A post about an exceptional find at a thrift store where a large sectional sofa was bought for just $100 has gone viral on Reddit.

The post shared by Reddit user u/Old-Bowler4150 has amassed over 13,000 upvotes since January 26. A caption accompanying the post reads: “Got this sectional for $100 at the thrift store and got it professionally steam cleaned.” Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via Reddit.

Photos show the spacious teal-hued sectional, which features multiple storage compartments—a bonus feature that caught the eye of several other Reddit users. In a later comment, the poster shared that the professional steam cleaning cost $165 and was arranged through the Thumbtack app.

Experts agree that the deal in the viral post is an exception rather than the norm.

Vanessa Carter, creative director of PaintVibe.com who has had years of experience in the creative paint and home interior industry, praised the sectional’s impressive value. “Sectional sofas can range from $1,000 to $5,000 or even more. So, this is rather a rare gain to get one this cheap,” Carter told Newsweek.

Aaron Masterson, president of Local Furniture Outlet who has 19 years of experience in the furniture industry, echoed the sentiment. He told Newsweek: “This sectional buy I would consider the exception and not the rule when it comes to finding a great deal. Without knowing the exact vendor, it most likely would be $1,800 to $2,300 either online or at a retail store.”

The global secondhand furniture market size was estimated to be at $34 billion in 2023 and projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.7 percent from 2024 to 2030. This is according to a report by Grand View Research, a market research and consulting company headquartered in San Francisco.

The market growth was reported to be driven by rising environmental awareness and an increasing emphasis on sustainable living, which is seeing consumers opt for pre-owned furniture.

“The rising popularity of vintage and unique designs, coupled with economic considerations, is also expected to drive the demand for secondhand furniture,” the report said.

Why Older Furniture Can Be a Better Buy

Carter emphasized the benefits of giving secondhand furniture a new lease on life.

“When you find a sectional sofa for $100 and give it a second life with professional cleaning, you’re basically restoring a thousand-dollar item,” she said, noting that professional cleaning typically costs between $100 and $300.

“Older furniture is generally better constructed compared to much of the newer, lower-priced furniture,” Carter added. “Lots of today’s mass-market furniture is made with particleboard or low-grade material. Older sectionals, even used, may actually have better bones.”

Carter said: “When hunting for used furniture, don’t be fooled by the surface. The real value in a piece of furniture is below the wear and tear; check the frame, see if it’s made of solid wood, and check for sags or any other damage that can’t be repaired.”

Carter added that not all items are worth the effort. “Mattresses, for instance, are a hard no for me. I’d also skip baby furniture like cribs unless you’re certain it meets current safety standards,” she said.

Masterson added that flexibility in color and style increases the chances of finding affordable furniture, but noted potential downsides for allergy sufferers.

“No matter how much you clean it, you will always have some of the previous owner’s ‘history’ in the sectional. People with allergies to pets, like dogs or cats, are especially susceptible because of hairs embedded deep in the upholstery that get released over time during heavy use,” Masterson said.

‘The Score of the Century’

Commenters on Reddit were quick to praise the deal, calling it an incredible steal.

Parking-Fall posted: “BRO that’s probably like a $5,000 couch. I am in awe.”

VersKnowsBest added: “The way I GASPED! When I saw the storage!! You got the score of the century!”

Sharp_Researcher_843 called the sectional “amazing!! awesome color and size and just everything,” to which the original poster replied: “Thank you so much!!! I was in love the moment I saw it.”

Others like TeachBS and lan3yboggs99 wrote about their admiration, calling the sectional a “steal” and an “excellent buy.”

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