How much can I get for this?
When I’m working with a client, this is a question that often comes up. They are fingering an item that cost a chunk o change and they would like to recoup some of that cost instead of just donating the item.
I get it! Over the years I have sold a LOT of stuff via Craigslist, radio shows (remember those? Dial a Deal and Tradeo were a few I remember), bargain shopper papers, and more recently, Facebook Marketplace.
I’ve also played around with newer players in the resale game like LetGo and OfferUp. And then there’s eBay of course. I had an eBay store at one time. I even sold stuff on behalf of organizing clients.
But lately? Meh. Not so much anymore. And this is why.
With the availability of SO much for SO little, you will be lucky to recoup one tenth of the price you paid. I.e., that $600 bookcase might fetch $60. Your designer clothes that have been barely worn – well, you could try to sell on CL but what are the chances of connecting with a local buyer who wears your size and likes your style? You could try ThreadUp for clothes but again, you’re going to get a very small percentage back.
Here are more reasons why I don’t encourage selling stuff when you are uncluttering.
The time sink is significant. You need to take pictures, post and then field the calls and the contacts from people….and many of those people are ANNOYING. (Eg., “I know you’re asking $100 for your washer but would you take $25 and btw – I need to you deliver it too.”)
On social media, people will reply to your post with an “Interested” reply….and then you don’t know what the hell to do when a fight breaks out with other “interested” people. I’m serious. It’s ridiculous. And unless you do this regularly and have a system figured out, this is a royal pain in the patootie.
You must keep safety top of mind. Always. This means if you are selling a sofa or some other bulky item, you need to ensure that you’re not inviting an axe murderer into your place.
Selling on eBay and other online venues require a LOT more work with shipping, communicating with buyers and minding the fine print that can sneak up and consume your profits. Not to mention, these platforms favor the buyer more than the seller. So, if that buyer claims the item was broken, when it wasn’t, you are the one who’s going to eat it.
What about doing a garage sale? Sure! Just realize the folks shopping those are looking for rock bottom prices. And, they are a helluva amount of work. I enjoy doing garage sales with friends. There’s more pulling power and to me it’s also a social event – not just to make money. If I’m looking for a money maker, I’d be better off working at a minimum wage job when you consider how much time you can pour into doing a decent garage sale.
To sell or not to sell is a very personal topic but these are a few of the reasons why I’m not so hot on selling anymore. And of course, there are ALWAYS exceptions where people are happy with their sales.
I’d rather see people get the clutter out of their house and not have yet another pile of stuff to deal with.
