Best way to sell used furniture?

[Sho'Nuff]

Cliffs: Anyone have any tips on selling used furniture?

The long story short:

My wife and I bought our house 3 years ago. It is a very different design from our old place, so the furniture for the old place does not really fit in the new spaces. We want to buy new furniture, but do not want to do so until we sell the old stuff we have.

I've tried the usual suspects for selling second hand goods, i.e., craigslist, ebay etc. and have not had any luck. I'm somewhat surprised, as the items we are selling (a bedroom set, some tv stands, etc.), are all pretty nice items. Most of them were purchased from Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware or a similar store, and are in pretty good condition considering their age (roughly 8-10 years). They are also pretty "classic" pieces that would fit the decor of many modern living spaces, though they are somewhat large. The bed frame we are selling, for example, is a California King that is made of solid oak.

The only option we have not tried is consignment, but that seems to be a crapshoot and most people I know who have used it have ended up dissatisfied with the money they received for their items. That said, I'm starting to suspect that the value of furniture is akin to the value of computer hardware, cars, or other rapidly depreciating items. Once it has been used, no one wants it unless they can get it for free or nearly free.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Once it has been used, no one wants it unless they can get it for free or nearly free.

i think thats fair to say. have you ever seen furniture at salvation army or goodwill. theres a glut of nice stuff cuz people move/die etc...unless stuff is antique, its like jewelry, worth a lot less than you paid for it the minute you bought it

 

[Sho'Nuff]

i think thats fair to say. have you ever seen furniture at salvation army or goodwill. theres a glut of nice stuff cuz people move/die etc...unless stuff is antique, its like jewelry, worth a lot less than you paid for it the minute you bought it

Yeah. The best option to get rid of the stuff might be to donate it and take the tax deduction. There is a salvation army location right close to us.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Maybe your prices on CL are too high.

 

[nickbits]

I sold stuff on craigslist for 1/6 the original price that was 3 years old and in great condition. I suspect your asking price is too high.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Have a garage sale instead with INS hiding in the back. You may not sell the furniture, but you will do the nation a nice favor.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Have a garage sale instead with INS hiding in the back. You may not sell the furniture, but you will do the nation a nice favor.

Unless there is a large group of illegals hiding out in NH that I am not aware of, I don't think that will wok.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Maybe your prices on CL are too high.

Probably, but I am constrained by the wife in that regard. She wants me to sell the stuff, but for no less than "X" $$

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Unless there is a large group of illegals hiding out in NH that I am not aware of, I don't think that will wok.

Oh, they are everywhere.

 

[evident]

If you're willing to wait, Craigslist has always got my old furniture sold.you just need to be willing to sell it for much less than what you got it for. I've also picked up some really nice pieces on cl as well, a 72 inch solid wood desk great condition for $300

 

[DesiPower]

If you're willing to wait, Craigslist has always got my old furniture sold.

+3

 

[EagleKeeper]

Sentimental/perceived value to you is not what someone else is willing to pay for used items.

If you are asking more than 1/3 the original value; you will get very few offers. Seems like the wife is the problem here.

As stated above (even though in jest) - a garage sale , potentially with neighbors or "moving" sale will be best option.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I've had no trouble selling on CL but am very realistic with my pricing. Typically with used furniture I just want someone to come take it away for me. Any $$$ they're willing to throw in is icing.

Of course it depends on the furniture. If we're talking a nice table and chairs then those depreciate at a much slower rate than a couch/love seat. It's called a love seat for a reason and buyers know that!

 

[KeithTalent]

I've never had trouble selling furniture of any kind on Craigslist. I do have to reduce it down from my original price sometimes, but it always ends up going.

KT

 

[alkemyst]

Tax deduction is your best bet usually on old high end gear that has been used.

A relative picked up a $7500 Pottery Barn sofa that was new and listed at $1750 (she took $1500). It was a real estate agent and her builder husband that built their dream home only to go into divorce mid-way through completion. They were going to sell it furnished, but that didn't work. Everything in the place was top notch...

That's really the kind of deal you need to offer on the higher end stuff, otherwise most everyone else is looking for a free or $25-50 sleeper sofa.

Same relative also scored the top of line Precor treadmill with like < 20 hours on it for $500 in that neighborhood from someone selling one of their vacation homes. The way it worked is the seller just told the agent to sell the property anyway they felt was best (that included even the cars on site). The treadmill even had a lifetime service place on it where they actually came to the new house and tuned it all up. If only they had moving in that contract...that thing was one of the hardest things I ever had to move and we had to go up a large staircase.

I believe the MSRP on the treadmill was in the $5,000 range.

 

[ThinClient]

Seven THOUSAND dollars? For a couch? People actually shell out this kind of cash... for a damn couch?

 

[KeithTalent]

Seven THOUSAND dollars? For a couch? People actually shell out this kind of cash... for a damn couch?

There is a furniture store near my house here where they do not have a single couch under $15K (at least not that I saw in the gigantic place). It's ridiculous. I think it's mainly fancy designers that use the place, but the lady loves to go and look at everything.

KT

 

[alkemyst]

Seven THOUSAND dollars? For a couch? People actually shell out this kind of cash... for a damn couch?

When I furnished my first home and in a different income situation than I am now, I was looking at sofas that were $10,000 used (this was 1995). I ended up with a new sectional in the highest quality leather at the time for just under that ($9999.99).

Personally I don't think it was worth it over some of the more mass produced items out there and in a 'living area' I'd rather just upgrade the furniture every 5 years max.

 

[ThinClient]

There is a furniture store near my house here where they do not have a single couch under $15K (at least not that I saw in the gigantic place). It's ridiculous. I think it's mainly fancy designers that use the place, but the lady loves to go and look at everything.

KT

I remember looking at couches with an ex of mine. She wanted to spend $4,000 on a red leather couch. Both the price combined with the product left me speechless. This was probably the first sign that she wouldn't work out. :biggrin:

 

[KeithTalent]

I remember looking at couches with an ex of mine. She wanted to spend $4,000 on a red leather couch. Both the price combined with the product left me speechless. This was probably the first sign that she wouldn't work out. :biggrin:

Haha, no doubt! Red leather couch. D:

KT

 

[ThinClient]

It wasn't even like deep red velvet cake red... this was eye-bursting clown red nose red.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I'd say move it on Craig's List. Of course, you aren't going to get nearly what you paid for it. It is, after all, USED and prospective buyers will have no idea what exactly what kind of condition the item is in (and whether or not your cat ever peed on the couch, etc.). Maybe you could invite people over to look at it and make an offer or say, "price negotiable".

Also, did you include multiple photos? Photos are a must.

 

[jagec]

Of course it depends on the furniture. If we're talking a nice table and chairs then those depreciate at a much slower rate than a couch/love seat. It's called a love seat for a reason and buyers know that!

We usually have sex on the couch, not the love seat. More room!

 

[Maximilian]

People are wary of used furniture because you might have spunked/pissed/puked all over it :\

 

[techofalltrades]

Most of them were purchased from Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware or a similar store, and are in pretty good condition considering their age (roughly 8-10 years). They are also pretty "classic" pieces that would fit the decor of many modern living spaces, though they are somewhat large. The bed frame we are selling, for example, is a California King that is made of solid oak.

Sounds nice. i'll give ya $50 for the whole lot... cash in hand... out the door... right now...

$50... c'mon...