To HATE selling secondhand stuff??!!

[monkeymamma]

ARGHH!!! I have to admit I usually drop stuff off at the charity shop or give to friends instead (only if they want/need it obvs) but for the one or two items we really splashed out I know it's the right thing to do to sell them and try and recoup a bit of money. But OMG I hate it so much.
First you post the stuff online. Nice photos, write a good description. Flag up any scratches or bits missing. All good.
Then a few people are interested. Hurray! Then the questions start. Is it in good condition? Well it's been used. So look at the photos (always very clear and candid) and decide!!! Can I send more photos. Can they come and look at it. No-one ever gives an exact time so you're hovering around at home for hours wondering when they'll show. Will you take less money. Hmmm I wasn't expecting it to have any marks on it (WTF? It's been used by two toddlers!). Can I deliver the item to [insert name of location on the other side of town]. The number of people who message saying "is this available", "can I come and look" then NEVER MESSAGE YOU AGAIN. Why why why?
And endless questions about accessories and manuals and then you're searching your attic for bits of stuff that go with it. Only for them to go quiet/turn up and not want it/try and knock the price down to the point it's really not worth the time you've now put into selling the sodding thing.
Aaaand breathe. Perhaps I'm just not good with people?!

I totally agree with you OP! The amount of people asking if 'sfs?' then no other communication when you say 'yes, it is' is ridiculous, as are the cf's who try to offer you half of what your original asking price is!! Grrrr. People literally want everything for nothing!!

Same here. Sold lots of things on eBay and few things on FB. Wished I hadn't bothered. So painful.

One thing in particular I wished I hadn't sold. Years ago. Still grates. It was a beautiful wooden train set, the real stuff. Huge with bridges, all sorts. Plus with all the Thomas the tank engines, James, Gordon, the lot. She asked for a part refund because James didn't go that fast. Wished I'd paid for her to send it back now. Really regret selling it.

I really should sell my baby stuff but I’ve never done it before and I think this has just confirmed that I really don’t want to. I hate the though of people phoning and coming round. But things that were expensive like the sleepyhead, swing etc that have barely been used I feel I should try to recoup some money

I have this too... I only sell old stuff on ebay occasionally, but it's such a faff and so time-consuming. I just gave up on a big bag of stuff that's been sitting around for ages waiting for me to do it, and took it to the charity shop. Nice things and I could maybe have got £100-£200 in all, but i just couldn't face it.

I suppose it makes sense that people who are short of time or don't desperately need the money give it away, charity shops do still need stuff after all.

I bloody hate it,
People always want things for nothing as act as though they are doing you a favour.

I had a freesat+ box that broke, freesat very kindly replaced it for a brand new one for free even though it was out of warranty.

We hardly used it so decided it was a good time to sell it.

I was very clear on the listing that it did not come with a dish, but since they sold alone (without the dish) for a few hundred new I though £100 was fair.

Dozens of people tried to tell me without a dish it was useless and wasn’t worth anything and they’d be doing me a favour by giving me under £50 for it.

One woman came to look at it and tried to get me to take £20 and was very aggressive when I refused.

In the end I put it on eBay and sold it for £240.

I buy stuff second hand all the time, arrange a time with a 15 min window, then up cash in hand and no fuss. Seemed reasonable when you get like new travel cot for £10 or whatever. I tried to sell a brand new travel system, still in box. There was an issue with sending me the wrong thing and I couldn’t return it. I knocked £150 off, the number of people that emailed to tell me for £150 they could get a new one! Baffling.

It might sound a bit counter-productive, but I honestly think you sometimes do better if you charge a higher amount. It seems to sift out the bargain hunters, dealers and those who want something for nothing. I've found you may have to hang on to something for a couple of weeks longer, but generally have had smooth sales.

I have a friend who is selling most of her unwanted clutter through an Etsy shop... it's amazing the premiums she gets because it's seen as a desirable / bona fide shop - no haggling either... although obviously is more time consuming to set up and needs to be things you can post.

Freecycle winds me right up. The whole idea of it at the start was community based recycling of unwanted goods that someone else could make use of, save landfill and waste and save money. And for the first couple of years it was brilliant - small suburb groups with offers of half a tin of paint, some excess seedlings, outgrown kids clothes. You were expected to give and take.

Now it’s 80% full of grabby time wasters. And people who have stuff just to sell on at car boots.

And if I’m willing to GIVE away a perfectly good lawnmower/chair/rug then at least have the bloody decency to turn up and take it when you said you would and say bloody thank you!

Baby stuff: go to a nearly new sales. At least people won't intrude in your home.

Otherwise, relax and don't plan your life around people. They can come when convenient for you or not at all, no wasted hours for people. Always give yourself at least an hour, because most people are late.

It is painful, but it is so much worst if you try to give away items for FREE! Never bother, people really take the piss. If I cannot sell something, I usually bin it unless it is suitable for the school fair.

In my selling experience it is either really easy or it won't happen.

BTW be very careful with pickups if being paid by paypal - you need solid online tracking evidence from the courier. Otherwise it is easy for the buyer to claim non delivery and paypal will never believe otherwise.

OMG I feel your pain.

I stopped a few years ago. I had an moment of lucidity when a horrible man was insulting the double buggy I was selling for £25 and openly discussing the fact he was going to 'pimp it and flip it' on his market stall. At that very moment a mum came round the corner, I'd never seen her before and she was pushing a approx 2 year old in a buggy and had a tiny baby its a sling. So I just called to her and asked if she wanted the buggy - she was so happy it was brilliant. The man immediately tried to give me the £25 and told me 'stop being petty' but I was on a mission by then and had the buddy all set up and was putting this woman's shop underneath, she strutted off like she'd won the lottery and I see her around town sometimes and we always grin and wave at each other. Best decision ever.

However, I currently have an iPhone 5s I should sell and instead am leaving in a box on the stairs....... so annoying.

"Hi, it's a want. Anyone selling a [baby item] for a girl?"
A succession of people offer various items in good condition, possibly grey / yellow / white.
"Thanks hun but it's for a girl."
JUST SAY YOU WANT FUCKING PINK, THEN.

JUST SAY YOU WANT FUCKING PINK, THEN

So true!

Acorncat - with you! I want to declutter, but I'm terrified (apparently rightly) of the effort that selling would take, but also worried about finances, and feel that it'd be irresponsible to just give it away.

Although, I like the perspective of taking the place of cash donations to charity - hmm, I don't mind giving cash for a good cause when I have it. Why would I mind giving objects when I have them?

Also liking the tip about costing higher. And an Etsy shop?? Hmm.

I'm the same!
I always state condition first and pick up only second.
Anyone who asks stupid questions gets a reply of 'all info in the description.'
And I always make them give me a specific time and date (pretending i'm a very busy woman and cannot wait in all day for them, even though they turn up at 4pm and I'm still in pajamas!) If they don't want to/can't give a specific day/time I say 'let me know by this time tomorrow or I'll move on to the next person as I need it gone now for space' If they actually want it they will let me know, if they are just wasting time they won't even reply. I'm quite arsey when it comes to selling but I think I have the right to be when I've been messed about so much but I'm honest about it will tell people that I'm not waiting around etc because been there done that wasted a full week waiting for someone who kept apologising and promising to collect the next day then just stopped replying to messages.

I put a bugaboo donkey up for sale for £750 on FB, sold it within hours but forgot to take the ads down. A month later I had a message off someone that literally said “£550” no hi, just that! Rude!

Yanbu. I hate it.

About 8-9 years ago I sold my dining table and six chairs. Woman and her husband came to collect it late evening, I showed them it in the garage (it was being stored) she thanked me, paid the 200 and went off.

Couple of hours later, she calls, says the table is too marked (bloody wasn’t, it was almost new) and she’s on her way to bring it back- but she was keeping the chairs! Turned up and put the table back in the garage and asked for half her money back!

I was so gobsmacked that I actually gave her a part refund (and applogised...) I also realised who their family were and didn’t want any repercussions.

Put me off selling anything.

Plus giving stuff away. I had two flat screen TVs but they had a large back on them. The charity who wanted them turned up and were giving out about them not being ones you could hang on the wall. I sent pictures ffs!!!

My local hospice opened an out of town charity shop near me and I drive there and give them the lot. If it is worth a few quid they are welcome to it. If it is nice and new and shiny and in a box, more quids for them.

I used to do table tops, car boots, online, and it was worth it for the learning experience. But I have now learned to donate stuff that sells

Larger stuff i put on ebay 99p collect only all proceeds to Shelter.
On for a week.
I adopted this after being pissed off with free cycle.

I've not done Ebay, but DH has.

If ever I have second hand things to sell - things in really good nick that I haven't worn for one reason or another, he tells me not to bother, charity shop it instead. Reading this thread, i can understand why.

We sell loads of stuff, by local newspaper advs, preloved and ebay. We just ignore the "tyre kickers" completely - you can spot them a mile off. 99% of our sales go through without a hitch, whether they're sold/posted on line, or whether they're collect in person. You just need to improve your "bullshit" detector and simply not engage with them. As said by someone above, give a detailed description, plenty of high quality photos, and if someone does ask questions, just refer them back to the listing/advert. For collect in person, make a proper timed appointment, none of this "tomorrow afternoon" nonsense - make it 3pm and if they don't turn up, then go out or do something else as planned. The more you pander to life's incompetents and idiots, the more they'll take advantage and wear you down.

I've just been banned from my local facebook selling page because I got fed up with a time waster. I don't use it that much but I do think it's a bit of a joke.

Selling something for £30 brand new (can get it for about £50) and a lady says she wants it. We go on for about 3 days her saying she will come today and not turning up or giving a time. Then I get will you accept £20 for it as I can't afford £30? No sorry. "OK that's fine I'll pay £30 by cheque" No sorry won't take a cheque, cash only, and I just blocked her as I was fed up with the exchange back and forth and the bit about can't afford £30 but can if it's a cheque seemed dodgy. So she's gone to admin and saying I was rude and blocked her because she is elderly.

Didn't block her because she was elderly, blocked her because she was wasting my time! sorry for my little rant

When my son grows out of stuff eg baby bouncer i list for free then get " i will take"
"Post code for collection" no please. One woman kept sending me messages at 9pm asking if she could collect now. I ignored her and she still kept on. Please message me back if not.

I've had almost completely good experiences selling on ebay but I do only sell really good stuff and I put a lowish buy it now - people are usually appreciative of the fact that it is a bargain. I've had the odd pita but I'll always offer a refund if they send it back and usually they can't be bothered when they realise I'm not going to do a part refund.

When I've freecycled stuff its usually because it is big eg dining table chest of drawers so people tend to really want it - I've never had a no show (clearly lucky) and often a box of chocolates or some flowers. Having said that I tend to pick who to give stuff to based on their reply - if its "send foto" or "I'll take it" no please etc then I'd rather give it to the person who sends a polite request and can either pick up at my convenience or suggests a range of times.

Nicest ever was when DD was given an outgrown barbie princess bed but already had something similar so we put it on Freecycle and explained she would choose who to give it to. She chose a younger girl who turned up with a packet of sweets for her and then sent through a photo of her dolls tucked up in the bed. So lovely.

I've had success selling used Boden kids clothes on a Boden used clothes Facebook page and another Monsoon/Next/M&S FB group selling page. Also on Ebay. I relist a few times on eBay and a couple of times on the other and if it doesn't sell then it goes to a local kids mission.
The supermarket/H&M used clothing goes straight to that charity cos its not worth the effort.