Where to Sell Your Stuff Online

Remember the days of having a neighborhood garage sale -- sorting items, pricing items, putting up signs, putting the ad in the local newspaper, and then sitting in your yard, waiting for the customers to come?

Well, though yard sales and garage sales may still be an option, and many of us may still choose to go that way, selling your stuff in a yard sale requires a lot of time and work. Selling some items lend themselves better to this method than others, as well. You can sell your old couch or desk, for example, to someone who won't mind putting it in the back of his pick up truck, but if you're selling books or crafts, you would do better choosing another venue. Yard sale buyers are looking for a bargain, after all, and expect to pay around 25 cents for a second hand book.

Lots of online sites for selling your stuff have been around for a while now, and people have become used to searching for things they are looking for online. Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and many other sites have become great go-to places for finding a variety of products. How do they measure up in comparison with each other, however?

Amazon (for selling less than 40 items a month -- for higher sales you can upgrade)

1. Listing Costs: None for 60 days
2. Percentage of Sale: 6-25% of the sale price plus a variable closing fee
3. Referral Fee: $.99 per item sold

eBay

1. Listing Costs: Your first 50 listings per month are free, then $.10 - $2.00, depending upon the starting asking price per item, for up to 7 days
2. Percentage of Sale: 9% of the total amount of the sale up to $250
3. Referral Fee: None

(These are for auction sales. You can also sell using a fixed price, which has its own fee schedule. Click on "eBay" above for details.) 

Etsy

1. Listing Costs: $.20 per item listed 
2. Percentage of Sale: 3.5% of sale price
3. Referral Fee: None

Now, you can't make your decision on where to sell an item totally on how much it will cost to list it or how much of a percentage the site will take on your sale. Cost certainly does come into your decision, but even if you get 100% of your selling price, that fact won't matter if no one sees your product and especially if the right type of customer doesn't see it. By "right type of customer," of course, I mean the person who is looking for such an item and might actually make a purchase. Someone looking for a car won't care a hoot if your homemade jewelry has some of the best designs out there, but someone looking for a Valentine's Day gift or a Mother's Day gift will be delighted to see what jewelry you have offered for sale.

Everyone knows that Amazon gets a lot of traffic, but we also know that people search Amazon for a wide variety of products. Still if I were selling books, I would probably think of Amazon first, as they have such a vast array of books for sale. Book sales will be more successful on a site such as Amazon where people are used to searching for books, but may also do well on sites that specialize exclusively on books, such as tomfolio, which caters especially to collectors. Where you look as a customer often depends on just what you are searching for, and the same thing is true for the seller as well. 

If I were selling crafts, on the other hand, my first choice would be to sell on Etsy. Yes, Etsy may charge more for listing an item, but Etsy is also the first place a shopper would go if he or she were looking for a unique gift for a loved one. I know many people who search the Etsy site regularly for the unusual gift item that you just wouldn't see in a regular store. People who like to shop locally also seek local artisans by looking on the Etsy site. Etsy sends subscribers weekly suggestions by email based on themes, such as colors and holidays. I know I have purchased items on Etsy just because they looked interesting or unusual.

eBay is popular as a place to sell curios and antiques. In addition, anything you think would do well at an auction has potential on the eBay market.

People are more likely to purchase things online if they trust the vendor site. Because of the volume of sales overall and because of its rating system, reviews, and returns policy, people feel safe buying from a site such as Amazon. You as the vendor reap the benefits of that trustworthiness, but you also take on the responsibility of maintaining the ethics of the interaction with the customer. 

Just because you don't see your customer's face doesn't mean that you can get away with less than excellent customer service by selling online -- not, that is, if you want to remain in business. All it takes is for one dissatisfied customer to give you a bad review, and other potential customers will be leery of trusting you to follow through on your claims.

Top Ten Reviews : Online Auction Sites
Chart compares 10 different online auction sites. Helpful information about fees, selling, buying, reliability/security, and help/support. Each of those categories is broken down to show you detailed findings.

Overstock.com
Mentions listing fees and closing fees, as well as percentage of sale, for their auction. Details are too complicated to write about here and are better seen for yourself on their website.

Craig's List Terms of Use
Because Craig's List is a local service, you are advised to google your own local version. These terms are generic and vague, and you'll get more specific information on fees by checking Craig's List in your own geographical area.

I hope you have learned a little more about the costs and the benefits of selling your stuff online. Many people choose to start with one site in order to learn the ropes, but choosing the site that is most appropriate for what you are selling can make a difference to the success or failure of your venture.

Right from the start you need to be prepared to deliver on completing a sale and keeping your customer happy.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you find the right venue match for you and for your product.