Sunday, March 29, 2009

Hooray for Craigslist!

As much as I love Craigslist, I was getting a little frustrated.  I wasn’t finding anything, or I was missing the deals I wanted.  Frustration, be gone!  See this empty space in front of my boring island?

  IMG_4878 

I’ve been looking for barstools for…oh, 5 years or so.  Call me cheap (go ahead, say it), but I thought they were all over-priced.   

IMG_4875

The table (yup, a table) and four barstools was………$50.00!!!!  One of the chairs has the top part broken off, but it’s easily fixable.  I only need two of them anyway. 

IMG_4876

We’re having a garage sale next weekend, so I think I’ll sell the two extra stools and the table.  My question for all you garage sale gurus is what can I ask for them?  My second question is what do I clean them with?  I plan on painting them black and re-upholstering the cushions.  Isn’t there something in particular I should wipe it down with to clean up the greasy fingerprints?

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Lastly, I know what you’re thinking.  Why didn’t I offer her less than what she had asked?  I was fully prepared to go down there and offer less, but it was evident she needed the money.  Her and her husband lived in a duplex that was full of baby gear, and they had a 5-month old.  I think there are times when getting a good deal takes a back seat to helping someone out, don’t you think?  Either way, I scored on Craigslist!

58 comments:

Susan said...

That is a great deal. I have a suggestion to clean them, especially if you are painting them. Try a magic eraser. I did this on my coffee table. You wouldn't believe the dirt that was coming off. It left the finish very dull and probably took off some of the stain but if you are painting them it's worth a try.
Good Luck, can't wait to see them when you are done.

julie & joe said...

You got a great deal! I would have done the same thing. As far as resale, I would ask at least $30 for the remaining pieces, you can always deal on the price. Happy garage saling. We have our city wide sale this coming weekend end. We have priceless treasures for all!

~Mommy+Me~ said...

Good deal. Every now and then you find the perfect thing on there! I found my brother's SUV on there for him.
I like the stools the color they are now, the wood looks nice and matches your wood floors well. :)

Missy in Texas said...

I know how you feel about Craigs list. I search every day and it seems like I always miss out. Then all of my searching finally paid off. Check out my blog last month and see what I scored! It was exactly what I needed.

lalalovely lindsay said...

murphey's oil soap works nicely on woodwork.

Cindy said...

What a deal!!! Those are what I've been looking for!!

The magic erase should work, or a good degreaser.......just make sure all residue is off.....

If you're going to redo them, put $50 on the set, see where it goes..... if you get it, tada, all you have into your 2 barstools is some time and some paint!

"Hello... It's Me Again..." said...

I love using "Simple Green" to remove greasy fingerprints, greasy cabinets, grease on driveway, etc. It doesn't have harsh chemicals and is easy on the nose nad skin. I use it in my laundry. It's great for white baseball pants and is great for grass stains and red mud (from the country). You can usually find it in the automotive section.

As for selling the table and two barstools in your garage sale..... I'd start with $30 for table and $15 for each bar stool or 2 for $25. It gives you room to come down a little. I "heart" garage sales! Good luck!!! I hope you have a good income with your sale!!!

By the way... I love the two barstools with your room. I think they'll look great black.

Shelly said...

TSP detergent (available at Lowe's or Home Depot) is a great thing to clean with before you paint. I am painting my kitchen cabinets soon, and will wash them down with TSP before priming and painting. Just make sure you wear gloves!

As for the price, I'm with Cindy. Start at $50. People almost always offer less, and it is a fair price, even for just the three pieces.

Natalia said...

WOW!

Perfect. And helping out a couple w/ a 5 mth old = priceless :)

Anonymous said...

What a great deal and what a sweet thing you did. I can remember those days...little ones under foot..not much money..oh wait! Not much has changed but the kids are bigger,hehe. Anyway what a blessing! You get a great table and chairs all the while helping someone out. I think they will look great painted black. Thats what I did with mine. I just cleaned mine down with a bit of bleach water. Have fun!

Anonymous said...

I would begin with 50 and go from there. Good old vinegar and water will get the grime off and leave no residue behind to interfere with paint! Great shopping! ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

Unknown said...

Great find. The stools look great in your kitchen. I agree with the Magic Eraser suggestion. I always find that vinegar is good on finger prints too.

Mandi Shandi said...

I have had a hard time with Craigslist lately too, but you scored here! I always seem to "just miss" the big deals.

About the paint, I think it would look wonderful painted black, and I always clean furniture with vinegar and water. I do my hardwood floors that way too and it works every time! Good luck!

Magic Brush said...

Yes... if you are painting them you need to use TSP ( Lowes or HOme Depot) and THEN sand. Sanding opens up the pores to let paint soak in. I highly suggest Benjamin Moores' Metal and Wood Paint that comes in a premixed black. It is self priming and we use it on all of our black cabinets! Blessings!

Infarrantly Creative said...

Check out my post on my new barstools I made over http://infarrantlycreative.blogspot.com/2009/03/barstool-refab.html I thought I had scored getting 2 for $40! If you are painting them I would just sand them and then wash them with an all purpose cleaner like Lysol to make sure you got all the grease off. I think you could get $20 per stool easy. Good luck. Can't wait to see the transformation.

Jodee said...

What a fabulous find! It was so nice of you to help them out too!

Kimberly Wright said...

Awesome deal! And I love that you didn't haggle with them!

the undomesticated wife said...

Those are cute! I think they are a good price, too.

You could use a degreaser to clean them...something like you'd use to clean your cabinets before painting them.

I'd probably ask $30 for the table/2 remaining stools and would allow myself to be haggled down to $20.

Anonymous said...

VERY good deal. And you are painting them? Wish I could be as creative with you are about stuff like this. But it really is a good deal. Congrats!

Craigslist Phone Verified Accounts

Anonymous said...

That is a great deal. Honestly I think I would have expected to pay more than that for them. I don't think I would put the others in the yard sale. I would hold onto and pull it out to use when company came over.

Laura said...

Denatured alcohol - you get it at Lowes, Home Depot, probably even Walmart. It is the best thing to use to clean up after you strip paint off something, or just want to clean it in general. Use it outside.

Our Complete Family said...

What a deal, what a deal! They fit your kitchen perfectly!!!
SCORE!
Happy week ahead~ Les

Mimi Sue said...

I like to use TSP too. Works great. You're right, it's wonderful to get a good deal but sometimes you just pay full price because of the seller's circumstances. $50.00 was a steal anyway. You'll probably get most of it back when you sell what you don't need at your garage sale. Mimi

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) takes off whatever needs to come off as far as dirt, grease, grime and sealed finish. BUT, Borax is a cheaper form of TSP and works as well. Then you only need to do a light sanding, prime and paint.

Meg said...

I love craigslist too. Those stools make your kitchen look great! I bet you love walking in and seeing your "new" kitchen over and over again. I always do that when I either re-arrange furniture or get something new :)

LWLH said...

Good deal!! They look good and it's sweet of you to notice that the woman might need the money, it's great knowing that you might have helped someone out, :)

Tanya said...

What a great find! I would have to see the finished chairs to suggest a price though!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Ooooh. Good find. GREAT price. It doesn't mattr what you charge for them...it's all gravy!

I second (third? fourth?) TSP for painting (a powder usually in the paint section Trisodium phosphate...I think).

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

I have zero advice for what to do - but wanted to wish you CONGRATS on a great deal. I have a love/hate relationship with Craigslist.

Carry Grace said...

I love Craigslist. So far I haven't found anything to purchase, but I have been selling things on it. We live in a small town that hasn't "gotten" the whole craigslist thing yet, but I know one day people around here will catch on.

Great deal!

Shannon said...

You definitely scored!! Those are great! Love that style too!

Biteofpunkinpie said...

If it were me, I would mark the 2 chairs and table for $40 but have a big sign up at your sale that says OBO. Fantastic deal, and I totally understand your decision to not haggle with her.

Anonymous said...

I think you got a great deal-and helped someone at the same time. I'd list the sale price around $25-30. Although if you finish your chairs before then and let people see the potential, you could charge lots more, don't ya think!!

Craft Tea Lady said...

What a score! I am so like you, I wait and wait til I find the right price! Those stools are PERFECT for your kitchen!

Sale price - I would think you could get $50 for the set, but in this economy - $30 might be what you get. Keep us updated! :)

www.xanga.com/crafttealady

dongdong said...

Those chairs looks beautiful and you were so sweet about giving her the asking price.

Aeryn said...

The chairs look great and you got such a great deal. I love the color they are so I would just clean them and stain them if you want to make them darker... That orange something solution... can;t remember the name works great (comes in a spray bottle sometimes). Also Goo B Gone works great too for greasy spots.

Wendy said...

You got a great deal!!! I am proud of you for taking the high road and not wheelin' and dealin' when it wasn't absolutely necessary!!! Love the stools!

Anonymous said...

oooh I really like those..wanna ship the other two chair to Vegas? I like your thinking too on helping out...in this economy, it's hard to bargain when you see someone's in need!! Kudos to you!!

P.S. I love your blog!!

Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful said...

You definitely SCORED! What a great deal. I agree with the vast majority. I'd price the set at $50, but be willing to come down a bit. Good luck. I bet your yard sale will be rockin...wish I could come!

~Amanda

Andrea said...

Great deal! I would leave them wood ,but thats just me,I love the wood look...

Jenny said...

Those look perfect! Great deal!

frillsfluffandtrucks said...

Sell ME the barstools--we've lived in this house for over five years and still don't have barstools. I'm like you...they're all way too expensive. I look on CL occasionally, but obviously need to put better effort into it!

At your garage sale I'd list the remaining stools and table for $50...then someone can bargain you down a bit...and you'll still have made some good change on them!

~ Sarah

{amy k.} said...

You got a great deal! I think it's nice you didn't ask her to go lower... I think when you know you're getting a good deal you should go with it. And even more so if you see their need. That was really nice of you! Good luck with the others!

Lisa said...

GOOD CALL ON YOUR PART. YOU WILL BE BLESSED WITH MANY YEARS OF USE FROM THOSE CHAIRS.

HUGS FROM MAINE

Kerri said...

I'll admit, I'm a yard sale queen and I would probably start out at $30 for the set. It would be perfect for a couple without kids or just a s a side table for game playing or puzzle doing in a family room. It is a pretty set. Oh, yeah, I forgot about the broken chair. Hopefully, you can fix it. If not, ask $20. You still get a great deal on the chairs for you.

Straight to Your Hart said...

That is a steal!! They look beautiful with your island.

SoBella Creations said...

I think $50 is a great deal for a table set. Good luck with your garage sale.

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

Awesome find! I'm the same way and usually don't find anything on craigslist. I would ask about $10 above what you actually want to get for the remaining pieces, give people some room to bargain.
~Michelle

Kacey said...

That is fabulous! The barstools look great. And you're right, bar stools are SO over priced.

Good luck on your garage sale. We're gearing up for one here too in the next few weeks. WOOHOO!

Rasmussen Family said...

Wow you know what you got a great deal and you saw an opportunity to do the right thing and shock and awe you did. Kudos to you. For real you have made my day. Thanks.

Katy said...

Love the stools. I drove myself crazy looking for stools for our remodeled kitchen and paid WAY too much for them. Stools are ridiculously expensive, good for you for getting them cheap!

Lettered Cottage said...

AWESOME.

They will look stunning black!

Sherwin Williams "Black Fox" is an amazing shade...

Layla
The Lettered Cottage

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

You got a great deal! Those will be fabulous!!!

xo

Barb said...

Wow. Those chairs look great at your island. I even like the stain that is on them now. Why not fix the chair and paint everything. you can use the extra two chairs and table for your basement redo? Your going to need furniture down there. Why pay out more later on down the road?

Great deal, glad you were kind and generous. Have Doug rub your feet!

Mom

Stephanie said...

That is a great deal AND a great story. I love love that you gave her what she was asking b/c you felt she needed it. Great karma :)

http://bellasnorts.blogspot.com/ said...

where do I get the pic on your backsplash?? I love it!

The chairs look perfect there, good you waited!

Ginny said...

I just wanted to comment on how thoughtful it was for you to give her the full asking price. Good for you!

Rachelle S said...

We love Craigslist too! Shhh! call us cheap too, but we just like to still hav emoney leftover for other things. We found our current couches for $40! Almost like new, in the color green I've wanted, wood panel detail, feet full of toss pillows....$40! You do have to hurry if you find something though, things do go fast!

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