I recently divorced and I need to clear out the garage and payoff bills. I don't want to do the work required for eBay or auctions.yahoo. I would like to use a service. The store closest to me We eBay 4 U has a 35% commission for sales and I think that is too steep what are my alternatives? I have high-end electronics, golf clubs, 1940' & 50's albums, Power Washer, Just stuff!! What about Pawn Shops? All comments will be appreciated.
2006-08-29 03:51:01 · 12 answers · asked by Cleopatra 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
The easiest way to dump stuff would be a yard/garage sale, though you may not get as much cash for your stuff as you would like. Same as the Ebay "service" companies (and youre right, 35% is disgusting). Pawn shops are an alternative, but unless its the coolest, newest they probably already have 10 of what youre offering and will give you minimum dollar.
Best bet in my opinion would be to actually run ads in your local newspaper. Most will post your ad for one price until sold, and you will usually get what you ask for, or close to it. Some papers (like my local St. Louis Post Dispatch) lets you advertise items less than $200 for free.
Do some research, you dont want to cheat yourself out of easy cash.
2006-08-29 04:01:27 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You probably won't get anywhere near what your stuff is worth by having a garage sale. People won't pay top dollar for your high end electronics at a garage sale. You could take a few things to a pawn shop and see what they will give you for your stuff. It looks like this is the perfect kind of stuff for ebay though. Do you have any friends with experience selling on ebay that could help you navigate the pitfalls? I did not have much luck selling anything on ebay. I tried to sell a really nice mens stetson cowboy hat and a Longaberger basket purse-never used, and neither of them got even one bid! BOOOO
Anyway, maybe classified ads in your local paper? Our hometown paper has free classified ads if your item is valued under $1000.
Put up signs at grocery stores or other local bulletin boards,,, um.... word of mouth..... um ...... sorry I think thats all I've got today. Good Luck!
2006-08-29 04:02:16 · answer #2 · answered by lolo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pawn shop would be the fastest and easiest way although you probably won't get the most money for your items. You could use the pawn shop for the items that are not so high cost, then you'd have a lot less to deal with for Ebay.
The Ebay services do tend to charge alot.
You could also hold a yard sale, put in an ad in the local "penny saver" newspaper. The lower cost items I would donate to charity, get a receipt and just make sure I have enough donated to take the tax writeoff.
good luck
2006-08-29 03:57:48 · answer #3 · answered by island3girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You "don't want to do the work"? Well, 35% commission doesn't sound bad for them to do the work you don't want to do then. You could give the stuff to your ex. Pawn shops will not pay shiit. Garage sales are "work" too, and you'll get far less people seeing the items, thus less items sold and what does sell for little money. I'd say eBay will get the best results, if you feel 35% is not worth the "work", do it yourself.
2006-08-29 04:05:08 · answer #4 · answered by Wurm™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it all depends on you and your personal preferences. if you want to take awhile and list it all online, go for it, the only other thing you'll have to do is hope it sales,and mail it. if you want to get it over with all in one day, although you have to part with it for less because people are looking for good deals, garage sales are good for that if you have a good area. or if you go the pawn shop route you may not get as much as you would like for the stuff, but could always try it out.
2006-08-29 04:00:17 · answer #5 · answered by nkmeeds 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could have a garage sale or call an auction house in your area, they will take the items and sell them for you, I don't know what their commission is , but it don't hurt to call and find out... or you could look for a liquidator company in your area....who might be interested... I would also skim the newspaper as there are often collectors looking for certain items, or make up a flier of your own to post in the entrance of supermarkets/ stores with your phone # on it, but have some one with you if a stranger comes over.... you may not be able to sell or get rid of everything, if not you could donate what is left ,get a receipt and claim it on your taxes.... good luck ! it's not easy going through a divorce( I know...lol)...but it will be good for you to get rid of these things...
2006-08-29 04:03:25 · answer #6 · answered by Ms Fortune 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not to Ebay. I had bought a DVD (Kill Bill 2) and it was a boot leg. I wasted 15 dollars on it, the people who put it to sale said it was new and still in the plastic wrap. Yes it was in a plastic wrap (homemade plastic wrap) and the cover looked cheap. The bad thing about eBay you cant return things, but, you can report the person who sold it to you as a con. So it is up to you, good luck!!!
2006-08-29 03:59:25 · answer #7 · answered by Sugars 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People on e-Bay tend to look at the reputation that you have built up, by selling things and delivering it to the recipient in the condition that you mentioned. Also, they need to arrive on time. So you may consider your choices.
2006-08-29 03:58:49 · answer #8 · answered by Tsk_Master 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gumtree is great, you'll have to state a price but it's completely free.
Also freecycle yahoo groups are good for anything you can't really sell but want rid of.
2006-08-29 03:57:52 · answer #9 · answered by twistie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, if the stuff you have is in good condition and people would want to really buy it, its deffinatley worth E-Bay, but just remember, big things like a powerwasher are going to be a pain in the #$% to ship
2006-08-29 04:03:37 · answer #10 · answered by STRM00 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋