The Wirecutter Show

Episode: Shop Secondhand Like a Pro

Date: November 12, 2025
Host: The New York Times Wirecutter team
Guests: Ivy Elrod (Wirecutter home decor writer, former interior designer & showroom owner)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the art and practicality of shopping secondhand, focusing on furniture, with actionable tips from Wirecutter’s Ivy Elrod. The co-hosts aim to demystify the secondhand market, equip listeners with confidence, and share strategies for sourcing stylish, affordable, and sustainable pieces. From negotiation dos and don'ts to creative approaches for piecing together a cohesive space, the hosts explore how to shop like a pro—whether you’re a seasoned thrifter or new to the game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why Buy Secondhand?

• Saving Money: The primary motivator for most people. “What you can get very often is something that's almost brand new and is a fraction of the price.” – Ivy Elrod (07:52)
• Unique Style: Secondhand offers personality and uniqueness that retail can’t match.
  • “I don't want my space to feel like anyone else's space. I want it to feel just like me and interesting and weird, and that's how I do it.” – Ivy Elrod (00:36, 07:58)
• Sustainability: Embracing the circular economy and reducing waste.
• Joy of the Hunt: The excitement of discovery and the subculture surrounding secondhand shopping.

Overcoming Intimidation: Making Spaces Cohesive

• Start Small: Ivy recommends beginning with one defining piece—like a rug or wallpaper—then building around it.
  • “If you love things, there's often a way to integrate them.” – Ivy Elrod (09:29)
• Visual Tools:
  • Use digital mood boards, collages, or even your phone’s photo app to see how different items might work together.
  • “Create a collage and put things in space. That is what I used in this challenge.” – Ivy Elrod (10:38)
• Trust Your Taste: Don’t get bogged down by rules; trust your instincts as much as the professionals do.

The Wirecutter Secondhand Challenge

Assignment: $1,500 budget to buy a couch, rug, and lamp.

• Ivy aimed to create a space where you couldn’t tell everything was secondhand.
• Ivy sourced a Thayer Coggin sofa (’70s, original fabric) for $700 (after negotiating from $900), a postmodern Linier Rose lamp, and a beautiful rug—all well within the budget.
  • “I found this unbelievable Thayer Coggin sofa from the 70s in its original fabric... listed for 900, and I had found a comp on Cherish for $6,500.” – Ivy Elrod (13:54)

Sourcing & Negotiation Strategies

• Negotiation is NOT Haggling:
  • Prefer “negotiation” over “haggling.” Treat it like a business transaction—be clear, polite, and direct.
  • “Not being too people-pleaser... just saying, like, hey, this is what I have.” – Ivy Elrod (16:40)
  • “Would you consider this? I'm working with this budget, and this is all I can do. Could we make this work?” – Ivy Elrod (26:29)
• Timing at Sales:
  • For estate sales, go late for the best deals (“they gotta get rid of it!”).
  • “If I'm saying I can be here in 40 minutes... I can do this amount. Let's do it. That's how I got the sofa.” – Ivy Elrod (28:46)
• Patience:
  • Be willing to wait for the right piece, especially with algorithm-driven platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
  • “The algorithm is a very real thing... you can train it by what you save and what you search for.” – Ivy Elrod (18:23)
• Impulse Buying:
  • Avoid when possible, but remember: you can always resell a piece if it doesn’t work out.

Vetting Items & Sellers

• Photo Analysis:
  • Detailed, honest documentation builds trust. Ask for extra images; verify flaws and maker’s tags.
  • “When people are really disciplined about showing documentation on things that are flaws, it actually engenders trust.” – Ivy Elrod (20:54)
• In-Person Inspection:
  • Be unafraid to check frames, springs, flip items, plug things in.
  • “Just be a sleuth... I pull off the cushions, I look at the springs... I'll flip things over, I'll ask to plug in a lamp.” – Ivy Elrod (22:36)
• Safety First:
  • Bring someone along to pickups; check sellers’ backgrounds where possible; meet in safe places.

Pros & Cons of Secondhand

Pros:

• Price, uniqueness, environmental benefit, flexibility to resell.

Cons and Caveats:

• No returns; unexpected damage; logistical concerns (transporting, moving heavy items); safety and fraud risks; potential for pests (eg. bedbugs—inspect closely).

What NOT to Buy Used

• Safety Items: Car seats, bike helmets, certain baby gear.
• Some Tech: Power strips, certain smart devices, routers (potential risk, obsolescence, or unreliability).
• Selected Sporting Goods: Items where wear or past accidents could compromise safety (e.g., skis).
• Vintage Crystal: Can contain lead, though beautiful (“But also, it’s beautiful.” – Ivy Elrod, 31:49)

Favorite Finds & Final Picks

• Ivy’s best find: Art Deco Charles Pfister for Baker Furniture dining table—a dream piece with character.
  • “It's the heartbeat of our house. Right? Like, we do everything at the table, and so I get to interact with it all the time... I love this table.” – Ivy Elrod (32:12)
• Her latest love: A batch of large, gorgeous mirrors, a great secondhand buy that transforms any space.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Unique Style:

  • “I don't want my space to feel like anyone else's space. I want it to feel just like me and interesting and weird...” – Ivy Elrod, 00:36, 07:58

• On Negotiation:

  • “The language has a lot to do with it. Would you consider this? I'm working with this budget... Could we make this work?” – Ivy Elrod, 26:29
  • “If someone's polite...I can say sorry, this won't work. Or I can say, well, I can counter.” – Ivy Elrod, 26:42

• On the Hunt:

  • “Sometimes you lose, but you don’t know what’s going to be there the next time you go in...the repeated search is how the greatest things ultimately land.” – Ivy Elrod, 19:36

• On Dealing with Disappointment:

  • “If you're still thinking about things like a day, a week later, that's a pretty strong signal...” – Ivy Elrod, 16:40

• On Mirrors:

  • “Mirrors are a very great thing to source because people need them out. They're heavy...and I love a mirror for bringing in light.” – Ivy Elrod, 32:54

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [06:19] Ivy’s background in interior design & showrooms
• [07:52] Why buy secondhand? (Savings, uniqueness, sustainability)
• [10:00–11:46] How to visualize & plan an eclectic space with secondhand finds
• [13:54] Scoring a designer vintage sofa for $700 (real world example)
• [15:35] Insider tip: Ask sellers what else they’re looking to get rid of
• [16:40] Negotiation mindset & resisting impulse buys
• [18:23] Working with the patience (and power) of search algorithms
• [20:54–22:36] How to vet items and sellers—spot flaws, confirm authenticity
• [26:10–28:02] Negotiation etiquette and how to land a deal
• [28:02–29:13] Estate sale strategies: Timing is everything
• [30:11] Dealing with potential pests (bedbugs, moths) and safety red flags
• [31:06] What NOT to buy secondhand
• [32:12] Ivy’s favorite all-time find
• [32:54] Mirrors as the ultimate secondhand buy

Takeaways & Actionable Advice

• Don’t be intimidated: secondhand shopping is creative, resourceful, and fun.
• Use visualization tools (mood boards, photo apps) to guide your selections.
• Be polite and direct in negotiations; value the transaction, not just the price.
• Some risk is inevitable (returns, pests, the unknown)—but reselling is always an option.
• Avoid secondhand for critical safety items or certain tech.
• Be patient and persistent: the right piece will come if you keep searching.
• For the best prices, attend estate sales late and be ready to act quickly.
• Trust your taste—unique spaces reflect unique finds!

Final Reflections

Hosts express that they feel empowered to enter the secondhand world, more confident in negotiation, and unbothered by the “imperfect” nature of used shopping. Ivy Elrod’s playful but practical attitude (“Call it a sport”) leaves a lasting, energizing impression for listeners eager to embrace secondhand style.

Explore more about shopping secondhand at Wirecutter's site and find Ivy’s detailed guides in the show notes.