This week we’re going to talk about selling items in person vs. online. If you’ve ever helped someone downsize or declutter, you know that deciding what to do with the stuff is just one part of the process. If then you decide to sell the items, figuring out how to sell it can be a whole other thing.
So, in this episode, we'll break down the pros and cons of each method, when it makes sense to sell in person vs. online, and a few tips to make whichever route you choose a little easier.
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In this episode we talk about:
- Truly understanding what it takes to sell items as a way to declutter
- What to consider if you are going to sell
- Which method works best for your items – selling online or in person?
Mentioned in this Episode:
22: Reselling: Weighing the Benefits and Drawbacks of Garage Sales
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The Organized & Productive podcast is brought to you by The Organized Flamingo and hosted by Stephanie Y. Deininger! For those of you who love the thought of organizing & being more productive, but don’t know where to start or constantly up against hurdles that don’t let you advance the way you want to, this podcast is for you!
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Review the Transcript:
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:00:00]:
Welcome back to another episode here at organize and productive. I'm Stephanie, your host. And this week, we are talking all about selling your stuff in person versus selling it online. It's a topic that's come up in several recent conversations. Right. We even have an entire podcast about garage sale sales and how to price your items. So I'll put those in the show notes if you want to reference those. But if you've ever helped someone downsize or declutter, you know that deciding what to do with the stuff is just one part of the process.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:00:35]:
And I'm sure if you've gone through it yourself, you know that this is a deciding point that can make it, make you stop or delay the process because you're not sure. You just really don't know which is better. You think you can get more money out of it, so then you come to this halt because of the what ifs and figuring out how to sell it can be an entire, whole thing and project and talent that you have to now take on. So I thought, let's. Let's go ahead and make this in a conversation of its own. I will give you my take on the pros and cons of each and things for you to consider, because I don't. Not to spoil the end, but really, I don't have the right answer for you. It will depend on what you have and what you are comfortable doing, because it is a lot of work.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:01:29]:
Okay. So I. These are just the things I want you to consider. And hopefully, by the end of the conversation, then you can make a decision point and. Or just move forward a little bit, try one or the other, and decide if that one is for you or if altogether, you just don't even want to bother and you decide to maybe donate or go another route. Okay. All right, so let's get to the episode. Welcome to the organized and productive podcast with the organized Flamingo.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:01:58]:
I am your host, Stephanie, a professional organizer and productivity expert ready to explore the right organizing and productivity solutions for you. Yeah. Well, then let's go. So let's start with selling items in person. Whether it's through a garage sale, an estate sale, or a flea market, there's something very tangible about this approach we've done here at the organized Flamingo. We host this annual flea market and community garage sale every year. I've been doing this for years. If you've been a longtime community and listener and member, you know that this is something that I do around the beginning of summer here in our community and other communities that I've been and lived in.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:02:41]:
And there is, it's just a very tangible approach. Right? That's why people like it there in the pro category. If, if you are selling online again, it can be a garage sale. So it could be your own unique garage sale. It can be a community garage sale. It could be a community flea market. It can be anything that's really in person. Okay? Like an estate sale, et cetera.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:03:03]:
There's that instant gratification. One of the best things about selling in person is that you don't have to wait for payment. You, you know, to clear, like, unless you're asking for checks, which really, nowadays you really shouldn't. But you don't have to deal with shipping or worry whether an item will sell at all. When someone buys it, they pay, they take it and it's done. It's that instant gratification. It's very tangible. You can see the progress and it feels good.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:03:34]:
It's instantaneous. There's the no shipping hassle. Now, you know, you can offer shipping. I know quite a few sellers and people and clients that I've worked with where they'll have bigger or higher end items in their flea market and they will offer that service, but that is completely up to you. That is not the expectation when people come to an in person selling event, because shipping can be a major pain, especially with larger or more fragile items. And selling locally in person means the buyer takes the item with them. There's no need to package things up, calculate shipping cost, or deal with the lost item in the mail. You don't have to deal with that.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:04:15]:
And then if you are working and helping other people do this, you now don't have to take care of the entire process, like waiting and the bidding and all that, which I will get to in the, in the online selling section. So this is another pro, no shipping hassle. Then you've got the negotiation and connection. In person sales lets you negotiate directly, right? Like you, they're there in person. So if you're helping someone organize or downsize or yourself, you can work with buyers on the spot and even make bundles for a higher value. So in the garage sale world, or even estate sale or all of them really, you can say, you know what? If you take the, you know, if you take this, then you, I'll give these things for free or everything that fits in the basket or the bag, it's just much easier to go with how you're feeling in your gut instinct versus having really strict rules for your sale. And there's that human element. Sometimes people are buying because the story behind the item connects with them.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:05:16]:
And that's something you really don't get online. There are some amazing storytellers and copywriters, so this isn't the rule. But generally in person sales gives you that ability to tell the story behind it. If you're a collector, if you're working with someone that's the collector, then you can tell them the story that it's not just this person, the collector item from 1975, but it also belonged to. And then you can tell the entire story. And that connection might lead to the actual sale itself and or the higher price, because there's just that human connection to it. And then next for the pro is the good for bulky or fragile items, which I talked about a little bit. But larger pieces of furniture, mirrors, delicate heirlooms are really hard to ship safely unless you know what you're doing and maybe you get lucky.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:06:12]:
So, you know, selling it in person avoids the risk of damage when it's on its way. And buyers can see the condition firsthand. That's a really big one. We have shipped things for people. Now, our primary photo business focus is not shipping. Like, we're not a shipping or, like, moving company per se, but we have helped, and we're really good rappers, and we're very good at bundling things to get move them along, you know, to their next destination. So we have helped people sell things online. That in itself is a craft to bundle things to make sure that they arrive safely.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:06:46]:
And as many pictures as you can take, the better if you're doing it online. Right. But even that, sometimes just. Just things move and scratch or break or just look different. Even the colors in on the camera may look a little different to the receiver. So when they get something, they may think that the coloring is off. That is just not what they saw online. So for that reason, bulky, fragile items, things that may be different colors when you take pictures or videos, might be better to sell in person.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:07:20]:
Okay, so that's our list for the pros of what? The narrowed down list that I've come up with as to why, you know, selling. You might want to consider selling things in person. Now, the cons are that it is time consuming. We have an entire episode on the garage sales if you want to host your own. So head on over there if you're planning on that. But a garage sale in an estate sale, flea markets of your own is a lot of work. I mean, physical work, too. And if you're dedicating an entire day, if not several, to set up.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:07:53]:
You know, you now need to plan it ahead of time. Lift the tables or even just the bins of the bags or whatever it may be. It can just be more time and more physicality to it now. And in addition to this, there's no guarantee that you will get the traffic that you need unless you really market it. And even then, because of a rainy day, because of the weather, whatever that may come unfold, maybe there's construction along the way. The unseen and unplanned out of your control elements will affect your event. And that can be really frustrating, especially if you put this time and money into advertising and putting stuff out. So you have to be flexible with knowing that that can, can happen and might have to do it for another day.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:08:39]:
Then the lower price, then we get to the next one, the next con, like the negative or not negative, but things to consider. That's what I like to say. It's not a con, it's more of a things to consider. Lower prices. When you're selling in person, especially at something like a garage sale, people are often expecting bargain basement type of prices. Okay, it's just a rule. It's a rule that's been around forever that if they're buying it secondhand or in person at a garage sale, that's the deal, okay? That they're going to get a good deal. If you're trying to make serious money off of the value and a valuable item, you might be disappointed because people will say, you know, you will put something up for hundred dollars and they'll say, I'll give you $2.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:09:22]:
And you're like, wait, what? What? I was expecting to get at least 50. You know, you were hoping to maybe meet in the middle. Well, if anything, some of you are, you know, the pricing game is not your jam. And whatever you price an item, you want to get that amount. And I get that, okay? But in this realm, in most states and even countries, it's a bargain type of event. So if you price something, you will be disappointed that people might offer you something way lower. And if you were just hoping for somewhere in the middle, you might even be disappointed. I always say people want like a 75% off of what you, what you originally are thinking to begin with.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:10:03]:
So price accordingly. And that can be really disappointing, especially for the valuable items that you do want to get something out of mean a little bit more, the valuable item that you're not really ready to just give up for free. And then the audience, well, you're restricted to local buyers, really, unless you advertise it really well, which I talk about in that podcast about garage sales and how to do those and advertise. But if you're trying to sell a rare or very niche item, it may be harder to find someone who understands its value in a local sale versus online, because people online are doing their homework. They're searching for this one particular golden nugget of, of items, and they will stumble upon yours. And then to want to buy it in the local market, you are really limited to that pool of people, and you hope that those people will be interested in what you have. Now, if you know that you, your, your people, the people around you are those people, then great. I mean, I'll give you an example.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:11:03]:
Like if you live more in a suburbia type of neighborhood where there's quite a few children or families or that dynamic, and if you are trying to sell your baby children items, then that's perfect. That's, that's your market right there. You're in it, you're living it. That's perfect. Okay. But if you are in a home where it's a collector's home from someone who may be a minimalist type of person who went all over the world and, and bought these really rare items, and so they only really have a few rare items to sell, but they only know the value and the people in that community that just have children that may not be in that place of life, of collecting that one thing from that one country, then you will be disappointed because those people are not just passing by. You will need to do some online selling to it as well if you want to get what you think it's worth, or even close to that. So that's the things to consider and the benefits of having the personal touch of selling items in person.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:12:10]:
Let's get to the digital marketplace, shall we? Now let's move on to talking about selling things online, whether it's through the known marketplaces out there, which I will name a few. I also have an entire list that I do keep updated of what is available for you to sell online. I will also put that in the show notes at the blog post, and I name them all. And I do go in every quarter to update and make sure some of these are still working and still out there. So take a look at that. But the most well knowns right now are the eBays, the market, the Facebook marketplace, even Etsy is starting to sell those, especially those vintage items. They're selling those online items Craigslist, you know, the list goes on. The point is, selling online has really transformed how we can declutter and downsize effectively.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:12:58]:
But like anything, it comes with its own set of pros and things for you to consider. I love how easy it is, but here is the list of the pros and what I want you to think about before going all in on this. Okay, so there's the global audience. Okay, there's a big audience out there. Once you put it online, many people can find it, especially if you make it searchable and you cross promote it. Some people will post something online and then use Pinterest or Instagram to then have that as another way to drive traffic to your online marketplace. So there's so many avenues of how you can drive traffic and interest. And so this is one of the biggest perks of selling online.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:13:40]:
You have access to buyers from all over the world, really. If you want, you can also just say that you want people from a certain radius so that you know you for the ship, for shipping purposes. But basically you have that available to you throughout the world. And if you're trying to sell something niche or rare, like a collectible or an antique, there's a good chance you'll find someone who appreciates its value and is willing to pay a premium. So think about that. The convenience with online selling, you can do it at your own time. You don't need to dedicate a full weekend to do it, like a garage sale or an estate sale. You can post an item at night, during the lunch break, or whenever it fits in your schedule, and even on your phone, you can do it on your computer.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:14:24]:
It's just more flexible in that way. And depending on the platform, items can sit there for as long as it takes to sell. So unlike the in person event, you know, if it doesn't sell that day that you post it, you still have seven days, 14 days. If you want to renew the post, you can, you know, you have a more flexible convenience there. The potential for higher prices is a big one and a big reason why people do online selling instead of the in person. Because buyers online are willing to pay more. Especially if they're searching for specific items. Because you can see what people are searching for and if they're looking at your item.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:15:04]:
So if there's quite a bit of traffic to your item, then you know it's of interest and you have more say over what it's what you're willing to sell it for, like auction style platforms, like eBay for instance, can even drive the price higher than you might have expected because you, what it is is that you put in your minimum, and if people are bidding against each other to get the item, then as long as you get the minimum that you said you wanted, then it can go up from there. So if you have a rare item or an item that is being sought after, then there's the potential of getting more. And that's something that you rarely get in person. There is really ever people that come in at the same time and are bidding in front of each other. Right. I mean, once in a while you will get lucky with the two people that are kind of, quote unquote, fighting over that one awesome item, but that's very rare. And even if that was the case, they're not going to pay premium because of that in person connection feeling that people want the bargain. So, okay, some, the things that I want you to consider about selling online, though, is the shipping challenges.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:16:12]:
I've mentioned it, and I want to mention it time and time again because shipping is a big one that people don't consider. They think that, oh, like, I'll just wrap it up or, you know, once I sell it, I'll figure it out. Well, sure, for items like clothing, maybe, that's probably an easier one. You can just wrap or fold or roll and put it in an envelope and it'll be on its merry way. But even that is not just that easy because you need to make sure that the envelope is right for the item to not get damaged. So shipping can be tricky. You have to package items super careful, calculate the shipping cost, and sometimes, depending on the platform, offer free shipping to stay competitive. So you don't always, they don't always pay for the shipping.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:16:55]:
You may have to add that in your pricing, and that may be something people don't, you know, don't like, or the pricing ends up, it feels higher. But for you, it's because you have to pay for your shipping cost. And of course, there's always the risk of items getting lost in damage in transit. Right, which we've talked about. That's a hassle that really nobody wants. So something very important for you to think about, delayed payments. So unlike in person sales, online payments can take time to process. Some things that people don't know is that some platforms hold on to the funds until the buyer confirms they've received the item or there may be delays due to the payment processing.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:17:35]:
So here's the thing. These platforms, these marketplace state auction type of platforms, they want to make sure that there's enough inventory for people to buy. So that's a, that's you selling the stuff. And the people buying are happy with their purchases because it's already an item that is probably pre loved and used. And so that in itself carries its own risks of people not being happy with the item. So they need to keep people happy that will buy these items. And many times they will give the buyer the, you know, the right of way, the upper hand. The customer is always right.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:18:14]:
What, however, whatever term you want to use, they will just give them more of the incentive to come buy by saying that they get all of these guarantees. One of them is which, if you're not happy with your purchase or you see anything wrong with it there, you know, you can return it, no questions asked. And you don't know if it really did break. If in transit, was it your fault, was it their fault? And now it just becomes a he said, she said, he said, other person said. You know, it just becomes a really uncomfortable position for you to be in because now you don't get anything and now your item might even be damaged. So, you know, worst case scenario or lost. So think about that, because you don't automatically get the payment with all of the platforms. So if anything, and you don't like the thought of this, but you do like the thought of online selling, then think about giving people the, or choosing a platform that gives you the funds immediately.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:19:13]:
There's not that many, but there are a couple out there. And so just think about that, right, because that would not be great. And then sometimes another thing for you to think about, if you're doing this a lot, if you're selling a lot ongoing, the platforms may start to think you're doing this as a, like your, like a primary business, and they will want your tax information. So it's no longer just like a passing hobby the way that you would with in person sales, like a garage sale or flea market. If they start feeling like you are selling too much, then they will start asking for your tax information so that they can put this as revenue at the end of the year. So be careful on that. I mean, you may want to, if you see that this is a success, I'm not saying don't do it, but just think about it. And then the fees is that, one of the other downsides is that to online selling.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:20:05]:
Platforms do carry fees, some kind of fees they need to make their money. You know, they'll either take a percentage of your sale or charge listing fees, and these can add up really quickly, especially if you're selling quite a bit of items, right? And again, if you're selling quite a bit of items, they put you kind of in a different category. Like you're doing this full time. And so you just have to think about that. So how do you decide which route to take? Which which way you should go? I don't have a right or wrong answer for you. You really just have to think about the pros and cons of each things to consider. I have an episode where I go over should you do it yourself or outsource it? Where I ask you some questions and for you to consider if you should be doing it yourself, if you should outsource it, should you go online, should you sell in person? That's the other episode. So.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:20:55]:
So listen to those. If you're still having doubts after listening to the, the things to consider and the benefits, okay. Of each. So here's my take as well though, for based on years of helping people downsize, declutter and organize their lives, right? Okay. For quick. And my two, like hot takes for you is for quick and easy sales. Like the quick easy, you know, go to of household goods, tools, furniture that doesn't hold sentimental value. Selling in person might be the best way and best bet because people giving you that bargain pricing deal negotiation won't be as personal to you and it'll just, you are now like on a mission to just get rid of it.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:21:36]:
So it's much easier to, to have less of that connection. So a garage sale or flea market stay sale allows you to move items quickly and you don't have to worry about the shipping, which is a big nuisance. So for quick, easy sales of household goods, tools, furniture, things that don't hold sentimental value, go the in person route for more unique or valuable items like collectibles, antiques, or vintage pieces. Online selling will open up to open you up to a much larger audience and often will give you a much higher return because of what we discussed. So just remember that shipping and fees will cut into your profits. But other than that, this is like my quick hot take of which of the two to do so kind of sort through your items and put them into those categories. If you're trying to make some quick decisions and if you're downsizing for a loved one, you may want to mix the two strategies. So maybe you host a garage sale for the bulk of the items and then enlist the rest of the stuff online.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:22:37]:
You can also do the hybrids of like a Craigslist where you sell it online, but then you meet people in person or you have an in person event. So you can also mix the two if you have the time and you have a lot of stuff that you're trying to get the best deal for. So that could, you could just mix those up. Okay. So before we wrap up, though, here are a few quick tips to help you sell, whether it's in person online. I've done this in the past, and I'm just going to give you a couple of, like, three of my best tips for you for this episode. So price it right. Be realistic with your pricing.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:23:11]:
Do your research, whether you're selling in person or online, to see what similar items are going for. Be careful out there for the really inflated prices because they might be doing something that's different. There's fishy stuff going on, too. You know, when people are trying to sell online, just kind of look at the middle ground, take the average and, and see what things are selling. Look at the historical, historical data as well, because the historical data will give you what stuff has sold in the past. Meaning do you need to wait for when there is a, like a, like a, like an event for that item? So I'll give you an example, like a collector's item. If that movie or that thing is trending again because they're making a sequel, because it's become pop, pop culture again, then those things will sell again. But now you're getting into the territory of, are you a collector? And professional collectors have an entire different strategy.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:24:07]:
So I want you to make sure you think about pricing it right for what your goal is. Good photos do matter, especially for online sales. Take very clear, well lit photos because you want to show them the item from all angles so buyers know exactly what they're getting. And then if there's a dispute, you know what you sent. Okay, so take good photos and or videos and have a plan for what doesn't sell. So not everything will go. And that's okay. That is okay.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:24:38]:
So decide ahead of time if you'll donate, repurpose, or try again later. Because that way you can organize them to have another flea market or another garage. Like, I have about two bins that I will always save. Not always, unless everything sells, but items that I'm not ready to give, give up unless I get the good, a good price for it. But I'm okay with storing it. I have the space for it, so I'm okay with that. But I limit it to two binse that I will carry over for the next garage sale. So have some boundaries there, but do have a plan for what doesn't sell.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:25:12]:
So that's it for this week's episode. Let us know what you think. Are you going to sell online? Are you selling things in person? What do you think after this episode? What are you going to do with this stuff? And what's your plan? Let us know over at the organized flamingo on Instagram. Send us a message. Hello, the organizedflamingo.com dot. We'd love to hear from you. And don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Every Wednesday we send a new news, a new newsletter with our upcoming events and what's going on in our world.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:25:46]:
So it has to do with you. Not just for fun, but things that I think are of value to you. And that way you don't have to, you know, log into social media or feel like you need to be, you know, always trying to follow us along this way. I always give you my quick tips and answer all of your questions in one organizer organized fashion that gets delivered right to your inbox for free. So sign up [email protected] quicklinks and all right, until next time, happy organizing. Thank you for listening to the organized and productive podcast with the organized Flamingo. If you enjoyed today's episode, I would love it. If you leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast player, it helps with letting people know that we're here.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:26:29]:
For full show notes and resources, head on over to theorganizedflamingo.com slash podcast. Happy Organizing. You our channel.
