a sad little story

So, how does the sale of an antique armoire go from my getting $500 to my paying $150?

This is how.

One day, a couple of years ago, I decide that I no longer love the antique armoire I bought in Bridgehampton in 1995.

It takes up too much space in my bedroom. That, and I no longer want an antique-look. I much prefer clean, simple lines. More classic. More modern.

An antique dealer I went to values the piece at $2,800. I'd paid that, plus another $1,000 to have drawers and shelves built-in.

But I have no luck selling it. I keep lowering the price. I list it on Facebook Marketplace and Craig's List.

Then finally, last week, Andrew contacts me and comes over to see it. We negotiate a fair price of $500. But he has to arrange to have the armoire picked up.

I unload the armoire and now have stuff everywhere with no place to put it. And, I hate messes. I'll have to figure something out later.

Today Andrew returns with a friend who has a van. We re-measure the piece and determine it won't fit in his friend's vehicle. He says he'll see if he can find someone else.

He texts me later. 

He's found a mover but it'll cost him another $160. His budget is $500, all in. I drop the price to $400 but won't go below that. He finally agrees. Deal done. The movers will be here at 4:30.

The movers come and they are great. Paul (who owns the company called VanMan Xpress) and one of his workers arrive all smiles.

First, they have to use a dolly to move around some furniture.

They then move the armoire out into the middle of my bedroom. 

But as they go to wrap it, the door falls off the front of the armoire. It's a very old, fragile piece. It takes them a while but they fix the armoire door.

Then they wrap the large piece carefully.

I leave the room as they begin the process of moving it out.

After some time, many grunts, and lots of effort, Paul tells me there's a problem. He is calm and professional. "We can't get the armoire through your bedroom door and then around to the hallway."

They try everything — including taking down my bedroom door and later putting it back on.

Still, it doesn't work.

They turn the unit upside down, sideways, and every way in between.

No luck.

The building handyman comes up and takes a look. His conclusion? "No way is that getting around the corner."

So now what?

At this point I'm hating this piece of furniture. I want it gone.

Andrew is paying the movers $160 and now is ending up with nothing.

There is only one option left. 

Paul agrees to a price of $150. I pay him; Andrew doesn't.  And they begin their work.

Yup, there it is. In pieces. So sad.

Of course this whole saga begs the obvious (yet unanswered) question:

"How did it get in?"