When my mother offered the home I grew up in, she offered the whole lot. For months main as much as her transfer, she stored telling me about all of the gross sales she was having. Sooner or later, she talked about she’d offered 20 empty pickle jars for $20. I couldn’t imagine it! I believed, “If she will be able to promote used pickle jars for $20, I positively want to begin promoting my stuff too.”
That second marked the beginning of my journey into promoting undesirable gadgets. I started by itemizing issues on Craigslist however finally switched to Facebook Marketplace after a buddy really helpful it. My mother wasn’t the one nice salesperson—one among my pals was too. I requested them numerous questions and picked up some useful suggestions. (I nonetheless sometimes seek the advice of them for recommendation on pricing gadgets or writing an inventory.)
Now, with over $5,000 in gross sales below my belt, I think about myself an skilled. In the event you’re fascinated about downsizing like my mother or simply wish to eliminate some further stuff round the home, listed below are some suggestions that can assist you promote your gadgets and enhance your income.
1. Give your self time
In the event you’re planning to downsize in a 12 months or extra, beginning to promote your gadgets now may help you maximize your income. Some gadgets take time to promote, and in case you’re not in a rush to eliminate them, you received’t really feel pressured to decrease your worth and even give it away without cost. One merchandise I offered—a pirate signal—took virtually a 12 months to promote. However I obtained the total worth of $40 by ready and it in all probability helped that it was close to Halloween.
2. Pictures make a distinction
Naturally, you’ll wish to embody footage of your merchandise on the market. When photographing it, test that there isn’t something within the background so your merchandise is highlighted. Additionally, be certain that it’s clear and well-presented with good lighting. I normally submit two or three images of the merchandise with completely different angles (entrance, again and facet).
3. Decide your worth accurately
One of the vital difficult elements of promoting gadgets is determining the precise worth. Worth it too excessive, and nobody will purchase it. Worth it too low, and also you received’t earn as a lot as you may have. Plus, pricing too low can result in a flood of consumers, which may be overwhelming and time-consuming to handle.
My rule of thumb is to cost gadgets at 50% of what I initially paid for them. After I decide that worth, I search Market for comparable gadgets to see what others are asking. I additionally search for the merchandise on-line to test its present worth. Often, the worth of an merchandise may have elevated since I purchased it. In these circumstances, I base my worth on 50% of the present worth as a substitute.
Some consumers will settle for the total asking worth, whereas others might attempt to negotiate for a decrease one. In the event you’re not open to negotiation, you’ll be able to state in your itemizing that the worth is agency. Nevertheless, some consumers might ignore this and nonetheless make decrease affords.
Once I’ve simply listed an merchandise, I normally reply to decrease affords by saying, “I admire your curiosity, however I’m not decreasing the worth presently.” Even when an merchandise has been listed for over a 12 months—like my pirate signal—I’d nonetheless keep on with my asking worth.
Deciding whether or not to barter will depend on components like whether or not eliminating an merchandise is extra essential than getting your full asking worth.
4. Persist with your weapons
Most consumers don’t attempt to negotiate after agreeing to buy and choose up an merchandise. Nevertheless, I’ve been caught off guard earlier than. As soon as, whereas answering questions on an merchandise, a purchaser unexpectedly requested for a reduction. For some cause, I mentioned sure, and I’ve regretted it ever since. I feel I wasn’t ready for the negotiation. So, at all times be prepared for a purchaser who may attempt to haggle—even on the final minute.
It’s essential to keep in mind that this can be a enterprise transaction, so that you shouldn’t really feel dangerous about sticking to your worth or accepting the next supply when you’ve gotten a number of bids. Additionally, I at all times attempt to keep skilled with consumers, even once they annoy me—for instance, by providing much less after I’ve clearly acknowledged the worth is agency or asking concerning the dimension when it’s already listed.
Typically, consumers may ask for an merchandise without cost, claiming they’re donating it to charity or going via exhausting instances. When you can select to supply it without cost if you’d like, don’t really feel obligated—that is nonetheless a enterprise deal, and it’s OK to prioritize your personal wants.
5. Play it protected
Though I haven’t personally skilled any questions of safety with consumers, I’ve heard some regarding tales from others. To remain protected, I by no means give out my cellphone quantity—all communication is completed via Fb Messenger. I additionally make a behavior of checking a purchaser’s Fb profile earlier than agreeing to fulfill with them. This helps me affirm they’re actual. You may normally inform by particulars like their variety of pals, images and when their account was created (that is listed on their profile). You too can search present on-line scams to be sure you should not being focused.
Usually I solely settle for money however I’ve additionally accepted Venmo if we now have mutual pals or the customer seems to be a reliable particular person. Typically I exploit this feature if the customer desires to pay me upfront, and I’ll go away the merchandise in a protected location by my storage.
Past incomes cash and selling eco-friendliness, I like the concept of giving my undesirable gadgets a second life. Because the saying goes, “One man’s trash is one other man’s treasure.”
Photograph from New Africa/Shutterstock.com
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