Would you like to learn how to sell your unwanted stuff online and turn it into cash? Two of the most popular websites to sell things online are Craigslist and eBay. Before you can make money online, you need to learn the basic process and to understand some of the risks.
For your first online selling experience, choose something simple and inexpensive to sell, such as a book, small working appliance or a piece of furniture. Write an effective ad that sells your item quckly. This gets you comfortable with the process of how to sell stuff online and prepares you to sell more expensive items such as autos, boats, pianos or other household goods.
Gather information that creates a good ad
- Spend time doing a little research to help you write a good ad. Check other classified ads for similar items to get an idea of the description and price for an item you want to sell.
- Take at least one good, accurate photo that clearly shows the item. Include close-up views and multiple photos from different angles (front, back, side) if you need to highlight any key features or condition issues (good or bad). Photos taken with a smartphone are adequate.
- Jot down information you will need to describe your item, including the brand/model (or book title, author and publication date), and any other technical or helpful information such as color, size and condition.
How to create an effective online ad
- Scan other posts on Craigslist or listings on eBay for the same or similar items to determine your best description and price.
- Decide ahead of time if you will accept anything in trade, or will take only cash. If you have any restrictions, be sure to keep the tone of your ad friendly.
- Write an accurate, straightforward headline.
- Write a detailed description that includes information about the brand, model, color, size, condition and any other technical or helpful information.
- Include accurate photo(s) that clearly show the item, any relevant details and condition.
Decide whether to sell on Craigslist or eBay
- Craigslist is always localized within 50 miles of where you are selling the item; eBay often involves shipping sold items, which requires that you calculate accurate shipping fees to avoid losing money.
- Registration on Craigslist is optional, registration on eBay is required.
- Craigslist is free to post and free to sell; eBay charges a small fee and requires you to register a payment method such as PayPal or a debit/credit card.
Best things to sell on Craigslist
- Free items that you simply want to get rid of that are old but still usable; for example, sports gear and kids toys.
- Items that you want to get half (or more) of what you paid for them.
- Most furniture.
- Most appliances in working condition.
Best things to sell on eBay
- Items that you want to get half (or more) of what you paid for them.
- Specialty, vintage, unique and collectible items priced at $50 or more.
- High-priced goods and antiques.
- Incomplete sets or collections sold one piece at a time. For example, place settings of good dishes or china make you more money if you sell one plate or bowl at a time on eBay rather than try to sell the whole set to one buyer. Ditto for record collections, multi-volume book sets or any other goods that might be part of a collection.
- For any high-value item you might sell on eBay, also consider calling an auction house, if there is one in your area.
How to get started on Craigslist
Since Craigslist is free, we suggest you start there. To learn about the process, read the Craigslist FAQ and then Craigslist scams.
To post a classified ad, go to Craigslist and click on your city link. On the city page in the upper left-hand corner, click on “Post to Classifieds.” Follow the instructions on the screen to categorize your item, enter ad information including a title, description and price, then post your ad.
After you sell an item on Craigslist, you may want to create a free Craigslist account, especially if you plan to sell more than a few items. A Craigslist account helps you manage ads more easily.
How to get started on eBay
Learn how to sell on eBay, read selling basics on eBay, as well as common eBay scams and eBay scams.
To create a listing, go to eBay, choose “Sell an Item” from the menu, sign in (or register), and follow the instructions for entering a title and creating your listing.
Successfully manage the online selling process
- Keep your item at the top of the list. On Craigslist, repost your ad daily by pasting the old information in a new Classified Ad tab and deleting the old one.
- Respond promptly to inquiries.
- Remove your item after it sells.
- If you continue selling, many sites have advanced tools, some for a fee, which can increase your selling power.
You may not want to sell online if the total dollar value of items you want to get rid of is fairly low, or you have very few items. If you don’t want to sell, consider holding a garage sale, donating, recycling or trading to get rid of unwanted stuff around your house.
