Where to sell your stuff online or even give away free

By Imogen Murphy
 
2/6/20

So you want to sell your stuff? Online seems a good way. Even if you want to sell locally an online platform can be a great way to reach lots of people.

Does it matter which site you use?

The simple answer is yes.

 

Where you list your item and how you describe it makes a difference to the price to get for it and even if it will sell at all.

If you want to know the common mistakes people make when listing their belongings to sell – see my blog link further down the page.

Selling sites

Ebay

Sell and buy most categories of goods from clothes to cars. Electronics and accessories are the most sold items on here. Seller fees 10% of an item sold value. Additional cost options available e.g 4% extra to have a reserve price on the item. Add on Paypal fee of 3% if you use this, other options available. I normally estimate fees 14% in total including Paypal. eBay fee calculator available www.ebayfeescalculator.com. Refund policy and funds held until goods received. A dedicated dispute resolution. A bit buyer-centric so make sure you protect yourself with a good descripton. App easy to use. Desktop version available. Some restrictions on brand words you can use in the description as e.g Velcro. Will auto re-list if the item doesn’t sell. Max 12 photos. Max 40 listings a month.

Gumtree

Sell and buy most categories of goods from clothes to cars even find jobs on here. Less audience reach than eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Typically lower £ offers than eBay. Free to list but optional fees to promote your items. I often find items on Gumtree that are not well presented this a great chance for a bargain if you are buying. So make sure your photos and description are up to scratch. App easy to use but not as good as eBay. Desktop version available. No dispute resolution. No restrictions on brand names or descriptions. Max 8 photos.

Shpock

Really growing in popularity. Sell and buy most categories of goods from clothes to cars. Free to list but optional fees to promote your items. Funds held before goods received.

Vinted

Sell and buy clothes, shoes and accessories. Free to list but optional fees to promote item up to 19%. Buyers pay a fee. Refund policy.

Pre-loved

Sell and buy most categories of goods from clothes to cars. Even find jobs on here. Focus is on used or secondhand items where other sites have new stuff too. Free to list but optional fees to promote your items. Upgrade your account to get unlimited items listed and unlimited photos.

ASOS Marketplace

Sell and buy new, pre-owned and vintage clothes. Popular selling platform for the vintage clothing market. You must create a boutique at £20 per month plus a 20% commission. Operating on a monthly basis so can cancel when you like.

Depop

Sell and buy clothes, shoes and accessories. Aimed at the young and trendy, this platform is growing fast. Designer, preloved, vintage and streetwear. High-end online platform. 10% fee on total transaction amount (including shipping).

Rebelle

Authenticated designer clothes is Rebelles target market for buying and selling. High-end online platform. 17-33% or £20 commission depending on price of item sold.

Etsy

To sell homemade craft and homewares with some vintage items. Listing fee and 5% transaction fee + £0.20 transaction fee. High prices commanded due to the audience drawn to the items and overall look of website.

Music Magpie

A broker who buys your CDs, DVDs, Games and Books. Easy to use app and barcode scanning system. Typically get between 30p and £5 for each item. They send you packaging and you send off the stuff. For the profit vs effort I usually don’t bother but pass on to a charity shop for someone else to enjoy. Amazon is another option for selling books but do a little research to see what your book is really worth.

 

“How much you sell your items for will depend on how you describe and photograph it. It often makes the difference between it selling or not at all. For the top 5 most common mistakes I see people make when selling online” – read my blog

Locally focused selling and 'for free' sites

Considering if the profit you will make from selling an item outweighs the hassle and cost of selling. Picturing your item well-loved in a new home will help you consider the pass in on for free idea. Here are some sites you can use, which also have paid for options too.

Facebook Market

Sell and buy most categories of goods from clothes to cars. No fees. Typically lower £ offers than eBay. App easy to use. Desktop version available. Variable restrictions on brand names or descriptions. Max 10 photos. You can post items on Individual Facebook groups to sell but opens you up to have a public discussion over item. Allowed 5 relist option for an item.

Facebook Group

 You can post items on Individual Facebook groups to sell but opens you up to have a public discussion over an item. It gives you more options to advertise your item on a specialised group. Often local pick ups.

Next Door

Free community app and desktop site. Based on your postcode. Options to post in your very local area (a few streets from your house) or out to about 3 miles. Used for anything from finding lost cats, asking for trade recommendations but also buying, selling and for free items. Typically low-cost items sold like furniture or home items. Collection only. I use this a lot to re-home items for free. Occasionally I’ve asked for donations to charities for free items. If you are selling make sure description and photos appealing and clear. 

Freecycle

Freecycle aims to keep items out of landfills by providing an internet listings service to help people give unwanted items to someone else for free in their own community.  It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free. Freecycle groups operate in specific towns or areas. Can post items you want as well as those you giving away for free. Basic platform and search function. No photos. Collection only.

Swishing

Pre-lockown swapping party for clothes, shoes and accessories.  “You might bring one sweater and take two pairs of shoes, or hang a party frock on the ‘Swishing Rail’ and take a pair of skinny jeans and feather boa”. Time will tell how the develops as social distancing eases.

Your front door

The old fashioned but reviving art of putting items outside your door with a ‘free, help yourself’ sign. Saves landfill waste and easy to do. Less reach than using Freecycle or Next Door.

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