When I grew up, there was no such thing as throwing things out or getting rid of stuff. We always found a way to accumulate and keep stuff over the years whether we use it or not. Clothes were often worn until they were either worn out or didn’t fit in which case we would pass it off to other family members. The motto with stuff was that we should keep it because we may need it in the future. The issue is that we ended up having so many things that we never used and most likely will never use. Perhaps you may resonate, but whether you are moving and trying to get rid of stuff or have become a minimalist, we often find things that we don’t need that we can sell. If you ever find yourself in this scenario, I’ve listed out 5 of the most popular ways to sell your stuff.
1. Facebook Marketplace
In 2016, Facebook introduced Marketplace that allows you to buy and sell your items online. Marketplace quickly became a popular user-friendly platform that allows you to view the seller’s profile and use the messenger app to communicate with the seller. Facebook boasts roughly 2.9 Billion users and is available in over 70 countries. Users are able to take advantage of the platform’s shipping capabilities where you can determine who pays for the shipping cost. Depending on your preference, shipping can either be paid for by the buyer, Facebook, or you as the seller. On the flip side, if you are selling locally, there are no selling fees on Facebook. Overall, if you already have a Facebook account, Marketplace’s lower overhead costs and user-friendly platform make it a great and easy option to sell your unwanted stuff.
2. OfferUp
Launched in 2011 as a rival to Craigslist, OfferUp is a mobile app platform that emphasizes in-person transactions. The OfferUp app is available for iOS, Android, and web users to buy and sell used goods. The app has a host of features including positive review attributes, average response time, trusted connections, and verification badges. OfferUp is unique because of their built in Make an Offer feature. It is free to post and sell items locally, but sellers are required to pay a service fee when shipped items are sold. The fee is either a minimum of $1.99 or 12.9% of the sale price. The app also includes a messaging feature that allows buyers and sellers to communicate without giving up personal information. OfferUp’s reach further expanded when they raised $120 Million to acquire LetGo. Together, the Company has more than 20 Million monthly active users across the U.S. and allow users more capabilities.
3. Poshmark
Founded by Manish Chandra in 2011, Poshmark is an e-commerce marketplace where users in the United States, Canada, and Australia are able to buy and sell new or used clothes, shoes, and accessories. Poshmark is a public Company with a valuation of over $3 Billion based in Redwood City, California. The platform reports more than 40 million users of which 5 million are sellers. Poshmark differentiates itself through their moderation of returns and return policy where buyers must prove their case with pictures. Another unique feature is the streamlined purchase and shipping process where items sold on Poshmark receive a shipping label that allows sellers to easily attach to their packages and ship to the buyer. Poshmark charges a flat rate of $7.45 for expedited shipping on all orders which is paid by the buyer. The apps end-to-end user features for both the buyer and seller make the platform an excellent option to sell your used apparel. Though Poshmark is known as a platform used to sell clothing, as of February 2021, users are able to buy and sell pet accessories and supplies.
4. Ebay
As an established American multinational e-commerce corporation founded in 1995, Ebay has grown to a multibillion dollar company present in over 30 countries. Ebay is known for their auction style sales, but has evolved as a marketplace where users can immediately buy items online. There are roughly 187 million eBay users worldwide with over 1.7 Billion listings. The eBay app is used by roughly 35% of all U.S. mobile users. The website is free for buyers to use, but sellers are charged an insertion fee when you create a listing and a final value fee when your item sells. As a seller, you have the ability to pass on the shipping costs to the buyer by increasing the price of the item or paying for shipping. As one of the most well-established Companies with Paypal as one their subsidiaries and a worldwide network, eBay is not only a great option to sell your stuff, but a way to grow and scale your own online store.
5. Craigslist
An email distribution list in 1995 that quickly became a web-based service that expanded into other categories and is now available in over 70 countries. Craigslist is by far one of the first ways to sell your stuff online and is known as a platform to advertise products or services via online classified advertisement. Craigslist postings are free except for job postings, apartment rentals, and commercial real estate. The benefit of selling on Craigslist is the wide audience that sellers can reach on top of the free cost to list and sell items. Although, Craigslist offers a no-frills approach to selling, it’s easy to use platform for both buyers and sellers still attract many people to the site to this day.
We can sometimes find ourselves in situations where we have accumulated so much stuff to the point where we need to get rid of it. Getting rid of your stuff for many can be difficult as it may hold some sort of sentimental value, but once you’ve gotten past holding onto material things, you may want to make or at least get some value for the things you are letting go. In this case, you may find that your overall peace of mind as well as your financial status can improve when you sell your unwanted items. Whether it may be selling your stuff before moving out or selling your childhood toys, I’ve listed 5 ways to capitalize on your unwanted items.
