Is Selling On Chairish Worth It

Looking to sell an old vintage chair or a few items that you have lying around? You probably might have checked out Chairish looking to make a few bucks. But is selling on Chairish worth it? 

It all depends on what your purpose is. If you’re just selling off a few decor pieces here and there then, chairish.com  is a pretty good bet. But on the other hand, if you’re thinking of starting a reselling business of some sort, then there’s a lot more to consider. Let’s find out. 

How To Sell On Chairish?

Selling on Chairish is actually pretty straightforward. You create your profile, put in your information, and upload a listing of the Chairish furniture you wish to sell. When creating a profile, it’s recommended that you put in your picture, so that the buyers can connect with a real person. 

When listing an item, put in more pictures and in the recommended formats, so there’s no confusion. Remember to set a great price and do extra research because the price can make or break the entire deal.

You can check prices on other sites for the same item to get an idea of the market range. Sellers describing their products accurately usually have a higher chance of getting a sale. 

There’s no fee involved in listing, like with other sites like 1st Dibs, and once you get an offer, you can communicate with the buyer and negotiate prices if necessary. It’s important to maintain great communication with the buyer because that might drive them to make a purchase and a good seller reputation can encourage sales. 

After that, you can pack your item properly and ship it according to the agreed-upon methods. Chairish handles the payment and cuts off its commission. Once the product gets delivered to the buyer, the transaction is complete. It’s a no-hassle, easy enough way to sell furniture from home. 

Shipping: Who Handles It – Chairish or Sellers Own Shipping?

Shipping is one of the most problematic areas when selling furniture and heavy objects. So does Chairish take care of shipping? Chairish offers White Glove Delivery, which is its own shipping/delivery service.

They will connect to your Chairish’s shipping partners and handle all the hassle involved with shipping your fragile furniture. Chairish coordinates the logistics and manages the entire process on behalf of you. 

You can also choose to ship it yourself, especially for smaller, lighter items. If you’re doing it yourself, you’re liable for the packaging and the shipping standards to ensure that nothing gets damaged in the process. 

You have to correctly put on the shipping labels, manage shipping dates,  hire a shipping company, and deal with all the hassle yourself. It’s very important that the buyer can’t complain that their vintage pieces arrived broken. 

The Shipping Costs on Chairish

The shipping fees on Chairish are always paid by the buyer. The shipping cost on each individual item is listed even before someone decides to purchase, so there are no unpleasant surprises after items get shipped. There’s flat-rate shipping depending on the item, and the rate doesn’t depend on the location of the buyer. 

Even if you choose to ship the product yourself, these rules apply. So remember to factor the variable costs of longer distances. The logistics fee and other charges also have to be accounted for in shipping fees. So it’s usually easier to just use Chairish’s quick delivery service.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Selling On Chairish?

All of this must sound like a dream come true. Whether you’re an interior designer or just looking for a beautiful dresser, table, or similar items in pristine condition, or even just someone in financial peril trying to sell off some furniture, Chairish seems like the most supportive company, doesn’t it? 

But before you jump right in and think of starting an actual small business on Chairish, you should know that some people think “Chairish is a total scam”. You’ll probably come across “buyer beware” reviews every now and then.

They can take way more than a few business days for deliveries, take a lot of commission, and a lot of customers are dissatisfied with their purchase and delivery experience. Many even complain that they have contacted Chairish support after issues, but have never heard back. 

Buyers therefore can have negative opinions of Chairish. As a seller, you should keep these in mind. So here are the pros and cons of selling on Chairish at a glance:

Pros 

• Adding a listing doesn’t cost you anything
• Targeted audience
• Can handle shipping for you
• Trusted and popular site
• Easy to use
• Seller protection measures
• Handles payment for you

Cons

• Cuts off a relatively large percentage of your sale compared to other platforms 
• Delivery can be extremely slow, especially for places farther away
• Strict acceptance criteria with items
• Competition is strong
• You might never make any money
• Expensive delivery
• Some buyers can treat sellers poorly
• Customer service isn’t always reliable

So Is Selling On Chairish Worth It?

As you can see, there are both pros and cons to selling on Chairish, and it’s not an easy decision. If you are under some kind of financial burden and are looking to make more money, thinking of starting a small business reselling vintage high-end items, then Chairish is not the place for you. It is not a stable source of income, and the competition is very high. 

You might never make a single sale, let alone build a business on Chairish. You’re better off with an actual small business website of your own or starting something else entirely. A lot of customers and sellers have had very negative experiences with Chairish and we do not recommend it as a means of income. 

Having said that however, Chairish is not some greedy shameless company. It’s quite trusted and reliable among the target audience. If you have sold furniture before or have a few unique items lying around that you don’t want to just throw away, then listing that on Chairish is definitely worth it. It’s much more specific than other sites like Etsy, and you’ll get buyers who are actually interested in vintage pieces. 

Despite the negative experiences of people, the overwhelming majority do have good reviews of buying on Chairish. Especially interior designers often check Chairish for unique pieces that tell a story. So if you’re not turning to Chairish as a source of income, and are okay with the uncertainties, then it’s always better to make a few bucks here and there on furniture that would otherwise go to waste. 

FAQs

• Can I sell on Chairish?

Yes! Anyone can sell on Chairish as an individual seller. There are certain rules and conditions you have to meet in regard to what you wish to sell. But as long as your item meets the requirements, you can sell on Chairish.

• How much does it cost to list on Chairish?

Listing on Chairish is absolutely free! This is one of the best parts about Chairish and is not a common feature among similar reselling sites. You only have to give them a part of your sale as a commission once something is sold.

• How long does it take for Chairish to approve a listing?

It usually takes about a day or two for Chairish to review items and approve your listing. However, at times it can take longer due to high rush or busy periods. In any case, if you think your listing is taking too long, you can always contact their support team for help.

• What Are Some Of The Top-Selling Items On Chairish?

Since people mostly look to Chairish for vintage furniture and home decor items, the most popular items are things like vintage chests of drawers, designer rugs, a vintage pink book, industrial kitchen island,  rare art, decor items, sconces, baskets, chandeliers, etc. 

• Does Chairish ship internationally?

Chairish currently only ships inside the US and to Canada. It does not however ship to Alaska and Hawaii. You can still order items outside of these areas, as long as you use a US shipping address and get it transferred to you via a third party shipping company.

• Who is the owner of Chairish? 

If you’re curious about Chairish leadership, it was founded by Anna Brockway, Andrew Denmark, and Gregg Brockway, and currently, Anna is the President, while Gregg acts as the COO and Andrew is the CTO. It is based out of San Fransisco, California. 

• What credit card company does Chairish use?

Chairish supports payments via American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal as well. Sellers are reimbursed with PayPal or via a direct transfer. 

• Can you return items on Chairish?

Yes, a recently purchased item, within 14 days of delivery can be returned. You can initiate a return with the customer support team and once the item is finally received by Chairish you’ll get a full refund. 

Final Thoughts

Deciding whether you want to sell on Charish is not a black-or-white choice. It depends on what you want to sell and what you are looking to get in return for it. We don’t think it’s worth it for small businesses, You’re better off with your own website. But for individual sellers who want to make a few bucks, Chairish can definitely be worth it.