Everyone has items they no longer need or use and the best way to get the most money for it is online. You can reach much more people than at a garage sale so the prices can be higher. Although consignment shops reach more people and are the easiest way to sell, they take hefty commissions (sometimes 50% or more) which increase over the time it takes for your item to sell. Selling online does take some preparation time but it can be worth it.
If you look back at my previous post "12 Steps to an Organized Life", it details hows to go through your house and find all these unneeded treasures you have laying around. It will not be worth your time to try and sell junk so ensure that your items are in good shape and in the case of clothing, purses, or shoes, they should have a recognizable name brand.
SELLING on EBAY
It will take between 2-3 weeks to get your items out the door.
1. Sort your items by size and go to USPS.com to order a large amount of free flat rate boxes and envelopes. They take about two weeks to arrive so if you need them sooner, visit your local post office. It your items are too big to fit in the flat rate boxes, the shipping price may be too high for online and you may need to sell them locally.
2. If you have a fair amount of clothing to sell, purchase a dress form (www.storesupply.com sells a hanging one for under $9 that will work fine). Clothes look much better on a form and will sell quicker and for more money.
3. Start taking pictures of your items. Make sure they look clean and wrinkle free. Display them on a dress form with a plain background and tuck them in so you can see the shape. Try to take at least 3 pictures of each item: 1 full length, 1 closer highlighting a special detail, and 1 of the tag showing the manufacturer and the size. If there are any imperfections, take a picture and describe those as well. If your phone's camera has good resolution, it can be used, otherwise use a digital camera. Load all pictures on your computer.
4. Know your competition by researching your items on eBay to find out what others are being sold for and to see other descriptions. Make your descriptions exciting but be honest and tell of any imperfections as well.
5. Time your sale so that it will end on a Sunday night (the peak buying time). To do this, list your item on a Sunday and choose a 7 day auction. It can take 10-15 minute to put each item up for sale plan accordingly.
6. When listing your item, in my experience auctions seem to draw in more customers than just a "buy it now" sale. I usually have a very low starting price (.99 to 2.99) as well as a "buy it now" price that is a little above what I think the item is truly worth. This peaks the interest of buyers because they think they are getting a deal with such a low starting price with an actual price tag of much higher. The key is to get them to start bidding. Once you have them, they are hooked! If you have a truly special piece that you simply can't let go under a certain price, it will be worth it to pay the extra money to set a reserve price as well.
7. Be careful when selecting the shipping options. To make shipping costs easy, I always exclude all buyers from outside the continental U.S. State the shipping rate based on the flat rate of the corresponding flat rate box or envelope you are using. Use the smaller one possible. I have successfully shipped blouses and some dresses in the padded envelopes and used boxes with tissue for suits, other dresses, shoes and purses.
8. Use the duplicate item feature to list similar items and save time. Just change out the pictures, description, and price. The category and shipping information should be the same (unless using a different size envelope or box).
9. eBay runs specials on listing all the time and if you haven't set a reserve price, you may be able to list all your items for free. Even if you do have to pay a little to list, you'll make it all back and more when you sell.
10. eBay also offers re-listing specials all the time. If your item did not sell the first week and you have the time, revise it if needed and re-list. If it doesn't go a second time, it's time to donate it.
SELLING on CRAIGSLIST
If your item is too bulky to ship easily, consider selling on Craigslist. You won't have as large an audience as eBay but definitely more of a chance at getting a good price than at a garage sale.
1. As with eBay, the more pictures the better. Check the competition on Craigslist and price accordingly.
2. Be prepared to have a response quickly. If your item is priced correctly it can be gone within minutes, especially if you list on a Saturday or Sunday. Outdoor and sporting items like lawn furniture, boats and accessories, kayaks, surfing and fishing equipment, bikes, and golf clubs usually go fairly quickly especially if sold in season.
3. Fraudulent Buyers:
- Always use the generated email address through Craigslist.
- Only sell to local buyers who will meet you in person and pay cash.
- Never respond to buyers who:
- tell you they not local
- need you to ship an items
- are buying for someone else
- say they will send a shipper to pick it up
- say they will pay through a certified check, bank note, Western Union
- want you to wire funds for any reason
- Never provide your:
- Paypal number
- eBay number
- checking account number for a transfer
- social security number
4. If selling a large ticket item like a car or boat, research as much as possible beforehand to ensure you don't get scammed.
5. Only when you are comfortable with the potential buyer via email (that he is local and willing to pay cash) should you give your meeting address and possibly your cell phone number.
6. Remember that buyers are also checking you out to ensure you are not a scammer. Be upfront and honest about the condition of your item.
7. Safety:
- Either have someone home with you when the buyer arrives or plan to meet in a well-populated parking lot if the item is not too large to transport (still preferably having someone with you).
- If you are lucky enough to be in a gated communities, let the guard know you are expecting a Craigslist buyer and ensure they check and write down his license number. Let the potential buyer know that his ID will be checked.
8. Some items take longer to sell. All your items stay on Craigslist until you take it off, You will be offered the ability to redisplay every few days so you can stay near the top of the list. Lower the price, change the pictures or description as needed. Eventually, you may need to just donate it.
9. When you sell an item, be sure to take it off Craiglist or you may continue to get contacted.
OTHER SELLING SITES
1. Etsy.com - for homemade items
2. Copious.com and Threadflip.com - for used clothing. Uses social media like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Both offer donation to charity.
3. Sell.com - free for the first 30 days.
3. Amazon.com - one of the best places for selling books, but can also sell almost anything else as well.
4. ABEbooks.com - another great place for selling books. Very reputable.
5. CarDaddy.com, AutoTrader,.com, Cars.com, and eBay Motors can all be used to sell vehicles.
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