Used couch worth the risk of bed bugs?

[Anonymous]

Bed bugs really freak me out. I've never had them and I want to keep it that way. No to used furniture

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't you just ask the person selling it. Most people I've met through CL are normal human beings and they will say that there were no bed bugs. Do you really think they would sell it after having bed bugs? And you can get a feel for the house and what type of people they are when you go to get it.

Yes! Yes, I do!

[Anonymous]

We furnished an entire house from craigslist, except for new mattresses. There were a couple houses we saw that we didn't end up buying from, but we have had no problems.

[Anonymous]

I would not buy anything used that is upholstered, but that's me. Hard materials that can be cleaned thoroughly, yes. But not a sofa, upholstered chair, mattress, etc. No way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't you just ask the person selling it. Most people I've met through CL are normal human beings and they will say that there were no bed bugs. Do you really think they would sell it after having bed bugs? And you can get a feel for the house and what type of people they are when you go to get it.

Yes! Yes, I do!

Me too. Several years ago, there was a frequent poster on the DCUM listserv who used to talk about having maintained a low-level bedbug infestation for years because, as she said, "you can't ever really get rid of them and most old houses have them anyway". She would get someone in to spray whenever she felt it got really bad but insisted that at the end of the day, bedbugs were no big deal. But she often posted for sale ads for used items or recommended hotels and even overnight rail berth arrangements, so she had no problem potentially spread the problem around.

Some people don't know they're infested, some people don't see why it matters so much to others, and some are just trying to recoup their financial losses after costly treatments and purgings without concern for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not buy anything used that is upholstered, but that's me. Hard materials that can be cleaned thoroughly, yes. But not a sofa, upholstered chair, mattress, etc. No way.

Everyone needs to understand that wooden furniture cannot be cleaned thoroughly. Bedbugs are attracted to many kinds of porous materials (including wood) and wood furniture has plenty of crevices you can't effectively access. Remember that infestations can start very small-- a few eggs or a single (I guess inseminated?) female can do this.

[Anonymous]

No way! Even before bedbugs it would be a no. Think about all the things that have happend on your couch. Think about how the sellers are people too. Then rethink weather or not you want to buy the couch.

[Anonymous]

Please just buy a new sofa. See this list (scroll to the bottom) for a bunch of decent sofas for very reasonable prices.

http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/design-mistake-1-the-generic-sofa/

[Anonymous]

NO!

[Anonymous]

Go to Ikea if you're looking for inexpensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't trust a looks like new Crate and Barrel couch for $100.

+1

[Anonymous]

I've known several people who bought couches on Craigslist with no issues. You can get them steam cleaned, which would probably kill any bugs.

[Anonymous]

Maybe. I bought a used room and board small sofa from an older lady for $300 and it has been a great buy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't you just ask the person selling it. Most people I've met through CL are normal human beings and they will say that there were no bed bugs. Do you really think they would sell it after having bed bugs? And you can get a feel for the house and what type of people they are when you go to get it.

Yes! Yes, I do!

I think people's motivation to make money over rides their sense of responsibility. There's also the issue that someone might not know they have an infestation. But I think people just don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't be paranoid. In college, the only couches we had were ones on Craigslist. Never had any issues.

Bedbugs have made a huge comeback since my college days. The risk is totally different now. That said, I wouldn't necessarily rule out a CL couch.