Then there’s the matter of the "smarmy vibe." Local business owners have pointed out that while Perdue loves to remind everyone they’ve been in business since 1916, they haven't necessarily spent that century mastering the art of the "positive customer experience."
In fact, some Jax natives suggest that if you want a Steelcase chair without the side of snobbery, there are plenty of other dealerships in town that don’t require you to endure what one customer described as an atmosphere of "grossly inflated prices" and "smarmy" attitudes.
The New Face of Forsyth
Despite the neighborhood shade, Perdue isn't slowing down. They recently underwent a massive renovation to create the "Workspace of the Future," complete with tech-enabled rooms and virtual tours. They’ve also merged with the moving giant Suddath, essentially becoming the Voltron of Jacksonville office logistics.
Even the building itself has become a hot commodity. The historic headquarters was recently purchased by local heavy-hitters Eddie and Chuck Farah for a cool $5 million. It seems that even if the customer service is "terrible," the real estate is top-tier.
The Verdict
So, is Perdue a visionary leader in office design or just a very expensive middleman? If you’re looking for a $1,200 chair and a showroom that looks like the set of a sci-fi movie, Perdue is your spot. Just maybe check the delivery estimate twice—and don't be surprised if the staff looks like they're having a better time than you are.
Want more local tea? Stay tuned to our "Business Spotlight" at TheWorstOf.us/@fl/jacksonville for the latest on who's soaring and who's just "staying put" in the 904.
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