How to sell used possessions online
Gone are the days when selling used stuff online was an uphill task. Today online websites and apps have made it easier to turn used possessions into cash. Below we have wrapped up some of the best apps and sites where you can sell used stuff fast.
Table of Contents
List of sites you can sell used items online
Nextdoor
You can sell and buy just about everything on Nextdoor–from furniture and clothes to exercise equipment and cars. The best thing about selling on this platform is your customers will be local. So you can meet them before making sales. Additionally, you don’t have to pay for postage.
Amazon
Unless you live under a rock, you may have heard about Amazon. It is one of the best marketplaces where you can sell just about everything. If you choose to sell in specialized categories, you will require Amazon’s approval and an upgraded selling plan.
The downside of selling here is that you must pay fees on items sold. These fees vary depending on the selling plan you have. For example, if you have the standard individual selling plan, you will pay 99 cents per each item sold, plus a referral fee.
Decluttr
Decluttr offers you an easy way to unload your used stuff for good cash. To turn your used possessions (DVDs, CDs, iPads, smartphones, kindles, legos, etc.) into cash, scan the bar code on item and Decluttr will make you an offer. If ok with the offer, you will receive a prepaid packing slip. You will get paid via PayPal once the item is received and inspected.
SecondSpin and Abundatrade will also buy your videos, music, and games. Visit these sites for more information.
eBay
Founded in 1995, eBay has continued to grow, and today it is one of the best marketplaces to sell your stuff. It is easy to sell here and has a simpler fee structure than Amazon and allows you to upgrade your plans for a better experience. Visit the site to learn more about the applicable fees and when to pay them.
5Miles
Postage and shipping costs can frustrate your efforts to sell online. While sometimes it not possible to dodge these costs, 5Miles offers you a solution: to sell to buyers who are within five miles. Besides, 5Miles helps you arrange for a safe place for the exchange of the merchandise.
OfferUp
OfferUp is a user-friendly marketplace for local sellers and buyers and registers huge traffic every day. In fact, many people are spending the same amount of time here in a day as they do on Instagram and Snapchat. OfferUp is better than Craigslist and allows you to engage with potential customers via in-app messaging service. It is free to sell here!
Patreon
Patreon is not an eCommerce site or marketplace but a platform where your loyal fans pay you the amount of their choice in exchange for something. For example, you can give them exclusive content and access. If selling videos, arts, or comics, consider this platform.
Cash4Books
Cash4Books works along the same lines as Decluttr. Here you type your textbook’s ISBN and the app will make you an instant offer. If ok with the offer, Cash4Books pays for shipping. You get paid via PayPal once the book is inspected. Cash4Books also buys books that are not textbooks.
Bonanza
Sell anything on Bonanza just like you do on Amazon or eBay. But remember you have to pay some fees to sell on this platform. For example, you will pay a fee on the sale price of your items, plus any amount of the shipping cost over $10.
If you want to advertise your listing across the web, Bonanza allows you to do so for a higher percentage fee.
Poshmark
You can sell shoes, handbags, accessories, clothing, and more here by simply uploading photos and prices of items you are selling. This app allows you to chat with buyers before making the sale. Additionally, you can ship at the expense of the Poshmark and Poshmark will take a small commission depending on the size of the transaction.
Other platforms for high-end designer wardrobe items include ThredUp and LePrix.
LetGo
It is pretty simple to sell in LetGo. Just take a photo of what you want to sell, upload, and chat with potential buyers. The best thing with LetGo is that it uses artificial intelligence and image-recognition technology to help you tag your items.
Etsy
Are you looking to unload your handmade arts and crafts or vintage collectibles? List them on Etsy. It is easy to list here, and you pay 20 cents to list an item plus a 5% transaction fee on the sale price of the item. You will also be charged an additional 3% plus 25 cents if you use this platform to process your payments.
Swappa, Glyde, Gazelle
Need quick bucks for your electronics? Swappa, Glyde, and Gazelle offer you an easy way to unload your tablets, phones, or laptops into quick cash. These platforms simply slap you with a quote, and you send the item to them if happy with the offer. For the best offer, make sure to compare from each one as they are pretty similar.
Rakuten
Contemplating breaking into the Japanese market? Consider selling on Rakuten. It is a wonderful marketplace frequented by 90% of internet users in Japan. The downside of listing here is that you have to pay a monthly fee of $33 as a seller and $0.99 for every sale. Don’t forget you will be charged between 8% to 15% depending on what you are selling.
Create your own website
If not ready to list your stuff on the above sites and want complete control of what you are selling, create your own website. It is easy to create one today, but you must be prepared to handle everything, including marketing, to bring people to your store.
How to Prepare to Sell Stuff Online
There are a few things you need to do to sell used possessions online successfully:
- Find stuff to sell
Go around your home and find items you don’t need anymore and have value.
- Check if there is a market
Before listing your items, it is crucial to make sure there are buyers for those items. You can visit marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to see if similar items are selling. In a nutshell, find a listing site where your items are likely to sell quickly.
- Decide where you want to sell
You have done your homework well, now go ahead and settle on one platform where you want to list your stuff.
- Build your item profile
Once you pick a platform, the next step is creating an account and building out your product listing. Make sure to take the best photos and write compelling descriptions. Quality photos and engaging descriptions impact how many buyers will contact you.
- Publish
Happy that everything is ok? Hit publish and launch your item.
- Respond to inquiries and close the deal
If you listed items people are interested in, inquiries will start to trickle in within a few hours. Make sure to revert as soon as possible and close the deal. If you fail to close the deal with one buyer, move on to other customers who reached out.
If you listed on platforms like Amazon that does the selling for you, your work is done. Just sit back and wait.
Tips and tricks to selling your stuff online
Now that you know about the best places to sell used stuff online and how to prepare, here are a few tips and tricks that will take your selling game to the next level:
- Research market pricing
Before you attach price tags to your items, comb the market, and see the prices of other similar items. Avoid scenarios where you think your items are more valuable, and you price them without researching market pricing.
- Focus on the product page
It is simple to have an attractive product page. Just focus on having a professional photo, competitive price, and beautiful descriptions. This way, your product page will stand out from the crowd.
- Be prompt
Try your best to respond to inquiries and responses as soon as they hit your inbox. That way, it will be easier to close deals in no time. Keep in mind people get less interested in a deal over time.
- Stick to your price
If you did enough research before pricing, hold on to that price. Lower it only if you don’t get legitimate interest. Don’t be quick to lower just because a few folks have pressured you to do so.
- Protect yourself
Scammers will be waiting for you, and if not cautious, you will have only yourself to blame. So keep your eyes wide open and especially when closing a deal.
- Give more details
People want to know exactly what they are buying before splashing out their money. So give them as much information about your items as possible.
- Sell the small stuff
Sometimes we tend to focus on items that will bring more money and forget small stuff that also have value. Imagine an extra $65 to $150? Is that not still something? Of course, you can do something with $65.
- Be open-minded
Sell anything that has value, and you no longer need it. Don’t assume nobody is going to buy it. If you did find value in it then, someone else is likely to find value in it again. So go ahead and list it.