Furniture People Items Sell Sold Buying Longer Sale

People who don't want to pay "full price" (the price being charged for a new item in a store) have many options for buying "used" (already used by someone else) furniture. Many people who want to "upgrade" (get something nicer) their furniture are happy to sell their "cast-offs" (things that one no longer wants or needs) to others. Traditionally, people listed items for sale in the "classified ads" (section of the newspaper with many small text ads), but now, online classifieds like Craiglist have become more popular.

"Secondhand stores" specialize in selling used items. Many of them work "on consignment," agreeing to "show" (allow potential buyers to see) used furniture in their store and paying the seller a percentage of the final selling price. Other secondhand stores buy items directly from sellers and then resell them to other buyers. Nicer items and especially "antiques" (old objects that are very valuable) are often sold at "auctions" where people "bid" (state how much they would be willing to pay) and compete against each other to buy the items.

Sometimes people try to sell their used furniture at a "garage sale" (a sales event where people sell old items in front of their home; see ESL Podcast 277). Items that aren't sold during the garage sale might be "given away" (let someone else have something without requesting payment) to friends or "donated" (giving away) pieces to nonprofit organizations that "operate" (run) "thrift stores" where items are sold at very low prices. But usually, the used furniture at thrift stores is "out of style" (no longer fashionable) and has "cosmetic damage" (is blemished; has problems with its appearance).