People selling used stuff online ask for far too much

[TunMahla]

Am I the only one frustrated by how much people seem to want to charge for used items on places like Facebook Marketplace. I just saw a branded bike (used for a couple of years), where the asking price is maybe 10% off the original price when a similar model was last sold new by online retailers :O. Am I the only one who thinks that most used items should be at least 50% off the original price - come on, sales these days often offer better value!

Don’t get me started on those descriptions “could do with a clean” and a photo of a filthy kids toy- then fucking clean it!

Something is only worth what people are prepared to pay for it. If they manage to sell it, then the price was right. If they don't get any takers, they will have to reduce the price won't they?

Market forces and all that.

My favourite on Facebook marketplace is when people try to sell a sofa that looks like it’s been permanently sat on for the last 10 years and they say “nearly new sofa for sale, only bought it last year so it’s hardly been used, bought for £2,000, selling for £1,950”

"Just want what I paid for it."

"£20 if gone today" (how much tomorrow?)

Surely it depends on the item? My friend has just sold a camper van for considerably more than they paid for it 5 years ago. It has appreciated in value.

On the other hand, I'm trying to get rid of 2 very good quality arm chairs, have advertised them for free and no one wants them. They have been recovered so fire labels can no longer be seen, which means charity shops can't take them. No one is at all interested.

I don't think £2 for a potty is that much? How much would you pay?!

Some people really do take the biscuit with the prices they want for things. Also the cheek of some of them, if it could do with a clean... clean it yourself first and it might get sold. duh!

I think it depends on the product, some people are taking the piss a bit, but I think most are just seeing what they can get. Like near me at the moment, there are dining chairs going for a fiver and those going for £30+, I've no idea the difference, but it might matter to some.

My main annoyance with Marketplace is businesses who put in free/£0, but then it's an advert to contact them about their range of new furniture or whatever. At least the ones with the long string of numbers make it obvious for those who are interested in either new or used.

@youaresunshine

I don't think £2 for a potty is that much? How much would you pay?!

Considering you can buy them for £4 in wilkos…..

Yeah it’s 50% off but not worth £2 either.

I've just had to pay out £200 more on a new bike, than an equivalent one i bought 2 years ago this is because parts/bikes are limited. I in turn sold a bike for £60 more than i paid for It, it's value was in line with other sellers and it sold quickly. Principles of supply and demand.

It depends on the product. Frog and Isla bikes hold their price well and even more so at the moment when it’s difficult to buy new ones.

I’ve noticed this op. An item came up on our village face book and the price was basically the same as brand new. It’s batshit. Someone else tried to sell something for more than it actually cost new.

Although I also noticed a coat selling on eBay for more than it was to buy new and it was still available from the shop and that size was available as well so not like it was sold out. Weird

Well, some things depreciate in value less or hold their value but the majority don't. Asking for 50% off tag price is not asking to buy stuff for pennies, lol. I am not even buying anything in particular now, just my general feeling from buying second hand baby stuff online. There are a lot of good and reasonable sellers from whom I buy but a lot leave me bemused, as after factoring in delivery costs etc. you are sometimes better off buying new, and definitely brand new off sales.

Meh, if people ask more than someone is willing to pay they won't sell it. Why would that bother anyone else? Offer what you can afford if you want to buy something

I saw someone recently selling a wicker furniture set - 2 chairs, 2 seater + small table - no cushions for it AND it’s a charity shop = €450!
The seller/owner of said charity shop then got threatening and abusive to people who rightly questioned the price - that’s one charity shop off my list!!!

I think FB marketplace is the worst for this, but the thing is if it's sells, it sells.

I do kids toys on for a nominal price so I just get rid of them. I've learnt the hard way that when it's free people just don't bother committing, and I'd rather someone took them rather than them ending up in the dump.

What is bizarre though (and I admit I will do it too) is seeing new items on ebay for more than the retail price when it's still being sold online. I actually did sell somthing for 10% over the RRP on ebay and I'm still not clear why they didn't just buy directly.

I think a potty is a perfect thing buy/sell second hand. They're basically just indestructible plastic so the condition will be the same whether it's brand new or fifth hand, so why now save a few £?

*why not

It varies, sold my Egyptian cotton nappies for more than I paid for them as a bundle with wraps. But they had grown in popularity in the 4 years I had used them (2 kids) and were by then much more expensive to buy taking into account inflation. With second hand you don't have to buy, or can haggle

Yanbu, I’ve been searching for a specific gazebo that’s sold out. But have seen lots of different gazebos being listed at the original price if not more!
I’d understand if someone bought it and it was brand new or only used once, but one that’s several years old with usual wear and tear being sold at cost price or more….then no chance.

For instance b and m have one that sells for £100. But have seen used ones being priced at over that!
Used to love searching the for sale ads/ebay/Shpock for a bargain, but have noticed (especially over lockdown) people want the maximum price they think they can get so overprice a lot of the time.

I’ve seen this with wedding dresses. Most are up for more than 50% rrp. If you think about it logically both brides are only going to wear it one time, so the second bride should pay less as she doesn’t have the brand new dress with the boutique shopping experience. Some would say she could then resell it, but in reality a 3rd hand dress isn’t going to be worth much at all as fashions date very quickly.

Also saw someone on Facebook trying to sell a George Foreman grill (never used apparently) with a destroyed box for more than brand new in Argos. These people are either delusional or don’t know how to google.

It bothers me more when people try to sell things for more.

Homebargains had a paw patrol swim set in for £5.99 but it sold out before we could grab one, then they are on sale all over ebay/facebook for £15.

It does make me laugh when something is not in good condition and someone wants RRP but A lot of stuff is also unused.

I need to sell a bunch of stuff from our 'spring clean' that has been unused, new in box or with tags - some of its discontinued and impossible to get now so I see no reason for me to loss 50% of its value.

I put my stuff up for more than I want because you are guaranteed to get most people offering less. Then when they offer you a reasonable amount, nearer the price youmhave in mind, take that offer. E.g you want £150, you put it on for £200, someone offers £140, you accept. That way you get shot, and they think they’ve got a bargain/better deal.

I think people badly underestimate how much things sell for when secondhand. My friend sold a few items in about 10 days at full asking price despite being offered an insultingly low price for everything on the first day she'd listed from one potential buyer - who was insisting she was charging too much. That potential buyer was then disappointed she'd missed out and was annoyed she'd sold to someone else who was prepared to pay the full amount.

Look on ebay - look at what items sell for on the sold listings. Charity shops often price incorrectly and don't always realise the worth of what they are selling. Common items are priced more accurately.

Car boot sales (do they still happen?) and second hand markets often have newbies that price much too low or just want to get rid of their crap. Church and school fairs are also great for bargain hunters. Private ads can also be great but stuff goes so quickly.