The idea - So we have the perfect area for a bar in our basement. Already has the refrigerator, small sink and a few cabinets. The owners even had one there before they moved.
So, new bars are anywhere from $300 (small, indoor/outdoor) - $2,000 (big, fake stone, guady). So I found, what I thought at the time, was the perfect solution - ebay.
And here is the one we found and bought -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330222044307&fromMakeTrack=true It was out-dated, had a sink we didn't need, but it was the right price and John thought it might make a fun project.
The first indication that there might be trouble - After a couple of emails to set up a pick-up time, the owner mentions - he's not sure how to get it out of the house - it might not fit through the door. But we might be able to take it apart at a strategic place. This might help in removing from the house, but also fitting in the truck.
I perservere - but John is having doubts at this point. I should listen to my husband more often!
The part where I should have known better - We get to their house. This bar is massive, and super heavy.
We get it out the door onto their backpatio and then we start to see the truth. This thing is made with plywood and glue. lots and lots of glue. So much glue that after 20 minutes of hammering, prying, chiseling, etc, we have only managed to get a few pieces of finish/molding off and break a few tiles.
At this point it takes 4 adults another 15 minutes to get the thing loaded into the car.
Did I mention how heavy this thing was?
We strap it in, both John and I giving each other looks that translate to "why did we buy this thing?" and "What the hell are we going to do with it now?".
The part where things take a turn for the worst - John makes a wrong turn going out of the neighborhood, so goes to turn around. In the process, the massive weight in the trunkbed starts to lean. I scream a little, John evens out the turn. We stop in a random neighborhood and tilt the stupid bar so the weight is more grounded and the top is hanging over the side of the truck, but at least now it won't tip over and kill someone in the car next to us.
The part where we come to resolution - It was huge, ugly and heavier than anything else we had moved. It was so glued together that there was no way for John to rework it. It would sit in our garage until we moved out.
John asks me where the nearest dump is. I call 411 and get the number for a dump about 10 miles away. We take it there and luckily there is a nice man dumping somthing next to us that helps us get it out and into the heap at the dump.
The totals -
Time wasted - 4+ hours
Monetary cost - $100 for the bar, $6 to dump it
Physical pain - 1 very sore arm/neck/shoulder (Rebecca)
Times Rebecca has been to the dump in her life - 2, both in the last 2 months!
Sense of relief - total and complete!