Do you enjoy selling on eBay but would like to expand your audience?
Do you need to de-clutter your home, especially your home office?
Do you need to make a few extra dollars ASAP?
Well, if you can answer “yes” to at least one of these questions, you’ll be happy to know that there are more and more sites like eBay springing up all over the Internet. Some have even been around for a quite few years with good ratings, feedback, and reviews.
While most of you are probably familiar with the “big guys”, sites such as eBay and Amazon, these two are now sharing the spotlight with roughly 20+ others. However, for today, this article will attempt to introduce those other sites and also briefly mention or reintroduce eBay and Amazon.
A Quick History of eBay
Founded on September 3, 1995 by a 28-year-old software developer, Pierre Omidyar, his code became THE code for what would eventually evolve into what we now know as eBay. Originally called AuctionWeb, it became a place to sell overstocked items, antiques or collectibles.
These types of items are still sold today as well as just about anything else you can legally sell, such as timeshares. Some items such as furniture are even listed in The Classified Section and sold to local buyers in your area instead of all over the US and the rest of the world.
The three ways that sellers sell their wares on eBay are:
- set prices or Buy it Now
- Best Offer, which is negotiable
- auctions, which start at .99 with or without free shipping
Now, a Quick History of Amazon
Amazon has a similar history as it was also founded in 1995 by a man named Jeff Bezos, who named it after both the Amazon River and a group of legendary female warriors in Greek mythology. It quickly became a place to get rid of used books. Now used books are just the tip of the iceberg, as new and used CDs are sold as well as a host of other electronics, technical devices, and toys. Brand name items from clothes to décor are also sold via individual and retailers.
Items are listed and sold on Amazon at a set price with shipping added in or sometimes offered for free. The same item will usually be listed by several buyers as either new or used. Used items must be described, detailing their condition and listing any flaws.
So, What Are the 5 Alternatives to eBay?
Now outside of the “big guys” five of the lesser auction sites are:
Bonanza—The Site That Oprah Raves About!
Like its name implies, Bonanza is a big place to sell your unwanted items. Their motto is: “Find anything but the ordinary.”
All sellers basically have a booth and are responsible for selling their items at their asking price instead of having folks bid for the items. The categories include: Collectibles, Crafts, Home & Garden, Gifts, Jewelry and Watches, Fashion, and Health and Beauty. Free shipping is usually offered. Oprah herself has been raving about this site since 2007. They also offer an affiliate program for all you bloggers and web influencers.
Decluttr Is the Site That Will Let You Unload Your Technical Gadgets
Decluttr is a the site where you can buy or sell used and refurbished CDs, DVDs or cell phones or video games. You may use the barcode to find the item and then offer it for sell. Payment is offered the next day via PayPal with free shipping for the buyer.
They are members of the Better Business Bureau and have a 4.5 star rating from TrustPilot.
Diggers List Is Where You List Your Home Improvement Items
DiggersList is a place to list your home improvement classifieds. Simple. Buy and sell items to make your house function better or look better. As you can imagine, all items listed are decorating items or materials that can be used to create decoration. Your town and zip code are typed in and then you would list how far you are willing to drive to buy these items.
Bath, Doors, Electrical, and Storage are some of the many home improvement categories listed. Digger’s List is more for price listing than bidding or making the seller a best offer. There is also a donation center where you can just get rid of what you don’t want without having to bother with selling.
DreamsRecycled Is the Site That Was Founded on Heartbreak
DreamsRecycled.com began in the early part of 2013 when Tiffany Beverlin’s 15-year marriage ended in divorce. Not only was Tiffany left to sort through her life, but also to sort through mounds and mounds of now unwanted items. Items such as her good china and former engagement ring now carried painful memories, but could still fetch a good price if sold to the right person. Tiffany soon realized that other divorcees needed to sell their unwanted items to be able to purchase their new dreams and also to heal in the process.
She also realized that individuals going through divorces needed more services than just “auctioning off” services. They needed a full-blown community with networking, dating, and friendship support.
At DreamsRecycled, most of the fine jewelry there is appraised and is bought along with the appraisal. The ways to sell on DreamsRecycled are to sell at the appraised value or use the “make me an offer” feature in the Marketplace tab on the site’s navigation bar.
The Reuse Marketplace Promotes “Green Living”
Reuse Marketplace is a site with the logo: Capture Value. Exchange Reusable Items. Save Money. Reduce Waste.
The site was founded in 2007 in Scottsdale, Arizona as a way to promote “green living”. It still espouses that “green” way of life today. This site is more for recycling or giving away the items that you no longer want and getting the items that you do want. The site teaches ways to do this, such as putting things along your curb with a “For Free Sign”. There is an online newsletter that teaches the green lifestyle as well.
Items on that site include appliances, building supplies, furniture, glass items, and other items that you would expect to either recycle or NOT have the county garbage collectors pick up. In other words, items that might end up in a landfill are either traded, rented out, given away or sold on the Exchange Forum. Unfortunately, this site only serves the New England and Mid-Atlantic states.
My Coaching Two Cents’ Worth
While many people find an income stream or passion for selling all kinds of different items online, this might not quite be what you want. That’s fine.
However, it still would be a good idea to go ahead and get rid of your unwanted items and then “listen” to what your clutter is trying to say to you.
Why are you getting rid of this item? Is it something you no longer enjoy? Is it something that was once a part of your life that did not work out?
Sometimes knowing what you don’t want in your life is just as important as knowing what you do want in your life. This will help to narrow the question: What do I want my life to look like in the second half? Hence, what will I need my work to look like in the second half?
In Conclusion
So no matter what you want to sell or give away this year, you are not just limited by the “big guys”. You now have options when it comes to online auctions. Whether you are selling to make money or just to clear out the clutter in your life and closets, give these other sites a try.
Have fun and enjoy less clutter on many levels this year.
