7 eBay Alternatives: Other Places to Flip Items
Back in the day, eBay was one of the only places to resell items on the web. It became a go-to place to find deals and second-hand products online and sell some of the things you wanted to get rid of. Its consumer-to-consumer business model was unique for its time.
Its business plan is simple. You list an item that you don’t want. Someone else buys it. You ship it to the buyer, and it’s done! It made trading items from across the world so easy.
But now, it’s the 2020s, and we have many more options than just selling on eBay. Some are more streamlined to use, others are cheaper and have fewer fees, and some are more trustworthy than the resale giant. Today, we’re going to share with you some of our favorite eBay alternatives for you to use to sell your old stuff.
Before we start listing some of our favorite alternatives to the selling giant eBay, I want to share why buying and selling second-hand is so great.
There are numerous reasons why buying and selling second-hand items is something that more and more people are starting to do. As a seller, it gets you a portion of the money back that you spent while decluttering. There’s nothing better than earning extra money while freeing up space around the house. It allows buyers to find the items they want at a great price. Saving cash on great finds is such a fun way to shop.
Seven eBay Alternatives
1. Mercari
Mercari is one of the best online marketplaces where you can sell unwanted and pre-loved stuff and ship it directly to the buyer. They don’t allow in-person meetups, which generally makes things safer. That means no meeting strangers in parking lots to drop off items.
They charge 10% of the item price of a completed sale. There is also a 2.9% processing fee plus $0.50 for each payment received from the buyer. Unlike eBay, the good news is that they don’t charge anything to list your items.
Setting up on Mercari is as easy as signing up, creating a listing for your item, selecting all the shipping and price information, waiting for someone to buy or make an offer, and then getting paid. They have options such as smart pricing that lists your item at a comparable price to others, keeping you from researching or guessing the right number yourself. You don’t have to use that feature if you don’t want to.
Mercari is also a relatively safe and reliable marketplace. It lets buyers rate sellers only after they’ve completed a transaction together. This allows potential buyers to know whether or not the seller is trustworthy and someone they would want to do business with. If you happen to run into any unexpected trouble, they have a dedicated customer service team ready to help get your problems fixed.
2. Poshmark
Poshmark is one of the go-to apps for selling clothes, shoes, accessories, and items for the home. It started as a place to sell only used women’s clothing and has expanded to what it is today with sections for men, children, and more. It’s fantastic for finding or selling rare or high-end items for a deal or updating your fall wardrobe without breaking the bank.
Poshmark also gives you the ability to negotiate prices with your buyers. This lets you meet in the middle on a price that works for both parties. For sales of $15 and under, they have a flat fee of $2.95. Anything over that has a 20% fee attached to it. They don’t have any fees for listing your items, so you only get charged when you make a sale.
Shipping is tracked, and you know how much it will be on the front end as you input the information for your listing. Poshmark’s prepaid labels will cover items up to five pounds. More than that, you’ll have to get a label on your own and provide them with the tracking information. Many think their rates are a bit pricey, but they are comparable, if not cheaper, than shipping on your own or through other resale sites.
Poshmark is a reliable way to buy and sell luxury goods at a lower price. Anything over $500 must be authenticated by being sent to their headquarters. You can ensure you sell your authentic items for the price you deserve while allowing buyers to save on the brands they want and know they’re getting the real thing. That could be very profitable for you.
3. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a great way to sell any item, from clothes to home decor, but especially those like furniture and even vehicles that can be impossible to ship. It’s primarily used for in-person pickups and dropoffs, but you can also offer to send your items if you would like to. It’s becoming one of the best eBay alternatives around.
It’s also safer than sites like Craigslist for selling items in person since there’s a profile attached to each buyer and seller. Using the Marketplace is as easy as logging into Facebook on the app or in a browser and clicking the shop icon. From there, you can browse and list any of your items. Downloading an extra app or remembering an additional login is unnecessary.
Another plus for Facebook Marketplace is no fees for buying or selling. You agree on the price you will get; no cut goes to anyone else. Unlike eBay’s fees for listing and commissions, this makes Facebook Marketplace a huge competitor.
4. OfferUp
OfferUp is another one of the free eBay alternatives. It is an app that lets you sell your stuff in person or have the option to ship it. It started to give Craigslist some competition and recently acquired the app LetGo.
There are no fees for listing or selling, but you will sometimes have to pay to bump up your items to get them shown to more people and sold. You can still make a lot of sales without bumping your items. If you have to ship an item to a buyer out of state, they will pay through the app. The buyer also bears the shipping costs. Then, you will get paid after they receive the item. In that case, there will be a small transaction fee. But other than that, it’s free to use.
OfferUp allows buyers and sellers to rate each other after making a deal. The more reviews that you have, the better. It shows potential buyers that you are a trustworthy seller.
5. Craigslist
Craigslist is another selling site that focuses on selling items in person. You can ship if you’d like, but that’s an agreement between you and the buyer and not necessarily done through Craigslist. I’ve never had a buyer ask me to ship anything. Craigslist has many safety warnings, but it can be a great way to make money off unwanted stuff when used correctly and with caution.
You can sell anything from clothes to cars and services like painting or roofing. Craigslist is a one-stop shop for goods and services.
Like other eBay alternatives, you’ll create an account and list your items. Make sure to do some research on similar listings to make sure your price is competitive. Use good, clear photos, and describe what you’re selling accurately. Include things such as its condition, any specifications, and your contact information.
Be vigilant when agreeing to meet people in person, and always pick a well-lit, public location, heavily traveled and has security cameras. Many cities have even set up designated areas with police cameras for people to meet and exchange.
Craigslist is an excellent site for selling; just be safe and cautious!
6. Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a social network connecting neighbors within the same communities, letting them post about local events, lost and found pets, and other goings. Did you know that you can also post items for sale on Nextdoor?
Selling your stuff is as easy as posting a status. You’ll tap the green + sign in the top right corner of the app. Select “post,” then select “For Sale and Free.”
From there, you’ll select the category that best fits the item you want to sell, add some photos, and a title (Nextdoor recommends just the item name), set a price, type in a description, and then tap the post!
Nextdoor also allows you to edit and share your listings and offer them a reduced price to attract potential buyers.
The best thing about using Nextdoor to sell unwanted items is that you know the people nearby in the same neighborhood as you. Knowing you won’t have to travel across town and meet a stranger gives you some peace of mind.
7. Instagram
Instagram is also a powerful tool for reselling your old stuff. Just take a look at the #shopmycloset and #resale hashtags. There are tons of people out there making good money by selling their pre-loved items on Insta.
And the best part? Instagram doesn’t take any of your profit. All of the money paid goes straight to you. Here’s how it works:
Some people use their personal accounts, and others will make a separate page dedicated to the items they sell. From there, you’ll post as usual, but instead of what you had for lunch or a cute picture of your dog, it’ll all be of the items you sell.
Use bright, well-lit, and high-quality pictures. Remember, buyers, like to see what they’re spending money on before they take the plunge. Use the carousel feature to post multiple images of the item from every angle.
In the caption, you will want to include all the usual information like brand, size and measurements, condition, payment options, and whether the item is to be picked up or shipped. Also include hashtags such as #shopmycloset, #resale, #instashop, and more to get your things seen by people looking to buy!
If you’ve created a separate profile dedicated to your closet cleanout, you can use the bio to house the payment and shipping information that would remain the same for each item. You can also include the geographical areas you are willing to ship to, such as within your country or internationally.
Once you’ve created your feed of items to sell, you can share with other profiles or social media networks to gain more traction. When someone is interested, you can discuss the details and logistics with them. Before you know it, you will have more space in your closet and more money in your pocket.
As you can see, there are many different eBay alternatives out there. Many are easier to use, less costly, and more trustworthy than the resale giant.
Using platforms like Nextdoor, Instagram, and Facebook Marketplace is excellent because they are social media sites many people already use. And even better, they are free to sell on and won’t take a percentage of your profits.
Others, such as Poshmark and Mercari, are much simpler to navigate and cheaper to use. You’ll also be supporting a much smaller company than eBay.
Remembering to use quality, well-lit pictures, and an engaging and accurate description is critical no matter where you decide to sell.
We hope you found this quick guide to eBay alternatives helpful! Next time you’re getting ready to do a closet purge, remember that you have several platforms like eBay to choose from when you’re ready to list your stuff to sell. Get your products to sell and start making money asap!
Jason Butler is the owner of My Money Chronicles, a website where he discusses personal finance, side hustles, travel, and more. Jason is from Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Savannah State University with his BA in Marketing. Jason has been featured in Forbes, Discover, and Investopedia.
