Wednesday, May 29, 2013

How bad is your stuff...

when no one wants it for FREE?

We placed our current living room furniture on Freecycle.  We were honest that the furniture isn't in great shape without the slipcovers, but they would be great couches for a Man Cave, basement, rec room.  We said we were non-smoking, but did have cats. 

We had 1 person who couldn't see the pics and asked for them again.  And then radio silence.  I take that to mean they aren't interested.

At work, we work with families that have next to nothing.  One girl knew she had a family who was looking for furniture.  She called them, and they hemmed and hawed about the distance to come get it (about 45 min drive for them).  And she wanted a picture.

So far....nothing.

If no one claims it by Thursday afternoon.....they will go out on the curb with a FREE sign, and hopefully they will be gone by morning.  That is the way alot of stuff works in our neighborhood. 

Here are the pictures of the set.  I realize they aren't great pictures (both pieces are the same color, but my pictures make one look lighter than the other), and I realize that getting beat up furniture isn't a big party.  But in my experience....if you offer it for FREE, SOMEONE will take it.



17 comments:

  1. Now that's just crazy! Those are still good and have a lot of life left in them. BAH!! Are young couples spoiled now a days or what? They would rather go in debt for new than save for it. Good luck....

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    1. Who knows. I know they aren't great....and really....without the slipcovers they are trash. They creak a little. And you have to propel yourself out of them! But if you are sitting on the floor or on a patio chair....take them.

      I am really surprised. I personally wouldn't pay money for this set, but for free????

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  2. Same thing with us,we cannot give away upholstered furniture. I don't even try anymore. The only thing that does sell is wooden furniture. I think people do not want to deal with the cleaning of it.

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  3. For the most part we put everything out to the curb with free and it's gone by morning. We are getting the kids bunk beds and putting our now banned in the US crib (drop side style) but don't want anyone to take it and use it (even thought we have had no issues at all) so we gotta put it out in pieces cause it will be gone. You can put a notice on craiglist that the set will be outside too so no one feels pressured to take it if they don't like it.

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    1. I think if it doesn't go Thursday night, I will try Craigslist.

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  4. I can think of 3 reasons why someone wouldn't want used upholstered furniture lately.
    1-the increased rise in bedbugs in the northeast in NYC and environs. Not saying your couch has that problem of course, but people are more cautious when it comes to mattresses and furniture with fabric.
    2-Allergies. Cats....enough said. ;-)
    3-Not having access to a truck or someone with a truck to pick it up and take it home. You can't fit a couch in a sub-compact car, right?

    Good luck with getting rid of your set.

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    1. All valid points! As for my cats...that is exactly why I disclosed it. Bedbugs....knowing that other stuff has been taken (via updates), people can't be too worried around here.

      I just want it gone!

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  5. I agree with Sluggy. I guess that because it is free it doesn't mean a lot of people will be jumping on it. That said, when we first came to the US, we would go around before trash day and pick up computer towers people would toss, or other electronics. They're good as new, only with minor problems. Same with bikes and small appliances. We'd fix them and resell. Kept us busy! I personally would get a new couch vs a used one for the same reason some will pick up a new mattress vs a free one.

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    1. Somehow a couch and a mattress aren't in the same boat for me. But I know that people can be fickle. I am just surprised.

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  6. Have you tried putting them on Craigslist? Everything we have put on there for free (and some of it was not in good shape at all) was gone the same day we listed it.

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  7. We put out a *VERY* retro rocking chair last week.. it was olive green, mustard yellow and burnt orange. It sat out for about 2 hours and was gone! lol! I'd just put it out, if someone wants it, they'll find a way to get it. :)

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  8. I think people are leary of bedbugs.

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  9. You might try offering it for $ on Craigslist. Funny how that works miracles in people's mind. I guess if there is a $ value then they perceive it has being worthwhile.

    I will say that even when I was young and broke I wouldn't have wanted stained furniture that creaked and that I had to propel out of (lol, what an image!). A cheap lawn chair would be more comfortable & had no money for covers.

    Btw, microfiber is the worst for kids and for looking stained, hate it! And love your new chenille sofa, it looks great.

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  10. Also, people are afraid that it was peed on, or something. In my experience that sort of thing has to be hauled to the dump.

    Recently, we took a cheap sofa to the dump. It actually had cat pee on it. And even if yours doesn't, just saying "cats" makes people think of that sort of thing.

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