Yes, mostly the furniture (or furniture-like items) there is of good quality, but of course there are some with issues. I haven't bought stuff like that at surplus shops, but I've heard similar reviews like yours. And as for appliances, they really can be pricey, especially the ones that are branded and are still working well. Mostly, the people I know who buy appliances buy those with issues, and since they're good at fixing them, they just fix them afterwards...perk of being a technician.