Selling a dirty rug on ebay - would you?

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now_loves_mares

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I have a rug in my tackroom that has been in a bag unused for ages. It's a size too big for my current horse, and is about 4th in line as an emergency rug! I pulled it out to take photos to list it, but discovered it was still muddy:o. It's dry mud, all on the outside, but definitely could do with a clean; albeit if my horse needed it, I'd happily chuck it on her tomorrow.

It will cost me at least £15 to clean it. It's not a very valuable rug (Masta checktech, a few years old, can't imagine I'd get much for it). I could list it as it is and get £20 for it, or have it cleaned and risk getting less, or worse, not even the cost of the cleaning!

Would you sell, or indeed buy, a rug in need of a clean? :confused:
 
Personally I wouldn't buy it, but I'm always on the look out for second hand rugs and the prices they go on ebay are incredible!.

Could you brush it or give it a blast with the hose?

Stick it on ebay- i would, even if you only get a tenner is better than taking up space in to tack room.
 
i have just sold a rug on ebay - has dirt on the wither area and general dirt on the outside.

I just stated it was a used rug but no damage to outer layer etc and it has sold really well. People can see the dirt on the photo so it is up to them if they bid or not.
 
I have bought rugs with a bit of mud on them, they are only going to get worse! Some of the rugs on ebay are a step too far though, only fit for the bin!
 
Thanks all - good idea to give it a bit of a brush/hose off first. I'm doing mucky chores today so may as well get on to it.

I've spent rather a lot on new things recently, what with a trip to Burghley and the Oldencraig 50% off sale, so now need to fund some of those purchases :eek:

So anyone in need of a bargain 6ft turnout, keep an eye on ebay :rolleyes:
 
now_loves_mares said:
I have a rug in my tackroom that has been in a bag unused for ages. It's a size too big for my current horse, and is about 4th in line as an emergency rug! I pulled it out to take photos to list it, but discovered it was still muddy:o. It's dry mud, all on the outside, but definitely could do with a clean; albeit if my horse needed it, I'd happily chuck it on her tomorrow.

It will cost me at least £15 to clean it. It's not a very valuable rug (Masta checktech, a few years old, can't imagine I'd get much for it). I could list it as it is and get £20 for it, or have it cleaned and risk getting less, or worse, not even the cost of the cleaning!

Would you sell, or indeed buy, a rug in need of a clean? :confused:
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I bought a brand new unused bagged rug off ebay last year,with tags for £20.00 and it originally cost 67.50 when they bought it and now same rug is £89.99.
So I certainly wouldnt pay £20.00 for a dirty rug,then have to pay to get it cleaned.
 
There is dirty & dirty.
I recently sold a TO rug that my youngster had outgrown.
I hosed it down, vacuumed the inside and sprayed it with Virkon.
I couldn't get all the mud marks off but it was not smelly and doing any more washing could have compromised the waterproofing (I did wet test it.) and added to the cost.

The photos clearly showed all marks and the two small tears in the lining.

It sold for about half new price and I got good feedback.

I would not dream of listing a rug covered in mud & dung.
 
s4sugar said:
There is dirty & dirty.
I recently sold a TO rug that my youngster had outgrown.
I hosed it down, vacuumed the inside and sprayed it with Virkon.
I couldn't get all the mud marks off but it was not smelly and doing any more washing could have compromised the waterproofing (I did wet test it.) and added to the cost.

The photos clearly showed all marks and the two small tears in the lining.

It sold for about half new price and I got good feedback.

I would not dream of listing a rug covered in mud & dung.
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^Agree. I think if you are selling it is just not worth spending £20 on cleaning / reproofing. As a buyer I would rather buy a rug that had not been professionally washed as I think it compromises the waterproofing.

Just take the worst off as suggested by poster above.
 
idx said:
^Agree. I think if you are selling it is just not worth spending £20 on cleaning / reproofing. As a buyer I would rather buy a rug that had not been professionally washed as I think it compromises the waterproofing.

Just take the worst off as suggested by poster above.
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I agree with this, have sold a turnout on ebay that had been used, but wasnt covered in muck, gave a very detailed description and photos got a reasonable price for it.
Stable rugs and coolers I will always wash, I have a 'horsey' washing machine in the garage so this isnt a problem and has saved me loads of money washing our own rugs.
 
For the sake of giving it a quick clean over perhaps with a cloth and not much water, you would get a better price for it. Alternatively, wash it yourself and perhaps go the cost of buying some reproofer for it. Then you get a good price I'm sure.
 
Safe the advert and fees and send it to me :) . 6 ft fits my TB which I have on trial and looks like I'm keeping him. I don't mind a bit of mud, just gets worse anyway ;)
 
amage said:
I wouldn't buy a dirty rug....potential biohazard!! Maybe that sounds ott but we would just not take the risk
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Really? I can see where you are coming from, but it's just mud! What would be your concern? For your own safety, or for the risk that the mud would contain something nasty?

I'm genuinely interested, as it's not something I've even considered.
 
I sold a MT turnout early in the year that was dirty, i brushed the worst of the mud and hairs off, but I clearly stated it was dirty. I didn't fancy packing it up so did collection only. I got quite a good price for it and the buyer made a 200mile round trip to collect it :eek:
 
I wouldnt even consider a secondhand rug unless it had been professionaly disinfected and since rugs are relatively cheap I cant see the point. I might stretch a point if it was from a horse on the same yard that I knew.For all you know you could be buying strangles.
 
i got a rambo full neck wug .. it was unwashed and dirty for 50 quid.. so yep would deffinatly buy.. all thoose daft sods that think nooooooooooooo dont bid but see in saying that i do belive it will go for less..

i pay a fiver to get my rugs washed and the local launderett has a large washing machine.. <<< hint hint lol.
 
now_loves_mares said:
Really? I can see where you are coming from, but it's just mud! What would be your concern? For your own safety, or for the risk that the mud would contain something nasty?

I'm genuinely interested, as it's not something I've even considered.
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It's not just mud, a dirty rug could be contaminated with anything...washing and professional disinfecting is best way to counteract the risk. A virus or infection brought in through a dirty rug could affect our livelihood by making horses sick and can't run them, bring customers in to see them etc. Even on a human level if the rug has been in storage and exposed to rats etc there is disease risk for humans. All our stored rugs whether used or not in the course of the years are professionally washed and disinfected. Just not worth the risk...even when we go racing we would always spray racecourse stable with disinfectant before letting horse into them!
 
I have just bought a rug that hasn't been cleaned, I'm not fussed abou a bit of mud, my horses are only going to cover it in mud any roads, wll spray ot with antibacterial liquid before I put it on the horse but as long as is waterproofed I don't bother :)
 
I wouldn't buy a rug that hadn't been professionally cleaned. Not bothered by mud, but am bothered by possibility of infection, even ringworm is an avoidable nuisance I can do without.
 
If the price was right I'd buy it as long as it wasn't absolutely blathered. I tend not to clean my own t/o rugs properly (just give em a blast with hose & brush worst of muck off if they need it) as I feel it affects the waterproofing (I'm just as bad with waterproof coats if I want to wear them in serious wet weather, I think my "yard coat" has only been washed about once in the few years I've had it... only gonna get mucky again), although I do send stable rugs to be cleaned properly. I'd just get the worst of the muck off and be honest in your description.
 
Stick outside on the line/fence and get the jetwash on it!
I have sold dirty rugs before - but i always vacuum the inside and wash the leg straps. I take close up pictures and price accordingly. I havent had one yet not sell.
But I wouldnt buy second hand rugs.
 
some of my best bargins have come dirty - once cleaned up I've been pleased with them - bought some funnell brushing boots for about £2 and once washed they are like new - not even stuff in the velcro!

would never put me off.
 
I bought one but it really was a bargin. Heavyweight turnout for £10, this meant I could get it professionally washed and reproofed on arival!
 
I have sold filthy disgusting rugs on ebay, they were described as such and pictured as well. They sold for sensible money, given that the new owners would need to get them cleaned. ANY rug from ebay, however clean it looks, is a potential bio-hazard as you have no idea whether someone has tried it on a horse with some nasty or other, so given that supposition all second hand rugs should be cleaned.

I shall be advertising some more 5'9 and 6'9 rugs shortly, listing them as filthy and disgusting and pointing out that all rugs from ebay should be cleaned before adding them to your tack room.

The last load got me exceptionally good feedback, with people being very pleased that the rugs were better condition than expected.
 
Hmm ok I have to say I'd never considered infection, and to be honest not sure I'll change my plans. But there's nothing to say that a "new" rug hadn't been bought, tried on then returned with just as much risk of infection, is there?
 
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