5 great ways to buy secondhand furniture
The perfect storm of a cost of living crisis and the urgent need for us all to carefully consider way we are using up the world’s precious resources, is affecting every aspect of our spending right now, isn’t it.
With the impending need for me to replace my increasingly battered dining room chairs and my resolve to be equally mindful of both the planet and my purse, I thought it might be useful to share some of the best places I’ve found to source affordable secondhand furniture.
I’ve always been a fan of secondhand stuff, but my interest in pre-loved furniture items has been given an extra boost by my younger daughter and her husband who are absolute masters at tracking down brilliant, and beautiful, bargains for their gorgeous home.
Secondhand mecca no 1 - Facebook Marketplace
My first go-to place when I’m looking for pre-loved pieces is Facebook Marketplace. Not only is it an absolute treasure trove of items from tables to three-piece suites (it’s even possible to buy cars or houses on the site!), you can narrow your search in various ways, from what you’re looking for, to the style, condition and price, as well as what geographic area you’re interested in. Like all these second-hand sites, you need patience to rummage through what’s on offer, and like all of them, tracking down your dream item may require several visits - things obviously get listed constantly. But FB Marketplace is where both my daughter and I have unearthed some of our most successful purchases.
Secondhand mecca no 2 - Ebay
Obviously I couldn’t compile a list like this without having Ebay on it. The same principles of time and patience apply to searching on this site, but the potential for the same rewards is equally high.
Most items will be delivered by courier at an extra cost, while some can be collected in person. Some ‘Buy now’ pieces you can purchase right away, and others you’ll need to bid for. If you are interested in bidding for something you really want, add the item to your ‘watch list’ and hold off bidding until the last minute. That way you’re less likely to be outbid.
Secondhand mecca no 3 - charity shops
Junk and charity shops can br surprisingly fertile ground for unearthing terrific buys. Often the items will need some tlc, but if you overlook their fixable faults (or if you love precisely because of their less-than-perfect appearance) you might just find that just-right something you’ve been searching for.
Secondhand mecca no 4 - car boot sales
Pretty much all of the above applies to this particular, I thought very British, but apparently world-wide institution (who knew). Except, of course, that you’ll potentially be contending with the weather as well as the unearthing and haggling process. But unexpected riches can be discovered if you have the constitution for the hunt.
Secondhand mecca no 5 - Free stuff
I mean, there can’t be more of a bargain than something that’s free, can there? I don’t know about you, but people in my neighbourhood quite often leave items they are happy to give away outside their houses. They will also post about them on our local WhattsApp group and I’ve both given away and picked up a number of terrific items both ways. Skips can also be a happy hunting ground for items (one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as the saying goes). Then there’s Freecycle, the site where people list items they’re giving away and where you can also post requests for anything specific you’re looking for.
This selection of my go-to sources for great pre-loved bargains is no means a definitive list. I’d love to know if you have other suggestions, so please do share them in the comments. Thank you and happy hunting.
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