Almost all of us will have stuff we don't need or got as gifts that just aren't us. There is a huge market of people like me who don't want to spend full price on stuff if they don't have to, so they will take to searching Kijiji or Facebook sell groups to see if someone has it for sale. 9/10 I have found what I'm looking to buy for sale by someone else cheaper.
This work both ways; sell your own stuff and look to buy previously used stuff on the same sites. In not a pro at this, but I've tried to list some tips I use below:
Selling:
- do some research, figure out what the product was/is priced as new. Then, sort out whether your item is still in "like new" condition or whether you should make it half price due to wear and tear. Also do some research for your item on the sites you're going to advertise on; what do other people have it priced at?
- take pictures of it. This seems simple, but there are a ridiculous number of ads that have no product pictures of what they're selling. I don't even look at those ads, as there's a trust factor for me. Try to take pictures of all the views that you would want to see if you were buying it.
- Write a description. Fluffy details of how it came to be in your life are not needed, more important would be keywords like "new with tags", "brand new", "like new condition". Try to be open about the product, if it says Large and fits like a small, say so. It helps build trust in the reader that you are forthcoming. Remember to state "pet friendly home" if you have a dog, and "smoke free" if you're not a smoker, these are important things people ask about for items.
- copy the description and post it a bunch of places! Kijiji is always my first stop, followed by a new app called Varagesale (virtual garage sale), followed then by posts in "for sale" groups on Facebook. There are A TON of Facebook sell sites - both for specific items (like horse tack or Disney collectibles), and for generic location-based sell groups.
- you can also print up small posters and place them in nearby coffee shops (with permission). For large or expensive items like bed frames, couches or instruments this seems to work well.
- when you post, make sure you only post contact info that is absolutely necessary. I only ever give out my email on posts, and my Facebook name is not my real full name. If you don't want to respond to emails, put only your phone number. When responding to messages, again, just be careful what you put.
- NEVER arrange to meet at your house unless it's necessary (like a couch or something). I always take my stuff to a coffee shop across the street, for my protection. I advise everyone to do the same: pick a lobby of a grocery store or such, meet at a Tim Hortons and just advise you'll be wearing some bright coloured coat. Safety first!
- if possible, bring a friend. Added backup, plus someone to talk to while you wait for the buyer to show up.
- people will barter. I usually try to price my items 10%-20% above what I actually want to get for it. People will low-ball as well, so you just need to figure out before you post the item what your lowest is. If in three months of constant posting you still haven't sold it, maybe it is priced too high, and I would suggest researching the price online again.
Another thing to consider is what you're trying to sell. People have made businesses out of selling items on EBay and Etsy. There's a lady my mom follows online who dumpster dives for items, cleans them up and then sells them on eBay. Some people around town here take tables and chairs slated for the garbage and redecorate them to be pretty beautiful new items, and then sell them on commission in someone else's store. Others do handmade necklaces and charms, and have great stores on Etsy. A lot of all these people have Facebook pages that document their progress on new items, as well as announce upcoming sales to their fans.
Below are a few examples of some i follow (Tumble and Lorraine do online etsy sales that sell out immediately, and Unique is a storefront that has so many different artisans inside that bring their items to the shop to sell.
Buying:
- research, again. Learn what the storefront price is and what it comes with. Then, look on Kijiji, Amazon, the shopping channel, Facebook. See who has it and for what price. Figure out what you would be willing to pay after the research. Maybe through the research you found it on sale for half price and don't need to look any further!
- check out bargain bin stores around town. My roommate and I were looking for this one DVD for a year, did not want to spend more than $10 on it. Finally, I posted on a Facebook sell group if people had this for sale and someone said to try this discount DVD shop. I did, and bought the movie for $4. Some of the liquidation world stores around town have surprised me with what awesome stuff they have at the the time.
- post on Facebook or on Kijiji that you are "in search of" or "looking for" the item. Put in pictures and maybe a link to the full price item you want, and feel free to put in the price you want to pay. I've done this for a bunch of items and the buying/selling community has a lot of eyes and ears to help you do some of the leg work
- it doesn't hurt to ask - ask the seller if there are any further discounts or if they'll come down another __$. I've been in stores and asked this and they've said they could apply some coupon I didn't know existed, and some people I've bought Kijiji stuff from have said they'll come down in price. For Kijiji and Facebook, just like how people will try to haggle you down, do the same (respectfully of course).
- if buying from a person and not a store, arrange to meet somewhere not at their house. Don't walk into someone else's domain, you don't know who else is there.
- just like selling, try to bring a friend.
- bring small coin instead of a $20. If you can get them down a little cheaper than the $20 they're asking for, the last thing you then want to do is ask for "change". Bring toonies and loonies and $5 bills.
Just some tips and tricks I've used. Feel free to share your own!
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