“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
This is true for those who shop in thrift stores or go dumpster diving.
Some people like to give up some old or second-hand items because they need to declutter, downsize, or find no use for them anymore, yet they think someone else would still find them useful.
Now with social media, people can do all that online. Shall we call it “virtual dumpster diving?”
There are pre-loved and buy-nothing groups on Facebook, while some post items and sell them for a low price on Facebook Marketplace.
The first to call dibs would get the item; if they’re lucky, they’ll find something more than what they paid for.
Justin Miller definitely got lucky when he bought a $50 chair online.
He is a designer who loves to tinker with home interiors and other design matters like furniture, tiles, and walls.
That alone tells us he knows how to spot great-looking furniture when he sees one.
He saw the chair’s listing on Facebook Marketplace and thought it was perfect for his home.
When he got it from the seller, he thought it looked regal – like it was worth more.
After some online research, he discovered more about this chair, and its worth shocked him.
The chair could be worth around $100,000!
He learned that it was a chair designed by a Danish furniture designer named Frits Henningsen, who was known for his traditional approach as he combines style with comfort.
There were only 50 wingback chairs made and sold in the market, making it a rare item.
Justin decided to keep it in his storage facility while he decided what to do with the after.
He said he liked the chair, but it was too big for his house.
And after knowing its potential market value, he’d rather sell it and earn more money than he paid for.
Instead of posting it online and putting a price tag on it, he decided to consult an auctioning company and have it auctioned out.
The auctioneer told Justin that the chair’s value is around $30,000 to $50,000.
Not close to what he saw on the internet, but it’s still thousands of times more than what he paid for.
Since there were tears on the chair’s original leather, he said that the auction house’s conservationist would only stabilize the chair but not completely restore it to not lose its value.
Now, you might think… “shouldn’t he tell the seller the real value of the item they sold him?”
Many of Justin’s TikTok followers asked the same question, too, especially since they thought he robbed the seller in case they didn’t know the chair was unique.
In one of his TikTok videos, he shared that the couple who owned it told him that it was an expensive chair and they wanted to sell it just to get rid of things.
No guilty conscience on his part, then!
Watch his first video below. Follow him on TikTok for updates on his journey with this wingback chair.
@miztermiller Can’t believe I just found this amazing designer chair on Facebook Marketplace for $50! Could be worth $100,000 🙃 #homedecor #interiordesign #diy #homerenovation #thrifted #vintage #thrifthaul #facebookmarketplace #antiques ♬ love nwantinti (ah ah ah) – CKay
