Affiliate links to products I love may be included. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Consigning can be a great way to unload items you no longer need. I used to offer consignment through Simplify, but unfortunately, I no longer have time to take on the task. However, I have compiled a list of tips to help you be as successful as possible! Consignment can be a time-consuming task at first, but I promise, the more you do it, the more successful you will be at selling items online.
*COVID has added a few extra hurdles to the process, but it CAN be done successfully!
Tip #1: Do your research
Once you identify an item to sell, search online for that item. I typically start with Facebook Marketplace to get a price range for any particular item. This can be tedious, but it will get better with practice! For example, to sell Tory Burch sandals, search as many details as you can to get the most accurate price range: “Tory Burch Sandals, Size 7, Leopard Print, Brand New.” Being specific will help tremendously in pricing items. The most significant factor in all online selling is the condition of the item. BE HONEST! If you have worn it once, admit it. You are not allowed to say “NEW” if you have worn the item even once. Buyers will most likely notice and try to return the item. Once you have a typical price range in mind, try to pick an amount towards the higher end of that range. You don’t want to be too high, but you also don’t want to be so low that buyers question authenticity. In the Tory Burch example, if they are selling for a range of $50-$100, I would price them around $80. This shows that I am motivated to sell, but they are also worth the price listed.
Tip #2: Make sure that you take good pictures
Think about the background and think about the lighting. Those two factors may seem silly (I mean, we are not professional photographers!), but it matters to buyers whether they realize it or not. One time, I was selling used shoes for a client and put them in bright green grass; every single pair sold! They were really cute shoes, but if I had taken those same pictures on a dirty floor or on an unmade bed, they wouldn’t have sold so quickly. Backgrounds matter! Distractions matter! Just google mirrors for sale, and feel free to giggle at all of the people taking pictures of mirrors with themselves in the reflection. It’s hilarious!
Tip #3: Try to sell in ‘LOTS’
A ‘LOT’ for sale is simply a group or items. This works really well on Facebook Marketplace and within local mom groups. Let’s say you have a bunch of toddler 2T clothes to sell. Putting them together to sell multiple items at once will generate much more interest. Include this in the title/captions so that people know you are selling it altogether, too! Groups of 5-20 clothing items work best. For example, “5 sets of 2T boys outfits, gently used” will go much faster and possibly for more than if you wrote, “2T Nike shirt & pants” for 5 different listings. The perks of this are obvious: you can sell more items at a higher price point, and you can (hopefully) unload your items faster.
Tip #4: Put your items on the ‘right’ sites
Finding the right site will result in better sales. Research and think intentionally about what you are trying to sell. Is it a collector’s item? I would suggest going to eBay. Many collectors have automated notifications on eBay to alert them when new items are listed within their qualifications. This can be a goldmine. I also try to join as many resale groups as I can on Facebook and other social sites, both in my hometown and in the surrounding areas. When you post something on Facebook Marketplace, you can select (up to 10, I think) separate groups to cross-post your items. Getting the item in front of as many people as possible usually equals a quick sale!
Tip #5: Be realistic about your prices
You already spent money to purchase the item you are now selling. That money is gone. You are NOT going to get back what you spent, (most likely). This can be a struggle for some clients. It hurts to feel like you lost money or that you are ‘giving the item away’ when it sells for less than what you asked/hoped. Sometimes, and especially on Facebook, buyers seem to want only what I call ‘garage sale’ prices. They do not want to spend much and always want to feel like they are getting a deal. That is exactly what brings them to shop there in the first place. eBay can be better, but it also has a feature for ‘offers.’ If you do not want any low-ball offers, this feature can be turned off. Try not to be disappointed! The goal in this process is to sell unwanted items. The money is only a perk; your focus should be on ridding your home of items that are adding clutter. You are purging items that are making your space more stressful. That is something to be positive about, even if the price was not what you initially thought.
Try not to be disappointed! The goal in this process is to sell unwanted items. The money is only a perk; your focus should be on ridding your home of items that are adding clutter. You are purging items that are making your space more stressful. That is something to be positive about, even if the price was not what you initially thought.
Hopefully, with these tips, you can become a pro at selling your unused stuff. It does take time and experience, so don’t give up. Try dedicating a few hours to posting as many items as you can, and let it playout for the next few days before adjusting prices.
Remember that your number one goal is to remove the unwanted item. The monetary perk is like a small payment for your time, but the bigger bonus is freeing your house of the items that no longer give you joy.
Good Luck and Happy Decluttering!
Steph