Had Shakespeare lived in modern-day times, surely he'd have written a soliloquy about this vexing question. It's tough deciding what to do with things we no longer want - and tougher still when the items have value. We mustn't be wasteful, we tell ourselves; we can make good money selling the stuff on eBay, but - sadly - much of the stuff never makes it onto eBay. It sits idly in our homes, taking up precious space, crowding our cupboards, spilling out of our closets, lying in a heap on the floor. Arghhhhhhh! What's a person to do????????
We can - we MUST - first determine our goal. Is your goal to earn some cash? Fine! But ask yourself if you have the time and know-how to photograph the items, list them on eBay, , respond to questions from prospective buyers, pack them and schlep them to the post office. Sure everyone wants to earn some money from things that no longer serve them, but be realistic about what selling entails.
So you've decided to sell on eBay? Next thing to consider is what your things are worth, and here, Dear Readers, I must caution you. Real value and perceived value are often worlds apart. All too often, we have an inflated idea of what things are worth because of our own attachment them; other times we expect an item to fetch a high price simply because "it cost a fortune!", and other times we simply don't know the market value of things we'd like to sell.
If you're intent on "eBaying" your items, do your due diligence! It's important that you check similar items that have closed to see what price they fetched. Also see if other similar items are listed for sale, and check to see if the item is attracting bidders. That'll give you a better idea of what you might expect to get for it.
I recently worked with a gentleman who had several old printers. He planned to sell them on eBay. I challenged him by doing an eBay search for the same model printer (HP officeJet 7210 all-in-one printer). Not only was he surprised to see that the auction closed at $36.00, he decided it wasn't worth his time to try to sell it on eBay. He donated 3 printers to a technical school!
Another client emailed me to ask the best way to get rid of a very expensive custom desk he had built for his daughter. "To eBay or not to eBay?", he asked.........and I had to deliver the bad news. Contemporary furniture seldom-to-never commands anywhere near the same price one would expect to pay retail. Period. I suggested he either donate the desk or list it on eBay locally.
USEFUL TIPS:
It's possible to create a listing for local pickup only. When you list your item, there's a box to check for "Local Pickup Only". One of my clients recently sold a canoe this way. There was no way he was going to crate and ship a canoe. It sold with no problems.
Approximately 59% of sales (during the second quarter of 2010) were purchased via the "Buy It Now" feature.
Want to sell your things on eBay but don't know how? Don't have the time? Is the volume of things you'd like to sell overwhelming?). A company based in Chicago (
eDropoff) offers free nationwide pickup for the items you'd like them to sell for you. They'll give you 60% of the selling price. Their specialty "better" clothing (from Theory to DVF to Chanel), but they also accept electronics, collectibles, etc. Tel. # (866) 962-5550 to request a pickup.
For those of you do-it-yourselfers out there, eBay offers some
great tutorials. Check them out.
Create a
PayPal account, so that buyers can pay for an auction quickly and securely.
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And finally, Dear Readers, I asked you several paragraphs ago to DETERMINE YOUR GOAL! If your number one goal is to declutter your space, if there's simply so much stuff that you can no longer enjoy your home, your closets, your kitchen, your life.....then it may be time to take drastic measures, and that means getting the stuff OUT any way you can, as fast as you can!
No, I'm not suggesting you be wreckless. I AM suggesting that donating - at least the bulk of the stuff - is an investment in your life and the first step in taking back control. Keep your eye on the prize - a home to which you love returning at the end of each day.
As always, be well, be safe, be organized! xxx's,
Nancy
