How much??!!

sacha28

So, going along the money saving theme, my OH and I decided we needed a 2nd hand sofa to go in the 'other' lounge (it is currently being used to dry washing, a total waste of space!) as it's uncomfortably hot in the lounge we are currently using when we have the log burner going.

We thought we would visit a localish charity shop that just sells furniture. The idea was that it would help out a very needed charity and they could deliver, saving the cost of van hire (a sofa would only fit in our saxo if we cut it up, kind of defeats the object :rotfl: )

To say I was horrified at the prices is an understatement! They had 2/3 piece suites but, instead of selling them as a suite, they have priced each individual piece. Example....they had 2 green leather sofa's, both the same and clearly a set, each sofa was very worn and a bit grubby. They had each one for sale at £199 :eek: they had a floral 3 seater sofa that was very worn on the arms and in desperate need of a clean for sale at £285 :eek:

Am I the only one that thinks this is pure greed on the shops' part?

Looking at the DFS website you could buy brand new sofa's cheaper than that so why on earth would I pay those prices?

PlutoinCapricorn

I am very surprised to hear this. I was on the market for a sofa and visited many charity shops especially British Heart Foundation. I eventually decided to get a high quality new one, but was amazed at the low prices I saw in charity shops. BHF had a sale and the prices dropped even further: I am still wondering whether I should have got the £50 deco style sofa I saw. Many were £60 to £80.

Lily-Rose_3

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

I am very surprised to hear this. I was on the market for a sofa and visited many charity shops especially British Heart Foundation. I eventually decided to get a high quality new one, but was amazed at the low prices I saw in charity shops. BHF had a sale and the prices dropped even further: I am still wondering whether I should have got the £50 deco style sofa I saw. Many were £60 to £80.

I agree, I have been to BHF and the Air Ambulance shops, and their suites are VERY reasonably priced.

We got one about nine months ago that was lovely; very good quality, only about a year and a half old, and had been beautifully cleaned. I reckon new it was £800-£1000. We got it for £175! (BHF)

Our other suite was taken by them too... It had some rips and scratches on it, but the main reason we got rid of it was because it didn't suit our new home. And they were happy as they said they would make £200+ from it when they get the rips repaired, which would cost them no more than a tenner!

Not sure what shops you visited OP???

sacha28

It was the Cornwall Air Ambulance shop in St Austell. The Air Ambulance shop in Cambourne is exactly the same.

We plan on going to the BHF shop in Truro at the weekend but it really put me off.

Lily-Rose_3

Are the shops in your area normally expensive Sacha?

In my town, (middle class market town,) I have to say that the goods and furniture in the charity shops are around a third more expensive than in the 2 cities that are half an hour away from us.

Maybe that's it?

Georgiegirl256

Another one here who is surprised to hear that. We got our suite from the BHF for about £170ish. It's like new! We were very pleased with our bargain buy and the MIL loved it and wanted it for herself!

j.e.j.

sacha28 wrote: »

So, going along the money saving theme, my OH and I decided we needed a 2nd hand sofa to go in the 'other' lounge (it is currently being used to dry washing, a total waste of space!) as it's uncomfortably hot in the lounge we are currently using when we have the log burner going.

We thought we would visit a localish charity shop that just sells furniture. The idea was that it would help out a very needed charity and they could deliver, saving the cost of van hire (a sofa would only fit in our saxo if we cut it up, kind of defeats the object :rotfl: )

To say I was horrified at the prices is an understatement! They had 2/3 piece suites but, instead of selling them as a suite, they have priced each individual piece. Example....they had 2 green leather sofa's, both the same and clearly a set, each sofa was very worn and a bit grubby. They had each one for sale at £199 :eek: they had a floral 3 seater sofa that was very worn on the arms and in desperate need of a clean for sale at £285 :eek:

Am I the only one that thinks this is pure greed on the shops' part?

Looking at the DFS website you could buy brand new sofa's cheaper than that so why on earth would I pay those prices?

We have a local charity shop which is similar. They wanted almost as much for a bashed-up 2nd hand bed frame as you'd pay for a brand new one! We just voted with our feet and shopped elsewhere.

It might be worth checking other charity shops out, - they may be more reasonable? Also (not to gross you out) but beware buying 2nd hand upholstery. Ever since I saw an item on the local news about a family who got an infestation :eek: I've been really wary of buying 2nd hand sofas, unless they've been steam-cleaned first.

sacha28

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Another one here who is surprised to hear that. We got our suite from the BHF for about £170ish. It's like new! We were very pleased with our bargain buy and the MIL loved it and wanted it for herself!

£170 for a suite seems reasonable, it's the fact that they have split the suite up and priced individually. I just think it's greedy and out of order.

TBH, this is the first time we have ventured into the charity shops locally. We only moved to Cornwall at the end of July so are still learning

Poppy9

BHF shops in my City expensive and the shops smell "old". I'm amazed at the price they charge for old fashioned tables, sideboards and worn 3 piece suites.

Also I would like to see the home the used items come from i.e.pet free, non smoking and clean!

I would hunt Gumtree, facebook "for sale pages" or ads in supermarket

PlutoinCapricorn

I live in London, where there are huge numbers of charity shops with differing donors and clienteles. The best bargains are in what might be called poor areas.

Gigervamp

That sounds like one of the charity shops near us. When I was there last, they were selling a grubby travel cot for £25, which happened to be the same time and price that Aldi were selling a brand new one.

They also had pine bunk beds for £199 and those metal framed sofabeds with the futon style cushion, also for £199. You can buy those things new for less. The things in there are really expensive considering the condition of a lot of them.

On the other hand, at the BHF furniture shop the other day, hubby bought an Ikea Poang chair for £35 and it's in excellent condition. That was serendipitous as we'd been looking at them in Ikea just a few days before and decided not to get one just yet due to lack of funds this month.