The Woes of Selling Stuff Online

Is it just me or does selling stuff on the Internet suck?

I honestly have never bothered before. I usually just take the majority of my things to the homeless shelter, try to give a bit of it away to friends, and take whatever is left to Goodwill. I tell myself that it’s because I believe in a culture of mutual exchange and that what I give away will come back to me when I need it that most, but honestly? It’s a combination of laziness and embarrassment about money.

But this time is different. I’m not just giving away my things to down-size, it’s part of a conscious effort to to reduce my belongings so that I can move abroad. And to move out of the country I’m going to need money. So this time, I took a look at my things and divided them into three piles: Keep, Donate, and Sell.

The most appealing idea to me is probably a yard sale, especially if I could get other friends to bring some of their stuff too, but obviously that isn’t really feasible during a global pandemic. I am also a little weirded out by the idea of people knowing where I live and the types of items I own, but perhaps that’s just me being paranoid.

For some reason I just can’t bring myself to sell things on Facebook. I barely use it for anything but scrolling these days as it is. My friends list is the most mixed on that platform, including many parents of my former students or ex-boyfriends. I know it’s irrational but it feels like asking people for money or a handout and I just don’t like having my full name and photo attached to those posts. I also hate haggling, negotiating, and talking about money in general, but especially on such a public forum.

Craigslist is creepy and I say that even as someone who uses it almost exclusively to buy things and find places to live. I did end up making a few posts on there, though.

I started using the app Let It Go and I have had mixed results. I had one man asking to buy something that I have listed and I told him I would be available after 6 pm the following day. He asked for my address and I gave him one of a nearby gas station. The next day he messaged me around 2 pm asking if I was available, I reiterated that I couldn’t meet until after 6, and he just never replied. It’s possible that his plans just changed, but I couldn’t help but think that this is someone who thought he had my home address and confirmation that I wouldn’t be there for four more hours!

And what about payment? Especially right now, contact-less exchange would be ideal and Venmo and Paypal make that so easy, but how do I know they’re not just going to take the items I leave out and never pay me? As far as asking for payment up front, I’m not sure how comfortable I would be with that as a consumer, because what if they didn’t deliver the item, or it ended up being in significantly different condition than promised?

So far I have managed to sell 3 things over the last month for a total of $90 and I’m getting better at it with time, but it’s definitely not something I enjoy. The people have been mostly pleasant and kept the interactions quick, and all but one wore a mask. I learned my lesson with the first guy and I meet them in a grocery store parking lot near my house now. It’s definitely worth getting that extra cash toward my travel fund and credit card debt, even if it’s annoying dealing with people who offer 1/3 of my asking price or say they’re going to meet me, and then don’t show. And I keep down-sizing more of my belongings!

Is it just me? Are there any apps or websites you use to sell things? Any tips on making it more bearable?