Got a stash of old books, electronics, DVDs? Here’s how to turn your clutter into money.
STATEN ISLAND, NY — With the transition from spring to summer comes a need for order: Get out the bathing suits and put away the sweaters — it’s time to swap wardrobes and tidy up the closets. But what about clutter? The old video games, books and CDs that have been cluttering up the attic for years. Before you start recycling boldly, you might want to consider the new Netflix/TikTok/YouTube trend: Decluttering for Money.
“The broken supply chain and lack of inventory is pushing many buyers into the second-hand goods market,” says Clara Albornoz, owner of List perfectlyrecently said The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, detailing various incentives for disposing of used goods. “There’s never been a better time to declutter.”
Albornoz’s site, which she launched in 2019 with fellow dealer Amanda Morse, helps subscribers get a decent amount of money for lightly used items. Reducing the time-consuming process of listing items for sale across multiple channels, List Perfectly allows sellers to enter their listing information once, then automatically populate that information across up to 11 outlets, including Poshmark , Mercari, Instagram, Shopify, eBay, Etsy and Facebook Marketplace. For a monthly fee, you reach more buyers faster.
There is no limit to what people will buy, Albornoz told the media: Old Tupperware, used coffee cups, empty cardboard cylinders of toilet paper or paper towel rolls, broken TV remotes, and even cracked dishes made big money on List Perfectly.
But if you’re new to this online garage sale culture and only have a few category-specific items to offload, you might want to stick to individual websites for their sale. Here’s a look at some of the top online destinations that crave your trash.
Offering instant pricing on cellphones, technology and media, this site allows you to select the make, model and condition of your device, then lock in a quote for 28 days, giving the seller time to find an upgrade.
Those looking to offload CDs, DVDs and games can enter the barcode through the site’s free app, which turns your phone’s camera into a barcode reader. Pack your items, print a free shipping label and drop them off at any UPS location. Once received, an expert will check the item, remove all personal data and submit payment via PayPal or direct deposit. Sellers can also choose to donate the money to charity.
This social commerce marketplace is part Facebook, part thrift store. And if you have new or gently used handbags, clothes, and shoes lying around, you could be earning a legitimate salary. Simply take a photo of your item, price it, list it, and share it with your followers. When someone buys your transport, use Poshmark’s label to ship it, take it to the post office, and then collect. More than 80 million people currently use the service, and many designer items are offered at deeply discounted prices. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Coach and Michael Kors are some of the top rated brands.
Gazelle gives new life to used smartphones, iPads and Macbooks. Users only need to find their item on gazelle.com. If the item is not on the website, the company does not accept it. Answer a few questions about the condition of the item, and if the offer meets your expectations, complete the payment process and click on how you would like to be paid: Check, PayPal or Amazon.co.uk gift card. Shipping is free and the offer is valid for 30 days.
The Gazelle team will check the content of your sale by verifying that it corresponds to your description. If not, sellers will receive a revised offer. If you refuse it, the item will be sent back to you at your shipping costs.
Amazon’s trade-in program lets you trade in appliances, electronics, video games, and more from Amazon for a Amazon.co.uk Gift card. You get trade-in value for your items and free shipping for your quote. Categories are restricted, however, and eligible items primarily include electronics. Shipping is free and sellers will receive 25% off an eligible new device.
Launched in 1995, this is perhaps where the online decluttering phase was born. You can list almost anything on eBay – even if it’s broken – and customers will bid. The site has also evolved to offer a “buy now” option, which takes the stress (and fun) out of the auction process. Sellers should include a description, photo, and shipping options in the listing and should be aware that the site takes a percentage of the sale.
