To think people ask too much for secondhand items?

[Chukkachick]

About to have our second baby and planning on buying a lot secondhand again, mostly on FB marketplace. But I’m kind of shocked at how much people generally seem to be asking for their items?

e.g ‘great item, used for 15 months, will be properly cleaned’ then asking for between half and 3/4 of the RRP?

I know a lot more people are selling things online due to the cost of living crisis and maybe this is just a reflection of that. But it puts me off even making an offer because I don’t want to look like a CF! Even though I don’t think their item will sell at all with how they have priced it.

specific example- a double pram, now an old model, which would have sold new for about 1200 and the seller wants 900. AIBU to offer no higher than £600?

I’m in these groups too, and I can assure you people absolutely are, especially with brands like Frugi/Maxomorra. It’s great if you manage to get hold of some ‘puffins’ and know you’ll be able to sell them on again for whatever you paid for them (as long as your kids don’t destroy them)

I know. People are so tight and opportunistic.

I once bought an item for £5 off Marketplace for my DD. There was a lot of hassle and backwards and forwards emails regarding collection on the seller's part.

When I eventually turned up, the seller lived in a luxury countryside home with "grounds" as opposed to a garden, a couple of top of the range cars in the drive.

I thought to myself how can you even be arsed as I handed over my fiver to a woman who clearly didn't need the money.

As it turns out, my DD didn't even like the item so I gave it to charity.

I've found it's hit and miss. Certain things seem to be retaining their value and if you are quite specific about the exact thing you want and search for it, can be amazed how many people are managing to sell theirs for major £££. The very popular baby items such as the Tripp trapp high chair, baby bjorn bouncer, etc, etc.

I thought to myself how can you even be arsed as I handed over my fiver to a woman who clearly didn't need the money.

"Look after the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves." I don't mean that selling second hand stuff is going to get you a country mansion, but it may be part of a more general mindset of being sensible with money, which certainly can help you make the most of your income by avoiding debt and so on.

I thought to myself how can you even be arsed as I handed over my fiver to a woman who clearly didn't need the money
I'm far from rich, but find if you offer things for free you get a lot of time wasters and people not turning up when they say they will, expecting you to hold items until the weekend, having a car issue so wanting to know if you'll deliver the item, and general cheeky fuckery.

Selling something at a low price usually means someone gets a bargain and it's less messing on all round.

Sometimes on vinted I will see an item that, by the time you have added postage, is exactly the same as me going to the shops and getting it brand new!

Go to the shop then. I’d rather give an item to charity then sell it at a price that means I have to faff about packing it and printing labels and taking it off to post for a couple of quid. It’s not worth a seller’s time.

I love buying stuff on Vinted, you can still get a good bargain if you look.

But some sellers are deluded. Tell me how a raincoat missing its hood is in "good" condition? Or how anything with holes and tears in it that "could be fixed if you know how" is in good or very good condition?

This was my exact thought when I read your quoted post. Some of the prices people charge for kids clothes 😱 that teacup print... And the amount people hunt it down! I'm following one dress on vinted just for amusement. It's listed at £40!! It wouldn't have even been that much when it was released!

I buy and sell on Vinted, FB and eBay.

The condition of an item is subjective and on a scale between mint condition to fair, which I usually take to mean well used. Some people are prepared to put up with different levels of imperfection depending on the item.

If it is a used but rare and collectable item, then you should expect some signs of wear.

For example vintage clothes and accessories. A shirt could have a missing button but could otherwise be in good condition with the button easily replaced.

I sell quite a bit on eBay/Gumtree and I think that there's a bit of both tbh.

Some sellers definitely do price unrealistically high, but tbf, they are entitled to list at the price that they are willing to: (a) part with the item for, and (b) go to all the hassle of packing and posting for.

On the other side, there are plenty of buyers who expect something for virtually nothing and constantly ask you to accept offers.

From my perspective, I'd rather chuck something in the bin than faff around photographing, packing and posting for, say £5. It's got to be worth your while as a seller.

Not really, the whole point of them is to raise money for their charity!

Yes, I live by that mantra too. I don't need to sell all our second hand and un-used new stuff, but I do. That means it's not going to landfill, and it means I've got more money to spend on other stuff. It also promotes the mind-set of not wasting money, thinking about what you spend it on, etc. If you are careful with small amounts, then you're already in the habit and are less likely to waste money on stuff you don't need, waste money buying stuff at full price when you can get it discounted by shopping around, and less risk of being conned.

@Kazzyhoward but surely if you're lucky enough to be wealthy, it would be nice to give your used items away or donate to charity?

Pay it forward a little?

I used to sell a lot on eBay back in the day when I genuinely needed the money. But I'm better off these days and quite happy to donate to charity instead. I consider my time more precious than a few quid.

But I guess this is why I am not wealthy as I don't "look after the pennies"...

On a slightly different vein, just bought a brand new car for less than the ex-demos and second hand ones. We were looking at low mileage/ex-demo used cars and whilst we were discussing the various options at a main dealership garage, the salesman casually mentioned that for the model we were looking for, he could give us a brand new one for less than the minimum he could accept for a demo.

Funny thing is, that's the second time it's happened. Our previous car, which we bought new 8 years ago, was the same. We'd gone to the dealership (a different one) to view an ex-demo they had advertised on their website, and the salesmen there said the same - they'd do a brand new one cheaper!

Snapped their hand off both times!

I wouldn't consider ourselves to be wealthy, and it's certainly not down to luck either. We are very careful with money, and never waste it. Nor have either of us ever earned any more than national average wages, not using inheritances, etc. I don't consider that we're "lucky enough to be wealthy". We've just both worked consistently for 4 decades, always lived within our means, etc. We're only "wealthy" in your view because we've been careful, saved, not wasted, etc.

Yes. There is a Boden dress advertised for sale on eBay. I already have the dress in a different print and it is a flattering style for me, but the seller is asking £50 for a used cotton dress. I don’t think I paid more than £60 absolute maximum for it originally, it is a cotton shirt dress, and I would definitely have waited until there was a 20% off code available. So, say the dress was £75 full price, that would have been £60 for a brand new dress. Asking £50 for it second hand is punching.

I think you've met SIL. She seems to consider that having been owned by her puts a premium on stuff. Tried to sell us some 10yo camping equipment for more than we could get it brand new and was most put out when we said no thanks.

Ha I see this a lot too. I actually just bought a fab boden dress on Vinted in really good condition . It was about £14 including postage. I feel like that is about the right price for a used cotton dress.

Two charity shops near me (in separate towns, I live in the middle) have a dual mandate. To raise money for charity/ local causes and to help the local community. Neither are affiliated with “big charities” Both really successful to the point that other charity shops that have opened up locally have closed again year or two later.

I think it’s a much better model to give back to the community especially when you’re hoping they will give you stuff to stock and work for you for free!

@Weirdwonders so give it to charity then.

@Badbudgeter

Give back to the community by selling at low prices?

It's well known that lots of eBay business sellers scour charity shops for items to resell for profit. If they price too low then there's a risk that they are encouraging that kind of behaviour.

a friend of ours once had her back garden astroturfed. As we walked past a builders bag of offcuts, she mentioned how they needed to take them to the tip, unless we wanted them of course? The catch being she ‘wouldn’t want much for them’ 😂

When I eventually turned up, the seller lived in a luxury countryside home with "grounds" as opposed to a garden, a couple of top of the range cars in the drive.
I thought to myself how can you even be arsed as I handed over my fiver to a woman who clearly didn't need the money

Because they clearly value their money. There are many poor people who could learn lessons from people like that.

Give back to the community by selling at reasonable prices to encourage people to reuse. Hosting a free school uniform rail year round. Free kids wellies in Autumn. Free kids coats in winter. People donate and buy there as it directly supports local causes they care about. It's possibly a model more suited to smaller communities but I much prefer it to chain charity shops.