The listing promises a second-hand sofa bed with free delivery to your building entrance. Sounds perfect. But there are a series of beliefs around this type of offer that are worth debunking before you let a stranger into your home with a piece of furniture under their arm.
Myth 1: “Free delivery” means the seller will carry it up to your living room
On most peer-to-peer platforms, free delivery is limited to the building entrance or, at most, the landing. An open sofa bed measures between 1.90 and 2.00 metres long, and the mechanism is quite heavy: spring or piston models of a two-seater sofa usually exceed 40-50 kg in total. If you live on the third floor with no lift, that “free delivery” can turn into a negotiation on the landing.
Myth 2: Anyone can transport it in their car
A common mistake among first-time buyers is showing up in a saloon car. A folded sofa bed won’t fit in most boots, and in a small vehicle it means having to leave it open or dismantle the mechanism. The practical consequence: the seller cancels, the deal goes cold and the sofa is back in the listing the following week with another buyer. Before accepting free delivery, confirm which vehicle they’ll be coming in and who loads and unloads.
Myth 3: A low price makes up for any defect
A cheap second-hand sofa bed can turn out expensive if the mechanism is worn out. According to the technical documentation from manufacturers of fittings for convertible furniture, spring systems and hinges lose tension over the years and with daily folding use. Checking this before accepting delivery is almost impossible, because the sofa is assembled at the seller’s home. Ask them to open it in front of you (by video call if you’re buying remotely) and watch whether the seat lies flat when unfolded or sinks in the middle.
Myth 4: A front-on photo is enough to decide
A listing with free delivery tends to prioritise convenience over detail. Front-on photos don’t show the wear on the upholstery at the corners, nor the condition of the base or the storage compartment under the seat. Ask for specific photos: the mechanism seen from underneath, the seams at the corners of the seat and a side-on photo with the sofa open. If the seller refuses, that’s a useful indicator.
Reality: when free delivery makes sense
Free delivery works best when the seller is less than 15-20 minutes away and already plans to drive a van for another reason. It’s also reasonable when the sofa is small, a one-seater with a wooden and foam frame (no metal mechanism). In those cases, moving it takes no more than two people and the sofa fits in a large vehicle with the seats folded down.
The case almost nobody mentions: removing the old sofa
Many buyers accept free delivery without asking whether the seller will take away the sofa being replaced. In practice, delivery and removal are two separate operations: the seller offering one doesn’t usually offer the other. If your living room doesn’t have space for two sofas, you’ll have to sort out removing the old one yourself before delivery, and that can cost more than the second-hand sofa itself.
What you shouldn’t accept
Be wary of free deliveries advertised without specifying the day or time slot, or that make delivery conditional on an advance payment by bank transfer. No serious second-hand platform requires payment before you’ve seen the furniture. Nor is it advisable to accept a second-hand sofa bed with fixed (non-removable) upholstery without seeing it in person: a deep stain or a persistent smell won’t show up in a photo, and cleaning fixed upholstery is far more limited than one with a removable cover.
Free delivery is a real incentive, but it doesn’t replace checking the mechanism, measuring the space in your living room or sorting out the logistics of carrying it upstairs. A well-chosen second-hand sofa bed can last for years; one chosen for the convenience of free delivery ends up on the pavement within a few months.