If you have stuff lying around that you are no longer using or no longer wearing think about how much time, money and energy you spent getting it. However, don’t get too worried because you can get some of that time, money, and energy back. Continuer reading for tips and tricks of selling our old things.
Pricing Things
Unfortunately, not everything that you have will receive the same value that you got it for. Here is how you can look at what you think is not usable anymore and figure out how much someone else might be willing to pay for it.
- Take time to research the item’s retail value, brand new. This will show you how much it would normally cost if it were brand new. Factor in how easy it would be to buy the item new. If you can’t find the exact item, look at similar ones and take into account their cost.
- Look up the item’s sale value, used. Now get yourself to online marketplaces that sell used items – like Craigslist, eBay and Amazon. Check how much your item is going for. If you find your item at an auction, make note of how much the seller is asking for and at what price the auction closed at. Also, be sure to find out how many people are selling the item and the condition of their item.
- Set your selling price. If your item can be easily found new, but there aren’t a lot of used versions around, you’ll probably sell it quickly given the right price. Conversely, if your item isn’t easily found new, but there’s a bunch of it used, then you’ll probably have a hard time selling it unless you drop your pricing. In the last scenario, if your item is tough to find both new and used, then you’ve got yourself something special and can probably price it high.
Keep in mind these other pricing factors:
- If you’re selling online, you should also account for shipping and insurance.
- If you’re selling locally, people may expect extremely good deals, so expect some haggling.
Also, don’t forget that your time has value. Before you list your item, you need to decide if it is even worth your time to try and sell.
Where to Sell
There are plenty of places to sell your unwanted things, especially online. Where to sell depends on the type of item you’re trying to get rid of.
Electronics, Computer Equipment, Books & Video Games
Here is a quick summary of the best places for selling used consumer electronics:
- Amazon. This is a great platform as it offers a great selling experience. On top of selling your unwanted goods, Amazon will even help price your items. The great thing about Amazon Marketplace is that it will link your item directly to the product listings, so anyone searching for it will see your item along with other used and new ones. Keep in mind of their commission fees thought because they can cost quite a bit.
- eBay. This site has gone through many changes over the years and has now become not-so-friendly to sellers. It is still a very popular space to sell your unwanted itesm. Make sure you prcie your items close to or better than your competitors and it will sell quickly. Just like Amazon, eBay has some fees that you should watch for.
- Craigslist. Going through this site is great because you get to set your own price and no one takes commission. The downside, however, is that it might take months before you get a decent offer.
Video Games & Cell Phones
- Gazelle. It’s a super easy service that sells used video games and cell phones quickly, especially if you don’t care about how much money you’ll make from the sale. The service brokers the deal with the buyer, then tells you how much you’ll get for your used item. Money is sent to you when the recipient confirms the item and condition. Note: console games only, no PC games.
- Glyde. This site will help price your used items to sell, estimate how long it will take for a buyer to purchase, and how much you’ll pocket at the end. If you don’t like the suggested price, you can change it. When the buyer gets your item, you’ll get paid.
Textbooks
- Chegg. This sites buys, sells and rents textbooks of all kinds. It’s best for popular textbooks, especially hardback ones. Although you’re likely to get more money for your books here than at the campus bookstore, it can take up to 15 days to get paid because of processing and shipping. Buyback standards are also on the higher end.
- Textbooks.com. Similar to Chegg, this site also offers to buy back textbooks. You can lock in a quote for up to 30 days, so you don’t have to rush to the post office to put your book in the mail. Textbooks.com only accepts books in good condition or better (no stains, tears or excessive writing).
Clothes & Accessories
Clothing can be slightly more difficult to sell, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible or that you can’t get some good return on it. To get the best results, you will want to set up shop with the right conditions.
- Etsy. Although established as a DIY marketplace, this site also allows you to sell used clothing. Those that specialize in vintage and unique clothing do particularly well.
- Craigslist and eBay. Although you won’t get a ton of value for your items on these sites, they are a great place to bring all your clothes together and sell it to one person at a time. They’re great for children’s and baby’s clothing.
- Yard sale. With clothing, most people want to see it before they buy it. Organizing a yard sale might be your best bet to getting rid of your used clothing quickly.
Toys & Games
Children’s items also sell pretty well. As I mentioned in the pricing section above, you’ll want to do your research before you list secondhand toys and games. You don’t want to make the mistake of selling a rare toy for ten bucks in a lot on Craigslist when you could be selling it for a hundred bucks apiece. If what you have is in good condition, I recommend selling via:
- Amazon. This is a great site for selling toys and games because the items are marked with clear names and descriptions. You’ll be able to sell your used items as long as they’re in good condition and easy-to-package. Items like a put-together playset or an action figure out of its packaging will be harder to sell. As mentioned before, watch out for Amazon’s seller fees.
- eBay. There are plenty of people on this site looking for specific toys and games for a decent price. With that audience, it’s a great place to get rid of items that have become collectibles. Once again, watch out for fees from both eBay and PayPal and price your items accordingly.
- Consignment shop. If you don’t have time to post online or set up a yard sale, then enlist the help of a consignment shop to sell your used toys and games for you. Do a simple search on Yelp to find a shop near you that accepts secondhand items.
Small Appliances & Household Items
If you’re trying to get rid of your old appliances or household items because you are moving or getting an upgrade, definitely try to sell because someone else might want it! These are the best places to do just that:
- Amazon. Tie your item directly, and automatically, to an Amazon product listing, which gets your item “seen,” along with other new and used options. Keep in mind, Amazon takes a cut for selling on its platform.
- Yard sale. Although great for those that like to touch, feel and test out the item before they purchase it, you’ll probably be able to sell the item for the same price or better online. You’ll want to go the yard sale route, however, if getting rid of a large set of items quickly is a priority.
Large Appliances & Furniture
These are in a category of their own due to their size. Unlike the smaller appliances and household items, these don’t make sense to ship. Check out these platforms below:
- Craigslist. With this platform, you can leave your information in the description of the appliance or furniture and both parties can schedule a time to meet up. This way, they can see it and consider if they really want it or not.
- Moving sale. You’ll be able to offload your big items quickly, but you’ll also have to deal with strangers in your home, and of course, the haggling.
Art & Collectibles
These things are a little bit more complicated because of your audience, the people who just want this particular item, is a lot smaller. Here is is essential that you do your research and know the proper value of the them you are trying to sell. If you need assistance in pricing your art piece, you can always get it appraised by a professional. The expert can even give you advice on how you can care for the item.
Tips for Listing Items
When you craft your listing, you’ll need to ensure that people can easily find your item. All you need is the following:
- Good photos. Make sure they’re clear and that they cover different angles.
- Catchy wording. Your headline needs to stand out, as well as your description.
- Keywords. Make sure to use keywords in your description, since people are using them to search for items. Be careful, though, you don’t want to overdo it.
- Dimensions. Obviously a must. Be as descriptive about the item as you can. Include the model number and the condition of the item.
You’ll also want to maximize your reach by posting multiple listings for the same product, but in different categories. A Bluetooth headset can be listed in Audio, Electronics, and Smartphone Accessories. On Craigslist, it’s free to post, so don’t hesitate to copy, paste, and tweak the headline and description to cater to the category. You can also post to different neighborhoods nearby to widen your reach.
Consider Donating
If you are simply trying to declutter your home and not selling our items, then you should consider donating your unwanted things to a thrift store or charity. Also, don’t forget ot ask for a tax receipt when you drop your stuff off.
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Bottom Line
There are quite a few things you can do to get rid of our clothes. No matter which platform you decide to go with to sell your unwanted items, be sure to do your research to know what fees and terms they have because those can creep up on you.
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