Second Hand Couches: Where to Buy, What to Check & What to Pay

Your couch is one of those few pieces of furniture that you will use on a daily basis. Fortunately, you do not have to pay full retail price in order to own one of the finest. What you have to know is how quality is built, how much it costs nowadays in Melbourne, and which additional fees could easily ruin your budget.

Here we will help you make a realistic budget, recognise quality furniture, and spend your money wisely while furnishing an apartment or a house.

Set Your Real Budget First (Including the Costs People Forget)

Price is just one of the costs. Before you start searching, work out the following:

• The couch itself.

• Getting it home: A delivery cost for your suburb, or the cost of hiring a van and getting a helping hand from a friend.

• Access: Stairs, lifts and narrow apartment halls will complicate the process. Talk about that when asking for a quote.

• Extras: If changing the look, a throw, protector or some new cushions.

Note the overall budget that you will spend, and work backwards to the couch. It's easier to keep the budget when having already considered all the costs of getting the couch home.

At Seconds Furniture, the online purchases are delivered, but we will offer you the delivery cost before placing an order. Just ask for it, and the cost will become part of your budget right from the start.

What Your Money Actually Buys

Where Quality Lives: Frame, Suspension and Cushions

If there is one thing to remember, remember this one: invest in the components of the couch that are inside it. They are the determining factors of the durability of your couch and the hardest and most expensive thing to fix in the future.

• Frame. A strong frame is made of hardwood or quality plywood, while the particle board is weaker and tends to break.

• Suspension. The sinuous (zigzag) springs or pocket springs make sure of an even seating. The webbing tends to lose its shape sooner.

• Cushions. High-density foam is not easy to flatten, while low-density foam is very prone to flattening. Removable covers are convenient to clean.

In the case of two couches with equal price tags, the one with a better frame and suspension will be the better choice.

Where You Can Save: Colour, Fabric and Small Marks

The things that usually reduce the price of a sofa are the same things that are the least important during the sofa's lifetime:

• Colour. A sofa that has a striking colour, such as red or green, may cost less than a neutral-colour sofa that sells faster.

• Minor cosmetic damage. Any cosmetic damage done on the back or side of the couch where the sofa is going to rest against a wall will probably never be seen again.

• Configuration. Whether it is a left-hand chaise or a right-hand chaise makes a huge difference in price, but both fit in most places.

Seconds Furniture has pictures and descriptions of all minor cosmetic flaws available when buying, which means that you can make your own decision. Nothing is kept secret.

What a Quality Couch Costs in Melbourne Right Now

Every item at Seconds Furniture shows its original factory ticket and the saving, so you know the value of your purchase before you pay. Instead of chasing one specific sofa, browse the collections below to see what's currently on the floor at our Epping showroom:

Most of our pieces are one-offs, so stock changes constantly. The rule still holds, though: what you'd spend on an ordinary sofa can often buy you a quality one with us.

Ex-Display, Surplus and Used: Which Gives the Best Value?

All used couches are not the same. Understanding the difference allows you to assess the worth.

• Ex-display items have spent time on the showroom floor. They've been sat on, but no one's lived with them yet.

• Showroom samples are furniture items created for demonstration purposes.

• Overstock and surplus refer to inventory over-ordered by a furniture store.

• Discontinued stock means last season's range or end-of-line product.

• Brand new box stock is furniture that comes with new packaging but some damage – though the furniture itself remains brand new.

For budget-conscious buyers, the best value can be found in ex-display and surplus pieces – offering nearly new quality but for far less than retail price. Seconds Furniture offers ex-display, sample, surplus and brand new boxed stock items from manufacturers that would offer products in the mainstream furniture stores. No item will be reconditioned or repaired to appear like new, so you know what you're getting. To learn more about differences between the two, check out our blog post on the differences between factory seconds and used furniture.

Five Ways to Stretch Your Budget Further

1. Don't be too fixed on colour. Pick the size and construction first, then be flexible on colour. Some of the best discounts are available on colours that are not very common.

2. Ask about marked items. A small cosmetic blemish that won't be visible can get you a discount on an otherwise perfect couch. Our Half Price collection holds the deepest markdowns on the floor.

3. Measure up before you come. Knowing your maximum dimensions and measurements of the doors and hallways verifies that you do not make a mistake with a couch that will not fit.

4. Pick it up yourself. With a van and manpower available, collecting your couch from our warehouse in Epping can help you save on delivery charges.

5. Visit. Our Epping warehouse receives new second-hand and ex-display stock often. Join our email alerts to hear about markdowns before items hit the floor.

To learn some additional ways of saving, take a look at our guide to discounted furniture in Melbourne. And to avoid common mistakes, refer to the top mistakes to avoid when purchasing a couch.

A 10-Minute Quality Check Before You Pay

Before paying for your purchase, use 10 minutes to inspect the couch yourself:

1. Raise one of the front legs 10 to 15cm. The other front leg should come up too if the structure is sound.

2. Sit on all the seats, even the ends. Note any sag or a hard rod underneath the seat.

3. Press down on the seat base under the cushions. It should be even and springy.

4. Squeeze the cushions to make sure that they bounce right back.

5. Open the zippered cover and examine the foam inside.

6. Inspect the recliner multiple times and listen for squeaking or grinding.

7. Inspect the damage and determine if you can live with it.

For more details, refer to our guide on second-hand couches in Melbourne.

Buying From Our Epping Warehouse

The warehouse of our Melbourne branch is located at 20 Litoria Court, Epping, VIC 3076, and is open 7 days, Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 4pm. You are welcome to visit and examine the actual piece prior to purchase; we will tell you about any display marks straight away.

Please note:

• The stock remains in Melbourne. All our stock is stored in one warehouse only and cannot be relocated; therefore, please take a look at our Melbourne Lounges & Sofas and see what can be collected from Epping.

• Reservation by telephone. Find the couch you like on our website? Make a reservation by calling +61 406 445 555.

• Payment. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted.

• Delivery or collection. Either collect on the same day or arrange a delivery quote to your postcode before the purchase.

• No refund on changing your mind. Our ex-display and clearance items are sold as they are; therefore, please measure your room and discuss all issues with our staff prior to purchasing. See our shipping and returns policy for full details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I spend on a quality second-hand couch in Melbourne?
It depends on the size and style you need. All our couches are priced well below their original retail tickets, and the original price and saving are shown on every listing. Browse our Lounges & Sofas collection, or shop by budget with our $1,000 – $2,000 and Half Price collections.

Is an affordable couch ever a good buy?
Yes, if the frame and suspension are well-made. A low price due to colour, build or some minor damage is a great buy. A low price due to bad quality generally isn't.

Are ex-display couches worth it?
Yes, for most people. They have never been lived in and are in almost new condition. At Seconds Furniture, they take pictures and describe any imperfections before purchase.

Do you deliver across Melbourne?
Your orders will be collected from our Epping warehouse only. Delivery charges to your suburb will be quoted to you before payment is made. If you have any stairs or apartment access, let us know.

How often does new stock arrive?
New ex-display stock arrives at Epping every week. Most items are one-offs, so once a piece sells, it's gone. Check our Melbourne Stock regularly to see the latest arrivals.