Bob Moulton decided it was best to close his store, National Pawn, to walk-in sales, as cases of COVID-19 spread across the nation in the spring. While pawnshops in North Carolina were considered necessary and could remain open, at his 19 locations, Moulton did not want to endanger customers or workers’ health.
He still didn’t want to lay off any workers, though, so he had employees start selling products on sites such as the Facebook Marketplace for sale. Things that were sold were then distributed via curbside pickup to clients.
“We found it to be very successful,” Moulton says. “It amazed me the amount of disposable income that our customers had.”
Three names stand out when it comes to selling online: eBay, Craigslist, and Marketplace on Facebook. Although eBay made a name for itself as an online auction site, the latter two operate as local classified advertising. Today, at a fixed cost, individuals can sell almost everything on any of the pages.
Sam Bright, vice president and general manager of verticals for eBay North America, says, “eBay has always served as a barometer for what’s happening on and offline,” “If it’s in demand in real life, it’s in demand on our marketplace.” According to Bright, home and garden, tech, apparel, and fitness have all seen revenue growth on the web recently.
For both corporations and people alike, online transactions can be lucrative. Keep reading for advice from experienced sellers to learn more about how to make a profit on sites such as eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace and learn which categories seem to sell best right now.
Tips for Selling Online
Rose Winquest, a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan, sells full time on the Facebook Marketplace. She purchases discounted resale goods and has friends who send her castaway pieces. She says her favorite place to sell is the Facebook Marketplace since it makes it easy to trade items that cater to different interests. “I love connecting with people of all kinds of backgrounds,” says Winquest.
Winquest suggests people price products at or less than half the store’s going rate to make sales quickly. It is also preferable to use a first-come, first-serve system of purchase. “Holding items for people is risky as there are a lot of people who back out if given the time,” she says.
Take plenty of pictures and use keywords when making listings that will help your products be easily identified in searches, says Deb Liu, Facebook Marketplace’s founder. For example, be more descriptive and add the type of wood or use a more precise word, such as a coffee table, rather than defining an object as a table.
“Unless your items serve a similar purpose, sell them separately,” Liu suggests. “Buyers aren’t likely to buy a couch and a basketball with the same purchase.” It is better to bundle only things that are likely to be sold in a group, such as a set of clothes or similar toys.
Seller Maria Chichester from Lowell, Michigan, says that when things are sold, consider completing the transaction in a public place such as a police station, church, or gas station. For ten years, Chichester has been trading on Craigslist but says Facebook Marketplace has recently become a new favorite location.
It’s hard for people to judge whether the posts are legitimate,” Craigslist is littered with so many scams and fake sales posts, it’s hard for people to consider if the posts are legit,” Craigslist is littered with so many scams and counterfeit sales articles. She continues to post products on both sites for sale, however, adding that they are a convenient and free way to meet many potential clients.
In her listings, Chichester offers extensive details, including any imperfections. She makes a note of that as well if her price is firm. She tries to answer questions and make payment plans by email instead of in person once someone shows an interest. That enables “tire kickers” to be weeded out who might come to look at an item but not be a serious buyer.
Online trading sites, meanwhile, are searching for ways to make the operation smooth. Selling on eBay is easy, and we’ve taken steps to make it even more comfortable in light of the new normal,” Selling on eBay is easy. In light of the new normal, we’ve taken steps to make it even more comfortable,” The platform has increased to 200 the number of free listings given to eBay sellers and is now sharing trending products in the seller community forum of the site.
Twelve (12) Items to Sell on eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace
Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are intended for local transactions, while purchasers also receive eBay goods. Although some products, such as designer clothing, garner more on niche sites such as online consignment stores, the following seems to travel well on these three sites.
- Laptops.
- Televisions.
- Home goods.
- Pet supplies.
- Baby items.
- Yard tools.
- Outdoor recreation items.
- Video games.
- Furniture.
- Jewelry.
- Collectibles.
- Vehicles.
Laptops
Laptops have become a hot commodity, with people continuing to work from home and many schools supporting remote learning this fall. “As a company, we had over 1,000 laptops (at the start of the pandemic),” Moulton says. “Now we have got none.”
Be sure to remove any personal or confidential material before selling any laptop or electronic device.
Televisions
Another thing that Moulton says National Pawn will not hold in stock is televisions. They sold online quickly, and his company is now on the lookout for more goods to satisfy consumer demand. “We are paying big money for stuff we can sell quickly,” he says.
Home Goods
In recent months, home products, such as small appliances, have also proven popular with online buyers. Bright states that sales of bread machines on eBay jumped 800 percent from last year, while fire pits and chimneys rose by 240 percent. ‘Bidets also had a moment in March last year, up 220 percent for the same time frame,’ he says.
Pet Supplies
Among Winquest’s customers, pet care products have been famous. She says, “I find that people love their pets and are willing to spend a great deal of money on them,”
Baby Items
According to Chichester, because children grow fast, individuals are always searching for a bargain on baby gear. “Larger baby items such as cribs, strollers, and toys that still have a lot of life sell quickly as people do not want to pay full price for these items, “Larger baby items such as cribs, strollers, and toys that still have a lot of life sell fast because individuals do not want to pay full price for these items.
Yard Tools
As people spend more time at home, renewed focus has also been given to home maintenance. Moulton says, “Yard tools have sold well since people work at home.”
Outdoor Recreation Items
People also seem to spend more time outdoors, where the risk of COVID-19 tends to be minimized, and Chichester says that kids seem to be in demand for products such as kayaks and Power Wheels vehicles.
Video Games
Video games and video game systems are picked up by those searching for fun indoors. These were, according to Moulton, another hot online seller.
Furniture
“Furniture is great to sell,” Winquest says. While some individuals can buy to refresh their furniture, others search for older items that can be refurbished and resold.
Parents may also be on the lookout for reasonably priced items that students studying from home during the fall semester can be used. Liu says competition in Facebook Marketplace desks doubled between July and August this year.
Jewelry
Moulton was shocked to see how fast online jewelry was being sold. “Jewelry is more of an impulse luxury item,” However, when shopping from home, that didn’t stop people from treating themselves to new items.
Collectibles
According to eBay sales results, people might also be spending more on their hobbies. This year, collectibles such as baseball and basketball cards, musical instruments, and collectible card games saw a spike in consumer interest.
Vehicles
Some used car lots are running out of inventory so that individuals can search a broader range of cars, trucks, and vans on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. “Vehicles and boats also sell well because people can avoid dealer fees,” Chichester says.
In the Facebook marketplace, recreational vehicles are popular. “There have been more than 25,000 new RV/camper listings in the U.S. every month since March,” says Liu. Airstreams are a top alternative for U.S. shoppers, she says.
It is possible to sell almost anything online, but at the moment, these 12 categories seem to be the hot sellers. Moulton notes that many pawnshops have low inventory right now and would be willing to take things off your hands for the right price if you would prefer not to have trouble selling items yourself.
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