"WASHINGTON – Two weeks before closing on her first home in suburban Washington, Olivia Doherty saw an ad on Craigslist for the couch of her dreams: Simple lines, neutral color, plush fabric, terrific price.The posting, with photo, went up at 8 p.m. Within minutes of its appearance Doherty shot back an e-mail making clear she wanted it. Grabbing her brother, she bolted from their parents’ house, jumped in his truck, hit an ATM and arrived on the sellers’ doorstep with $200 in hand. By 10 p.m., the deal was done. A few days later, she scored a pair of end tables for $37.50 each (retail value, $260 each).Doherty, a public relations associate, and her husband, Seth, a Navy petty officer, have an equally strong aversion to paying retail, or even discounted, prices for new furniture.Countless fellow cyber-shoppers have strategies for snagging bargain furnishings on the Internet. Some intrepid trollers have filled an entire home or apartment for what it would cost to buy a brand-new sofa.Much of this nest-feathering is done through sites such as www.craigslist.org and www.freecycle.org. Another site, newcomer www.swapthing.com, relies on barter – a rug for a crib – rather than sales or giveaways.The operative words are speed, cash, brawn and “as is.”“If you don’t respond within five to 15 minutes of a post, it’s either physically given to someone or spoken for,” says Amanda Wimmer, whose Washington walkup is a case in point.Her favorite deal is the $200 three-piece white sectional sofa that looks a lot like a $2,500 Pottery Barn model. A counter-height table and two high-back swivel stools in the living room (comparable retail, $570) were free.They came with a set of dishes, all given to her by a seller whom she asked in passing, “Do you have anything else you’re getting rid of?”Another Wimmer axiom is, “You have to go further out for good deals.” A recent 45-minute drive to the suburbs yielded a six-piece art deco bedroom set for $200. The price was so low she didn’t bother to haggle.Used furniture rarely will be showroom perfect. But Melissa Petersen shrugged off a coffee stain on the 8-by-10-foot Pottery Barn rug she bought. “We have a dog. Excuse the visual, but I knew he was sure to vomit on it within the week, which he did, so I was much happier to pay $120 than the $700 it cost new.”With furniture so inexpensive, it is sometimes regarded as temporary by its new owners.Last year, roommates Chor Li and Amanda Clemmons paid $600 for a Queen Anne sofa and matching love seat, two wing chairs, a pair of mirrors and a hall table from Craigslist.Because neither piece works well for lounging, the women plan to resell the couches and chairs on Craigslist ($400 to $500 for the set) and buy something slouchier for their apartment.Library acquisitions specialist Alicia Jones is such an avid Web shopper that she finallydecided to quit imposing on friends with trucks. “So I went on Craigslist and found a van for $250.”Although Craigslist posts giveaways as well as sales, Freecycle is totally anti-cash. The site is applauded by consumers aiming to keep as usable items out of landfills.“The items are seemingly ridiculous,” says David Cheng, a Washington “moderator” who oversees the Washington Freecycle group. “Diaper-related stuff, paint, plastic containers, old cat food. A lot of people don’t want anything to go to waste.”Attorney Janet Benson Forville says simply: “I love Freecycle. It’s amazing what people want. We have given away extra sheets of drywall, paving stones and a driveway full of mulch we over-ordered.”Elizabeth Buchbinder happily Freecycled high-end furniture she had bought 25 years ago because it took up space in the Georgetown basement she wants to redecorate.“It costs a lot of money to have someone haul a sleep sofa, a very heavy three-piece bookcase unit, a coffee table and end table up a flight of stairs and take it all to the dump,” says Buchbinder, an Ernst & Young national tax principal. “I was much happier giving it to people who needed it.”Swapping sitesCraigslist: Most transactions on www.craigslist.org are buy-and-sell, with some free items and a few outright swaps. The list has mushroomed to include job, real estate and singles ads in citiesnationwide.Freecycle: This site (www.freecycle.org) is strictly for people looking to give things away or get things free. One drawback: Users must register in the specific area where they live or work; metropolitan areas can be divided into dozens of localities.SwapThing: This site (www.swapthing.com) is dedicated to bartering, with cash sometimes used to equalize trades. It emphasizes “community circles” of mutual help. Baby furniture is big on this site. There’s a $1 fee per transaction.How to get the deals To get what you want– Check sites several times a day, starting first thing in the morning for items posted the night before. Good stuff can go within minutes.– Friday is a busy day for postings, in anticipation of weekend sales.– When you see something you like, reply ASAP, preferably by e-mail; phone numbers are rarely provided.– Pick up your purchase as soon as possible. Most sellers, fearing no-shows, sell on a first-come, first-served basis.– If you can’t collect your purchase right away, expect to leave a deposit or pay in full.– As long as you’re making the trip, ask what else might be for sale that wasn’t listed.– Exchange phone numbers with the seller so you candouble-check that the item is still available and, if necessary, get help with directions.– To avoid getting stuck with furniture that smells bad, ask if the home is smoke- and pet-free.– If you need to rent a vehicle, consider a trailer rather than a truck. Trailer rates are cheaper, and there are no mileage fees or gas fill-ups, but they might require a permanent hitch on your vehicle.– Take plenty of cash, because most sellers won’t accept checks.To get rid of what you don’t want– Think seasonally: Lawn mowers and hammocks sell well in the spring; fireplace screens and artificial Christmas trees do better in fall.– Give full descriptions and detailed dimensions. Specify where you got it if it’s a name store. Reveal all defects (stains, a wobbly leg).– Post clear pictures. Buyers are likely to scroll past ads with blurry photos or no photos.– Give a deadline for an item’s removal; state whether you’ll bargain.– Keep a backup list of potential buyers to call if early responders don’t show up.– State if furniture is heavy and located in a basement or attic, and how many people might be needed to move it.– You can agree to leave an item on your porch or somewhere else outside your house for pickup. You’ll be taking a chance it will be stolen – but at least you’ll be rid of it.– It’s a friendly network, but remember: You’re dealing with strangers. If you live alone, arrange to see buyers during the day; if possible, consider having a friend at home with you. Keep valuables, such as your purse, out of sight. "
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