Decluttering = Money
Decluttering has given rise to recommerce or the resale of pre-loved, previously owned, or second-hand goods. The growing demand for this type of goods has paved the way for many buy & sell or marketplace applications.
Recommerce Report, published by eBay in March 2021, claimed that roughly 85% of users from the U.S. had sold pre-loved or second-hand items on eBay, which they have found inside their respective homes. The same Report further revealed that, on average, 36 items in every American household could be put up for resale, the total of which is valued at around $3,675 – a staggering value of money that will go back to the system.
In the U.S., 72% of eBay sellers said that they began selling pre-loved, pre-owned, or second-hand goods to generate the much-needed extra cash.
Who (Which) is the Fairest of Them All?
The main challenge for any would-be online seller lies in how you start selling your items online. What selling platforms are available to you, and how do you make a sale? Which Selling App can provide you with the best valuation of your item up for sale?
Many applications allow sellers, whether experienced or newbie, to offer their merchandise to prospective buyers. The key is to determine which apps allow you to gain maximum yield or profit. Your goal is to achieve a win-win situation for the buyer and seller.
As an online seller, you only need to conduct an online search, and you can choose from several apps to sell stuff. You will also find several websites to sell stuff locally. The options are limitless with the emergence of several selling platforms. Find the app that matches your requirements.
Best Apps to Sell Stuff
Listed below are the best and widely used selling apps known for their ability to sell stuff quickly. The listed apps are not ranked in any order.
Launched on October 3, 2016, Facebook Marketplace is an innovative feature of Facebook offering a digital or virtual marketplace where individuals can look for, buy, sell or trade items with other persons within their area or locality.
How It Works
A major advantage of Facebook Marketplace is the ease on how to get started. First, search the Marketplace icon, which appears like a little shop, on your Facebook page to see the photos of items posted by people near you that are up for sale.
Second, take a photo of the stuff you want to sell or upload the image from your gallery if you already have it there. Add the product name and a description and set its selling price. Confirm your location and choose the item category before posting it. Wait for messages from interested buyers.
To help you price your stuff, use the search icon on the screen to find similar items up for sale. Deliveries and payments of the sold items will depend solely on the agreement between the buyer and the seller.
Pros and Cons
Aside from the ease in posting your items, the products on sale can either be brand new or second-hand, making the app useful for your decluttering mission. Be sure to indicate if the item is new or second-hand/ pre-loved in the product description, so that prospective buyers know what they are looking at.
You can also choose whether to have a farther reach or limit your sales to just within your locality to avoid high delivery fees.
There are no listing and selling fees involved. However, if you opt to set up a “shop” and utilize the checkout, there is a 5% charge per shipment or $0.40 for items $8.00 or less.
The app does not vet either the buyers or the sellers, which means the purchases are not protected. All transactions are strictly between the parties involved. Each party should observe proper safety measures when exchanging products face to face.
The Popularity of Facebook and Facebook Marketplace
According to the data published by the Statistical Research Department on August 23, 2021, there were 297.14 million Facebook users in 2020 in the United States, which is projected to increase to 302.28 million in 2021.
Based on the growth figures, you may assume that the popularity of Facebook Marketplace as a tool in quickly selling stuff will follow the same upward trend.
Decluttr, the trading name used by Entertainment Magpie, Inc., is based in Kennesaw, Georgia, and has been in business for over four years. It can be considered as one of the best apps available to sell your used electronics (mobile phones, iPads, Kindle, Tablet), old techs (DVDs, C.D.s, Blu-rays, video games, and consoles), and media items (LEGO toys, textbooks, children’s book and recycle books).
Decluttr is among the best apps to sell your stuff since it caters to new and old technologies. If you want to sell your electronic stuff, specifically your mobile phone, Decluttr is your go-to app. The phone brands it accepts for buying include Apple, Blackberry, Google, HTC, L.G., Motorola, Nokia, OnePlus, Samsung and Sony.
How It Works
Selling your stuff in Decluttr can be done in 3 easy steps:
- Secure an instant evaluation of your item for free – a price will be pegged after you enter the unit/model and condition of your phone or other tech devices; or the barcode of your DVDs, C.D.s, or games.
- Pack your item and wait for the Welcome Pack with the FREE shipping label.
- Ship your box for free and wait for your payment.
Pros and Cons
As its name indicates, Decluttr allows you to weed out unwanted items at home and get paid for these items. More importantly, Decluttr is free to use, so there is no reason why you should not use it.
For those who have tried this app, the resale value of the sold stuff might not be worth the effort. There were also claims of mix-ups in their warehouse system, which their customer service has addressed.
BuybackBoss, founded on July 1, 2012, is located in Tempe, Arizona. It is primarily a website that buys or trades used devices, particularly iPhones and Samsung phones. It also accepts other devices like Apple Watch, Google Pixel, iMac, iPad, and iPod.
How It Works
BuybackBoss follows the same steps as Decluttr:
- Request for a quote by providing answers about the item you want to sell. In less than 30 seconds, you will get an instant offer,
- Ship your phone for free with the use of a shipping label; and
- Receive your payment via Paypal or check after the sold item has been tested.
BuybackBoss is a convenient app for selling old phones or used cell phones. You can even bundle different devices to receive a bigger payout.
Pros and Cons
BuybackBoss makes transactions easy given its user-friendly interface and its highest-price guarantee. This guarantee provides that if you receive a higher/ better offer from another website, BuybackBoss will try to match the offer after you have provided adequate proof of your claim. BuybackBoss does not charge any fee as it even pays for the shipping cost of your item.
BuybackBoss only has a website for all its transactions as there is no app available to the market to date. As mentioned, the site is quite easy to use and navigate.
Poshmark began in 2011, selling mostly second-hand women’s wardrobes, which included clothes, accessories, and shoes. Later, it expanded its coverage to include men’s wear, children’s wear, beauty products, handbags, jewelry pieces, make-up, and pet items.
How It Works
If you are a seller in Poshmark, you have to upload the photo to your closet, share it with your network so that prospective buyers can see it, and receive payment once your item has been sold. On its website, Poshmark claims to make one sale for every second in the U.S. Try reading some of the users’ testimonials to know how to sell stuff fast on Poshmark.
Pros and Cons
Poshmark remains one of the top apps to sell clothes despite its product range expanded to include jewelry and make-up. Poshmark allows you to make a fast and profitable sale by imposing no listing fees so that you can try selling as many items for free. Uploading your items is also quite easy. The shipping process is very straightforward, with minimal fees imposed. No returns are allowed after the buyer has accepted an item or lapse of the 3-day acceptance window. Taxes are withheld and remitted on behalf of the seller.
Poshmark tries to help its sellers by promoting discounts on bundles and identifying the reliable sellers on their roster.
One of the major disadvantages of using Poshmark is the high commission rate. For any sale below $15.00, a flat commission rate of $2.95 is deducted. A 20% commission is imposed for those items priced at $15.00 and above. The high rate does not bode well for those sellers offering low-priced items.
Another issue is the shipping costs for small items or those weighing less than one lb., which can be very expensive and burdensome on the seller.
NextDoor, a privately-held, San Francisco-based company, claims to be the Neighborhood Network where neighbors connect. NextDoor is a social networking site where your neighbors can also serve as your prospective customers for the merchandise you are selling.
The platform essentially connects individuals from the same neighborhood and local businesses, sellers, and service providers. According to its Internal Nextdoor Data shown on its website, about 1 in every three households in the U.S. is actively participating in Nextdoor, with 76% of its members being influenced by a recommendation from it.
How It Works
For interested sellers, they can post their personal items on Nextdoor Finds, where you can either sell them or give them away. Just open the app, tap + found at the top of the screen, click Post then Finds, select your item category, add at least one mandatory photo, add a title, set a price, describe your item, click Next, then Post. Afterward, wait for your item to be bought and then close the sale.
Pros and Cons
NextDoor marketplace allows the users to sell things locally online. Your target market is the entire neighborhood where you are based, so making a sale is expected to be easy and fast. Nextdoor Find is also free to use, so you do not have to worry about any charges or fees imposed on your sale.
Nextdoor has received some complaints in the Better Business Bureau, with the forums allegedly filled with trolls and bullies. This information should not discourage you, though, since everyone has a different experience when using such platforms.
OfferUp, established in April 2011, has its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. It claims to be the largest U.S.-based mobile marketplace and is currently one of the top 3 apps in the shopping category. OfferUp is very popular among buyers and sellers, specifically for high-value items.
In 2020, OfferUp expanded its market by acquiring the classified business of letgo.
How It Works
To start selling your stuff, launch the app on your phone. Tap on Selling, tap Post an Item, choose Take Photo or Select Photo, tap Title, provide an item description, set the Price and Location, then tap Post. Now, you just have to wait for a possible buyer to send you an offer for your stuff.
Pros and Cons
OfferUp app is free to use. You can upload your stuff for sale and browse through the offers free of charge. However, shipping and service charges will be applied when a sale is made.
OfferUp offers another avenue for you to unload all the stuff from your personal decluttering. It offers convenience in selling with no listing fee and has one of the highest traffic among the mobile marketplaces with 95% U.S. based.
With the number of sellers using it, making a sale on OfferUp might take some time. Haggling for a lower price is very common when closing on transactions, so you must have the patience for this type of negotiation. Delivery of the product will involve either a shipping fee, which may be costly for bargain items or a face-to-face exchange that may pose personal safety issues.
One of the oldest, widely popular, and best apps to sell your stuff online, eBay was established in 1995 with more than 182 million users engaged in buy and sell.
Sellers are given two options when offering their products:
- Through auction – customers bid on an offered item based on the timeframe and bid price you have set. The highest bidder within the timeframe wins; OR
- Via fixed-price listings or Buy it Now.
Transactions using eBay continue amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. Some of the fastest-selling items are those that protect and promote their physical and mental well-being. Knowing what sells the best on eBay can translate to higher earnings. As more people become tech-savvy, gadgets remain to be the top sellers on eBay.
As a seller, familiarize yourself with how to sell fast on eBay so you can expect a quick turnaround when disposing of any of your items for cash.
How It Works
IYou need to sign up for an account if you want to be an eBay seller. Check your eligibility, ensuring that your country or region is on the list provided by eBay. Once you have registered and verified, you can start selling your stuff by creating a listing.
The eBay platform is easy to navigate. It will assist you on how to create the title for your item, post high-quality photos of your item, select a buying format (auction vs. fixed price), determine the correct price, and save on shipping costs.
Pros and Cons
eBay provides enormous reach for potential customers and accepts a wide range of merchandise or products for sale. You can choose whether to sell your items via auction or fixed price, and several payment options are available. Transactions are strictly monitored.
Choosing whether to auction your item or set a fixed price has its pros and cons.
- Selling via auction is demand-driven; the more buyers interested in your stuff, the higher the price. But this may also work the other way. Some users may bid at the minimum and increase their bids minimally, so as a seller, you may not receive the price you want.
- For the fixed-price format, you may already indicate your selling price without the need for bidding. When a price has been set, and the item is bought, the seller can no longer change your mind. The sale transaction is considered closed once the item is sold.
- The Buy It Now features can apply to both Auction and Fixed Price formats.
Competition is tough, especially for similar items, and fees imposed are on the high side. eBay charges an insertion or listing fee and a final fee when an item is sold. The site and app sometimes encounter glitches, and You may find the customer service support wanting when you encounter issues with your item.
CPlus for Craigslist(IOS, Android)
Craigslist is widely known as a good site to sell many items and offer different services. Hence, the popularity of CPlus for Craigslist is not surprising. It reaches a huge market for your items that are available within the comforts of your home. In recent years, though, Craigslist has been involved in some controversies, which has adversely affected CPlus for Craigslist even though it is a product of YanFlex, a third-party provider licensed by Craigslist.
How It Works
To sell your stuff using CPlus for Craigslist, download the app and go to the platform. It will guide you on how to post or list your items for sale, including the option to post pictures showing your products. As a seller, study and learn how to use CPlus for Craigslist to ensure successful sales.
Pros and Cons
The CPlus for Craigslist is a third-party selling app described as a dedicated, clean, and simple interface. It boasts many loyal followers and enables sellers to list anonymously, and no fees are imposed for the sale of small items.
The downside is that CPlus for Craigslist is a no-frills app, unlike other apps that provide specific posting instructions. Craigslist itself is littered with Internet scammers, so you need to be cautious in making transactions. Smaller items come without any fee, but bigger items will be charged.
In 2012, Facebook acquired the social network platform Instagram, an online application that allows photo-sharing for free. Through Instagram, users are free to upload and edit photos and short videos. Each post can be captioned and made searchable using hashtags (#) and location-based geotags.
From being a platform geared to individuals looking to create their social presence, Instagram has slowly become an effective tool for many businesses and become known for its Instagram marketplace.
How It Works
If you want to be a seller on Instagram, identify the product or target niche you want to penetrate and establish your presence. Proceed on setting up your Instagram account by opening a business account instead of the standard personal one.
If you have an existing standard profile, it is best to convert it to a business profile to access various selling and reporting metrics that you can benefit from when you sell things locally online.
Start creating your own loyal customer base by building your brand and establishing your professional image through engaging and interesting content. Use the appropriate hashtags and partner with known influencers in your area to attract your target customers.
Pros and Cons
Instagram is said to have 1 billion users per month, and this is still expected to grow. Of these total, only 2 million advertisers per month use Instagram, providing opportunities for those who want to tap Instagram as a selling app.
Instagram is free to use, helping small businesses who would like to tap this medium. If you plan to set up an e-commerce store, this will entail some costs, but these will translate into a broader reach.
However, unless you have a very strong online presence, your products will be overshadowed by the activities made by really active users.
5miles is considered a top-rated buy and sell app. It was created and launched in 2014 in Dallas, Texas, as a simple but fun way to participate in a local marketplace. Initially conceptualized to cover transactions within a 5-mile radius, this selling app’s popularity made its current scope beyond its initial range.
5miles can be considered the best app to sell furniture, among other things. It is also a great venue for selling big-ticket items – those major purchases that require serious financial considerations, such as a land vehicle or a house. In 5miles, there are cars, trucks, R.V.s, campers, and trailers, as well as apartments and houses for sale. Considering the various items up for sale, we can assume that 5miles is a reputable and solid selling app since it can accommodate and facilitate big-ticket transactions.
How It Works
To sell your stuff in the 5Miles app, follow three easy and quick steps – first, take a photo of your item, enter a short description and upload it; second, wait for an offer and chat with prospective buyers; and third, receive your payment using 5miles Wallet or meet with your buyer in person.
Pros and Cons
5miles is a selling app that is free to use. It is becoming known for its capability to eliminate serious users’ concerns regarding costly listing fees, bogus listing, possible scams, and a difficult-to-use interface. It remains committed to establishing a trustworthy and efficient buy and sell app.
It is quite popular when selling furniture or big-ticket items since your stuff will be shared with prospective buyers in your area. If a sale within your area is made, it will greatly reduce the shipping cost of these items compared to when the buyer is located too far from the seller’s location.
5miles is still improving in some aspects since there have been cited cases of online harassment among the users and the constant pop-ups of advertisements. The complaints are mostly limited to the platform’s users and not to the performance of the application itself.