5 Tips for Selling Your Stuff Online
5 Tips for Selling Your Stuff Online | How To Do This
I have been buying and selling my stuff online since 2012. There are lots of different websites to buy/sell and there are lots of ways to do it to make sure you get what you are looking for. Today I want to share my experiences of selling my stuff online so you can find it all in one place.
Once you have decided where to sell your items, set up an account and get settled in. You will be messaging people and shipping items out so you will need to have the time to do this.
5 Tips for Selling Your Stuff Online | Know Where to Sell
When you are going to sell your items online, you need to decide where you will sell them. There are a lot of options, so it can be hard to decide where to start. Most sites won't let you sell for free. There are some exceptions - Facebook Marketplace & Craigs' List - but for the most part, selling sites will take a cut of the final price of what you sell. Each site is different so be sure you know what you are getting into before you start selling. There are pros and cons to each site and I have listed some of them below:
Etsy
Selling Fees: $0.20 listing fee per item, 3.5% final value fee
Pros: big community, lots of advice & articles, branding available
Cons: expensive, hard to be discovered, must ship items, must be handmade or vintage
Ebay
Selling Fees: $0 listing fee, 10% final value fee
Pros: Easy to sell, easily discovered, auction or fixed price options, messaging system
Cons: must ship items, auction option
Facebook Marketplace
Selling Fees: no charge
Pros: free, local, you can choose if you want to ship or not, messaging system
Cons: free, messaging system, people think it is a yard sale
Poshmark
Selling Fees: For sales under $15, $2.95. For sales over $15, 20% final value fee
Pros: Big community, can join sales
Cons: expensive, lots of items for sale, must ship items
Craigs' List
Selling Fees: no charge
Pros: free, local, no shipping costs
Cons: can be sketchy
5 Tips for Selling Your Stuff Online | Take Good Pictures
This is critical. So many people don't take the time to take good pictures of the items they are selling, and their items don't end up selling. Buyers want to see what they are getting and since they are shopping online, they want as many pictures as possible. If your item is used and there are marks or wear & tear, be sure to show it in the pictures. This will save you a lot of time in the long run. If you choose to skip detailed pictures, you will be answering the same questions from potential buyers. So save yourself the time and take good pictures.
What is a "good picture" you ask? Try to take the pictures in natural lighting, without shadows on the item. If you can, have a neutral or solid backdrop. You want to make your item the focal point of the picture. Get pictures of the front, back, bottom, inside and any other important areas of your item. This is critical to getting a fast sale at the price you want.
If I am selling an item that I have a picture from blogging or Instagram, I always include that in my post. This allows the buyer to see the item in action, not just as a static item on the internet.
5 Tips for Selling Your Stuff Online | Research Your Item(s)
Are you trying to sell a really rare purse that you can get $500 for or are you selling the plates your grandmother left you that everyone else is trying to sell that are only worth $1 each? You won't know unless you do some research. I like to Google the item I am trying to sell and seeing how many other listings there are for that item and how much they are for. That gives me a ball park for where to price the item and how to list it.
Sometimes, you can't find what you are trying to sell. You don't know the name of it or who makes it. Luckily, Google has a tool called Reverse Image Search that allows you to upload an image of the item and Google will then search for similar images. I find this really helpful when I can't find exactly what I am trying to sell.
5 Tips for Selling Your Stuff Online | Be Specific As Possible
You have taken pictures and you have researched your item, now it is time for a good description. You need to provide as many details as possible. Usage, any damage, measurements, colors, additions/accessories. The more information you provide, the less questions your buyers will have and the less they will bother you.
I like to include that my items come from a smoke and pet free home. I bought a purse from eBay once and it was listed with lots of information but said nothing about being from a smoke free home. When it came in the mail, it reeked of smoke. I was furious. Luckily, eBay has a great buyer protection policy and I was able to return the bag and get a refund. But I never would have bought the bag if I knew it was going to smell like smoke.
5 Tips for Selling Your Stuff Online | Know When to Be Flexible and When to Stand Your Ground
People are going to try to negotiate the price with you, no matter what platform you are using. People feel like they can negotiate since they are buying online. Deciding if you are willing to lower the price is up to you. There are times when I have an item that is in excellent condition that I have a hard bottom line of what I will accept. I am willing to wait longer on a sale for someone to pay at the amount I am looking for. Be sure you have already figured out what your lowest number is. That way, when someone asks, you have it ready for them. If they push you on it, you will have already decided on the number and you won't have to feel like you were bullied into selling for less.
Sometimes, you should take the lower offer. If you item has been up for sale for awhile or there are lots of other listings for less than what you are selling the item for, I would suggest taking the lower offer. But, this is up to you at the end of the day.