Getting rid of furniture

[lindylou]

We recently gave our bedroom a complete makeover so everything had a good spring clean and sort out. We had a lovely writing desk - a good solid wood one (not your modern conti board rubbish) .. I really didn't want to part with this desk as it is a nice piece of furniture, but it has just outgrown our needs and it didn't fit in any more with our new look. We didn't have a place for it anywhere else in the house.
Anyway, the point is - I decided to donate it to a well known charity that picks stuff up from your house. They came this morning and for a moment they were not going to take it !
They hummed and ha'ed looking at it - examining it and commenting on the few scratches on the desktop. Then they said they wouldn't take it because it had a coloured wood stain on it ! They were going to go away and leave me with it stuck in the hall way !
I said, look it's a good desk - it's not rubbish. I really want to keep it myself only that I haven't the room for it now - - to be honest I felt a bit insulted that they were turning their nose up - and after all I was giving it away to charity ! :neutral:
I could have sold it !
I said to them, 'leave it then, I'll get someone else to take it'

After some more humming and ha'ing and closely examining the desk they reluctantly took it as if they were doing me a big favour!

Well, I won't be bothering with that particular charity again. I feel quite annoyed about it really. It's not as if I was trying to offload some piece of junk. :angry:

The point I'm making is that, are charities just too picky ? What's the problem with a nice desk ??



Something like this only a vintage dark green -

[GeorgePorgie]

For a desk of that style in all wood would could cost a good few pounds but I have to be honest and say a Repo is usually made of MDF and veneered over the MDF.

Vintage Green? I'm summizing you mean the leather drawing area is VG?

Anyway it is true that the larger Charities only take stuff that is Mint condition as sometimes they're stuck with furniture that people won't buy because of the defects.

[lindylou]

yes the leather drawing area was green. The Rest of the desk with green stain. It was made of proper wood and not veneer or MDF.

The point I'm making is that what do they want for nothing !
I don't have anything that's no good - all the stuff in my house is in good condition and clean and well looked after.

[Ged]

That looks like a nice piece of functional furniture Lindy. When my missus got fed up with our dark wood furniture (well, she never really liked it at all but I got it) she bought a makeover paint set whereby you do a base colour and then another more watered light colour on top of it and then run a plastic jaggered implement over it to give it wavy lines and they really came up good and more modern.

[GeorgePorgie]

These go frequently through ebay and never sell often unless its the genuin article.


she bought a makeover paint set

And here's me thinking,Ged was on good money.

[Ged]

Hey - it done the trick Georgieboy - we've been watching too many of these changing rooms things on the telly. ;)

[GeorgePorgie]

we've been watching too many of these changing rooms things on the telly.

Exactly.

I'm suprised she hasn't bought some enamel paint and tried to replicate a marble effect on the bathroom ware.

[Ged]

Have you got high powered binoculars George?

[brian daley]

My wife has just changed over styles in our house;what grieved me was that the dining room suite,which was especially made by a good class carpenter, and the three piece lounge suite,which cost an arm and a leg,all had been declared passed it by she who must be obeyed.
None of the children,or some of our friends had any use for them,they were too big. We put them on e.bay and had no takers,so we gave them to a charity shop. The lounge suite was taken no questions asked. The pick up men were amazed that we were giving them away.
A few weeks after that they came for the dining suite,they could'nt get it on the van quick enough; in fact they gave me the impression that they thought I had more money than good sense. They may be right.
BrianD

[lindylou]

That looks like a nice piece of functional furniture Lindy. When my missus got fed up with our dark wood furniture (well, she never really liked it at all but I got it) she bought a makeover paint set whereby you do a base colour and then another more watered light colour on top of it and then run a plastic jaggered implement over it to give it wavy lines and they really came up good and more modern.

I know what you mean Ged - 'Paint & Grain'. http://www.ronseal.co.uk/products/ronseal-paint-and-grain


We've used that in the past to transform 2 cupboards and a chest of drawers.

I can't remember which shade we used but it was one of the lightest ones to modernise the look.

[Ged]

Yes that's it. Gave a good effect and brightened it all up no end. :)

[lindylou]

Yes that's it. Gave a good effect and brightened it all up no end. :)

It's very hard wearing too and doesn't scratch. We done ours a long time ago and it's still in the same condition as when first done.

[burkhilly]

Some of the charity shops won't take stuff if "it's not good enough". I'd have loved that desk. I had a really good leather couch that needed a good home - they wouldn't take it because the cushions were a bit faded. Bulky Bobs took it. Thing is I've been into some of the furniture charity shops and most of the stuff I wouldn't give house room too!

[ItsaZappathing]

Lindylou, you'd of got rid of it on Ebay for a couple of quid.
Some people don't know a good thing when they see one. :D

[Oudeis]

Just one word to add...Freecycle!! :)

[Ronijayne]

In NYC we are allowed to put furniture out in the street on different days. You see all kinds of antiques in my neighbourhood. I put my little denim couch out in January and a German couple took it while I was still there!!!! It is the same as the one on Jerry Seinfeld. I was putting a lovely little chest of drawers from the 30's out but my window guy (carpenter) wanted it so it never got as far as the street!! People buy new stuff and just put the old stuff out. I took pics of the denim couch on my Facebook page (3 people from Liverpool wanted it, should have thrown it in the Hudson and seen if it floated over) and I put a pic of it in the street, then a few minutes later the empty spot in the street!! My UK friends were shocked at how fast they are snapped up. They wished you could do it there. I miss my little couch but I need space.

Some people drive around my neighbourhood with vans on Thursdays and just pick up furniture from the street. Only things I ever wanted were a huge potted tree and once a wonderful tapestry armchair. Had no way of getting them home.

[GeorgePorgie]

Stuff from the 20',30's,40's...in fact any era as its what they want as decor in their home ie they want to live that time.

So more fool you Ronnie for not having an ebay seller account.

[Oudeis]

Rj,
This is the common way in London, you don't want it, put it out, and it goes. Not always but most times.
One man's rubbish is another man's dream, clearly it is so.
For a small consideration you could remind the drivers-round that what goes around comes around and tell them what you are after, or begin to push or shove the stuff and wait till some enterprising fellow asks if you want a hand...
Stuff is only stuff, after all. :)

[Ronijayne]

Stuff from the 20',30's,40's...in fact any era as its what they want as decor in their home ie they want to live that time.

So more fool you Ronnie for not having an ebay seller account.

Still, I love to hear of people who are starting out who come up to my neighbourhood and find stuff they need. I would love to have the money but knowing a couple who needed a couch (pulled out into a bed but never used) got it. It was in front of the window, nobody sits there, nowhere else for it to go. I put a set of freestanding shelves out once and remembered the instructions that showed you how to dismantle it but when I went back down it was gone. I only live on the 5th floor!

[wsteve55]

That looks like a nice piece of functional furniture Lindy. When my missus got fed up with our dark wood furniture (well, she never really liked it at all but I got it) she bought a makeover paint set whereby you do a base colour and then another more watered light colour on top of it and then run a plastic jaggered implement over it to give it wavy lines and they really came up good and more modern.

Would that be pink,by any chance? :unibrow:

[Ronijayne]

Rj,
This is the common way in London, you don't want it, put it out, and it goes. Not always but most times.
One man's rubbish is another man's dream, clearly it is so.
For a small consideration you could remind the drivers-round that what goes around comes around and tell them what you are after, or begin to push or shove the stuff and wait till some enterprising fellow asks if you want a hand...
Stuff is only stuff, after all. :)

In the suburbs here I have seen boxes of toys or books at garden gates with a sign HELP YOURSELF. Nice that when kids outgrow their toys they can put them out for others and get some themselves at another house.

[ItsaZappathing]

Well ya know the old saying...
Where there's muck there's brass:PDT11

[lindylou]

I've noticed when on holiday in Spain that every now and again - maybe when apartment owners sell up - you see furniture and assorted household bit & pieces around the communal skips. Before long people will be over for a good rummage :)
It's quite entertaining to watch them. The stuff doesn't usually stay around for long. The Spaniards seem to like skip rummaging as a pass time :D

Mind you, my dad can't resist peering into skips, ha,ha, all those 'good pieces of wood' or whatever that will 'come in handy' :rolleyes: :)

[wsteve55]

In the suburbs here I have seen boxes of toys or books at garden gates with a sign HELP YOURSELF. Nice that when kids outgrow their toys they can put them out for others and get some themselves at another house.

There's a small island,just offshore from Toronto,where they leave unwanted items, at footpath junctions, as no cars allowed! First time I'd seen this,and thought it a nice local custom,but it sounds much more widespread!

[GeorgePorgie]

Mind you, my dad can't resist peering into skips, ha,ha, all those 'good pieces of wood' or whatever that will 'come in handy'

Wood is dear,dear....good for yer dad.

Where do think my computer came from. :)

[ItsaZappathing]

Ha, I am a noser of skips too. I think it comes with age.. Am still waiting to find that thousand of pounds picture or piece of furniture.

[Ronijayne]

My friends 20 yr old son found an old couch from about 1890;s 1900 in such great condition. Right at the curb where we leave stuff for the garbage truck (always gone before the trucks get there) worth $ 1000's

In my neighbourhood old people die and their grandchildren inherit and just don't want the old antiques. They put them at the curb. Paintings too. We never see the peeps who come with vans. As the garbage trucks don't come till about 5 am they must come in the night when it is quiet. I have seen people stop in SUVs and pick things up many times. When the offices get new chairs they put all the old ones out there, you never know what you find. I have never taken anything. Well, I took an office chair a few years ago but put it back a week later as I don't really like the idea.

[GeorgePorgie]

Am still waiting to find that thousand of pounds picture or piece of furniture.Give up,you won't find it in Fazakerley

[Ronijayne]

Give up,you won't find it in Fazakerley

You know this FOR SURE???:)

[GeorgePorgie]

You know this FOR SURE???

Well yeah....there ain't no rich people there. :)

[Lizzie1]

Lindy and Zappa, keep looking in those skips!
Have you seen the lucky so and so's on Antiques roadshow who find paintings and first editon books etc worth fortunes??!!! :smirk:

[Cadfael]

If I'd have known Lindy, I'd have swapped your desk for some cash as that would have gone lovely here!

[liverpoolkid2]

As regarding are charity too picky? well here is another point of view, I am a Salvation Army Soldier and on my day's off I work in our charity shop, My driver/offsider have been told that when they go to pick up anything they must check it throughly as if we put it up for sale we are responable for any item and if say as the desk mentioned above somebody bought and within 2 weeks, ( that's the minium that we are responsorable), just say the side of the desk split and the drawers fell out then "WE THE SALVATION ARMY" are liable by WA law to make good, that's why we have a policy of NO electric item's ( tv's radio's) and Furniture must be A1 before we can take it, if it doesn't pass inspection "down to the tip" I know it sounds terrible, but one instance about 4 years ago I sold a tv, looked good picture and sound was very good, BUT!!!, I got a call 2 legs had snapped resulting in tv smashing we had to BUY A TV through the paper for more than we sold the other one for, I felt to blame so I resigned, for 6/12 month's my two captain's tried and tried to tell me it was not my fault and to forget it, then 1 sunday we had commintioners down who talked to me and said you are not being blamed and,WE are wearing it, so I have been back for a couple of years but I said I'll come back if we don't sell any electircal item's and surprise it was accepted

[Ronijayne]

You were not to blame at all. These things happen. I am shocked you had to make it up......

I don't know if Sally Army take electrical here. They took all my hardback books, over 100 of them and bags of unworn shoes and clothes. I like them better than the others. I volunteer with Red Cross but have not been for ages. I needed a break from sitting (only a day a week) interviewing people who had lost their homes to fire. It was nice to give them money (on a RC credit card) and find them somewhere to live, write letters to their jobs if any and children's schools. You do feel you are helping. I must go back.

The other charities I belong to are basically luncheons and gala events (one is a bit hands on and lots of meetings) but I feel the need to DO something not just go to social events.

[GeorgePorgie]

on my day's off I work in our charity shop, My driver/offsider have been told that when they go to pick up anything they must check it throughly as if we put it up for sale we are responable for any item

I'm a bit confused? you work in the shop and sell the gear,your collectors are the ones picking and inspecting the gear....how did you manage to qualify yourself as the one to blame for a TV that can topple over at a hairs breath?

Some analogue TV's that hit the market in the uk were common to topple over,particulary the big wide screen ones which sat on plastic legs....for heavens sake plastic legs on a heavy CRT tube...its a bit like thos plastic garden chairs yer lean back and it gives you a relationship with the ground.
Seen one or two of these TV's go for a burton when a child momentarily rest their hands on the top corner of the set whilst trying to reach or do something in their playing.

---------- Post added at 11:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 PM ----------

This is the type I'm on about,all the weight is at the front of the set and none at the back.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-KV-32FQ75-32-Television-/260766760555?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_Televi sions&hash=item3cb6e8fe6b

[Ronijayne]

I called Sally Army about my denim couch and they asked it it had any stains or rips. I said no, perfect condition, nobody sat on it! They were delighted until I said it pulled out into a bed (unused) then they did not want it as it was January when NYC had bed bugs in theatres. Shame. Still the people who took it from the curb seemed nice

[liverpoolkid2]

GP, my dad used to alway's say what ever you want to say comes out arse about front, I'll try to UN-CONFUSE you GP!!!,
When this happened GP, I was the shop manager ( in & out down to me but with our captain's utimate responable) the collectors picked up the stuff I checked it and passed it gave them the two week warrinaty, and as they say the rest is history, but because the captain was in charge he took it to DHQ ( the big bosses) to get permission to refund it which they did immediaty, Sorry Ronijayne no I DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE IT UP MYSELF? As I say it wasn't the army that was blaming me IT WAS ME PLEASE GP say you can understand my WHISTON accent?

[Ronijayne]

When you run a shop though certain losses are inevitable. They are written off in taxes, you did not need to take responsibility, these things happen all the time.