Consignment shops are a great place to buy and sell used furniture. Here’s how they work: somebody has a piece of furniture they want to sell, they bring it to the consignment shop and agree to allow it to be sold there for a commission to the consignment shop. The furniture sits on display at the shop until it sells and then the shop sends a check to the seller minus the commission. As time goes by and the furniture doesn’t sell, the shop lowers the price until it sells. This is usually done on an agreed-upon schedule.

It’s kind of like a full-time garage sale, or Craigslist with physical building.

So where should you go to “pop some tags” on furniture in Columbus? I have to defer to my mom on this one. My mom the expert says that the best consignment shops are:

Consignment Shops

1. Grandview Mercantile Company in Grandview (no longer Short North)
2. Experienced Possessions in Shawnee Hills
3. Trading Places in Dublin
4. One More Time, Etc. on 5th Ave. in Columbus

Government Surplus

During the pandemic OSU started selling through this site, and many other government entities dump valuable stuff here especially office furniture:

https://www.govdeals.com/

OSU Surplus

Of note also, Ohio State releases their surplus furniture once per month, click here for more info. There are some massive deals here and they also sell electronics.

The Goodwill

The Goodwill. You may not choose to buy a couch here, but you cannot rule out the Goodwill. I bought a floor lamp at the Goodwill yesterday and if I told you I paid $100, you’d believe me. Stainless steel, all three switches work, and I saved enough to put LED bulbs in it. Don’t feel bad either. Pay cash. You are creating jobs, and also helping people get rid of their old stuff. Win-win. Don’t believe me? Believe Wikipedia.

General Re-Use Stores

New Uses in Columbus is like Craigslist in person, or like an on-going garage sale with quality items. I highly recommend them. There are currently three locations near Columbus.

• New Uses, Sawmill Rd. and three other locations.

More Consignment Shops

• One More Time, Etc., West Fifth Ave.
• The Carpenter’s Daughter, West Fifth Ave.
• Fresco Furnishings, West Fifth Ave.
• Furniture Bank of Central Ohio, Franklinton

Craigslist, Etc.

I love craigslist and now offerup is similar.

How to Sell

1. Take several pictures of each piece of furniture.
2. Put all in one folder, and reduce the pictures to <1MB each.
3. Write a short description with everything you know including manufacturer, age, original purchase price, condition.
4. Each consignment shop’s site has a submission form or e-mail. They respond within a few days with a recommended price.
5. They take a commission, usually 50%. With most you have to deliver the furniture, but some do pick-up.