Planning to move or want to make more room in your house? There are probably many items you have that someone somewhere nearby might be looking for at a cheap price. Instead of throwing your things away or taking them with you, why not just sell them online for quick cash?
Selling your old stuff can be a great way to boost your liquidity in the short term. Although many question the safety of online marketplaces. So here are 10 of the best and safest websites to sell stuff locally, without any hassles.
How To Sell Your Old Stuff Online
There are several websites, apps, and social media platforms that let you sell your old stuff online. Some websites, however, are only for registered businesses or vendors. Some may require you to post your credentials or other personal details depending on what you’re selling.
Before you list anything on such sites, you will need to set up a seller’s profile or an account and provide additional details about yourself such as your address and contact information. Once your account is verified, all you have to do is click pictures of the things you want to sell, including a list price and description with details such as age, condition, warranty, etc.
These sites are easy to use and the process is often seamless as long as you follow the average market price for what you’re selling.
8 Websites To Sell Stuff Locally
#1. Facebook Marketplace
Depending on where you’re from, Facebook has multiple buyer/seller groups classified by towns, university campuses, neighborhoods, or even streets. It’s the best marketplace to find people living nearby who might want to buy your stuff.
Every group will likely have its own set of policies for how to list your items and provide correct information. Your things then get posted on the group’s homepage that everyone can access.
It’s free of cost and a safe way to sell your things because you can communicate with your buyers entirely through Facebook and check their background before the meeting.
#2. Craigslist
Image source: Losangeles.craigslist.org
Craigslist is one of North America’s oldest and most popular classified advertisements websites. It has a section for jobs, services wanted, local gigs, community service, property sales, and unwanted items. You can buy almost anything on Craigslist these days.
It’s free of cost, and the design of the website is pretty easy to navigate. Its anonymity also makes it safe to use, although that can make some potential buyers hesitant from using it. Be sure to read the safety section provided by Craiglist. It contains a lot of useful tips on how to list your items and make local transactional meetings.
#3. Nextdoor
Image source: Nextdoor.com
Nextdoor is like Facebook but for neighborhoods. It’s for people who want to keep their social world small. Nextdoor has moderated “For Sale” and “Free Finds” sections that let you list any item you want for sale and connect you to nearby buyers.
There’s also a forum to encourage open communication between users to share their experiences and reviews. It’s a relatively safe site to use for your listings and has a very user-friendly design.
#4. Varagesale
Image source: Varagesale.com
The name “Varagesale” is a play on the world garage sale. It’s an easy-to-use classifieds app that tries to emulate the family-friendliness of garage sales. Before the internet, a garage sale was typically where you’d go to buy something useful at a cheap price.
Varagesale is free of cost, and it only takes seconds to list your items and start finding interested buyers. It’s commonly used to sell items like electronics, furniture, household items, jewels, clothing, apparel, and baby gear. If you’re looking for a safe and straightforward way to get rid of your things, do it on Varagesale.
#5. Offerup (Formerly Letgo)
Image source: Offerup.com
Offerup, formerly named Letgo, is a customer-to-customer-only online marketplace that emphasizes in-person transactions. It’s not as popular as Craigslist but has over 85 million downloads in North America, so it’s a safe and legitimate way to buy or sell items.
You can check the user ratings and history of people you want to make a transaction with before you trade with them. Posting and browsing items are completely free, although you have to pay a fee if your transactions involve shipping.
#6. Poshmark
Image source: Poshmark.com
Poshmark is arguably the best platform for buying and selling used clothes. It’s mainly geared towards mainstream fashion, so there are lots of options to choose from. The selections on Poshmark are wider than your average shopping mall.
However, Poshmark does charge a marketplace commission on every item you sell. The rate of commission is 20% and is charged on every item you sell for over USD 15. You don’t have to conduct transactions in person; Poshmark handles the shipping for you. The delivery charge is levied on the buyer. Poshmark is 100% safe and legitimate.
#7. eBay
Image source: eBay.com
eBay is one of the oldest online marketplaces for buying and selling items. It lets you auction your goods so that you can find the best bidder. It’s used by over 187 million people worldwide and hosts a vast range of product categories.
However, eBay is not free. It has a similar marketplace fee structure to Amazon. For most items, eBay charges 10% on the sale, including shipping. To attract customers, you may need to promote your listings with some of eBay’s additional visibility boosting services.
#8. Vinted
Image source: Vinted.co.uk
Vinted, like Poshmark, is an online marketplace made for buying and selling second-hand clothing and accessories. It’s very easy to use and has an online community that lets users discuss and share their experiences.
The user interface is easy to use for listing your item. Vinted makes a sale every 49 seconds, so don’t underestimate the response time.
Quick Tips for Selling Stuff Locally Online
#1. List your items on multiple platforms so they reach a wider audience. This will help you find your highest bidder.
#2. Try to set your price as close to the average market price for your item as possible to increase your response rate.
#3. Write a good, engaging-to-read copy in the description section.
#4. Be professional when communicating with other buyers and sellers.
#5. Take pictures from more than just one angle and try to present your item in its entirety. The aim is to gain your buyer’s trust.
#6. Remember to ask for reviews from people you’ve made transactions with to boost your profile. This will help you get buyers faster in the long term.
How To Be Safe When Selling Your Stuff Online
#1. Check the reviews, user profile, and/or background of the person you are transacting with.
#2. If you’re setting up a transaction meeting, always do it in public spaces and during the day. Bring a friend or someone you trust with you.
#3. Do not disclose any personal information like your social media, other contact details, or address when you don’t have to.
#4. Trust your gut if it’s telling you not to sell to someone. If anything about the buyer raises a red flag, don’t sell to them.
#5. If it’s a high-priced transaction, try to get online payment instead of cash and issue a receipt to confirm payment.