What do you do with really nice items that do not sell on ebay or other venues?
I have been on ebay since 2000(other ID), and had a good run for many years until the last 4 or 5. I like vintage decor also adding a popular clothing line here and there, and have sold on other venues over the years.
Now, as a very small seller, nothing this selling on ebay or other venues. Therefore, my question, what do I do with really nice items that family members do not want, and to nice for Good Well or yard sales?
Thanks
28 comments
gloryglorygifts
·1 year agoI donated about 45 boxes of beautiful items to the VVA, when I cleaned out my house last year, who was happy to take them. I scheduled a pick up online, waited a month, and they came to get them. Maybe look and see if they have a chapter in your area. Here's the link: https://vva.org.
natoman777
·1 year agoThe question I think you have to ask yourself is...do I want to make money on them, or do I want to keep them?
If items aren't selling on eBay or other platforms, you could try local consignment shop if you have one, or a yard sale. Local FB marketplace is a pretty good option. Other option would be to donate to a good place (I personally would not take to goodwill. St Vincent DePaul or Salvation Army are better options in my opinion)
Or see if local antique store, boutique store might buy them off of you. Hope that helps
silverstatetreasureboxes
·1 year ago@my_boston_baked_beans
You may want to check out your local animal shelter or veterans center as some hold annual sales to help with costs!
pikabo-icu
·1 year ago@silverstatetreasureboxes YES! We have a full time store Paws & Claws, they take donations & sell like the Good Will. It all benefits the local animal shelter. (We are a no kill YAY!)
chevymontecarlo88
·1 year ago@pikabo-icu @silverstatetreasureboxes @my_boston_baked_beans
This is a great way to donate items that will go to a good cause.
Awesome suggestion.
silverstatetreasureboxes
·1 year ago@pikabo-icu
Firm believer in those shelters!
Hubs also donated his nice set of golf clubs, shoes, umbrella to the local high school athletic for young golfers who couldn't afford to buy. They were absolutely thrilled.
pikabo-icu
·1 year ago@silverstatetreasureboxes
That's wonderful! So very kind & thoughtful.
We have a unique organization here, (Rebecca's closet If I recall correctly), we can contact them through the high school. They take in used prom dresses & evening wear & shoes, for students that can't afford a fancy dress for prom. Before each dance they open up at the school, like a store where girls can come try on & select a dress.
I really thought that was clever since those things are usually only worn once. I hope it spreads to other schools, districts and states.
lb23cavaliersmvp
·1 year agoSince you asked, I don't know what category of buyer would have any interest in the lighting and pottery items you currently have for sale at the current price + shipping. If you are willing to take a chance try an auction with a low start price +/- a reserve. Good luck.
bashort
·1 year agoIt took me many years but I have developed the ability to take a perfectly good very nice item that has limited economic value and throw it straight into a dumpster
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoSkeet shooting.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoMy criteria would be "How badly do I need to get rid of this stuff, and why?"
Any amount of stuff is not worth one's sanity and that is the one and only judge in the keep or sell/donate decision I have.
We're clearing out our house, too. I've never owned a lot, but the DH keeps everything (not a hoarder as he's not acquisitive, but he just previously has never gotten rid of anything), so he's making some decisions.
my_boston_baked_beans
OP1 year agoWe are both retired, and I am trying to make our house safer, cleaner, and accident free as possible.
Since, assisted living is so outrageous we have decided to invest in a safer home. Having less makes it easier to clean without the expense of hiring a house cleaning service.
evelyb30
·1 year agoThere are Buy Nothing groups on Facebook where you can just give stuff away. As often as not it finds a home. My church has a group text that finds new homes for furniture consistently. I'd do that over donating to Il Will.
meme6253
·1 year agoIt's a tough call on what to do with these items, We are at a point where older people are trying to eliminate some clutter, & a younger generation that either doesn't appreciate these types of items or just don't want the clutter, That being said your options are what you have all ready pointed out Good Will, Yard Sales, Maybe On A Consignment with a brick & mortar thrift shop, Or donate & take a tax right off, Good Luck to you whatever you choose.
mommaknows
·1 year ago@my_boston_baked_beans
There are a few safe shelters in the Memphis area for abused women with and without children. Maybe check them out.
my_boston_baked_beans
OP1 year agoThank you all for your advice 🙂 Sad when you know what you paid is more than what you can sell nice things for.
We have no real family to speak of, but will be donating our estate so maybe someone will enjoy them.
stuff4divas
·1 year ago@my_boston_baked_beans I scheduled a Salvation Army pick up for later next week. Giving them some awesome furniture pieces, eight total, that I paid big bucks for, example: a solid cherry wood desk, and some bags of clothes (that I could easily sell on eBay) but just so stressful listing clothing items.
I thought about selling, giving to friends, neighbors, etc, but in the end, I feel I got my money's worth by having and using over the years and I decided a quick easy disposal was best. Did not want to add more value to the pieces with my time, plus the pick up is free.
Will also open up a lot of space in my living/closet areas.
Now I need to decide on what to do with my 100 pair of high heel and platform designer shoes. Don't wear them anymore since working from home selling on eBay, 16 years, but every time I look at them, I get too tired to list LOL
Good Luck with whatever u decide.
bandrhome
·1 year ago@stuff4divas I just went through some of my shoes to possibly list that are 10 + years old. So Sex in the City (well Carrie shoes haha) shoes that would sell! Some have started to dry rot though...ugh... They are 'junk' now.
On another note on this tariff thing... Im glad at the moment I have so much stuff around my house to purge, enough for probably 2000 listings! LOL I have not even gotten around to the clothes yet.
My mom also always brings a bags of closes /stuff when she visits to give me,(she doesnt buy junk so nice stuff) most I dont really want so now I'll list it. LOL
Im going to have to revisit my pod goods I sell on Etsy and my site though, I use a company from China. They blow the US companies out of the water for quality, service and price. I tested at least 15 companies. Many of the US companies buy blanks from China anyways and they buy the more 'junk' stuff with a ridiculous markup...
Ive made a good living with my handmade but my hands just cant produce like they used to so I started some POD home goods for another stream... Then Frump came along and blows up small sellers just trying to pay bills.
inhawaii
·1 year agoIf they do not sell, you kinda only have 3 options...
1) Keep them.
2) Give them away.
3) Throw them away.
adamcartwright
·1 year ago@my_boston_baked_beans
Contact an estate sale or consignment company to find out if they can sell your items.
If not, give to family and friends or donate.
bandrhome
·1 year agoThrift stores even turn some stuff away... Many of my neighbors know I refinish furniture so they bring me stuff the thrift stores wont take. LOL Perfectly nice furniture!
I kept a desk and a bed frame, refinished them. The rest I refinished and sold.
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 year agoI am not one of those people who advises you keep lowering your price.
Every sale you make, even if you are a great and honorable seller, places your account at risk.
You need to be making enough on each sale to justify the risk to your account because things go wrong, and not all buyers are great and honorable.
Often giving away out of fashion items is the best alternative. It is even better if the destination of your generosity actually wants your gift.
With the help of one of my grown children, we donated a collection of books on a relevant subject to a small college. We were not looking for a tax deduction, or any payment, they had merit and would have taken years to sell, if they would sell. The college actually wrote a guide to the collection.
We have learned what items the local Goodwill will accept, and it is one of the sophisticated Goodwill's which as well as selling in their stores also sells on their own websites and several internet marketplaces. Yes, they also sell on Ebay. We give them things.
We give some merchandise to long time friends who sell at flea markets. They have been great sources of inventory for us over the years, given us good prices, and this is a way of paying them back for their contribution to our profits.
When I was younger, we would haul a lot of dead merch to flea markets a couple of time a year, but the results were not good enough so we were bringing some merch back. It was depressing to have to pack up the SUV after closing. And I was beat for days after.
susanb1872
·1 year agoYou could try consignment shops for home decor and clothing. You will get a better price than garage sales but probably lower than ebay. But it does depend on the type of item.
m60driver
·1 year agoNothing is too nice for a yard sale. And as far as donating, look for a non-profit thrift shop in your neck of the woods.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoAs long as I have the avaliable listings, I just let them run.
After a couple years, might drop the price some.
pikabo-icu
·1 year agoLower the price..
Lower it again..
Hoard them.
Donate them to a shelter.
Have a yard sale; everything $10. $5. $1. etc...
Good Will.. Tax write off..
That's all I got.
fbusoni
·1 year ago@my_boston_baked_beans
My experience has been that if the price is right, a buyer will surface. I suspect that this is especially true at the moment, when people -- rightly or wrongly -- are freaking out over the economic uncertainty which is creeping in to our daily lives.
Have you thought about experimenting with rock-bottom pricing?
That is, pricing at a level that will essentially pay for the mileage and the time you spend going to the post office?
pickapaper
·1 year ago@my_boston_baked_beans Well, there are a couple of answers to your question, but then, there also really isn't an answer. You can either bite the bullet and sell the items super cheap at a garage sale (or on eBay) or you can hang on to them and let them gather dust. We have all been there (or are there).
We went to an estate sale this morning, last day at 50% off. The house was still full of nice things that no one wants any longer, priced cheap but still not selling at 50% off. I just shake my head and wonder what they are going to do with those all those items after the sale is over. Stopped at another estate sale, same scenario, different merchandise, nice stuff, again, not selling. This seems to be the norm anymore.