Buying Amazon Overstock Furniture: Bargain Throne or Flat Pack Regret?

TL;DR

Amazon returns and overstock can be an absolute steal - we picked up a £229 chair for under £20. Bit of risk, bit of tinkering, but if you’re handy (and not fussy), it’s well worth a punt.

“Is it worth taking a seat on the bargain train… or will it leave you standing?”

The Secret Life of Amazon Returns

Amazon is an absolute unit. We’re talking millions of parcels flying around the UK every single day, and nearly half of online shoppers sending stuff back at some point.

So what happens to all that returned gear?

It doesn’t just vanish into the void. Instead, it ends up in:

• Liquidation stock (when companies go bust)
• Overstock (stuff that never sold)
• Returns auctions (opened, damaged, or just unwanted items)

And here’s the kicker - you can sometimes grab this stuff for as little as 10% of retail price.

Sounds mint, right? Well… not always plain sailing.

Taking a Punt on a Budget Throne

For the ManThings office, I grabbed a couple of office chairs through this exact route - proper gamble territory. No guarantees, no pristine packaging, and definitely no promises all the bits are there.

One of them? The SIHOO Ergonomic Office Chair.

• RRP: £229.99
• Amazon price: ~£169.95
• What I paid: £18.72

Yeah… less than a takeaway and a couple of pints.

The Reality Check: What You Actually Get

Let’s not sugar-coat it -buying returns isn’t like unboxing something fresh from Amazon Prime.

Here’s what I was greeted with:

• Box looked like it had done a tour of duty
• Screws falling out as I carried it
• Half-opened fixings pack
• A strong suspicion something would be missing

And surprise surprise… it was.

“Good news: it’s not been fully built before. Bad news: neither can you… yet.”

A Bit of Northern Ingenuity

This is where you either:

• Give up and moan about it
  or
• Get stuck in like a proper DIY grafter

Luckily, the missing screws were standard M6 (1.5mm) - nothing exotic. A quick rummage in the “random screws box” (everyone’s got one… don’t lie), and we’re back in business.

There was also a classic moment of:

“I won’t need the instructions…”

Reader, I needed the instructions.

The Finished Product: Actually Any Good?

After a bit of faffing about and mild self-inflicted stress… we got there.

And honestly?

It’s a solid chair.

What’s decent:

• High back = proper support
• Adjustable arms
• Lumbar support (your back will thank you)
• Deeper seat - ideal if you’re not built like a garden gnome

What’s a bit meh:

• Tilt only has two modes:
• Bolt upright
• Reclined like you’ve given up for the day

No fine-tuning - but at £18.72, I’m not about to kick off.

“Two chairs, both winners… BUZZIN.”

Is Amazon Overstock Furniture Worth It?

Short answer: yeah… if you go in with your eyes open.

It’s worth it if you:

• Like a bargain
• Don’t mind a bit of DIY
• Can live without perfection

Maybe avoid it if you:

• Want pristine, boxed-fresh gear
• Hate assembling stuff
• Expect everything to be flawless

It’s not luxury shopping - it’s more like treasure hunting in a warehouse clearance bin.

Build Yourself a Proper Setup (Without Spending a Fortune)

Once you’ve bagged your bargain chair, you might as well sort the rest of your desk out too. No point sitting like a king with peasant-level gear.

Here’s a few bits from the ManThings stash that pair nicely:

• 👉 Ergonomic Memory Foam Keyboard Wrist Rest
  Because carpal tunnel isn’t a personality trait.
• 👉 Desktop Microphone Stand
  Ideal for calls, content, or shouting at your mates on Discord.
• 👉 Mini DisplayPort to HDMI 4K Adapter (2 Pack)
  Sort your screens out - no excuses.
• 👉 USB C to Ethernet Adapter
  For when WiFi decides to pack it in mid-meeting.

Final Verdict

Buying Amazon returns and overstock furniture is a bit like ordering a mystery box down the pub - could be brilliant, could be questionable… but it’s rarely boring.

In this case?

Massive win.
A proper ergonomic chair for under £20 - can’t argue with that.

Just make sure you’ve got:

• A bit of patience
• A few spare screws
• And maybe… the instructions within arm’s reach

If you’re thinking about giving it a go, start small, take a punt, and see what turns up.

Worst case? You’ve got a story.
Best case? You’re sat comfortably for pennies.