It would sure depend on what condition it's in.

Ballard's has 20% off sales all the time so $250 seems a bit high for a used, hand-tufted rug that's only 5 x 8.

I love the pattern.

It is a very pretty rug..

I just wonder whether 5x8 is big enough for your space... also, it may compete with the chair fabric.. but maybe you can put a solid throw on the chair??

Thanks parma - I know you have great taste in rugs. Hopefully, I will hear back from her. I'm not a great bargainer - but I'll see if she'll go a bit lower - especially after I know the condition.
Thanks again!

I wonder about competing with the chair too. I eventually want to recover that chair - I recently inherited it. In the meantime, a friend is making a pillow in the same fabric as the couch.

Did you notice that the seller did not actually include a picture of the rug? The picture shown is from the Ballard catalog. I'd only check it out if it was in your neighborhood since the condition could look very different. It's my understanding that tufted rugs may (1) have a smell from the glued back so be sure to smell the rug and (2) this backing disintegrates over time so even if it does not smell now, it might later. For a rug of that starting price and quality, I think it should be sold for less. Did she say how old it is? I always ask if there are any rips, stains or it there were pets or smokers in the home. Even if you are not allergic to animals, there is always the off chance the animal peed on the rug--so definitely do the sniff test.

looks interesting, but I wouldnt go anywhere until seeing the actual rug as Val mentioned.

This is tufted, so you're going to need to know what these rugs are all about.

this is an excerpt i think is good to know...

"Everyone is going "green" and earth friendly now. While wool rugs will ofter the advantage of using a renewable resource, not all rugs are "green" in the sense of long term. Such is especially the case with tufted rugs. They're heavy to transport, and have a significantly shorter lifespan than a hand knotted rug. What does this mean? A loose example: Let say the average, middle grade Oriental Rug has a lifespan of 60 years, and the average hand tufted rug has an age of 10 years (being optimistic). You're looking at 6 hand tufted rugs for each hand knotted rug purchased. That's 6x more transportation, 6x more junk in a landfill... nevermind the odors which sometimes emanate from these rugs, the VOC's and off gasses sometimes associated with these rugs too. Synthetic rugs, and sometimes compounds used in production of tufted rugs may contribute to an in home toxin level up to five times more hazardous than the air outside your house as estimated by the EPA. "

Here is a link that might be useful: everything you need to know about tufted carpets

I guess it depends on how much you like it, I'm picking this one I found today up tomorrow (Sorry I dont know how to post the link )
http://spacecoast.craigslist.org/fuo/924843328.html
Nice 5x8 Area Rug $50/OBO

FWIW, I looked at this exact rug in the Ballard catalog, maybe a couple of years ago. At the time, someone told me they had ordered the same rug and that it had a horrible smell. So, if you look at it and like it, be sure to SMELL it before making a final decision! lol.

ooh, I had that rug. I bought that rug and it was smelling up my guest room (like hot burnt rubber sneakers). It took me well over a year to figure out it was that rug - you notice it in a room where you keep the door closed for long periods of time. Anyhow, I sold it on craigslist eventually for under $100 - I did disclose to anyone intersted that although it was in great condition, I could smell the latex and didn't want it anymore. But it sold anyhow.

Wow - you all make a lot of great points! In the first place I think the price is too high - especially considering the great rug maggie3 got for $50! I think I will keep my $250 keep looking.
Thanks for all the new insight!
Carolyn