Even famous people don’t have disdain for second-hand stuff: like the former Australian Prime Minister who shared a picture of his new second-hand refrigerator on his Instagram. But sometimes online trading doesn’t go that well: some people get rid of unnecessary products via the internet really fast and some just can’t sell anything for months. So what is the secret?
We know how to sell unwanted stuff online and wants to share some tips with you.
Unnecessary things that can be easily sold online
- Electronics, video games and computer stuff. Video game consoles that you don’t use, an unnecessary but working phone, CDs with games, and music players are some of the products that people are likely to buy.
- Clothes, shoes, accessories. A dress that you put on just once, shoes that turned out to be uncomfortable. All these things you can sell and partially reimburse the money you spent.
- Toys and other kids’ stuff. This is one of the most popular things on the internet. The reasons are quite simple: kids grow very fast and mothers buy too many clothes that remain in mint condition (some of them have never even been used). Don’t hesitate to sell them.
- Furniture and large appliances. Do you want to refresh your decor or just buy a new refrigerator? You can sell all unnecessary stuff: someone probably wants to furnish a rental property and your offer will be perfect for them.
- Collectibles. People collect lots of different stuff: old books, magazines, CDs. What if one collector is looking for those dusty porcelain figures that live in your attic? Maybe just try.
- Amenities and handmade stuff. Do you bake cakes, paint pictures, or arrange flowers? There are so many websites that can help you to sell your works of art!
How to sell things?
8. Set a reasonable price.
It’s probably the main thing that helps you to sell your item fast. Because people usually filter goods by price and compare your item to other sellers’ items. And it’s the first thing shoppers pay attention to.
Tips:
- Estimate demand. If there are lots of similar offers, this is bad: you probably won’t have a chance to sell your item for a high price. In some cases, you’ll even have to reduce the price.
- Don’t set a price that is 50-60% more than the market price. Second-hand items should cost less than the same item in stores.
- Investigate the case. Analyze prices that other sellers set. Find out the most reasonable price and put yourself in the place of a customer. Would you pay this price for this item? If you wouldn’t, reduce the price.
7. Take good pictures.
Good pictures help us avoid additional questions and give clear descriptions regarding an item’s characteristics. Among similar offers, it’s a high-quality photo that attracts a potential buyer’s attention. Take pictures from different angles. If you sell clothes, take photos of labels and price tags; if you sell appliances, take photos of the warranty card and instructions for use. Be conscientious, don’t hide an item’s drawbacks and you will avoid further discussions with buyers.
Tip:
Have a look at how the thing is presented in a store and follow their good example.
6. Give a proper and thorough description.
After a person reads the description, they decide whether they want to contact you or not. It’s here that you have to involve all your writing talent. The description should be brief but informative. If you forget to write about an item’s characteristics, overall dimensions, and its condition, you could receive many messages because people need to know the specifics about what they’re going to buy.
Tips:
- Don’t mention why you are selling. People aren’t interested in your personal affairs so you may omit this unnecessary information.
- Catchy headlines. Don’t hesitate to use these professional tricks: a bright and short headline will attract people’s attention.
- Format your text. Don’t avoid using paragraphs or bullet points, because it’s easier to read text that is structured well.
- Post one item in different categories. For example, if you sell a dash cam, place it in categories like “Automobiles,” “Photo and video,” “Safety.” This will grow your chances of selling your product.
5. Never hold your items.
People who usually sell stuff online sometimes have people ask them to hold an item until tomorrow, until Monday, and so on. But you have to remember that customers may change their mind: today they want to buy an exercise bike and ask you to hold it, tomorrow they decide they don’t need it.
Time is against you when it comes to online trading. If you find a person that wants to buy your stuff immediately, that’s great. Sell it and don’t feel guilty because you’ve refused to hold your goods.
4. Add a bonus.
We all love gifts. Marketing specialists always use this trick to sell the most unpopular products. A bonus that comes for free increases the value of an item in the customer’s eyes.
Tip:
If you sell a laptop, offer a flash drive or headphones as a present. If you want to get rid of kids’ clothes, add a toy. Don’t forget to mention this in your description in the first lines.
3. Let customers haggle.
Here’s another marketing specialists’ trick: a very low price can cause concern. A person may think that they’re going to buy a defective item or it’s just not that good.
Tip:
Set a higher price than you planned at first and mention in the description that you’re ready to haggle. People who try to save money get interested in these offers even if they’ve never thought of buying this item. Reduce your price and everyone will be happy.
2. Consider all postal expenses.
The internet connects people from all over the world and international trading is rather popular nowadays. Think about all shipping issues while putting together an ad. Who will pay for postal charges or courier services? You should discuss this before you make the deal to avoid unpleasant surprises.
1. Follow safety rules.
When it comes to safety, each website usually lets us read their conditions and rules. Don’t ignore this opportunity, follow simple rules, and your deal will probably go smoothly.
Tips:
- Don’t disclose your personal data.
- Have a special bank card to sell and buy goods online.
- If you meet buyers, meet them in public places or take your friends with you. Don’t invite strangers to your home.
- If you sell digital and mobile devices, take a photo of the serial number. People often replace items that they’ve bought with defective ones and try to return them to sellers. As a result, a seller loses money and their item.
Used goods that we shouldn’t buy online:
- Digital cameras with video function. Video mode heats the matrix and reduces its durability. It’s really hard to recognize this damage so we recommend you to avoid these purchases.
- A hard disk drive. It’s a really fragile item: even a minor hit can affect it.
- Bicycle and motorcycle helmets, infant car seats. These items that are responsible for our life and health may fail to comply with safety standards because of improper use in the past. Don’t try to save money on your safety.
- Plasma displays. Phosphorus contained in the fluorescent coating of each plasma display panel’s pixel is prone to the burn-in effect.
- Car tires and wheels. It’s dangerous to buy them because you never know how these items were used in the past.
- Vacuum cleaners. Vacuum cleaners are high-power home appliances that are used often but not quite carefully. The most expensive detail is its motor, which usually breaks down first and is very expensive to repair.
