With the current state of the economy, being able to make a little bit of extra money now and again is something that most people wouldn’t turn their noses up at. However, many people don’t realise just how easy it is to make some cash from selling their old or un-used belongings.Buying and selling second hand goods has become a bit of a trend over the last couple of years and good money can be made just from clearing out the back of the cupboards and selling on items that you no longer have a use for. From old mobile phones to those much loved CDs that aren’t listened to any more, most un-used items can bring in some cash.
The question is how to go about selling them – online or offline?
Selling offline makes it personal
The truth is that there are benefits to both options, so it really is about which way of selling works for you and your lifestyle. Starting with offline possibilities, selling your unwanted items offline is a more traditional route and is easily done via the classifieds, magazine ads or even simply posting a card in your local newsagents.
Selling offline ultimately gives you more control over your sale. You can negotiate on price to get more for your items and you will be able to make the whole thing more personal through meeting your potential buyers or speaking on the phone. You won’t have to bother with complicated forms or having to include photos of your items; just a good brief description will do. Also, you won’t have to worry about postage fees, as most items will be sold locally and are likely to be picked up in person.
Most importantly is the benefit that you will get your cash instantly when the item is collected, rather than waiting for payments to clear before sending items on.
Selling online is quick and easy
People often avoid the internet’s selling possibilities because they fear the unknown. However, if you want to sell stuff online, it is actually really simple and very safe. There are plenty of sites to choose from, including auction and online classifieds, with the majority of selling sites being completely free to use. There are even instant selling sites that just require you to enter details on your items and give you an instant valuation quote in return.
Selling online offers you a wider audience so that you are more likely to find the right buyer quickly and you don’t necessarily have to get too involved other than writing the item’s description. There is no having to be in at certain times to meet potential buyers, as you simply communicate via email and post off your items once payment has been agreed.
Jenny Apperten combines her family and work life by running a very successful online business, selling used and second hand items. She regularly shares her own business experiences and encourages others to sell stuff online, writing about it for a number of business and lifestyle magazines, websites and blogs.
