Online selling platforms have boomed over the past decade, leaving prospective sellers with plenty of choices on where to sell their goods. Each platform has different perks and functions. You might use different platforms to want to sell clothes versus a larger item like furniture. It’s down to you to decide which best suits your circumstances.
Often, you want to sell your item as soon as possible, which some platforms can facilitate better than others. While some have set couriers that they work with, you may choose another courier that can cater to same day delivery. Here’s a breakdown on some of the most popular online selling platforms in the UK today.
Facebook Groups
An option that shouldn’t be underestimated, Facebook Groups can be like gold dust when it comes to selling your items. You can post listings in local area groups or something more specific like parent and baby groups. You can list an item and invite people to show their interest either by commenting or privately messaging you to arrange the details. The exchange is entirely down to the two of you, instead of through a third party.
Ebay
eBay allows you to sell items using their ‘Auction’ or ‘Buy It Now’ functions. The former involves people bidding on your item over a set period, while the latter involves listing your item at a set price, allowing people to buy as and when they please. eBay has had somewhat of a resurgence, thanks to its game changing partnership with reality TV show Love Island. The premise of the partnership is to encourage fans of the show to choose pre-loved items over fast fashion.
Gumtree
People tend to sell larger items like cars, furniture or larger household items on Gumtree. Sellers can list an ad and other users are free to message with any queries about the item before deciding whether or not to buy. If all is well and they purchase the item, the exchange will happen through PayPal. It is then up to the seller to send the item.
Preloved
Preloved is another site where people can sell a wide variety of second-hand items. From cabinets to jewelry, guitars to sofas, you can buy and sell all sorts of products. They even have a ‘Freeloved’ section where sellers can give items away for free, which comes in handy if you need to get rid of an item at short notice.
Vinted
Sites like Vinted have grown on a massive scale in recent years, with more and more shoppers buying second-hand clothing. The app is designed in a way that makes it easy to scroll through clothes, much like you would on a fashion ecommerce site, except the clothing is pre-loved. As a seller, you can add hashtags and optimize your description to help potential buyers discover your items.
