How to sell your stuff and make cash in 2010

There are many places to sell your unwanted items, including E-bay, car boot sales, flea markets and even by advertising in the local free paper. Even placing an ad in your local newsagent´s window can reap rewards, but make sure you include all relevant information in the ad to increase your chances of a sale.


Why buy from you?


When wording an advert, think of some key benefits that may persuade someone to part with their cash. If you are selling an item of clothing for example, state its condition, colour, size and its normal retail price. Also list any reasons why they should buy from you, such as ´only worn once´ or ´as new´. If there is no particular reason for anyone to buy the item, or if they can get it cheaper elsewhere, you may as well save the cost of the advert.


Is it the right time to sell?


Depending on what you are selling, certain items go better at certain times of the year. Summer clothing such as T-shirts, sandals and light outfits go better when it is warm, and winter coats and jackets and umbrellas sell better in the cold, rainy weather. Also if you are selling an old model telephone or electronic gadget, you need to check out the manufacturer´s prices or check prices on E-bay to give you a good price comparison, or on Amazon. Surprisingly if there are peak sporting events on TV, there will be an increase in sports equipment and clothing sold on the high street. It would be easy to sell an England football shirt, for example, just before the World Cup next year in South Africa, and equally easy to sell a tennis racquet during Wimbledon fortnight. If you are not in a particular hurry to sell items, hold off until spring time as thousands of people will be trying to get rid of unwanted Christmas presents in January and February.

Make sure the price is right


If you price your items too high you will put them off, and if you go too low, you could cheat yourself out of some cash, so check out the online auction sites and the price comparison websites to see where you should be pitching your goods. If you are planning to sell on E-bay, a low starting price should reap rewards when a bidding war starts. If you are selling at a car boot sale or a garage sale and are not sure what to ask for any particular item, don´t price them but invite offers. This way you may get more than you imagined possible.


Why would someone refuse to buy?

If someone is reading your advert or enquiring about the price of something, put yourself in their shoes and try to work out what their objections are, and how you can overcome them. If for example you are selling a jigsaw puzzle, most people would worry about all the pieces not being there, so before they ask the question, tell them what they want to know. If you are selling an electronic item at the market, take batteries with you so people can see it working. Re-emphasise to people how much they will be saving if they buy an item from you rather than on the high street, especially if they object to the price.

Make the most of the advert


If you are selling items online, and the site allows you to upload photographs, take the time to get some clear, high quality pictures. According to a popular free local paper in the south of England, an item is eight times more likely to sell if it has a photograph with it. Photograph the item against a white wall or pale backdrop to make it stand out more. If you can sell a range of items as a set, then this will probably make you more cash. If for example, you have a range of Star Wars figures, sell them collectively and ask one price. This will save you hassle and probably make you more money.

Special offers sell quicker


If you have a lot of items you want to sell quickly for a lower price, put them in a bargain box. If people think they are getting a bargain, they will be much more likely to buy goods from you. I recently went to a car boot sale in Nottingham, and, with only one hour to go, put all the remaining knick-knacks in a bargain box and charged £1 each for them. They were all sold within 30 minutes, although the price had remained the same since the market opened, which just goes to show that if people think they are getting a bargain, they will buy it.