Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be offended that no one wants my sofa

139 replies

Chocolatemoosecups · 01/10/2025 15:54

We have an old leather sofa that we are trying to get rid of as we need the space.
It’s been a great sofa-still comfy to sit or lie on, clean, no major scratches etc. It does look quite wrinkly now but I don’t think it’s that bad-I thought at least someone would want it for their dogs or something.

I advertised it on market place for a tenner for weeks then dropped the price to free a few weeks ago.

One charity shop came to collect it but wouldn’t take it (luckily they took some other furniture so it wasn’t a wasted trip)
I’ve just shown a photo to another charity shop who have also said no thank you because the leather is quite wrinkly.

I felt quite offended on behalf of my faithful sofa especially as there were definitely some worse specimens on display in the shop!

Now the only option is to chop it up and take it to the tip which seems a real shame.

it’s got the relevant fire labels so it’s not that.
Maybe I’m just blind to how it looks!

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 02/10/2025 14:22

Chocolatemoosecups · 02/10/2025 11:47

So the tip won’t accept cut up sofas.

I thought I’d had the genius idea of ordering a skip so I could also get rid of a load of other crap but once I mentioned the sofa the price doubled!

So I’ve booked for the council to collect. They will take another 2 items for the £45 so not too bad I guess.

Lesson is -never buy a sofa that doesn’t come in separate pieces.

Edited

Don’t mention what you are putting in it

once chopped up then doesn’t matter as long as not abstetos

tho a skip is costly. I’ve had a few

so council is the best. For around £30

Candyflosies · 02/10/2025 12:42

Anyone else want to see a pic of this sofa.
Op can you upload a pitcher of the sofa so we on mums net can judge it.

GasPanic · 02/10/2025 12:16

What you are finding out is something that anyone who disposes of stuff on a regular basis already knows - getting rid of stuff costs money these days.

Original poster
Chocolatemoosecups · 02/10/2025 11:47

So the tip won’t accept cut up sofas.

I thought I’d had the genius idea of ordering a skip so I could also get rid of a load of other crap but once I mentioned the sofa the price doubled!

So I’ve booked for the council to collect. They will take another 2 items for the £45 so not too bad I guess.

Lesson is -never buy a sofa that doesn’t come in separate pieces.

OP posts:
Lalgarh · 02/10/2025 11:43

Yes the logistics of removing are the bummer.

I have a stack of vintage curtains that I'm trying to declutter. Courier charges for anything over 5kg are astronomical, so something like a sofa which would be needed by this CIC in at Alban's couldn't get taken over unless you feel generous enough to hire transport for yourself

https://www.nofloornomore.org/

Home | No Floor No More

We are a St Albans based initiative actively alleviating difficulties around council house refurbishment.

https://www.nofloornomore.org

TwoBagsOfCompost · 02/10/2025 08:17

I had the same, OP. Was trying to gift an IKEA sofa in pretty much perfect condition, a three seater, comfortable for sleeping too as no arms and a good shape for sleeping. It was the transport - I had a lot of interest that eventually fizzled out as they couldn't arrange transport and wouldn't pay a man with a van to help them. We sadly had to chop up and take to tip. I was gutted.

Don't mean to sound mean but I hate leather sofas, they look weird and wrinkly and make fart noises when you move and are sticky when it's hot. I wouldn't want a leather sofa even if free 😭 Sorry OP please don't be offended 😭🤣

MrsMoastyToasty · 02/10/2025 08:17

Our local tip (near Bath) has a Re-use Shop on site so anything that could be used again can be sold. Do any your local tips do this?

AramintaWildbloode · 02/10/2025 08:10

It’s a common issue. I couldn’t give my perfectly lovely sofa away last year.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 02/10/2025 08:07

The problem with a sofa is you cannot fit in normal car…

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 02/10/2025 07:59

Our Council is £25 to collect 1 large item and £30 for 2.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 02/10/2025 07:54

British Heart Foundation, YMCA or a local furniture charity are worth a try. Alternatively the council will collect for a fee.

JumpingPumpkin · 02/10/2025 07:24

I was sad to have to get rid of it but post divorce I had a small house.

JumpingPumpkin · 02/10/2025 07:22

I had a huge one in near perfect condition that I was not going to throw away, made by a local company. I had lots of interest from freecycle but when I checked they understood the size everyone backed out. I ended up putting it on eBay and selling it for £1. Might be worth a try.

Blondeshavemorefun · 01/10/2025 21:25

butterpuffed · 01/10/2025 18:51

I will try emmaus and if they reject it I’ll phone the council (I didn’t know you could do that!)

@Chocolatemoosecups I needed to get rid of a 32" tv a couple of weeks ago, and the council wanted £55 to collect it . I'd imagine different councils charge different prices but not sure if they'd do it for free.

Where if you put free tv on my local town fb group it’s gone minutes later

unsync · 01/10/2025 20:30

I stick stuff on ebay for 1p, collection only. It's never failed me and my 1p sofa sold for £350 and they sent someone to collect it. I had no complaints!

Theseventhmagpie · 01/10/2025 20:25

I recently had an immaculate 4 seater John Lewis leather sofa that I couldn’t give away either. Couldn’t give it to charity as it didn’t have the fire safety label. I offered it for free on my neighbourhood WhatsApp and still no takers. Ended up paying to have it removed. A complete waste.

gamerchick · 01/10/2025 19:46

You could try feeding it, might make it a bit more presentable.

That's why I got rid of mine. Did my head in having to use the stuff to keep it nice.

caringcarer · 01/10/2025 19:44

Some councils do a service to collect and store them give to care leavers to help them furnish a small flat.

Worried8263839 · 01/10/2025 19:42

Put it on marketplace for free and it will be gone

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 01/10/2025 19:28

Quite a bit of our furniture’s secondhand, which I’m totally fine with (edit: the opposite, I happen to be very fond of many pieces)— but used upholstered stuff? That’s where I draw line.

I just wouldn’t want to risk bedbugs for the sake of a free sofa!!

catchafluflu · 01/10/2025 19:22

I offered our old but decent sofa to a charity. They said the collection driver would look at it and make the final decision, I suppose some things look OK in a photo but they need to check out the reality. He came and told me it would sell no problem...I was very proud of the old gal passing this test! I even went to visit the sofa in the showroom once - it sold after a week or two and made a fair sum for a good cause. Win Win!

GAJLY · 01/10/2025 19:18

Comedycook · 01/10/2025 15:57

I see people in my local Facebook page giving away sofas all the time...I could do with a new one and some look nice but it's getting it picked up and transported that's the issue. I think that puts most people off

It's this 👆 bloke with a van cost alot to hire and will need help picking it up and dropping it off. It's money and hassle.

WhamBamThankU · 01/10/2025 19:07

GasPanic · 01/10/2025 15:57

Maybe they don't want it for the same reason you don't want it.

This. I wouldn’t want a wrinkly sofa

VoltaireMittyDream · 01/10/2025 19:03

@Peoplemakemesigh ‘it’s your own arse groove you’re sitting in’ is going to be my new favourite saying. 🤣

’Suit yourself, Nigel. It’s your own arse groove you’re sitting in after all!’

Lucyweeks · 01/10/2025 19:01

SepticPegsSepticLeg · 01/10/2025 18:53

This chancer originally wanted £100 for these 😂

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BY9LX3BQf/

Edited

Now they're grotty. They look like something from the young ones!

You can get leather renew for sofas if you think it's worth it.
I keep away from leather unless it's in a study.