Frequently Asked Questions

How many locations do you have?

Two! Second Use has stores in Seattle and Tacoma.

I’m interested in an item in [City 1] and live in [City 2]. Do you transport items between the two stores?

At this time, we do not offer the transport of inventory between stores, but encourage you to utilize our hold policy, which allows you to place holds until the following day, when planning your commute.

Is all this stuff actually in stock?

Yes – unless marked as “SOLD.” We update the database multiple times a day. We keep sold items on the site for two days after they sell.

You may call us (206-763-6929 for Seattle or 253-267-0820 for Tacoma) to get up-to-the-minute availability of a particular item. When calling, please have the “Item Number” ready.

Why are some of the descriptions so vague?

We process large volumes of used building materials daily. To keep up, we rely on an intake process that is highly automated. Our system only requires items get categorized. Beyond that, further description is optional. Sometimes listings are modified after the initial posting.

Usually, all that we know is posted. You are welcome to call us at 206-763-6929 (Seattle) or 253-267-0820 (Tacoma), and we may be able to help provide more information. Often your best recourse is to visit our store and see the item in person.

Why don’t you sell items directly from your website?

This website is designed to be a catalog of items currently available at our retail stores in Seattle and Tacoma. Our store and this website are oriented toward local customers. Due to the unique nature and variable condition of many of our items, we recommend that purchases be made in person so that items may be personally inspected for suitability.

I am ready to buy something. What do I do?

Great! Give us a call at the store location denoted in the description (Seattle or Tacoma) to put a hold on the item and come on down. We are currently open seven days a week 9:00am-5:30pm. We accept major credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex and Discover), checks and cash.

Do you accept phone orders?

We do accept phone orders, although we strongly encourage you to personally inspect all items before purchasing. We accept credit card or store credit as payment for phone orders; we do not accept coupons over the phone. We do not guarantee the ability to process your order via telephone. Certain hard-to-locate items may be unavailable for phone purchase. At rare times, we may be unable to process phone orders due to staffing levels or abnormally busy store traffic.

All phone orders must be picked up at our yard within a week. We offer three days of complimentary storage, with paid storage up to a week total storage time. After 7 days, we reserve the right to return items. All returns are subject to storage and restock fees. Items purchased by phone that are found upon inspection to be unsuitable may be returned (within 90 days) but will be charged our standard 10% return fee.

Can I hold items?

Yes. Typically, you may hold up to 10 items until half an hour before close the following day. We are able to have up to 3 back-up holds per item. Call the store where the item is listed and speak to a staff member during regular business hours to hold an item. Outside of business hours, you can leave a voicemail or send an email to place a hold. Those requests will be processed in the order they are received and we will contact you to confirm the hold. In the circumstance that we cannot process your hold we will contact you to let you know.

To secure the items, you must purchase them by the time your hold expires (typically at 5:00pm). It is common for other customers to place second holds on items and call in to purchase them at 5:01. For the quickest transaction, please have the six-digit inventory number on hand for all the items you would like to hold.

Can I place holds on items in both your Seattle and Tacoma location at the same time?

You can have holds at both locations, however we have separate systems for placing holds. To place a hold on an item, please call the store location denoted next to the item number: 206-763-6929 for Seattle, and 253-267-0820 for Tacoma.

Why does Second Use ask for my name or contact information?

Second Use has a database of customers’ names and contact info to secure holds and sold items being picked up later, in addition to give us a way to reach you if there are any problems with your item or transaction. The information we receive from customers is private; we never sell the information or add it to any listservs or mailing lists without permission.

Can I store my purchase at Second Use until I’m able to pick it up?

Yes. Customers can store items at Second Use for three days after their purchase, free of charge. After three days, a daily storage rate will apply. Items can be stored for an additional four days at $5 a day. Purchases that require more than one standard cart for storage will be assessed additional storage fees. After 7 days, we reserve the right to return items. All returns are subject to storage and restock fees.

Unusual items that require a lot of work to move- for instance, a chandelier- will be subject to a $40/hour handling fee.

Does Second Use ship items?

Yes, we can ship most of our items. Many of the items we sell are bulky and quite expensive to ship. Larger items are still shippable (just more difficult). Please contact us with any specific inquiries. For more information, visit Shipping & Delivery.

Can I return items?

Returns for cash, check, credit card, or store credit are accepted for 30 days after purchase.* There is always a 10% return fee, to help us cover the money we lose in credit card and labor fees. From 31 to 90 days, customers can return items for store credit only, minus the 10% return fee. You can only return items to the location you purchased the items at. Please bring your receipt with you for the return. If you have lost your receipt, we may be able to look up your information in our database, if you have an account with Second Use.

*Cash returns over $100 will be in the form of a check.

What is the best way to contact Second Use?

Phone is far better than email for a quick question about our inventory. Our Seattle number is 206-763-6929. Our Tacoma number is 253-267-0820.

We respond to email as time allows. If you email with questions about inventory seen on this site (or those not seen here), please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] respectively.