Would you ever buy a sofa off Craigslist?

[Anonymous]

I've bought some tables, chairs, etc. but nothing upholstered before. We just did our basement over and I saw a nice looking couch on CL that looks like it's in good shape and it would save us some $$.
I'm hesitant to buy an upholstered piece, there is something strange about buying used fabric furniture. However, I stay in hotels, do rental houses for vaca., etc... so not sure why I'm so hesitant.

Anyone have experience, good or bad, they can share?

[Anonymous]

I won't buy upholstered furniture. It could have bed bugs, they could have spilled stuff on it without cleaning properly so it's molding in the cushions, just too much potential for grossness.

[Anonymous]

I have bought and sold upholstered items from CL and my criteria for whether I'd buy an item apart from condition and price is my impression of the household where the item is located.

[Anonymous]

I bought a couch several years ago from CL and it is still going strong. The person selling it detailed in the posting about how he washed it regularly. When we got to his house, all looked good. I think you have to be careful, but I wouldn't rule it out.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we did 8 years ago and still have and love the couch. It's held up nicely and we get a lot of compliments on it.

[Anonymous]

Yep. I have bought and sold multiple couches off Craigslist. No issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have bought and sold upholstered items from CL and my criteria for whether I'd buy an item apart from condition and price is my impression of the household where the item is located.

This.
- owner of one giant sectional and one sofa/loveseat/armchair set, both from Craigslist and then cleaned by Stanley Steemer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I won't buy upholstered furniture. It could have bed bugs, they could have spilled stuff on it without cleaning properly so it's molding in the cushions, just too much potential for grossness.

I'm with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I won't buy upholstered furniture. It could have bed bugs, they could have spilled stuff on it without cleaning properly so it's molding in the cushions, just too much potential for grossness.

I'm with you.

Five years ago I would have disagreed, but after dealing with a bedbug infestation (from travel, not CL furniture) I'm with you too! Really you would probably be fine, bedbugs still aren't that common. But I just wouldn't be able to bring myself to take the risk.

[Anonymous]

I do find an irony about this obsession with bed bugs - not that it is something to be trivialized.

We all stay in hotels where there are multiple people who have slept on the same mattress and where bed bugs may really be an issue and we are none the wiser. We could bring these home with us.

As someone who used to travel extensively not only in the US but internationally my contact and exposure to potential bed bugs and other pests was almost unlimited and whether it is a five star hotel or a two star one, there is no assurance that bed bugs would not be an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have bought and sold upholstered items from CL and my criteria for whether I'd buy an item apart from condition and price is my impression of the household where the item is located.

Same her. I don't buy from pigs. My favorite chair is from Craigslist. I knew the original price was over $1,000 and I paid $200. Great shape and works well.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have bought multiple sofas (and other upholstered furniture) from Craigslist and gotten killer deals on like-new items from extremely clean, nice homes. Far beyond what I would spend new. Our HHI is $270k and we don't have a mortgage - and Craigslist is still my first stop for furniture shopping. High-end pieces at great prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have bought multiple sofas (and other upholstered furniture) from Craigslist and gotten killer deals on like-new items from extremely clean, nice homes. Far beyond what I would spend new. Our HHI is $270k and we don't have a mortgage - and Craigslist is still my first stop for furniture shopping. High-end pieces at great prices.

Find me a nice chair under $800 please.