How much would you ask...

[Ironica]

I'm selling this couch:

http://www.boondock.org/photos/2008/DSC06725.JPG

Planning to post it on Craigslist. I have NO IDEA what to post as the asking price. $50? $150? $500? $10? It's a beautiful piece; if we had a place for it (and I could talk my husband into it, and it went with our architecture) I'd totally keep it. The purple part is actual suede, and the upholstery is mostly in good shape. There's even spare fabric, and three extra cushions of varying sizes.

So, anyone out there know the used furniture market better than I do? We're asking the buyer to pick it up, or we'll deliver it at cost (UHaul rental, plus probably hiring a day laborer for an hour or so).

[dubfam]

Well, I would ask how much did you pay for it? How long ago?

general rule of thumb for craigs list is about 30-40% of the original cost. But that can really vary depending on quality as well as demand.

[Denvergirlie]

Yeap, about 30% of orginal sale price.

Buyer to pick up

[Ironica]

Ah. See, that's part of the problem: I didn't buy it. I inherited it, and my cousin bought it quite some time ago... probably at least 10 years; I vaguely remember her excitement when she got it. She had it upholstered in that gorgeous shade of purple. ;-) She had a tendency to shop the thrift and antique stores, so she probably didn't buy it new, but the upholstery was new after she bought it. And I don't know anything about it; she would buy cheapie stuff that had no "value" if she liked it, and she'd also shell out for things that seemed expensive, but she knew they were something-or-other that would cost X times as much normally. (For example, she once bought a non-working Bernina sewing machine at a thrift store for $50; when she got it repaired, also for $50, the shop offered her $900 for it!)

The thing is solid wood, and well-built, but I don't know what kind of wood or what style or manufacturer or anything. I'm so clueless!

[superstella]

Well I believe I'd list it on the high side first and see if you get any bites. It's a free listing, so no harm in placing the bar high, right? And for the starting point, look at some recent listings (like the past month or two) and see what couches in general go for. If most, for example, are going for $300 in your area then it might be silly to ask $700 for yours. But if there are lots of listings for like $500, then listing yours at $450 seems perfectly reasonable.

It's really hard for me to say because I'm in rural WV so around here at a flea market or on CL I would expect to pay $50 for a couch like that , or any couch for that matter. There just isn't a market for higher end furnishings. Since you are in LA I'm sure your market is much different.

[Ironica]

That it is... there are listings for "couches" that ask $2000 and more! But there's also ones that ask $40. And *none* of them look anything even remotely like this one.

Ok, I'll try $450, since that's not out of gamut for the market, and see what happens. Thanks!

[SAHDS]

There's no maker's name anywhere on the couch, even the underside? How's the quality? Is it stapled and glued or blocked and screwed? Springs show couch quality, but it's probably impossible for you to see how the springs are tied. It's a very unusual piece (in a good way). Good luck!

[Ironica]

I didn't see a mark anywhere. I do know she had it reupholstered, and very well, but that might have obscured any marks. It's definitely more like blocked and screwed; this thing has been moved in and out of our storage space I can't tell you how many times (it's right in the front) and it's rock-solid (yet not too terribly heavy). It holds up well.

Yes, it definitely has a uniqueness to it that I think is a good thing ;-). I love it; if we were in a craftsman, I'd totally keep it, but it's so not Spanish.

[Porcelain Interior]

Gosh I'd start at $200-300 and work your way on down from there.

That is a rad couch! I'm sad.