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-   -   Getting rid of second hand stuff (https://britishexpats.com/forum/spain-75/getting-rid-second-hand-stuff-618193/)

Veleta Jul 3rd 2009 7:06 am

Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
One of my bedrooms (currently a store room) is about to burst at the seams with all the stuff that I have crammed in there that I just don't know how to dispose of. It's all stuff that I don't need anymore, but it would be a terrible waste to chuck it all in the skips. I'm talking about the usual things that in the UK you might take to a car boot...books (read once), odd items of furniture, puzzles, jewellery, etc, etc.

I've tried a few things:
1) I sold a portable air-con machine on Segundamano.es but it took AGES. It received hardly any hits.
2) I advertised the same machine on compraventa.es but same story....hardly any hits.
3) ebay.es seems to be a joke. Nobody has heard of ebay here!
4) There are no car boots in my area.
5) I did donate a few items of furniture to REMAR, but of course you don't get any money in return.

So, where are the really good outlets for second hand goods?? What do people do with their second hand stuff here? I tried asking the OH (Spanish) but he comes from a family of hoarders who don't seem to understand the concept of buying/selling second hand items and I just get labelled as "weird".

Anyone tried a yard sale? I have thought about that, but it would just be humiliating if I went to loads of trouble and nobody turned up. BTW, I would be totally reliant on Spanish custom as I don't know any Brits here....and if my OH's family think I am weird for selling second hand stuff, perhaps the entire neighbourhood would too??!

jdr Jul 3rd 2009 7:13 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 

Originally Posted by Veleta (Post 7721244)
One of my bedrooms (currently a store room) is about to burst at the seams with all the stuff that I have crammed in there that I just don't know how to dispose of. It's all stuff that I don't need anymore, but it would be a terrible waste to chuck it all in the skips. I'm talking about the usual things that in the UK you might take to a car boot...books (read once), odd items of furniture, puzzles, jewellery, etc, etc.

I've tried a few things:
1) I sold a portable air-con machine on Segundamano.es but it took AGES. It received hardly any hits.
2) I advertised the same machine on compraventa.es but same story....hardly any hits.
3) ebay.es seems to be a joke. Nobody has heard of ebay here!
4) There are no car boots in my area.
5) I did donate a few items of furniture to REMAR, but of course you don't get any money in return.

So, where are the really good outlets for second hand goods?? What do people do with their second hand stuff here? I tried asking the OH (Spanish) but he comes from a family of hoarders who don't seem to understand the concept of buying/selling second hand items and I just get labelled as "weird".

Anyone tried a yard sale? I have thought about that, but it would just be humiliating if I went to loads of trouble and nobody turned up. BTW, I would be totally reliant on Spanish custom as I don't know any Brits here....and if my OH's family think I am weird for selling second hand stuff, perhaps the entire neighbourhood would too??!

There are people that do house clearances, but you would only get peanuts for it.
Do they have "The Friday ad" near you, you can put free ads in it and also photos of the stuff.

Fortaleza Jul 3rd 2009 7:15 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
Unless you're desperate for cash, give it all away to charity.

We helped a couple give a load of stuff away last night, and we plan to do the same once we've gone through our wardrobe etc (a task many years overdue!)

Our place was one of the churches. We found this out by going to the local Cruz Roja (Red Cross) office.

Veleta Jul 3rd 2009 7:20 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
No, not desperate for cash but of course it would be nice!

I've given furniture to REMAR before (some kind of religious charity from what I can gather) but they only take furniture.

Hadn't thought of churches....but do they only take clothes? What about all the other nick knacks....books, puzzles, jewellery, light fittings, tools, toys, etc?

I've never heard of "The Friday Ad" so I guess we don't get it here.

Fortaleza Jul 3rd 2009 7:27 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 

Originally Posted by Veleta (Post 7721272)
No, not desperate for cash but of course it would be nice!

I've given furniture to REMAR before (some kind of religious charity from what I can gather) but they only take furniture.

Hadn't thought of churches....but do they only take clothes? What about all the other nick knacks....books, puzzles, jewellery, light fittings, tools, toys, etc?

I've never heard of "The Friday Ad" so I guess we don't get it here.

No, in Jerez you don't get Friday Ad.

What you know to be REMAR, others may not recognise as the name seems to change region by region, but they are all the same. And yes, furniture is what they do.

However the church does accept ANYTHING!!!! BUT.... and it is a big BUT (not unlike mine!) ..... not all churches will accept things. Check out which one in your area is happy to. A tip: try the church which covers your neediest area.

jdr Jul 3rd 2009 7:33 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 

Originally Posted by Veleta (Post 7721272)
No, not desperate for cash but of course it would be nice!

I've given furniture to REMAR before (some kind of religious charity from what I can gather) but they only take furniture.

Hadn't thought of churches....but do they only take clothes? What about all the other nick knacks....books, puzzles, jewellery, light fittings, tools, toys, etc?

I've never heard of "The Friday Ad" so I guess we don't get it here.

All the distribution areas are on the front page HERE

Fortaleza Jul 3rd 2009 7:39 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
Put your specs on JDR!!!!!! Cadiz province don't get it!!!

Seriously, I wouldn't let people of your age anywhere near the remote control, let alone a PC!!!! :p

(It's ok, though, as we still loves ya!)

HBG Jul 3rd 2009 7:43 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
I must say I find it refreshing to read of people who live in purely Spanish areas, the downside is those little things that British people do differently - like selling second hand things.

I live in a 'British' area, and often miss the missing Spanishness, but here you can dispose of second hand things in the same way as you do in England - sadly, or otherwise (my jury is still out), that is because my area is 'British', only those lovely Spanish skies remind me that I'm living abroad.

We give our second hand things to a local animal charity, British, of course.

jdr Jul 3rd 2009 7:48 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 

Originally Posted by Fortaleza (Post 7721314)
Put your specs on JDR!!!!!! Cadiz province don't get it!!!

Seriously, I wouldn't let people of your age anywhere near the remote control, let alone a PC!!!! :p

(It's ok, though, as we still loves ya!)

I am well in control of all my facultiesssssssssss

Do it on line, Veleta may get peeps from Gib interested

Jur Jul 3rd 2009 8:19 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
Classified section on this page is free: www.britishexpats.com :D

busters mum Jul 3rd 2009 8:49 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
Wish i lived near you i am always looking for car boot stuff

HBG Jul 3rd 2009 9:09 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
I forgot to mention, around here we have auctions, dozens of them, in local British bars, where you can buy almost anything. As for second hand books, there must be millions offered for sale just about everywhere.

My garage is full of books I have bought and not yet had time to read, and I'm a big reader.

Treading carefully (I spent many years in the East End), you can buy all those 'dodgy' items here as well, I'm not going to list them, that would be silly, to sum it up as absolutely everything would be appropriate.

Currently, my garden is filling up with gnomes that 'er indoors has taken a liking to. I hate them.

Fortaleza Jul 3rd 2009 9:11 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
Sell 'em to drug dealers. Those gnomes will come in handy!

busters mum Jul 3rd 2009 9:16 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 

Originally Posted by Fortaleza (Post 7721509)
Sell 'em to drug dealers. Those gnomes will come in handy!

Or give them to Maisymay then her dogs will have something to wee up :thumbsup:

HBG Jul 3rd 2009 9:59 am

Re: Getting rid of second hand stuff
 
I've found a better solution. While she was watching Eastenders, I gave one of the gnomes a good kicking and its head fell off. I'm now trying to work out how to dispose off the body.


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