Best places to sell used stuff online

Around your household there are literally thousands of dollars worth of items that are simply collecting dust. What if you could clear up some free space and make some money while doing it? With all your unwanted items gone and money in your pocket, you’ll be able to do the things you love like vacations, spending time with family or finally buying that item you’ve been anxiously waiting for.

Selling your stuff online has become easier than ever with the help of websites like eBay, Amazon and many other marketplaces. Using the websites detailed in this article, you will be able to sell your unwanted items online for a nice profit.

So what do you say, want to know where you can sell your items online without the headaches? Read on to find out.

1. eBay

eBay is the largest auction websites on the web. Started back in the early 90s, eBay quickly rose as one of the best places to sell items online. You name it and it’s virtually guaranteed that there will be a buyer willing to bid on your used stuff.

The best use for eBay are items which have higher value or are collectible because of the listing fees. Don’t let the fee scare you away from using this amazing auction house; eBay will help you find a great deal on all your items – you can even use it for research!

Listing on eBay is relatively quick and easy using the built in auction tools. If you’re feeling particularly edgy, you can even use eBay as a side business – once you have the experience, think of how many other neighbors would like to get in on the action!

2. Amazon

Amazon is the Goliath of eCommerce. Chances are, if you’re a regular web user, you’ve bought an item on Amazon or at least visited the site at some point. But did you know you can use the Amazon marketplace to sell your own items?

There are two options if you plan to use Amazon to sell your used stuff:

- A free listing using others’ pictures, descriptions and shipping prices

- A paid version where you can edit each section

Amazon, from personal experience, has been quite amazing for selling off a variety of items such as electronics, books and so much more. The one click ‘sell yours here’ guides you through the listing process – it literally takes less than a minute to get your used items online and primed to sell.

3. Craigslist

The classified section in the back of your local newspaper may be nice to occasionally sell an item or two but to really step up your ability to make some money selling your used items you should turn to Craigslist.

Craigslist is the largest classifieds ad website in the world with millions of items listed daily. You can use Craigslist to drill down to your local area and place your items up for sale or go large and offer your items to other states!

Craigslist is quick and easy to setup and begin selling your used items. Register for an account, take a picture (preferably), write an accurate description, add contact details and hit publish – then, just sit back and wait for the emails to roll in.

One tip though, there are many people, just like any website, that want to scam you for your used items. Make sure you are able to easily contact the potential buyer, setup a safe meeting and finish your trade.

4. Facebook

When you’re done playing Farmville, check out the marketplace section of Facebook. Yes, Facebook actually has a marketplace where people list items to sell – how cool is that!

You name it and people are selling it on the Facebook marketplace. If you already have a Facebook account, listing your items is as easy as writing a title, adding a description, contact details and any other supporting information. There’s no need to sign up since you’re already part of the social network.

One additional feature of the Facebook marketplace, since it’s integrated within the social network, is the ability to publish your items on yours and others walls. There may be people just around the corner that are looking for that exact item – make the sale and get rid of that used item!

5. Your Own eCommerce Site

Have a ton of used items that you want to sell online? It may be a stretch but you could always setup your own online store! This option of setting up your own online store is perfect for those that plan to have an estate sale – think big with this one.

Yahoo Small Business offers a complete package to get you up and running with your own online store. You’re provided with all the tools you need to create the design, list your items and begin making money selling your used items.

Shopify is another quick and easy way to setup your own online store. Built into the service are tools to create your own store.

3 Quick Tips Before You Go

Now that you know some of the places you can sell your used items online, you may be wondering what are some tips and tricks to get started and how to find the best deals for your items.

1. Using the same marketplaces, such as eBay, Amazon and Facebook, take a look through similar listings for items you plan to sell. Compare the prices and determine a happy medium which others will be willing to pay.

2. Always be safe whenever you sell your items online. If possible, get in contact with the buyer to verify addresses and payments before you send off any item.

3. Don’t forget to factor in shipping charges. You can find plenty of boxes from local shops for free or pick up a few from your local post office. Consider the shipping as part of the overall price – finding the perfect balance can greatly increase your chance when selling your used items.

Throughout this article, you learned about five different places you can sell your used items online. The important part is taking action; choose one and test it out, see if selling online works for you. Once you become accustomed to selling items online, go for it all and clear up all those used items that have been sitting around collecting dust.

August 9, 2010
source: helium.com