We can sell just about anything that's not too big, not too heavy, and is in good condition. Antique lamp? Yes. Old gym socks? Nope. Consider donating things that are unlikely to sell or worth less than $40.
If you're not sure your item will easily put $15 of hassle-free profit in your pocket, follow our tips below to do a quick price-check at home.
How to price-check items at home
If you're not sure your item is worth selling, it makes sense to do a quick price check at home. Here are some tips and guidelines to figure out what you're item is likely to sell for:
- Your original purchase price isn't likely to tell you a whole lot about the current resale value.
- For a good indication, look at "completed & sold" listings on eBay for your exact item, or items that are as similar as possible. While active listings are helpful, sold items show you what recent buyers were actually willing to pay.
- Consider how many active listings there are on eBay and other marketplaces for your exact item. If there are 100 listings for the same item, you'll need to compete on price alone to close a sale.
- Keep in mind that new, unopened items purchased within the past 90 days typically sell at a 10-30% discount to listed retail prices (even though they're identical items!). Once you open the box, the discount is likely to be 20-40%.
- Out-of-season items (e.g. snowboards in June) will sell at a steep discount, or not at all.
- Name brands tend to preserve their value for many years, but off-brand items sell at a significant discount.
- Dirt and grime show up in photos and tend to sell to bargain hunters, so make sure to give us items in sparkling condition.
- Look at items listed for sale "as is" to get a feel for pricing if your item is missing a key accessory (e.g. a remote) or is damaged (e.g. an iPad with a cracked screen).