I just figured out why my estate sale buys were always overpriced

For months, I kept going to sales in Spokane and coming home with stuff that cost too much. I thought I was getting good deals because the price tag was lower than a store. Then, last Saturday, I bought a set of four dining chairs for $80. They looked solid. When I got them home, my friend who fixes furniture pointed out the joints were loose and two legs had old repairs. He said, 'You paid for the look, not the build.' That was my lightbulb moment. I realized I never actually checked the items, just the price. I was so focused on beating the crowd that I forgot to inspect anything. Now I feel like I wasted a lot of cash on junk that needs more work. How do you guys quickly check if furniture is solid at a busy sale?

2 comments

2 Comments

spencer_ross3d ago

My first estate sale buy was a wobbly side table for fifty bucks. I learned the hard way to check every joint and leg before paying. It gets easier to spot the junk once you know what to look for.

the_kelly3d ago

Stop treating it like a major financial loss. You got some chairs that need glue for twenty bucks each. Just wiggle the legs next time before you buy.