Secrets to Selling Second-Hand Items Online

The second-hand market place can be quite a jungle. Unless you’re selling something that’s popular or for which there is constant demand, the chances of the sale actually going through are very slim.

Think about the last time you bought something online. The first thing that you notice is the product image. Pictures play a crucial role when it comes to the sale of a product online. Esty carried out a buyer’s survey and found that 90% of shoppers made their decision to purchase an item based on the quality of the images.

While factors such as pricing, reviews and cost of shipping also played a role in the decision to buy an item, there is no denying the importance that is placed on the image quality.

While carrying out our beta testing for FreeUp, we found similar results. Since the items are traded in points as opposed to actual currency, the quality of the images played a huge role in the determining whether or not the items were grabbed by users.

Another factor that played a role was the image description. Very often, if a user uploaded good quality images of their items, shipping cost and the number of points required to grab the item were overlooked.

3 Golden Rules to Successfully Selling Second-Hand Items Online

If you’re trying to get rid of your pre-loved stuff on the FreeUp app (or any other online marketplace), we have a few tips that you may want to try out to make your items more appealing.

Rule 1: Make sure you are posting items that someone might actually want

Perhaps one of the most annoying habits of individuals who sell used goods online is the fact that they try to sell just about ANYTHING! This is particularly true for household items.

If you’ve ever looked for second-hand items under this category, you know what we’re talking about. Plastic water bottles, threadbare linens, and living room furniture that have seen better days are just a few examples of the kind of items you should NOT be posting online.

Here’s a question you should ask yourself before you list something in a secondhand market place: Is this a secondhand item I would want to spend money on if I was a buyer? If the answer is no, then don’t post it.

Rule 2: Make sure your images accurately capture the item you are selling

As mentioned earlier, the quality of your images plays a big part in getting prospective buyers interested. When uploading images to an online portal, specifically second-hand marketplaces, the quality of your images plays a huge role in attracting buyers.

Pictures that are out of focus put off buyers from clicking on your product

You do not necessarily need a fancy camera to make sure your images look appealing. Here’s are a few tips to ensure you get great pictures at home using your smartphone camera:

1. Make sure your lighting is good. Natural light is usually the best so shooting images close to an open window during the day is the simplest way to do it.
2. The background makes a world of difference! Make sure that your image has a plain background so the focus is on the item you want to sell. White backgrounds usually work best but you can use other colours as well (as long as they’re not too close to the colour of your item). Backgrounds that have some kind of patterns on them usually makes the item appear a bit dull.

You can’t go wrong with a white background

Nobody likes blurry pictures, whether you’re trying to sell something or not, so why not put a bit of effort into making sure your pictures always look great? Here is a detailed guide on how you can take amazing photos using the stuff you have a home.

Step 3: Make sure you describe your item in a way that catches the attention of buyers

Item descriptions are often neglected in the online second-hand marketplace division. While great pictures go a long way, a bland and boring description (or no description at all) can take make buyers second guess their decision to buy your product. Adding a little story related to your product and why you want to list it online adds something extra.

A great description of your product can often become its selling point

Here’s another reason why item descriptions are so important when selling stuff online: unlike brick and mortar stores, buyers don’t get a complete feel of what the item is. Virtual stores can only offer so much. Descriptions can be used to fill in the gaps that are often deter individuals from buying a product online.

Think of item descriptions in terms of a custom-made suit — perfect fit, looks great on you, but missing a matching pocket square. It’s not absolutely essential, but it completes the outfit.

Selling used items online does not have to be as difficult a task as it is often made out to be. If you stick to the rules we just listed, you’ll have buyers lining up in no time!