To Market, To Market, to Buy a Fat Couch

I always forewarn people when they request being my friend on Facebook that, no, I'm not a very good Facebook friend. Days go by when I don't log on, or, if I do, it's only briefly and usually for something work-related. I feel guilty when I hop on and see that 40+ people wished me a happy birthday two weeks prior, and I didn't respond. More than once I'd remark how much of a time suck social media can be. I'd go on the site to simply read a restaurant menu and an hour later find myself still clicking "like" on post after post by various acquaintances. Recently, my weekly iPhone screen-time reports and logging me on my phone for more hours each week. That's not like me, but I know why: Facebook! Not because of the constant stream of posts by friends, but by its sub-site, Marketplace. I wrote an article years ago about Marketplace and how I'd occasionally find something good to re-sell at my antiques booth. I remember meeting a woman in the Wheelock Park parking lot to buy two chairs from her; it felt like we were doing some kind of shady deal. However, when it comes to Marketplace (or the digital availability of neighbor-to-neighbor buying and selling), meeting a stranger in a public place is actually a safety tool. We didn't know each other, so why would she invite a stranger to her house? When my partner, Joe, and I went down to our Florida house, I realized what a mecca Facebook Marketplace really is for pickin' and pokin'! One day in a lovely Punta Gorda neighborhood, I described to a nice lady that I was going for an "Ernest Hemingway style" for the house. Having lived for years in both Key West and Cuba, Hemingway had a certain style that combined tropical with well-worn and storied. She knew exactly what I was talking about, and we bought a vintage leather club chair and ottoman from her. That we were visiting a very posh area of the city is an important clue in Florida. In well-to-do neighborhoods, homeowners usually have really nice stuff. And, at least in Florida, they like to change things up — furniture-wise — frequently. Also, aside from the sheer volume of people who live in Florida, there's a lot of people constantly moving in and out. Unfortunately, since many folks live out their golden years in the sunshine state, there's lots of heirs wanting to unload furniture. I've found the Monadnock region a little different to operate regarding Facebook Marketplace. There's plenty of antiques if you're patient. Quality used furniture is a little harder to come by. Pieces are often a little more than gently used, and I tend to see a lot of MDF (medium-density fiberboard) items. There's a good amount of 80s/90s heavy and dark wood pieces as well throughout our region. Marketplace has some helpful tools to employ. You can set up a geographic location you want to search within, or how many miles from you you're willing to drive to pick something up (note: You can save searches as well). For a couch at the Florida house, I was looking for something with off-white upholstery. Well, let me tell you, there's a lot of white couches in Florida. The one we bought took us to Bokeelia Island and, once again, we found ourselves in quite a tony neighborhood. Originally priced at $300, the seller had just dropped it down to $150. A good quality brand, Havertys, the couch cushions are topped with down feathers, and it's extremely comfortable. Just like when you're shopping at a brick-and-mortar antique store, if you see something on Marketplace you really like, you'd better jump on it fast. Example: Another listing had two white couches, a white coffee table and four chairs for $250. I decided to pull the trigger. The seller got right back to me, and someone else was coming to look that day. He texted me a bit later and let me know he'd sold the whole lot. Darn! I guess I'm now addicted to Facebook Marketplace. I've got a bunch of stuff saved in my queue as I type this. There's a cool, tall pottery urn with a whitewashed, rough vintage look. The price has dropped once, but I still think it's a little rich. I'll wait 'til it drops further. It's a gamble but there will always be another urn or another couch on the Marketplace.