I’m quite used to Facebook Marketplace, but it’s so swamped nowadays with “Free – must go ASAP!!!” ads that are
1) not actually used furniture but from some shitty warehouse reseller,
2) not actually free but you need to message them to find out the price, and
3) from some fake profile with zero trustworthy qualities.
It’s crap and bloody unusable. I just want to see used furniture from real people who haven’t made a business out of it. Do you have some advice on filtering this nonsense out or know any good alternatives? Cheers.
12 comments
Honestly it is doing my head in! Try filtering by used, most the dodgey people describe theirs as new.
I’ve got great stuff from charity shops, but I’ve old fashioned tastes so might not be for you
Gumtree can be ok
I found a natuzzi sofa on gumtree. Beautiful leather and it’s massive. £150 and in excellent condition. It was such a bargain considering they’re thousands when bought new and I’d just moved into a new place and needed most things after living in shared accommodation for years.
Don’t use fb marketplace, use gumtree, shpock etc and check multiple times a day because the decent things will go quickly.
Charity shops? Surely they are the best bet and you’re donation goes to a good cause
When I moved house, I joined a local Facebook group for selling things. People posted their marketplace listings, was easier to search in the group as less scammy crap to filter out. Probably missed out on some bargains that weren’t posted there though.
Alternatively, charity shops – there’s a few near me that sell furniture although their prices have a massive range
There is a lesser known seller site called Preloved, and they have a giveaway section called Freeloved. I had a load of lovely terracotta pots from there.
Local buy and sell FB groups rather than Marketplace. Am finding the same and it’s infuriating. Search groups for local selling pages.
I got an Arts and Crafts bookcase for £30 on Marketplace, needed a bit of refinishing but going for £3/400 in Antique dealerships. There’s stuff available, but you need to be on there quite a bit!
Opposite side of this…I’m trying to sell my perfectly lovely sofa before a house move as it doesn’t fit in the new house, but can’t find anywhere to sell! Gumtree just gave me loads of scam DPD messages and Facebook marketplace just gives dodgy warehouse sellers messaging you to buy for £2! So frustrating!!!
Join your local “Freegle” group online. People post anything they don’t want anymore, from old jars to sofas and TVs. You browse in your area, ask for it, if they choose you, you go and pick it up. Simple.
[https://www.ilovefreegle.org/](https://www.ilovefreegle.org/)
Only use selling groups on FB, never marketplace.
And Gumtree and eBay. Also Freecycle,Freegle,Olio.
Cash on collection only.
If you have a vehicle to collect with, say so – you’ll be laughing.