Selling stuff?

[EdithKeeler]

Best way to sell some stuff? Usually I just donate to the Salvation Army or Restore, but I’ve got a handful of things that have value. Recently purchased bike (7Wannabe5, if you were close I’d give it to you!), some nice flatware still in the box, electric lawnmower literally used once.... stuff like that. eBay? Craigslist? The stuff I see sold locally on Facebook is super low priced. I have the additional concern that I’m single and am not super crazy about people coming to my house. Thoughts and advice? Thanks!!

[ThisDinosaur]

Consignment stores are another option.
I've had variable but mostly poor luck with craigslist. I've sold smartphones on Swappa.

[Gilberto de Piento]

I like craigslist for common things with wide appeal or items that are hard to ship. I like eBay for items that are harder to sell because few people are interested but expensive enough to be worth shipping. A bike and a lawnmower are good Craigslist fodder.

I read that the police encourage people to meet at the police department if they are concerned about Craigslist safety. This might not be possible with a bike and a mower. Maybe don't let the buyer in your house and have friends over at the time so you have support and so the buyer can't tell that you live alone.

Craigslist can be very random. Some transactions will be easy where a real person emails you, meets at the appointed time, looks at the item for 10 seconds, pays, and is gone. Other times you will get spam emails, emails with lots of questions, people who don't show up, people who try to talk down the price to nothing, and weirdos. Only you know if the hassle is worth it to you. For me the price has gone up over time and I don't bother with items under $10 or so. Those things go to the curb or the thrift store.

[arcyallen]

I donate almost everything unless it's too difficult or has "too much" value. I sold an overhead storage unit on CL last night. I always put "Price is firm, thanks" in every post even if I may lower the price in the future. It makes "negotiating" much easier - it's the price I stated, period.

As far as safety, just meet outside or like Gilberto said have a friend over. I imagine in reality "CL Crime" is pretty low in terms of violence, safety, etc.

[Paula]

The OfferUp app is quite good where I live. Unlike craigslist, the buyer and sellers are somewhat verified and I've never been concerned about meeting people. Typically I will meet them in front of the coffee shop near my house. Both parties remain anonymous to one another and conduct communication through the app.

https://offerup.com/

[Sclass]

I’ve had some crazies come over for Craigslist. For free curbside items I had irate guys screaming that they drove twenty miles to get there and the item was gone ten minutes prior to arriving. My friend had a similar situation occur where it broke out into a fight because the two takers got there at the same time.

CL has that small probability of things going very wrong like you read in the paper about CL mugging. My most memorable CL meetup was with a middle aged woman selling her ex husband’s clothing that happened to fit me. I went there and checked the items out in the living room. The clothes looked like they would fit. Then she invited me into her bedroom to try the items on in front of her full length mirror. I looked her in the eye and she smiled without blinking. It was a porn movie moment. I calmly said, “thanks, it fits, I really need to go here’s the money.” She giggled at my nervous exit. This stuff never happens to me.

So now I just sort my stuff into trash and eBay. eBay for light, high value items that can be shipped. I like the efficiency of the eBay market over the smaller CL audience.

[Simple Del]

I've had some good luck in the past renting a table for the weekend at the local flea market and selling stuff I no longer had a use for.

[cmonkey]

I've sold 1-2 dozen larger items on CL over the past year or two, all of which have come to my home to pick up the stuff. Only 1 experience was weird, when a couple of sleezy guys showed up to buy a couple of crowbars from me. I was glad when they drove off.

Everyone else was just normal folks getting a good deal.

I've also purchased a number of items on CL and haven't had a bad experience.

Make sure to specify NO REFUNDS/SOLD AS IS if you sell on craigslist as there are a few people who might have some problem a few weeks on and expect you to rectify the situation.

[ThisDinosaur]

If I saw NO REFUNDS/SOLD AS IS in all caps in a craigslist ad I would for sure not want to give that person money.

[cmonkey]

Why not? CL buyers have the ability to try out the product before buying.

Some people just need reminding.

[arcyallen]

About five years ago, I was sitting on my front porch when this happened:
Car slowly drives to the front of my house and stops, looking around, windows down.
Me: "Hey there, you trying to find someone?"
Dude in car: "Yeah, I'm looking for so and so at (different address)"
Me: "Mmmm....I don't know where that is."
Dude: "Me neither, but I'm getting some free furniture from him on CL"
Me: "Yeah, I don't know who that is..." (looking over at bench next to me) "...but I was going to list this on CL for free. Want it?"
Dude (and he -was- a dude): Peers out window, can barely even see it: "Uh, yeah, that'd be cool!"
...and away he, and my bench, went. Double happiness.