How to get rid of furniture?
June 16, 2013 1:33 PM Subscribe
I want to get rid of my furniture and I'm trying to figure out the best way to dump the stuff that maybe helps someone else.
What Philadelphia-area charity would be interested in these things?
Alternatively, how does one sell or give away things like this as a unit and is doing so more trouble than it is worth?
I want to get rid of my furniture. I have a bed, a sofa, a dining room table and chairs, a dresser, Ikea-nice bookcases, and things like that. I'm trying to figure out the best way to dump the stuff that maybe helps someone else.
What Philadelphia-area charity would be interested in these things? I'd like to give to a group that assists domestic violence victims, but any worthy organization would be great.
Alternatively, how does one sell or give away things like this as a unit and is doing so more trouble than it is worth?
It's important that whoever takes this stuff comes and gets it from me. I've never done anything like this before so I'm a little lost.
I want to get rid of my furniture. I have a bed, a sofa, a dining room table and chairs, a dresser, Ikea-nice bookcases, and things like that. I'm trying to figure out the best way to dump the stuff that maybe helps someone else.
What Philadelphia-area charity would be interested in these things? I'd like to give to a group that assists domestic violence victims, but any worthy organization would be great.
Alternatively, how does one sell or give away things like this as a unit and is doing so more trouble than it is worth?
It's important that whoever takes this stuff comes and gets it from me. I've never done anything like this before so I'm a little lost.
Best answer: When I did this, I called around to the women's shelters and told them what I had, and that if someone wanted it they had to come move it. She showed up with three people to help, and it was all gone in one short afternoon. The trick was calling around to several and telling them EXACTLY what I had and then doing it on a first come, first serve basis. The woman who took mine was so thankful she broke down in tears once we got the truck all packed up.
The women's shelter will probably be able to point you toward other orgs that do similar work.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 1:47 PM on June 16, 2013 [4 favorites]
The women's shelter will probably be able to point you toward other orgs that do similar work.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 1:47 PM on June 16, 2013 [4 favorites]
The Second Mile thrift store takes all kinds of stuff, and they do pick ups. The stuff won't necessarily be going to people directly, but their profits are to help "addicts, ex-cons, and folks with life controlling problems."
posted by pitrified at 1:55 PM on June 16, 2013
posted by pitrified at 1:55 PM on June 16, 2013
When I lived in Philly, I donated furniture to Uhuru in Wash West. They pick up.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:56 PM on June 16, 2013
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:56 PM on June 16, 2013
Habitat for Humanity has a ReStore in Philadelphia, as in many other locations.
posted by yclipse at 1:58 PM on June 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by yclipse at 1:58 PM on June 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've donated to uhuru as well. They are looking for relatively good-quality stuff they can sell.
posted by jshort at 2:16 PM on June 16, 2013
posted by jshort at 2:16 PM on June 16, 2013
"Alternatively, how does one sell or give away things like this as a unit and is doing so more trouble than it is worth?"
A lot is typically harder to sell and will bring a smaller return. Even giving it away as a unit to an individual is more difficult. (Like others have mentioned thrift stores, churches/charities will pick up the lot, most often to resell it later in pieces).
If you decide to get rid of it individually: people often post (free or priced) stuff on craigslist/freecycle/in facebook groups. They typically take pictures of every single item and often set up a blog/picture gallery (random example: cl post + tumblr that goes with it). Sometimes they have a type of "open house" or garage sale, so all pick ups must take place within one afternoon for example.
If you sell it you could donate the proceeds to a charity of your choice.
posted by travelwithcats at 2:36 PM on June 16, 2013
A lot is typically harder to sell and will bring a smaller return. Even giving it away as a unit to an individual is more difficult. (Like others have mentioned thrift stores, churches/charities will pick up the lot, most often to resell it later in pieces).
If you decide to get rid of it individually: people often post (free or priced) stuff on craigslist/freecycle/in facebook groups. They typically take pictures of every single item and often set up a blog/picture gallery (random example: cl post + tumblr that goes with it). Sometimes they have a type of "open house" or garage sale, so all pick ups must take place within one afternoon for example.
If you sell it you could donate the proceeds to a charity of your choice.
posted by travelwithcats at 2:36 PM on June 16, 2013
I did something similar prior to my last move (not in Philly tho). I called several charities; Goodwill/Salvation Army turned out to not be very user friendly (more picky re items, harder to schedule pickups). I eventually donated my stuff (living room set, old but functional tv, etc) to a women's shelter that also helped set women up in housing post-shelter.
It was definitely worth it to me to have someone come get all the stuff at once; Craigslist/free cycle looked like a moderate pain in the ass. Ymmv.
posted by maryrussell at 3:13 PM on June 16, 2013
It was definitely worth it to me to have someone come get all the stuff at once; Craigslist/free cycle looked like a moderate pain in the ass. Ymmv.
posted by maryrussell at 3:13 PM on June 16, 2013
When I've gotten rid of furniture in the past, I've A) sold it to friends/strangers, B) donated it by taking it someplace, C) donated by having it picked up, D) taken it to the dump myself.
For (A), I've offered one price on craigslist for the piece itself, another additional cost for delivery (I have a pickup). Most of the time, the extra cost deters lazy people and I get stuff hauled away for free, or I make a decent chunk of change.
(B) can be a pain, but at least you get rid of it. I've had furniture in such bad condition that (C) didn't work (it was refused), so we had to go with (D). For (C), I've used AmVets, DVA, Salvation Army, maybe a couple others.
posted by LionIndex at 3:22 PM on June 16, 2013
For (A), I've offered one price on craigslist for the piece itself, another additional cost for delivery (I have a pickup). Most of the time, the extra cost deters lazy people and I get stuff hauled away for free, or I make a decent chunk of change.
(B) can be a pain, but at least you get rid of it. I've had furniture in such bad condition that (C) didn't work (it was refused), so we had to go with (D). For (C), I've used AmVets, DVA, Salvation Army, maybe a couple others.
posted by LionIndex at 3:22 PM on June 16, 2013
I am in the same boat - who so ever gospel mission and impact thrift stores in Philadelphia will send a truck to your house and take everything (assuming it's in reasonable condition).
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 3:32 PM on June 16, 2013
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 3:32 PM on June 16, 2013
If worse comes to worse, you can always put it in the alley and make a posting on Craigslist under the free section with a picture of what it is and an address to pick it up. And specify that it is outside and first come, first serve...you will NOT hold it for anyone. This has never not worked for me. Even my cat hair covered computer chair with a broken wheel was taken when I made a post with a bunch of stuff I didn't need after moving out. Made the post before I left for work, and it was all gone before I got home.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 5:39 PM on June 16, 2013
posted by MaryDellamorte at 5:39 PM on June 16, 2013
Free cycle worked for me. Just specify that the person needs to pick up and provide a picture on your posting. Got rid of a couch and recliner in less than an hour.
posted by jadepearl at 5:51 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by jadepearl at 5:51 PM on June 17, 2013
Response by poster: Thank you all for the answers. I called several women's shelters. None called me back but one recommended a couple of thrift stores they work with, so I arranged a pickup with one of those. Uhuru looks great, and I love its mission, but they want me to send photos of each piece of furniture and I don't have time for that.
posted by vincele at 7:27 AM on June 22, 2013
posted by vincele at 7:27 AM on June 22, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by easily confused at 1:47 PM on June 16, 2013