The dos and don’ts of buying secondhand furniture
I’ve spoken about secondhand furniture so much in the past on this site, most notably how we bought a secondhand kitchen on eBay for just £850. In fact, this news made it onto Ideal Home!
I love being more eco-friendly but also getting a bargain, particularly when the item is built to last and made from quality solid wood.
But there are some red flags to be aware of when you’re shopping for and buying secondhand furniture. Not all items are going to be good quality, and there are definitely some don’ts you’ll want to avoid (like bringing wordworm-infested items into your home. Yep, it happens!).
Do:
Inspect the wood for cracks and woodworm
It’s really easy to see an item, perhaps at a car boot sale or even in someone’s home after initially spotting it on Facebook Marketplace, and agree to purchase it almost instantly. However, closer inspection is absolutely vital.
You are almost sure to find a few scratches on any secondhand item, but this isn’t a big issue. Instead, look for more potentially serious problems like cracks, loose joints, woodworm or wobbly legs, which significantly affect the structural integrity of the item.
Signs of woodworm include tiny holes or tunnels on the surface of the wood. Generally, wood that is still infected with woodworm will release some sawdust if it is shaken or banged lightly on a surface. So definitely look for signs of sawdust before making a purchase.
If you are buying an item with drawers, opening these and inspecting the dovetail joints (i.e. corners) is an excellent way to gauge an item’s quality quickly.
Stay safe, stay on the platform
A common tactic for scammers selling furniture or anything else online is to suggest exchanging emails or phone numbers to discuss the purchase. They usually like to speak outside platforms like Facebook Marketplace, so there is no record of what was communicated, and they can continue scamming on those platforms.
Even exchanging emails can result in the seller sending phishing emails to scam you. It is advised to only communicate with sellers on the platform where the item is listed to provide you with as much safety as possible.
Shield yourself from Paypal scams
It has become common practice to pay for goods with every online retailer before they arrive. The difference is online retailers come with levels of protection via refunds, return policies, and more, while secondhand marketplaces do not provide the same level of security.
Tristan Lynch, CEO at Roseland Furniture, says: “Buyers are advised not to pay in advance and, if purchasing locally, to meet the seller in a public location where they can safely assess the item and make the payment. If you must get an item shipped, insist on tracking so you can monitor when they post it and its location.”
“PayPal may seem like a secure way to transfer money, but scammers have found a way to remove your buyer protection. If a seller asks you to send the money through the ‘friends and family’ method on PayPal, reject the request. This option means they don’t have to pay a fee to receive payment, but it also removes any form of buyer protection. Instead, opt for the ‘goods and services’ method, which sees you supported by PayPal’s Buyer Protection, allowing you to request a refund if the product doesn’t arrive or fails to match its description.”
Where possible, either pay in cash when you collect the item, or ask if you can transfer the money once the item is safely loaded in your car and you’re happy with it!
Don’t:
Buy without seeing the item
While flatpack furniture can add value and style to any home, buyers must be cautious when purchasing it second-hand. The issue with flatpack furniture comes with the assembly and disassembly. Flatpack items are relatively easy to assemble, but some are more professionally assembled than others. Check the item before you purchase, looking for any signs of glue. If you are required to disassemble furniture parts containing glue, they may get destroyed, ruining your second-hand bargain.
Judge a book by its cover
You might be put off an item because it’s slightly older, it has lots of scratches and dents, it’s not in the colour you wanted, etc. But actually, underneath all of this, it could be a really quality, sturdy piece of furniture that just needs a little TLC to shine. Try to avoid judging too quickly, and see past the current state of the item.
It’s better to buy a secondhand piece of furniture that has some scratches than one that has more severe problems, like woodworm, cracked joints, wobbly legs, etc.
Fall for a fake seller
Sometimes, you spot a bargain on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or elsewhere that seems too good to be true. Well, it just might be.
I’d definitely recommend that you take the time to vet any sellers and make sure they’re real and trustworth.
First, take the time to look at their social profiles, as this can give you an indication of fraudulence. Do they have no profile picture? Are they a new account with no ratings? Does their profile have minimal information? Have they put more than one listing up for the same item? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it is best to proceed cautiously or find a more reliable seller.
So there you have my dos and don’ts of buying secondhand furniture. I’ve bought a few items in the past and never had a problem, but there is a first time for everything.
