To buy a sofa from Facebook

There are lots of fake things for sale on FB. Im not sure what the scam is but you'll see the same photos of sofas for sale- often very cheap with a dodgy profile. I have bought a second hand ikea one for 30 quid and it's in good condition. But we collected it. I think the scam is that they ask you to pay up front probably and then it doesnt get delivered. Just keep your wits about you. And if something seems to good to be true, then it probably is.

I could have written this exact post. I made this huge mistake myself. They hurried in with it after dark, well wrapped, barely spoke English and vanished. I was promised refund etc if unhappy but all I got was abuse on line n couldn’t get my money back. It was a poor imitation of the photos of what I thought I was buying. It even snapped internally in the arm rest. I was heartbroken as spent nearly £800. I even reported as a scam to the police but nothing came of it.
don’t do it. Please. I spent not much more to get one made to order from furniture village, and could have had a much nicer one if I’d not wasted all that on being scammed

They’re so scammy. Don’t buy from them

Partner bought a bed with mattress without my knowledge for 299 thus it lasted 6 months matress springs went delivery man with a van I wasn't impressed lol

I wouldn't buy anything from a FB Link. Go to the company's actual page and then do some Google research.

Most of the scams on our local marketplace seem to be sofas. Usually grainy photos, often clearly not the UK (identifiable by US plug sockets etc in the background) and always the same kind of description, offering delivery. The seller usually joined Facebook very recently too. I’ve been in the market for a second hand sofa but only bothered with the ‘bought from X [local shop] in 2024’ and profiles that had been on Facebook for years.

Our sofa is second hand from a small company that cleans and sells 2nd hand sofas on Facebook, they also deliver them. I got a really nice sturdy feather filled corner sofa from sofa.com for £400 and that included delivery. It’s still being sold online for £3,000.

Ask yourself, why would they sell a brand new sofa on Facebook for less money than they could get otherwise?

I’d rather buy pre loved well built, than cheaper and badly built.
I bought a divan bed for a 10 year old, brand new, it fell apart.

My brother bought one from facebook. New home and wanted a new one. From one of those companies. Brand new. He was adamant that he wouldn’t pay until he had seen it. It come well wrapped up and they made some excuse- it was late and dark so he paid! It looked nothing like the photos!! He was hugely disappointed and ended up getting a new one. I wouldn’t waste your money OP!

I didn’t either. It was cash on delivery. I’d already seen up close photos of the stitching, the fire and manufacturers label in photographs, had they turn up with a different sofa, I’d have refused to pay the cash.
Ask for detailed photos.

But if it looks fine and then falls apart after a week/month/year she'll have no protection if she's paid by cash. If she pays by credit card she'll have Section 75 Protection

When you buy from marketplace, you don’t hand the money over until after you’ve looked at it. She can refuse delivery and not pay. It isn’t any more risky than anything else.

So not really anything to do with marketplace?

Its your lookout if you buy anything that you can't see beforehand whatever the place you saw the advert. No one can tell you anything about an unknown retailer

I think you would need to do your research on who the company was that was selling first. Some will be genuine, but not all.

It also depends on the budget you have and what you are looking to buy. If it isn't second hand, but the price is too good to be true, it probably isn't.

We bought from a firm called sofa sofa. We are lucky that they are about 30 mins away, so we could go to the showroom.

Yes we did, it was 3 years old when we bought it 9 years ago now and it’s still fine!
It was a much nicer one that we would have afforded new, and also had young DC then so obviously were going to have spillages and accidents so didn’t want to spend a fortune.
It was from an older lady who needed a different style due to mobility issues

Wouldn't trust anything new from Facebook market place, no. Very scammy.

If you want new, I'd consider dfs or sofology and interest free credit.

My 2nd hand sofa from Facebook is good but transport can often be an issue.

I have successfully bought 2 large furniture items off marketplace but would not if I couldn't see them first. I'd also not pay anything until the agreed pickup time.

Random Facebook companies are unlikely to give a quality product that lasts. If you want cheaper prices but new then you are better off going to IKEA

I wouldn't dismiss second hand. We got 2 matching sofas from eBay in hectic condition and clearly originally expensive with very solid frames. Cost us £20 and we had them for at least 10 years.