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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell you about the awesome bargain I just got?

42 replies

BadDoGooder · 27/04/2016 19:56

I have no one else to tell, because none of my friends will care about it, but I am bursting to boast about this random bargain I just got!

Went to the local council tip to take some random recycling etc.
They have a "reuse" bit, where they fish good bits out and sell them for a tiny sum, I think for a charity.
It's mostly drop leaf tables, hideous 70s coffee tables, the sort of paintings your Nan would have had, of cheesy flower girls and repro landscapes!

But hidden in the corner were these v dusty and cobwebby folding garden chairs. They fely heavy, and seemed really good quality, so when I found out they were a fiver each I snapped four of them up (there were 8!) (We have really cheap, crappy green plastic chairs atm)

I just got them home and noticed the makers name on a little brass plaque at the bottom, so looked them up online Shock

They are £169 each brand new!!!

They need cleaning but are fine....who throws away nearly £2,000 of garden furniture??!

OP posts:
Original poster
BadDoGooder · 27/04/2016 19:57

Meant to add linky.....

Expensive chairs

OP posts:
LadyMumble · 27/04/2016 19:57

Bargain! What a great find. You should go back for the other four.

wheresthel1ght · 27/04/2016 20:01

They are stunning! My nan has similar ones and they are over 25 years old and still going strong!

NeedACleverNN · 27/04/2016 20:06

Some people are odd

My dh used to work at our local tip and came home with some lovely stuff

His best find was a glass tigger with a 9ct gold butterfly. Perfect condition.

He salvaged it for me and he is pride and joy of my mantelpiece. Looked on eBay and they are worth £70!

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 27/04/2016 20:08

House clearance, probably... DH does them sometimes. It's very sad but not everyone with lovely possessions has family to inherit them Sad

Pettywoman · 27/04/2016 20:08

We once got a £1200 leather chair for £30 at the tip.

ghostyslovesheep · 27/04/2016 20:17

Our tip has a HUGE Help The Aged shop full of stuff - it's fab

I've had some lovely plates and glasses from there plus the kids have had bikes and scooters for under £5

Original poster
BadDoGooder · 27/04/2016 20:34

I keep trying to pst replies but for some reason it won't let me! Hmm

Anyhoo...
LadyMumble I am torn between leaving them for someone else to get a nice surprise, and thinking that some pretentious ebayer will get them, paint them distresse white and sell them on, so why not give them a good home! Grin

wheres as soon as I saw them, I knew they were an investment, 25 years is an excellent time for garden chairs to last!

NeedsA I know, I can never understand why people throw away perfectly decent things, at least charity shop them! I used to run a charity shop and the amount of hugely expensive things we just got given, I was Shock sometimes.
My sofas and a lovely sewing table were all donated, the sofas were v expensive!

LadyMonica I did think that actually. Sad but knowing some of the local area it probably was just replaced. House clearances always used to make me sad at the shop.

OP posts:
wheresthel1ght · 27/04/2016 20:39

They have been in her conservatory for some of that time but she does have a great gardener who paints then with whatever preserver every year

LanaorAna1 · 27/04/2016 20:41

What a cracker, you brainiac - very smart move indeed. Chairs are really lovely, aren't they.

Original poster
BadDoGooder · 27/04/2016 20:43

I shall definitely be taking care of them wheres!

Petty Shock that's a bargain!

ghosty I love second hand places, especially ones where people are too snobby to get things from! Loads of DS stuff is ridiculously cheap 2nd hand bits. I can never get over what some people just throw away!

OP posts:
TattyCat · 27/04/2016 20:45

Op, your jaw would hit the floor if you could see some of the stuff I've taken to the tip in the past. Even I'm a bit Shock when I think back to how I just carelessly chucked stuff out because I didn't want it hanging around and I didn't do eBay at the time. I'm ashamed, actually.

I feel I've redeemed myself these days though because I have neither the money to be so wasteful nor the inclination. I love finding a bargain and if I can upcycle something then I will (no, I don't shabby shit stuff - I actually do a decent job) although I don't upcycle anything 'good' - I'm gutted at how many pieces of lovely Ercol and good antiques have been Annie Sloaned to death.

I would have left the chairs alone, in their natural state! Grin

sepa · 27/04/2016 20:46

I have had a bargain from my local tip but only £30 saving good. I'm jealous that you got such a great bargain

Original poster
BadDoGooder · 27/04/2016 20:48

Lanoaor I am feeling rather chuffed with my self actually! Grin

At the charity shop I ran, I once found an antique vase in a random box of crap. Sort of knew it was special, so did a google image search, it was worth £250!!

The charity were v grateful!

OP posts:
ssd · 27/04/2016 20:50

sometimes, when someone dies you have to clear out their council house in a few weeks and you end up giving away precious things as you are doing it yourself and just dont know what to do with everything

Original poster
BadDoGooder · 27/04/2016 20:55

Ha Tatty you kearned the error of your ways, and you have redeemed yourself in my eyes by not doing that awful "shabby chic" bollocks to things! Grin
I think that wood is beautiful on it's own, and doesn't need "Elephant Grey" or a weird whitewash to look good.

OP posts:
ProfessorPickles · 27/04/2016 20:56

Some people have more money than sense! When I got my first house I bought a second hand fridge freezer and when I picked it up the couple said they replace ALL of their kitchen appliances every 1-2 years. For no reason Shock baffled.
However, I got a bargain so should have kept their number for future appliances!

TattyCat · 27/04/2016 21:00

I did learn! Never again - I must have tipped £££'s worth - it's disgusting.

Anyway, I have to confess that I did shabby chic some stuff, a long long time ago and before it was in everyone's homes! But I soon also learned to hate Annie Sloan paint because I saw what people were doing to really good furniture simply because it was the 'lazy' way of updating! I don't mind if it's done to something at the end of its pretty life and if it's done well it can actually look really good. But too much now... too much.

redexpat · 27/04/2016 21:02
UterusUterusGhali · 27/04/2016 21:02

I get my best stuff from the tip. Blush

TattyCat · 27/04/2016 21:04

Do all tips have this 'facility' then? Can't say I've ever seen one at mine?

YorkieDorkie · 27/04/2016 21:05

Flipping brilliant OP! Bargain of a lifetime!

Usernamegone · 27/04/2016 21:06

I used to volunteer in charity shop and you would be amazed at what people brought in. Brand new Laura Ashley dresses with tags on, coats from House of Frazer, etc

I bought a top of range dishwasher on eBay for only £30 which was under a year old and a dyson for £30 which was used once briefly as the person decided they didn't like it!

Original poster
BadDoGooder · 27/04/2016 21:10

ssd didn't mean to sound so blase, sorry. I have been there myself, I know it's really hard to work out.

Professor I have come across people like that, I can never understand it. I use things until they literally disintegrate!

Tatty I heard you say "too much" in my head then and felt your pain! .It is literally everywhere, and makes me sad for the furniture it could have been! Grin

Uterus (great name btw!) there's no shame in it, I consider it a badge of honour, the cheaper the better!

OP posts:
Brightnorthernlights · 27/04/2016 21:10

I'm always amazed by how many different shades of grey you can actually buy Annie Sloan/Farrow & ball paint in.