Nation of hoarders: We all have junk worth €2,000 cluttering up the house
RECESSION: That stuff in the loft could be turned into ready cash
BUILD-UP: Now it's easier to offload unwanted items.
Wednesday October 01 2008
THE average Irish household has €2,000 worth of useless clutter.
Now, a website dedicated to helping people flog their valuable clutter, has reported a 100pc increase in its membership in the last 12 months.
Website donedeal.ie has been in operation for more than three years -- but it seems many Irish recessionistas are cottoning on to the fact that their designer threads might be worth a few euro and clear some valued wardrobe space.
"The website has been up and running for about three and a half years and is Irish-based," a company spokesperson told the Herald.
Sentimental
"Thousands of Irish people have used it for many years -- but last year it grew by more than 100pc," she explained.
Fred Karlsson, the Irish-based owner of the website, said Irish people love their clutter.
"Irish people are lovely and so sentimental about things like old gym equipment. But there's a great opportunity for them to turn these things into cash."
A survey conducted by the company showed that clothes are the items most cluttering up our homes, followed by books and toys.
And the most valuable thing you can sell at the moment is a wedding dress, which can attract bids of up to €1,000. Meanwhile, that Irish dancing dress at the back of the wardrobe could be sold for €500, and the debs dress for €200.
The wedding dress success would be in keeping with reports from charity shops, who say they have been inundated with women around the country looking for second-hand bridal gowns.
Demand
"We have had appointments every single day of the week and there are five consultations booked in for Saturday," a spokesperson for Barnardo's Bridal Boutiques in Dun Laoghaire told the Herald.
But it's not just recession-chastened brides who are flocking to websites like donedeal which have an easy-to-use sales pitch that is favourable for their customers.
They use a phone system so you don't need a credit card. You simply upload your pictures and videos. At the end, you will be given a premium phone number and pin number. A sum of €3 will then come off your phone bill.
"We have found that a lot of people still don't have credit cards and this will stop them from going to sites such as eBay and Buy & Sell to make their purchases," the spokesperson added.
- Jane Last
