If you have items to unload, you could hold a garage sale. But that involves setting aside days to sort and price items, not to mention the time needed to man the sale itself. Then, there is no guarantee that people will show up or buy anything.
A better way to sell off your clutter may be to use one of the many online marketplaces currently available. Of them, eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace tend to be the big three. All these sites have international reach and can be used to sell practically anything.
However, some items sell better than others. Keep reading to learn how to make the most of these sites, as well as some of the best-selling items on them.
Tips for Selling Online
Even the best item may be slow to sell online if it’s not marketed properly.
“While there are few restrictions on any of the platforms in reference to what you can sell, I have found that I use different platforms based on what I’m selling,” says Willow Wright, who owns Urban Redeux, an antique shop in Alexandria, Virginia.
Although Wright’s shop is a brick-and-mortar business, she does sell some items online. “For example, I love to use eBay to sell collectibles as it’s often the first place that collectors will use,” she explains. However, furniture items get listed on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
Here are a few more selling tips to get you started:
— Price items right. If you are going for top dollar, you may need to do some research to value your items. But to make sales quickly, consider pricing goods at or less than half the going rate in stores. If your price is firm, be sure to mention that in the listing.
— Include plenty of pictures. Since people can’t inspect the items for sale personally, include photographs from all angles as well as close-ups of important details or imperfections. Even photographs being sold online need good pictures, according to Doug Ash, founder of Doug Ash Photography. “My top tip for other photographers is to just make sure you upload good quality scans of each print or photograph them in a home setting before listing them online,” he says.
— Use keywords. To attract shoppers, try to envision how someone might search for your product and use those keywords in your listing. For instance, rather than describing an item as a “table,” be more descriptive and add the type of wood or use a more specific term such as “coffee table.”
— List items separately. It’s best to only bundle items that are likely to sell in a group, such as a set of clothing or related toys.
— Weed out window shoppers. Once someone expresses an interest, try to answer questions and make payment arrangements via email instead of in person. This avoids wasting time on tire kickers who are not serious buyers.
— Be honest. In both your listing and your conversations with potential buyers, be clear and honest about the condition of the item. Being upfront can help avoid potential headaches later if the buyer wants a refund or leaves negative feedback.
— Don’t hold items. Using a first-come, first-serve method of selling is often preferable. Buyers can and do back out of sales.
— Ask for a deposit. If you are going to hold an item, ask for a deposit via a payment service such as Venmo to ensure the buyer is serious.
— Complete transactions in public. For safety’s sake, complete in-person sales in a public place such as a police station, church or gas station, whenever possible.
— Conduct online sales in the platform. For online sales, it’s not uncommon for people to message sellers and ask to complete the transaction outside the listing platform. This can be a red flag for a scam, and sellers will lose any protections offered by the platform.
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13 Items to Sell on eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace
While new products can be sold on most online sales platforms, these websites are more commonly used by people seeking affordable secondhand products or searching for rare or vintage pieces.
Products sold on eBay are often shipped to buyers although local pick-up may be offered by some sellers. Meanwhile, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace have typically been used for local sales.
The following are among the best things to sell on eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace:
1. Watches.
2. Glassware.
3. Home goods.
4. Fashion.
5. Pet supplies.
6. Baby items.
7. Yard and specialty tools.
8. Photographs.
9. Vinyl LPs.
10. Video games.
11. Furniture.
12. Collectibles.
13. Vehicles.
Watches
For a while, it seemed as though smartphones, with their ever-present time display, would replace watches entirely. However, don’t count traditional timepieces out for good. As of May 2023, eBay reported watches, watch parts and watch accessories were among their most popular sales categories.
Glassware
Glassware has traditionally been a strong seller online, but we’re not talking about garden-variety kitchenware. Instead, think of vases, figurines and other items from brands such as Lalique, Murano and Baccarat.
If you sell delicate items like this online, be careful to package and ship them properly. “Make sure these are included in the price listed so buyers know exactly how much they’ll need in order to pay upfront,” Ash advises.
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Home Goods
Home goods have also proven popular with online buyers in recent years. Small kitchen appliances are the top seller on eBay in the home and garden category, and those include blenders, air fryers and countertop mixers.
Fashion
Clothing has seen a significant uptick in demand as Gen Z consumers embrace the ideas of sustainability, thrifting and upcycling. More than 80% of young adults say they have shopped or are open to shopping for secondhand apparel, according to the 2023 Resale Report from online consignment store ThredUp.
“Clothing and accessories have a broad audience on these platforms, particularly brand name or designer items in good condition,” says Jack Carrere, co-founder and CEO of software company Prokeep, which specializes in online customer experience. “To maximize the potential for sales on these platforms, it’s important to understand the target market and research the pricing trends.”
Pet Supplies
Pet care products are another popular category. People love their pets and are often willing to spend a great deal of money on them. However, to keep costs down, they may turn to online marketplaces for lightly used pet supplies.
Baby Items
Since kids grow quickly, people are often looking for a deal on baby gear. Larger items such as cribs and strollers can sell quickly and be used by multiple children. However, be aware that car seats have expiration dates which can range from six to 12 years after their manufacture. Once a car seat has expired — or if it was in an accident — it should not be sold.
Yard and Specialty Tools
After years spent at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been renewed attention on home maintenance. Unusual or specialty tools that can’t easily be found locally may sell especially well online.
Photographs
Perhaps surprisingly, online platforms can be a good place to sell original photography. Ash says he has found the “wall art” category in the home décor section of eBay to be an excellent place to reach customers. “I’ve also had commissions from people seeing my work on eBay so you never know the additional opportunities that will present themselves,” he adds.
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Vinyl LPs
While streaming sites such as Spotify and Amazon Music make it easy to listen to virtually any music at any time, some people prefer to have physical copies of albums. Vinyl records made up 71% of all physical format revenues last year, according to the 2022 Year-End Music Industry Revenue Report from the Recording Industry Association of America. Revenue from records has increased for six straight years.
Video Games
What’s old is new, and retro video games and systems are another hot seller. Not all titles are in demand, but some games in good condition can garner hundreds of dollars online.
Furniture
Although you can sell furniture on eBay, this is one category where Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist may be preferable.
“While you can ship larger pieces elsewhere, the cost is often prohibitive to do so,” Wright says. “Additionally, the larger global platforms have listing fees and will take a percentage of the selling price. You can avoid that by selling locally.”
Collectibles
“Collectibles, which include vintage items, toys, and memorabilia often attract niche markets of passionate buyers,” Carrere says. People are willing to pay top dollar for items that will complete their set.
According to the website, eBay’s top collectible categories right now are crystals and mineral specimens, WWII militaria and current militaria.
Vehicles
To find affordable vehicles without high-pressure sales, many people turn to private sales on platforms such as eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. There, they may find a larger selection of cars, trucks and vans, and also be able to avoid dealer fees.
Almost anything can be sold online, but these 13 categories seem to be top-selling items on eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Whichever platform you use, remember to follow the tips above for smooth and safe transactions.
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13 Items That Sell on eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 07/11/23: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
