Selling second hand furniture

I've had tradesmen surprised at the stuff I've got rid of on Gumtree, even broken paving slabs. Set reasonable prices, be prepared for 'offers' and offer it for free if no one wants to buy it. (But if you give your phone number and are on WhatsApp and get approaches via WhatsApp offering to arrange for a courier to collect, they're scammers.)

Local Facebook group. Not necessarily buying and selling groups. I find general neighbourhood groups work best.

Bill

You can offer it free through the usual sites, but odds are it won't go. Dump it.

I've been pointed at that. Really only want such things on the laptop. But had to install it too on the phone. And jump through hoops to activate.

And then had exactly the same as FreeCycle. Two no shows.

The £10 will be the Sale price. Collection costs etc will be accounted for elsewhere in the running costs for the Shop.

The issue for Charity Shops selling electricals is not the PAT testing - easy to get someone trained to do that - but getting someone to "functionally" test the item !! Takes experience to be able to check out the functionality of old hifi components, radio alarms, PVRs etc. If you are buying from Charity Shops check that someone has actually tested it all works and not just PAT tested the item. If you have spare time on your hand look at Volunteering at one which sells Electricals.

They just refund your money if you return it within 14 days.

Facebook (and other) local freecycle groups are very good at shifting stuff for free, in a non-wasteful manner.

Be clear in your posts about what's there and how it needs collection, then stick to it. Timewasters can go do one.

You need to be rather careful - any soft furnishing that are not to the current fire safety standards it is offence to sell them to anyone. If in any doubt about fire safety certification you have to assume the worst. Too many spectacular fires were due to old PU foam without fire retardant and then later deaths due to the first generation fire retardants producing traces of nerve agent sarin in their combustion products as well as the more normal carbon monoxide and cyanide! :(

Only applies to business transaction, private sales are not covered by the requirement for Fire Certs Labelling.

Charity shops want to see the labels for the 1988 Act (that's from memory).

Bill

I suppose you're allowed to gift it to the charity with or without labels, but they can't sell them on without ... so it's obvious they'll refuse items without.

I think we have arrived at the correct understanding. Person to person sales are not limited by the Act, but if any corporate agency is involved - auction house, charity shop - possibly even gumtree or ebay - there is a liable entity.

Selling old appliances when refurbing my kitchen I found that offering stuff for free on Facebook generated little interest, but putting stuff up for £10 or £20 would work better, I imagine people think "free = rubbish, cheap = bargain". Still got the geographically challenged who wanted to buy things but hadn't realized that Reading isn't very close to South Lanarkshire, but overall it was relatively painless.

And Reading Street (a village) is nowhere near Reading! (Hint: it's nera Broadstairs)

On 21/06/2022 11:28, Andy McKenzie wrote: Lanarkshire

Often confused with Lancashire, with hilarious results.

Bill

Most would want a date and approximate time arranged for collection. This seems to be something many 'buyers' don't seem to be happy with. And I won't give out the collection address until I get a firm commitment. But even then, be prepared for no shows. Although this may be better in some parts of the country.

Sunderland and Sutherland are another pair which cause confusion. I've sometimes had things arrive rather late, when they were sent to Sunderland first, then eventually rerouted to Sutherland.

Presumably there must be exemptions for antique furniture or are people supposed to throw away valuable, possibly historic items?