# No IDIOTS, it's not solid wood. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 4, 2004, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627 "2004-01-04T10:48:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/1 "2004-01-04T10:48:05Z")
Dad burn it, I hit something by mistake and didn’t get the OP in here. Here is is: If it were, I’d be charging several hundred dollars a PIECE, not just for a whole 6 piece set. Sheesh. i’m trying to move, and selling the last of my furniture, I have a nice looking set of bedroom furniture, but it’s from one of those furniture stores that makes knock offs, partially out of press board. And I’m telling people where it’s from and how much I paid, that I’m asking half, and I’m willing to negotiate. I got a young lady looking at it tonite, and she said, “well, it’s press board”. And I said, "yes, it’s from XXX Furniture store, but I’ve priced just beds at “Snooty’s Furniture store, and the price of the bed is what I’m asking for the whole set here”. “Well, but that’s NICE furniture” she says. Well DUH, that’s why I’m charging a teensy fraction of what a whole set from them would be. If it were real wood, I’d be charging accordingly. I’m not going to give it away just because it’s “brand X”. If you want real wood, and brand Snooty’s, I suggest you shop there, instead of moving sales. Good grief folks, beggars can’t be choosers. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/2 "2004-01-04T13:17:21Z")
Garage sale customes can be some of the worst idiots out there. I’ve heard horror stories from friends who’ve had them (I never will). One advertised a yard sale, starting at 10 am on a Saturday. At about 7 am, some old coot comes 'round knocking and asking to see the merchandise, then saying “I’ll give you [ridiculously low amount] for the whole lot”, then proceed to argue with them about it. They had to tell him over and over that the sale hadn’t started yet and had to literally slam the door in his face to make him go away. Also, by nature, garage sales offer used merchandise at very low prices, but some people still want to haggle like it’s some persian rug bazaar.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/3 "2004-01-04T13:38:34Z")
I think haggling at a garage sale or flea market is fine (unless there’s a sign to the effect that prices are non-negotiable), but I’m never insulting about it. Hubby worked flea markets and trade shows for a time, selling brand new hand tools and accessories and some power tools. The stuff he sold was _at least_ 30% below retail, but some folks made ridiculous offers. He had some high-quality Piranha saw blades, retail about $50.00. He was selling them $35.00. If someone would offer him, say, $60.00 for two, he would likely take it. But you wouldn’t believe the nerve of some people. Some folks would look at this saw blade, and say “I’ll give you ten bucks for it”. Well. . .NO! Fuck, no! These folks get on my nerves. I never have yard or garage sales, but if I did, I’d be tempted to post an ad that reads: Starts at 9AM. Early arrivals will be shot! **CanvasShoes** , if you haven’t sold your bedroom set already, you might have better luck selling it in the newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/4 "2004-01-04T14:42:35Z")
On the other hand, there are the yard sale sellers who are way too proud of their crappy merchandise. I went to one sale where the woman had pegged all her merchandise to the price at Kmart, which she happily told anyone who offered a lower price. I picked up a wooden rolling pin, and she wanted $4.50 for it; I offerd 50¢ for it, and she got all ruffled like I was insulting her. The point is, yard sales are open for 3-4 days and if the idea is to get rid of everything, you can’t expect people to pay anywhere near retail. Kmart can afford to let the same merchandise sit on the shelf for months until someone wants it bad enough to pay retail. Yard salers who don’t understand the difference will end up with a garage still full of crap on Sunday night. ---
**Author:** ![zephyrine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/35a633/32.png) [@zephyrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zephyrine)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/5 "2004-01-04T15:59:57Z")
**CanvasShoes** , you just haven’t got the point. I’m really mad about things, and can’t deal with my life, and I really love having something to complain about. When I’ve finished complaining about your furniture I’ll go and find a store and complain that there are two people standing in line in front of me. I REALLY hope that one of them is an elderly person who tries to count out the exact change and has trouble doing it, because that means I can tap my foot and roll my eyes and sigh loudly. Then I’ll finish up by driving home honking my horn at every idiot who doesn’t drive fast enough, indicate when I expect them to do so, or pull away fast enough from the lights. And will I feel better after annoying as many people as I possibly can for no apparent reason in one day? No, I won’t. The rest of my life lies ahead of me in one long whine, and I’ll be a moron for all of it. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/6 "2004-01-04T16:19:10Z")
Well, the way I see it, if you’re going to have a garage sale, prepare to get up early! A lot of people around here are addicted to garage sale-ing, and most of the sellers and buyers seem to be up on discount pricing and haggling. But, if you wait until 9 or 10 to open your garage door, you will miss most of the buyers. They are already at IHOP comparing deals with each other, while you are sitting there reading the Watchtower someone gave you and wondering why only 5 other people have even looked at your stuff. If you want to sell, start early. How hard is it to set your alarm up an hour or two for one weekend? For the chance of monetary gain, I’ll do it! In fact, I have. The last time I had to move, I put a sign out on the nearest busy street and had a series of arrows pointing the two blocks and two turns over (I hate guessing at an unfamiliar address, so for mine, I used directional arrows!) at about 5:00AM. Then I started putting stuff in my driveway. By 9:00AM, I had about $350.00 and most of the stuff was gone! So, I shut down, took up the signs (which is a rant worthy point of its own, old signs), and left the rest of the stuff by the curb, either for trash pick up or for junk scroungers. This was all for stuff that I would’ve had to store or throw away, since I was moving from a house to an apartment. Now, for high (-ish) dollar stuff that I want a fair return on, I use local rags like Greensheet, Thrifty Nickle, or go online to eBay. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/7 "2004-01-04T17:42:17Z")
May I use this opportunity to get rid of the apparently common notion that solid wood furniture is categorically superior to those made of plywood or particleboard? From [HomeFurnish.com](http://www.homefurnish.com/woodfurn.htm): > [@](#): > > The use of non-solid wood products is probably the most maligned and misunderstood aspect of furniture construction. As wood is porous by nature, solid wood has a tendency to expand and contract as the humidity changes…Plywood and products manufactured of ground up wood are significantly more stable and less apt to warp or split. And from [HomePortfolio.com](http://www.homeportfolio.com/GetInspired/LearnMoreAbout/WoodFurniture/materialsConstruction.jhtml): > [@](#): > > Solid woods seem to have the best reputation for quality and endurance, but this is not entirely true…[This type of furniture] tends to be more expensive, not because it is the premium method, but because more wood is consumed in the process of selecting useable pieces. > > Veneering is a centuries-old process from which some of the finest and most expensive furniture in the world is made. > > \ > > Engineered wood is incredibly strong and resistant to warping. Yes, there’s plenty of cheap, shoddily constructed particleboard furniture out there (I’m not saying that’s what the OP owns, of course), but that doesn’t mean they’re _all_ bad. Heck, engineered wood is even strong enough to [build houses](http://www.bobvila.com/Features/index.html?/Features/InnovativeTechnology/DeconstructingEngWood.html) with. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/8 "2004-01-04T17:47:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by An Arky \* > \*\*Garage sale customes can be some of the worst idiots out there. I’ve heard horror stories from friends who’ve had them (I never will). One advertised a yard sale, starting at 10 am on a Saturday. At about 7 am, some old coot comes 'round knocking and asking to see the merchandise, then saying “I’ll give you [ridiculously low amount] for the whole lot”, then proceed to argue with them about it. They had to tell him over and over that the sale hadn’t started yet and had to literally slam the door in his face to make him go away. > > Also, by nature, garage sales offer used merchandise at very low prices, but some people still want to haggle like it’s some persian rug bazaar.:rolleyes: \*\* Having done plenty of garage sale trips with my in-laws on a Saturday morning, I’m not suprised by what happened to your friends. There is a core group of people who hit the garage sales every weekend after looking them up in the paper the day before. If they can haggle for a better price, they can turn around and sell it on Ebay for more money. Starting a garage sale at 10am shows someone who has never done a garage sale before. These people make out a route and start at 6am. By 10am the experiences ones are done for the day since the best deals have been picked over. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/9 "2004-01-04T18:20:00Z")
hmmmm…teensy fraction = 50%? I think that may be what the furniture is _worth_, **if** it is in good condition, but I don’t think it’s insulting to ask for less. I wouldn’t think of paying more than half retail for used furniture, since there is so much stuff available, and you don’t have the warranty (or even customer service people to complain to who might give you compensation) if the stuff breaks on you. The way the person went about comparing prices was a bit harsh but I would have second thoughts about buying a used bit of furniture from a residence for %50 retail. ---
**Author:** ![bsane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@bsane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bsane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/10 "2004-01-04T18:32:42Z")
I second what \Earthling\ said. Veneer does not make a product cheap. Sure many cheap products are made from low quality chip board and veneered with low quality materials, but veneer is not an inherently bad way to do things. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/11 "2004-01-04T20:07:23Z")
Thanks **Earthling** , I did not know that. I’m asking for an entire set of 6 pieces, what one piece new would be. I don’t think that’s “too high and mighty”. And I put in my add OBO, so I am willing to negotiate. Thanks for the support, this one little ding dong was just a bit too snooty and irritating. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/12 "2004-01-04T20:23:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by An Arky \* > Also, by nature, garage sales offer used merchandise at very low prices, but some people still want to haggle like it’s some persian rug bazaar.:rolleyes: Ahhhh, but it **is** a Persian rug bazar. What makes you think it isn’t? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/13 "2004-01-05T00:53:57Z")
Well, I’m just not wired that way. It just strikes me as déclassé. But we _are_ talking about garage sales… ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/14 "2004-01-05T05:19:03Z")
But… but… but I don’t live in Persia! And I’m not selling any rugs! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/15 "2004-01-05T06:42:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by An Arky \* > \*\*Well, I’m just not wired that way. It just strikes me as déclassé. But we _are_ talking about garage sales… \*\* I’m glad you recognize that.🙂 You put a bunch of crap out in your driveway, and you get a bunch of people coming by who think KMART is too expensive. Let’s not kid ourselves here. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/16 "2004-01-05T12:01:54Z")
**John** , not every person, and I’m sure not anywhere near the majority of people are checking out garage sales because that $25 coffee maker was too expensive at K-mart. Most people who check out garage sales do it as a hobby or they saw something while driving past that caught their eye, NOT because they’re too poor or cheap to shop at the mall-wart. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/17 "2004-01-05T17:52:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ludovic \* > \*\*hmmmm…teensy fraction = 50%? I think that may be what the furniture is _worth_, **if** it is in good condition, but I don’t think it’s insulting to ask for less. I wouldn’t think of paying more than half retail for used furniture, since there is so much stuff available, and you don’t have the warranty (or even customer service people to complain to who might give you compensation) if the stuff breaks on you. The way the person went about comparing prices was a bit harsh but I would have second thoughts about buying a used bit of furniture from a residence for %50 retail. \*\* No, you didn’t read what I said. Teensy fraction of what a set of the “real wood” furniture from Brand Snooty would have been, NOT a “teensy fraction” of what I originally paid for my set. I had checked out prices of Brand snooty, their bed alone cost what I was asking for a 6 piece set of furniture. So my asking price was a teensy fraction of a 'real wood" set, NOT of my original price. FTR, the set was in good condition, only a few years old, and I’d bought it brand new. Also, I’d spent some time checking out used furniture stores, and other furniture in the paper. I’m not sure how hard decent used dressers and chest o drawers are to find in your neck of the woods, but here, they’re like the lost treasures of the incas. And judging from the dozens of calls I got wanting just the dresser and chest of drawers, the snobby young lady was completely unaware of what she was turning her nose up at. I sold the set shortly after I posted this rant, and got many calls after that, the lady that bought it VERY successfully talked me into dropping a hundred off of my asking price, so it’s not like i was being unreasonable. Little miss snooty was just uninformed. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/18 "2004-01-05T18:00:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*Well, the way I see it, if you’re going to have a garage sale, prepare to get up early! > \*\* Sorry if it wasn’t clear from the OP, but I wasn’t having a garage sale, I’d advertised my furniture in the paper. So it wasn’t that I “didn’t get up early enough”. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/19 "2004-01-05T18:18:42Z")
> [@](#): > > hmmmm…teensy fraction = 50%? I think that may be what the furniture is worth, if it is in good condition, but I don’t think it’s insulting to ask for less. Sorry I forgot to address this. The young lady who prompted my weak rant didn’t ask for less, (as I said, I would have, and did, happily bargained for less), she merely dissed the furniture because it wasn’t real wood, and because she thought I should have been selling it for $50 bucks I guess, and left. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627/20 "2004-01-05T19:05:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CanvasShoes \* > \*\*Sorry if it wasn’t clear from the OP, but I wasn’t having a garage sale, I’d advertised my furniture in the paper. So it wasn’t that I “didn’t get up early enough”. \*\* Yeah, I got that. 🙂 I was addressing **An Arky** ’s post. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-idiots-its-not-solid-wood/222627.md?page=2)