Michelle Smiles

Teaching my children to question authority, except mine.

Dresser Quest 2008

July14

Yes, I am really going to spend an entire post ranting writing about trying to buy Tessa a dresser. My blog = my ramblings. This is what my life has been reduced to – obsessing over a dresser.

I have been searching for a dresser for Tessa for 4 months. We are trying to be a bit frugal so going out and buying a new one was a last resort. (My husband is completely out of touch with reality when it comes to furniture prices. He doesn’t blink at $1000 for computer equipment but $300 for a furniture item makes him clutch his chest.) There were a couple at Ikea that would have worked logistically and financially but the closest Ikea is Atlanta and the cost of driving 3 hours in the big SUV and the angst a day trip to Ikea would have caused Steve would have lessened the savings. (I swear he moved me to a state with no Ikea on purpose.) The cost of having it shipped was prohibitive. So I’ve been scouring consignment shops and visiting Craig’s List daily. The only criteria were that it be the right height to also serve as a changing table, that the drawers slide easily, and that it wasn’t butt ugly (if slightly ugly I was willing to paint it and change the hardware).

I don’t know how some of these flakes on Craig’s List ever sell anything. I bought Tessa’s crib on Craig’s List – it was a relatively painless process. I inquired about several. Found one that was still available and priced decently, went to see it, bought it. The Dresser Quest has been a different story. I have emailed about no fewer than 25 dressers. I didn’t hear back from the majority. I usually assumed it was already spoken for – no biggie. Some I heard back from and tried to set up a time to go and see the item then never heard from them again. Some would never answer questions. Some would only follow through to a point. Apparently no one wanted to close the deal.

One person who I had emailed and never heard back from reposted the item 5 days later with a nasty note about people setting up times to come and see the item and not showing up. So I emailed him again and said I had tried but never heard from him. He emails me back and says sorry – can you come tonight? It was already after 7pm and I was putting Sabrina to bed and he lived 30 miles away. When I said no I couldn’t come that night, I never heard back from him. Another woman had a really cute little dresser that had been hand-painted with decorations. It would have been adorable in a kid’s room. I emailed her and asked how tall it was. She emailed me back and asked how tall I was. Not really the point. I emailed her back and said I wanted to use it as a changing table so if she could give me an idea of its height, I would appreciate it. Never heard back from her. It’s been re-listed 4 times since my original exchange with her. Another man emailed me a week after I had inquired and not heard back from him. He said he had a sale that fell through – was I still interested. I emailed back less than an hour later saying I was. Never heard back from him. The last person had arranged a date and time with me. I had committed to buying it on the spot assuming the drawers were in good shape. The price was good and I was getting desperate so at that point as long as the bottoms of the drawers weren’t falling out, I would make it work. I was waiting for directions to her house – never heard back from her.

I told Steve I was done with Craig’s List. Our options were Ikea or a local furniture consignment shop. He suggested we hit the garage sales. I laughed and asked if he understood what he was saying. That meant getting up at 6:30am on Saturday morning and driving all over the place hoping we found a sale selling a decent dresser. He didn’t think that sounded like much fun. Last weekend, I dragged him to the furniture consignment shop. SUCCESS!

Not bad looking so no work on my part, sturdy, perfect height, and didn’t make my husband clutch his chest when he saw the price tag. It also has a bookcase hutch top which we will reattach when we are finished with the changing table needs. At the moment it is in her closet serving as extra storage shelves.

I’ve washed all of her tiny little clothes (was Sabrina ever that small?) and it is all neatly awaiting Tessa’s arrival home.

posted under Pregnancy
19 Comments to

“Dresser Quest 2008”

  1. On July 14th, 2008 at 7:23 am Type (little) a Says:

    Once she’s past the infant phase, you might want to use the hutch. My daughter was always grabbing things on the changing table, and I was absolutely kicking myself for not getting the hutch. Anyway.

  2. On July 14th, 2008 at 7:29 am Angie Says:

    Nice dresser! Glad you finally found one.

    When I look at newborn clothes I always comment how I can’t believe Gabbie was ever that little! Actually she was smaller than newborn though, and more likely a premie size. It is crazy how fast they grow!

  3. On July 14th, 2008 at 7:31 am Krystal Says:

    I love craigslist, but the non-responders will drive you insane!! I am glad that in the end, Dresser Quest was a huge success!

    I am ROFL at the “how tall are you” question – she must have gotten her responses to the dresser ad mixed up with responses to her personal ad 🙂

  4. On July 14th, 2008 at 7:38 am JUlia Says:

    hehehhehehehehehehehehehehehe!
    Krystal you are killing me!

    Love the dresser – I am getting so excited – every time I get on the computer I am stalking Tessa’s arrival:)

  5. On July 14th, 2008 at 8:19 am Muriel Says:

    What a pain in the A!!!!! I know what you mean about Craig’s List, I have had some major hassles there too. I love the dresser, looks great.

  6. On July 14th, 2008 at 8:42 am Kim Says:

    LOVE the dresser!!! I have yet to take the plunge on Craig’s List. I’ve looked – but have never actually tried to purchase.

  7. On July 14th, 2008 at 9:00 am Shannon Says:

    So funny you should post this today. I’m expecting in October and since currently my 7 year old has the bigger room and my 18 month old who will be sharing with the baby has the itty bitty room, we’re swapping. We have 6 dressers and I decided that’s one too many. I put one on craigslist on Friday and immediately had someone respond, but ask to hold it until yesterday. Yesterday she called to say she’s on her way be there in 45 minutes. Well 2 hours and 45 minutes later she did finally show up. She was getting the dresser for her nursery and using it for a changing table too. I wasn’t too worried if she didn’t show up as I had 2 or 3 others who really wanted it though a pit irked at the wait time. However, it was a gorgeous day and the kids and I just played outside while waiting. Her husband was happy with the $25 they spent and they brought her brother to help load, had a truck, etc. I’ve sold probably 45 things on craigslist this last month and have had probably 5 people back out on me, so overall I guess not too bad. I do have one lady who just buys multiple things (3-12 things at a time) so I just email her pics before I even post the stuff, she tells me what she wants, and I drop it off at her work (about 6 blocks each direction out of my way) on my way home from work. I charge her less than I would put it on craigslist because it’s so worth not having to post it and getting rid of so much at one time. I’m trying to do some major downsizing before the baby gets here and with husband laid off, the money always comes in handy.

  8. On July 14th, 2008 at 10:07 am Dawn from old AB Says:

    I empathize with you completely. The struggles I’ve had with my husband over cribs and dressers for baby furniture is enough to make a person tear their hair out.

    I’ve never had that much trouble on Craigslist. Maybe it’s your location or something?

  9. On July 14th, 2008 at 10:13 am mama k Says:

    Yay! It looks great!

    I’ve never done much business on Craigslist, but I did email a few sellers and never heard back from them. After that I figured it’s a waste of time and I’ll just stick to the thrift store and yard sales.

  10. On July 14th, 2008 at 10:56 am Sarah Says:

    Score on the dresser! Looks perfect! And I love that you can add the hutch back later… I know you are loving putting all those precious tiny baby clothes away!! They will be in use very soon!!

    And, I LOVE Craigslist… so far, I have had a great experience with everything I have bought there… but need to get rid of so much crap… need to become a lister!

  11. On July 14th, 2008 at 11:16 am Laura Says:

    Ha, ha, ha! Why am I laughing? I thought the title of your post said DOSSIER quest 2008! And thought…this girl is about deliver and she is putting together a dossier? No way?! Can you tell where my mind is? Anyway, glad to hear it is just about a dresser (my perspective) and that you finally found one!

  12. On July 14th, 2008 at 11:19 am Brenda Says:

    If you are in need of something on craigslist the best thing to do is post an ad of what your searching for. I never found what I wanted posted, so I decided to post saying I was searching for. Oh when I did that…they all came out of the walls emailing me that they had one. So I got to pick and pick the best price!

  13. On July 14th, 2008 at 2:24 pm Soltana Says:

    I LOVE that dresser:)

    You did a great job looking for it.
    I’ve never been on Craigs list..I’m gonna look tonight

    Keeping you in my thoughts:)

  14. On July 14th, 2008 at 2:31 pm Vanessa Says:

    Good G*d – that sounds like a nightmare! So ridiculous to be even true. The one you got looks great – super that it has a hutch. All just in the nick of time!

  15. On July 14th, 2008 at 2:34 pm Alleen Says:

    My gosh… You were more perservering than me. I would have told hubby to clutch his chest, get the heart attack over with and gone and bought one!!!! Nice score. I kept the hutch on and still change Gabriella on it. If it’s tall enough, you may want to consider it as it really helps to have her closed in on all but one side.

  16. On July 14th, 2008 at 4:36 pm MizFit Says:

    yay!!

    the dresser quest post 🙂

    and yes. the tiny clothes amaze me when I see them in the stores.

    she was that small?! and I wasnt terrified Id break her??

  17. On July 14th, 2008 at 6:21 pm Kelly M Says:

    Dresser is beautiful! You have a lot of stamina. A LOT.

    Ixnay on the arsale yay. You never get what you want when you are looking for something super specific. So glad the quest ended well!

  18. On July 14th, 2008 at 8:22 pm Bobbi Says:

    I love the bookshelf that goes with it. I am glad you got a good deal, but wow, it was an effort!! Glad Steve didn’t need oxygen.

    Yes, Sabrina was that small–probably smaller. OOOOOOOHHH I can’t wait to see pics of her!!!

  19. On July 16th, 2008 at 11:26 am DJ Holly Rock Says:

    Like I said…

    Great find, BTW…looks brand new.