It’s time to spring clean, but instead of trashing your unwanted items—why not sell them?
A few basic tricks of the trade could make a big difference in how much money you get for your used item – that have nothing to do with the item itself – but instead on how and where you list it for sale. This article is all about online sales.
Pick the right platform
A heavy and hard to pack basketball hoop, large piece of furniture is ideal on Facebook marketplace where a local can pick it up, while your name brand shoes may sell for a higher price on Poshmark, rather than bidding sites like e-bay and craigslist.
- Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist: Furniture, vehicles, home décor, bicycles, electronics items that would be expensive to ship.
- Poshmark/Mercari: Name brand clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry
- Ebay: Collectibles, Collectible Sets, Memorabilia, large lots of similar items, clothing, or brand names
- Etsy: Artisan or handmade items
Give your item it's very best shot
First impressions are everything – especially when there is money involved. If you are looking for a serious relationship, you wouldn’t slap together a sketchy dating profile of yourself with bad photos and little details right? Listing items for sale online takes a little thought. You have to put your best assets out there and really help them shine.
Great photos are key! 75% of online shoppers said they rely on product photos when deciding on a potential purpose. Include several high-quality photos of the item from different angles, taken in natural light with the light source directly on the item (not behind), filter free and in an area that is clean and clutter free.
Many online buyers reported passing on purchasing an item because the description is too vague.
The more details, the better, as long as they are relevant. Short, clear details that ACCURATELY describe the condition, age, size (measurements go a long way), material content etc. can make a big difference.
Know your fees
The one major downside to selling online is that most online shopping platforms will charge you a fee for using their service. In my experience, it’s worth it.
While you may earn 100 percent of what you get on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram (unless you use PayPal which can sometimes charge you a fee), Etsy charges 20 cents for each item listed, Depop charges a 10% fee for each item you sell, Poshmark charges $2.95 or 20% on any item over $15 dollars, and Offer-up charges a minimum of a $1.99, or 12.9% of the sale price.
Pick your fee poison, but don’t get discouraged! Once you get comfortable and make your first sale, the effort is worth it!