Looking to sell your stuff? Here are great tips for how to sell your unwanted items on Craigslist, eBay, Facebook and more.
Today we are going to focus on selling stuff we no longer need. There are plenty of different options available for selling things, from eBay to Craigslist to Facebook to the good old fashioned garage sale. Over the years, I have tried all four of these different options, with varying degrees of success. In fact, just this month alone I made over $500 selling by selling stuff I no longer need!
How to Sell Your Stuff
Today I am going to give you the rundown on what works and what doesn’t, and when to use each of these options.
1. Selling on eBay
When to use eBay: eBay is your best bet for selling popular brand name items (Coach, UGG, etc.) that are in very good or excellent condition, or high value items that are specialized & hard to find. It is free to list items on eBay but you will have to pay a commission if your item sells. Because you will most likely need to ship your item, I also recommend only selling items that can fit into a USPS flat rate box. It is difficult to sell anything on eBay if you haven’t established a reputation, so if you have never bought anything on eBay before, this probably isn’t the best option.
eBay Selling Tips:
- Take good pictures-for the best shots, use indirect daylight (not bright sun) and NO FLASH! Make sure the background is pleasant and non-distracting, and take pictures from every angle.
- Choose the right category for your item-try to be as specific as possible so that potential buyers will be able to find your listing.
- Write a good description-be sure to mention the brand name in the title, along with the condition. Be as specific about the details as possible. If you are stuck for what to write, look up similar items that are currently selling well for inspiration.
- Make sure your item fits in the box before listing. I always keep a few medium & large size USPS flat rate boxes on hand (they are free at the post office).
- Charge the USPS flat rate fee for shipping. This way there are no questions about shipping and no surprises at the end.
- Answer buyer questions quickly-once your auction is live, be sure to pay attention to any questions that come in (always check your junk folder too!) and answer them clearly and honestly right away. If it is a question about item specifics then it is a good idea to post your answer publicly so that other potential buyers can see the answer as well.
- Wait for payment before shipping-most buyers will pay quickly but never ship an item until you have received your payment! You can easily send an invoice to remind buyers to pay.
- Ship your item as soon as possible–as soon as you’ve been paid, make an effort to ship out your item. eBay makes this process very simple–you can actually pay for shipping and print your label at home. If you already have the box then all you have to do is tape it up, slap on the pre-paid label, & let your mail carrier pick it up or drop it off at the nearest post office!
- Give feedback–be sure to write a positive note on your buyer’s feedback page. They will hopefully then return the favor so that you can have even more successful sales in the future!
2. Selling on Craigslist
When to use Craigslist: Craigslist is a great option for selling furniture, toys, & household items that you wouldn’t want to bother with shipping. It is definitely more popular in some areas then others–I had way more success selling on Craigslist in the Seattle area than I do in Southwest Florida–but since it is free to list your items, there is really no reason not to try!
Craigslist Selling Tips:
- Take good pictures-for the best shots, use indirect daylight (not bright sun) and NO FLASH! Make sure the background is pleasant and non-distracting, and take pictures from every angle.
- Write a good description-be sure to mention the brand name in the title, along with the condition. Be as specific about the details as possible. If you are stuck for what to write, look up similar items that are currently selling well for inspiration.
- Don’t set your price too high. We’d all like to think our stuff is worth close to what we paid, but the sad truth is that used stuff isn’t worth all that much. Do a search for your item to find out what other people are asking. If your price is significantly higher, don’t expect any calls.
- Leave room for bargaining. Decide on the lowest price you are willing to accept for an item, then price your item 10-20% higher (while keeping in mind that you don’t want to ask too much)
- Don’t be afraid to say no to an offer. If someone offers you less than you think your item is worth, don’t be afraid to hold out for more money. Craigslist is free and you can list your item as many times as you want (within the CL guidelines.) Determine whether it is more important to get rid of an item quickly or to get your full asking price.
- Don’t over list your item! Follow the Craigslist rules or you will be flagged and ALL your listings will be removed. Each region is slightly different, but as a general rule you can post any given item once every 7 days.
- Consider bundling like items. Selling a lot of toys or clothing is easier and faster than trying to sell them all individually.
- Stay safe. Meet in a neutral public location or make sure you will not be home alone if someone is coming to see an item.
3. Selling on Facebook
When to use Facebook: Facebook is free and super easy so there is really no reason not to try Facebook first. Join a local selling group–they have them in almost every city these days–then snap a picture and list a price (follow the same tips as Craigslist above.) If you can’t find a group join, you may want to ask around to see if any of your local friends have heard of one, or you can simply post your item on your own Facebook wall. If it doesn’t sell you can always try Craigslist or eBay.
4. Holding a Garage Sale
When to throw a garage sale: If you have a LOT of stuff to sell and you live in a great neighborhood for garage sales (close to a main street, lots of drive-by traffic, etc.), then a garage sale might be a good option. For most people, however, I think spending your time and effort getting the best prices for your higher-value items on Craigslist or Ebay, then simply donating the rest is probably a better use of your energy.
Garage Sale Selling Tips:
- Join forces-convince some friends or neighbors to join you and hold a multi-family sale. You’ll get a lot more interest and have an easier time promoting your sale.
- Promote your sale-advertise on Craigslist, take out a classified ad, & post a notice on Facebook. Put up LOTS of signs all over your neighborhood with CLEAR directions on how to find your house.
- Be prepared-borrow tables to hold your stuff & price everything the day before. Label your items well. Have plenty of change available. Be sure to have an outlet available for testing electronic items.
- Be willing to bargain-garage sale shoppers will want to make offers. It is okay to start out firm and get more flexible as the day goes on.
- Have a plan for the leftover items-don’t just let them sit in your garage! Either list remaining items on Craigslist/Facebook/eBay or deliver them to Goodwill.
Today your assignment is to start selling the stuff you no longer need. Take a long, hard, honest look at the things you have and pick a few things you are ready to part with.
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Helpful info, but I have to disagree about shipping eBay items via flat rate only. As both an eBay seller and buyer, I know that that is much too expensive for a lot of items, and people are not willing to pay out-of-proportion shipping expenses. While it takes more work, I always ship for actual shipping costs unless the flat rate seems appropriate.
Agreed. Flat rate works when the item purchased is high ticket-then the seller is more likely to pay. Plus with ebay mobile, listing with calculated shipping is easier than it used to be. And don't forget media rates for books/dvds. **always ship as fast as you can-right after payment. You can schedule the item to be picked up from your door by your postal carrier, so no trips to the post office.
What are media rates? Does it cost more to send books/dvds? I get books from authors for my reviews, but I have never shipped any type of media mail. I didn't realize this was even a thing!
here's a link to learn about shipping "types" with USPS. Not a long list and at the bottom right is MEDIA MAIL. :) Good luck !! :)
How do you get to be a book reviewer? I would love to do that.
We take our things to a local consignment store which is so nice for me. It's WAY less hassle than trying to sell it myself. I know that I won't make as much, but it is QUICKLY out of my house, I get 50% if it sells, and I never see it again if it doesn't. Plus, I'm helping other people run a business which is nice.
Very helpful info. Thanks
If you're looking to buy and sell kids used clothes online, you can check http://preluved.com/. I think it's the convenient way to buy and sell your kids stuff without leaving home. You can also find great items and brand name clothes to suit your taste for clothing.
I hosted a "freebie" party once for our school group just before Christmas. Each family brought items (as many as they wanted) to the party, the children then got to choose Christmas gifts for their loved ones from the stash! It was so much fun & easy to host. I just provided wrapping materials (we helped the younger children wrap so parents & siblings could be surprised!). A friend is hosting a similar event next month - her "freecycle" party! Same idea - another(wo)man's treasure... I am so excited to run through my house to find treasures to swap! I still display a beautiful wire bird that another family brought to my party from 3 years ago. One of my children chose it for Dad but it was *my* favorite gift of the year!
In the years I was a single mom of small children, the only thing under my Christmas tree that I didn't know what was in it had been made by my children at school and daycare. Those gifts still hang on my tree now some 30 years later and my eyes still mist over when I see them. Thank you so much for what you do ... those two presents from daycare were the only Christmas gifts I got one year. You make a difference. There is a special place in heaven for your kind of Angel.
I would like to sell but don't know how. Every one said it's easy. I'll go help you and they never show up.
So I'm still working on it.
Thanks
Claire
I have bought some things on eBay and finally listed a few things to sell. Setting a price and determining shipping were the hardest for me. I found that eBay searches for the same or similar item are very helpful. I also like the idea of using the flat rate boxes.
I really appreciate the Craig's List tips since I have some furniture I'd like to sell.
A good tip for moms selling used baby/kids gear is jumblzar.com! It's a free marketplace only for moms. It's invitation-only but you can request an invite on the site :)
Thanks for the info! I have so much stuff I don't need. Lots of old/vintage dishes, ceramic pieces, colored glass, I don't even know what to call it, it was all my Mother's mostly. I've learned the hard way that garage and yard sales are exhausting and don't bring in much money. To me they're not worth the effort and time involved, as the people who come expect you to practically give your stuff away. (Maybe because of the area where I live.) Since I'm not knowledgeable about these vintage items it is difficult to list them for sale anywhere. I feel overwhelmed but need to sell things, but not sure what to do. This info is very helpful, and I appreciate it, thanks.
Hi. I was reading these comments and came across yours. I was curious if you still happen to have any of those vintage dishes? Do you happen to have any pyrex? I kind of have an obsession with it and I've passed this obsession along to my mother as well. Sad thing is I can't cook for the life of me. Haha anyway, please let me know. You can email me at robynleegarrison@gmail.com
In my area we have a large, twice-a-year consignment sale called Reruns Are Fun and Homeruns where I sell most of my stuff. There is also one for children's items called Rhea Lana's. Your area may have one that you just haven't heard about.
Nancy, one tip I've seen is to search on ebay for the item you want to sell, look at the Sold listings for it or similar items, then calculate an average price based on the last 5 that sold. That gives you at least a ballpark sense of what the price should be. And other sellers listings are often very educational, regarding item makers, history, etc.
Take it just one step at a time - what's the ugliest, least-favorite among the items you want to sell ( or the bulkiest, hardest to clean, most in the way). Then research just that one item to start with.
Good luck!
hello does anyone sell coupons im interested if you do please call me. I have a homelss shelter we need coupons lots please 252 259 6076 tina
It's actually illegal to sell coupons in the U.S. , unfortunately. However, I'll bet that if you give Ruth your info, she might include it in her blog so people can send you their extra coupons.