Nothing lasts forever, not even corner bookcases. Eventually you’re going to want to get rid of your old bookcase and replace it with a nicer one. Maybe you’re moving to a bigger place and the one you have doesn’t match what you’re design plans are or maybe you’ve collected even more books than you thought you would and have outgrown the bookcase you own. Whatever the reason, you have a new bookcase and need to get rid of the old one. What can you do?
Before you do anything it would be a good idea to think of other uses your old bookcase can provide. I’ve used many of my old bookcases as TV stands and they work great because you can then use the shelves for DVD storage. Old furniture shouldn’t go to waste, there are too many other uses for it.
But, if you simply must get rid of it, there are a few things you can do with your old unwanted bookcases. You could throw them away… but this one is not a very good option. Why throw a way such a useful piece of furniture? You could turn it into something else or store something other than books in it. That might be a reasonable solution but if you don’t have the space in your place for a secondary bookcase, well, it might not work out too well. The best way to go about getting rid of your old bookcase is to sell it to someone else.
When you sell your corner bookcase you’ll not only free up the space but you’ll get something out of it also. If it’s a bookcase that you built yourself you’ll be able to say proudly that someone wanted to buy a piece of furniture that you made and even if you didn’t make it you’ll feel good about the wad of new cash in your pocket.
But where do you start? How can you sell this worn out piece of furniture? If you don’t want it, who will? Trust me, someone will. There are some precautions you can take though if you’re willing to take the time.
Before listing your bookcase anywhere for sale, it might be a good idea to polish it up a bit. Make it look nice by sanding down the rough spots and refinishing it. Maybe choose a new paint color or stain it a different shade of brown. There are all sorts of things you can do to make a bookcase look fresh and new again. Once you’ve got it ready to put up for sale, you should decide where you want to sell it.
Just like when you first purchased your corner bookcase there were many retail outlets to choose from, well now there are many seller outlets to choose from as well. Here are some examples:
Online
Selling stuff online is great. There are tons of sites out there just waiting for you to throw up some old stuff of yours and sell it to people who want it. I suggest using Ebay in particular for your corner bookcase selling needs. The great thing about Ebay is that it’s a bidding site so you never know how much money you could potential make off of your old piece of furniture. Put it up there for the amount you originally purchased it for and see what happens.
If no one is willing to bid on your item through Ebay you could also place an ad on Craigslist. I’m sure someone in your area would love to take home an antique bookcase, they are just waiting for you to list it. Again I would suggest just listing it for the original price, or maybe a little bit lower. People like to haggle with craigslist ads so be prepared for that.
Garage Sale
If you’re moving away and have other stuff to sell, you might want to think about hosting a garage sale. Throw a couple tables on your lawn and put some sides up around your neighborhood and see who comes by to peruse your personal items. Be prepared for a lot of haggling because garage sales are notorious for that. You definitely won’t get back exactly what you paid for but you have a chance at making at least a few books.
Donate or Scrap
If you don’t want to sell your bookcase but still need to get rid of it you could donate it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. They are always looking for new furniture to take in and when you give it to them you know it will eventually find its way to someone’s home. Plus, you get a decent tax write off for making donations to charity.
The last option is to scrap the wood and use it for something else. Tear down the old bookcase and build a brand new table or just give the pieces to your kids for their karate lessons. Its always fun to watch someone heel stomp your old furniture into oblivion. 