7 Pro-Tips for Selling Used Stuff Online
Tired of all the clutter lying around your home? Maybe it’s time to sell them online. That way, you can make extra cash and clean up your space at the same time. Thanks to the internet, you don’t have to set up garage sales every weekend. With a little of your time, effort, and patience, you can auction off unwanted things. Here are 7 handy tips to help you make that sale.
Know What You Aren’t Allowed To Sell
First things first, you should you know what you cannot sell. Each online marketplace has their own rules regarding online auctions. You should also look your state (or country) up before you proceed. Usually, items that can’t be sold include animals, particular weapons, alcohol, service contracts, and more. It is also best to check the restrictions of the platform you plan to use.
Choose the Right Platform to Sell
There are different sites that be used to sell your things. With online auctions like eBay, classified ad sites like Craigslist, or e-commerce platforms like Shopify, some platforms are better than others depending on the item you’re selling or how fast you want it to be sold.
Determine Its Value
If you are going to sell items and are unsure how much they’re worth, you should look it up. Look up both the value of the item when it’s brand new and when it’s used. It is also best to check if others are selling the same item to give you an idea of how much it should be auctioned for. Different factors such as item damage and rarity should also be taken into consideration.
Consider Selling In Bulk
It helps to sell items in bulk rather than individually to speed up sales. You might make less money as compared to selling the items separately, but it gives you a higher chance of selling the items to begin with. This works best with collections and sets such as silverware, books, music albums, and tools.
Describe What You’re Selling Thoroughly
Write a unique description of each product you sell. That will catch more attention than the ones that just outright copy its description off its Wikipedia page. The more detailed your item description, the better chance it has to sell. You should also mention its flaws. That way, buyers will know that you’re honest, and a great reputation will help you sell more things in the long run.
Use Quality Pictures
Make sure that you include a lot of quality pictures of the item. You should take them from different angles, and if there any flaws, you should show that too. Like the tip about the item’s description, it just shows that you’re honest. The item should comprise 70% – 80% of the picture with close-ups in important parts of the item.
Answer Buyer Questions Promptly
You should be quick to respond to a potential buyer’s questions. If you take too long, they might change their mind and look for another seller instead. Being responsive will help your gain a better reputation for being an online seller. Also, a little politeness goes a long way.
Image via Getty Images
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I see some people asking WAY too much for used stuff in FB yardsale groups. I mean asking almost as much as it would cost new…lol! Um, NOPE.
I actually have a bit of stuff I want to sell online because we are moving house and I don’t want to take it with us – great list!!
Great tips for selling on line. I have never tried to sell anything on-line but when I do I will start with this post.
I’ve sold stuff online before but not that often. I think this is a good guide for people who are thinking of doing that. It’s good to know what to do and how to properly sell your stuff!
We have a fantastic group on Facebook for our neighborhood that really is great for getting rid of stuff. Great prices, high quality and honest people make for a great experience.
I have so many things just collecting dust that selling them online seems like an amazing idea, especially after reading this! What are the types of things you’ve sold online?
These are wonderful tips. I don’t do a lot of selling online, but my dad recently asked him if I would help list a bunch of things from his old business on Ebay.
There are a lot of things sold online today and I think these are some great tips. Thanks so much for sharing these.
I am so bad at selling our used stuff. I really need to try it because we have some things that I think people would want for sure.
Great advice for sellers and buyers. Providing as much information as possible, along with clear photos is essential. I never buy from sellers who don’t include all the details.
Last year I sold some stuff on eBay to fund my new camera purchase. I ended up making over $1K! New camera? Check!!! Extra telephoto lens? Check! Definitely we all have so much stuff, so get it out the house and earn some $
I’ve sold a few things here and there and it’s really important that you’re clear with everything especially the shipping or the meet-ups. It’s a great way to get rid of the clutter in your house without everything going to waste! Good tips!
Having good quality photos of the item your selling is SO key. Too many sellers leave money on the table by posting mediocre (mostly poorly lit) photos that don’t attract many buyers and it always bums me out for them. :/
Great tips! We’ve been clearing out our garage by posting on local Facebook group pages. I’m super scared of strangers coming to our home so I always make sure I’m not home alone and never open the door to invite anyone in when a buyer arrives.
These are all fun and great tips! Thanks so much for sharing them. Great photos really does make a difference. You are giving so much great advice.