Selling unwanted gifts online
Even with the best of intentions - and a whole lot of hinting - the odd gift can still pop up under the Christmas tree that we don’t want or need.
Our poll showed that most people will be choosing to regift, sell or donate any unwanted gifts with fewer than 1% of Scots planning to throw any away.
If you've found yourself with an unwanted Christmas gift or two, don't leave them gathering dust in the back of the cupboard.
Selling pre-loved items online gives you the chance to pass it on to someone else who will be able to use it and earn you some pennies at the same time.
How to sell pre-loved items
There are many ways to get rid of unwanted stuff. Selling online is a great way to earn some extra money, encourage people to buy second hand and reduce waste to help the environment.
Selling pre-loved items online gives you the chance to pass it on to someone else who will be able to use it and earn you some pennies at the same time. #HowToWasteLess
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First, do some research.
Look for similar products online and check the prices to help determine how much you should list yours for. Understanding how many similar items are available and how much people are selling for can help you make a quicker sale.
Take great photos.
Great photos can help sell your item quicker. Taking your own photos rather than using screenshots of the product on the original selling site let people know it's real and what condition it's in. Make sure your images are well lit, the area around the product is free from clutter and captured from all angles.
Write honest descriptions.
Writing a helpful description can increase your chances of selling. Buyers are looking for clear information about the item and will often message to find out more, being honest about its condition and why you're selling it will likely result in a quicker sale.
Plan how you will ship the item.
Familiarise yourself with how you will ship your item to ensure you can send it to the buyer as quickly as possible, selling platforms will often have a guide to help you with the process and provide shipping labels. Shipping your item quickly can also help you get positive reviews, build a good reputation and improve the likelihood of future sales.
Everything we buy has a carbon cost
You’ll be surprised how much your purchases cost...the planet. Perhaps it's time to shop differently.
Online Selling Platforms
Gone are the days of cutting out a form and posting it off to your local newspaper or popping a flyer on the noticeboard in the shop down the road to sell your unwanted things.
There are a whole host of website marketplaces where you can sell your unwanted items online for free and from the comfort of your couch. Preloved and Gumtree connect you with buyers in your local area, cutting out the costs and emissions that would go into posting it. On Preloved you can also choose to swap your gift with something of similar value, so you can grab something you've had your eye on simultaneously.
Like Gumtree, you can also list your items on Facebook Marketplace or one of the local Facebook groups for selling stuff in your area. This can be an easier method if you’ve already got a Facebook account and are familiar with the platform.
There are many factors that can help you decide on the right platform to sell your unwanted things, for example, if you're selling a niche product you might choose to sell this on a specific site to reach potential buyers. While some platforms don't have any selling fees, which can make them more appealing.
Selling CDs, DVDs or video games
When selling your music, games collections or consoles online you can sometimes sell them quicker to ‘buy and sell’ websites like CEX, Music Magpie, GameXchange or We Buy Games. You’ll get an instant valuation on your product and, if you decide to sell, you’ll often get a free pre-paid postage label to attach to your package, cutting out the shipping stresses.
Using buy-and-sell websites can make things easier if you have lots to get rid of, but as you're not selling to the end buyer you might get less money for your stuff than if you sold it online using a marketplace. Buy and sell sites also carry out quality control checks, so if you have any damages or scuffs on your disc, you may not receive the original price quoted for your item.
So, while buy-and-sell websites do mean a guaranteed sale and can make it easier to get rid of lots of items in one go, you might not get as much for your discs as you would selling them directly to the buyer.
Sell clothes online
Returning clothing doesn’t always go to plan, with many brand-new returns ending up in landfill when they could have gone to someone who would love to wear them.
Fashion marketplace app, Depop, has a strong community spirit. It’s not just about buying andselling, people can like, share and comment on the items that are for sale. Product photos on Depop have more of an Instagram feel, so make sure your photography skills are on point for this one. Depop also doesn't charge any fees to list an item, just pay 10% when it sells, and you can choose whether you or the buyer pays for shipping.
Sell clothing, footwear and accessories, as well as cosmetics, gadgets and homeware on pre-loved fashion community Vinted. There are no fees for listing or selling and postage is always paid for by the buyer, so you’ll receive the full balance on anything you sell.
You will need to list the item’s condition – anything from new with tags down to satisfactory for an item that’s been well used with any flaws clearly shown in photos.
Vinted has the bonus that you can also mark your listing to say you’d be interested in swapping the item for something else rather than selling it.
Returning clothing doesn’t always go to plan, with many brand-new returns ending up in landfill when they could have gone to someone who would love to wear them. #HowToWasteLess
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