Buying Used, Consignment and Floor-Model Furniture

Second-hand furniture, consignment pieces and showroom floor models can be good value, and an older solid piece is often better built than a new budget one. The catch is that you usually buy exactly what you see, with no returns and often no warranty. A careful inspection, a recall check and a plan for getting the piece home safely make the difference between a find and a problem.

Where used and display furniture comes from

Floor models are pieces a store has displayed in its showroom. They are usually new but have been sat on, handled and moved, and they are sold at a discount, often as final sale. Consignment shops sell pieces on behalf of their owners and take a share of the price. Thrift stores sell donated items. Private sellers list furniture online or through local classified ads. Estate sales sell the contents of a home. Each source has different expectations about condition and returns, so ask about the terms before you hand over money.

What "as is" means

When a piece is sold "as is," the seller is telling you that you accept it in its current condition, with any faults, and that it will not take it back or fix it later. For a floor model from a retailer, the manufacturer's warranty may or may not still apply, so ask. For used furniture from a private seller or thrift store, there is normally no warranty at all. Treat "as is" as a reason to inspect slowly, not as a formality. Our returns guide explains how final sale terms work at stores.

Inspecting the structure

Use the same tests as on a showroom floor. Push the piece side to side and front to back; it should not sway or creak. Lift a corner and see whether the frame stays rigid. Pull every drawer fully out, check how the drawer fronts join the sides, and look for repaired or missing glides. Open doors and check hinges. Look underneath and at the back for cracked rails, loose corner blocks, missing screws and signs of previous repairs. On a table, push down on each corner and check how the legs attach.

On upholstered pieces, sit in every seat and press the arms and back. Feel for broken springs or a sagging deck under the cushions. Check the fabric for wear at the arms, the front edge of the seat and the top of the back, which are the places that show age first. Smell the piece closely; strong odours of smoke, mildew or pets are hard to remove from foam and fabric. Our showroom checklist gives a full step-by-step routine.

Checking for pests

Bed bugs and other pests can travel in second-hand furniture, especially upholstered pieces, mattresses and bed frames. Inspect seams, folds, tufts, welting and the underside of cushions with a flashlight. Look along the joints and screw holes of bed frames and headboards, and inside drawer runners. Signs can include small dark spots, shed skins, tiny pale eggs, or live insects. On wooden furniture, small round holes with fine powder beneath them can indicate wood-boring insects.

If you are unsure, do not bring the piece inside. Many people choose to avoid used upholstered furniture and mattresses altogether for this reason. If you do buy, keep the piece in a garage or outdoors on a dry day while you inspect it again and clean it, and follow guidance from your local health department or a licensed pest control professional if you find signs of infestation.

Checking for recalls and safety standards

Before you buy a used dresser, crib, high chair or other children's product, search the CPSC's recall listings for the brand and model, usually printed on a label on the back or inside a drawer. Recalled items may be eligible for a repair kit, refund or replacement, depending on the recall.

Dressers and chests are especially important. A second-hand dresser is the piece most likely to predate the federal stability rule for clothing storage units, so treat it as untested unless a label or paperwork shows otherwise.¹² Look on the back and inside the top drawer for a manufacture date, check the brand and model against recall notices, and pull out every drawer to see whether the unit leans forward on its own. Whatever its age, anchor it to the wall before anyone uses it. The tip-over guide explains which units the rule covers and how to anchor them.

For composite wood pieces such as particleboard or MDF, a TSCA Title VI label indicates the piece was made to the federal formaldehyde emission standard. That labeling applies to products made in or imported into the US after March 22, 2019, so older composite pieces will not have it.³

Floor models: what to ask the store

For a floor model, ask whether it comes with all its original parts, including cushions, legs, hardware, shelves and assembly instructions. Ask whether the manufacturer's warranty applies and when it starts. Ask whether the store will clean or repair any flaws before delivery, and whether delivery is offered. Note every flaw you see on the sales order so it is clear what you accepted. Ask how long the piece has been on display if the salesperson knows, since a model that has been sat on daily for a long period may show more wear in its cushions than it does on its surface.

Moving a used piece safely

Measure the piece and your route before you buy, using the Will it fit calculator, since there will be no delivery crew to take it back if it does not fit. Remove drawers, shelves, glass and loose parts before you lift, and tape doors closed. Wrap the piece in blankets to protect it and your walls. Lift with at least one other person, bend at the knees, and never carry a heavy dresser with its drawers in. Secure it upright in the vehicle with straps so it cannot slide or tip during braking.