I go with the theory that donating gives me good karma. I’ve donated for years and one time after just moving to England a plumber was fixing my sink and heard me on the phone telling a friend I needed to buy a desk. He told me he had a desk he needed to get rid of. Now to be honest I didn’t want to inherit someone’s junk…but he brought it by the next day and it couldn’t have been more perfect! He wouldn’t take a penny for it. What goes around comes around.
@@busrayalavac That was just my immediate thought when the man told me he had a desk he needed to get rid of. Not that what he had was going to be junk just that I didn’t want to bring just any item in that wasn’t going to be a long term item.
the world seems to have changed. After so many bush fires, floods etc people seem to give away fabulous pieces they no longer need, they recognise they have already paid for themselves for their use, and is better to release freely to someone who can value it in the present time. Storage costs money. Space is valuable
Selling is soooo much work, and it was a huge psychological barrier to my decluttering. Thank you for doing this video, because it reminds me to just let it go and donate!
Yes, yes, yes! This is pretty much the process (including checking Amazon and Etsy listings), I used to price out the cost to rebuy hundreds of boxes of mine and my parents’ stuff after our homes were totaled by a cat 5 hurricane. Insurance was only going to pay Pennie’s on the dollar, so I made a spreadsheet with every item, a photo of the condition, and the cost to replace right down to the stacks of post it notes. While most of my stuff was pretty cheap, my parents had lots of extremely high end items, collections, antiques, etc. Almost NOTHING was worth as much as they expected it to be. Even stuff like a 100+ year old copy of Mother Goose rhyme book was not a big chunk of change on Etsy. It was pretty eye opening. Folks, don’t invest in stuff expecting it to appreciate in actual value, and don’t hang onto it when it’s taking over your house. It isn’t worth it.
I have a lovely friend who could not handle my donating stuff which she knew might be valuable. I let her have a go at selling some things she thought were really worth selling. She did sell them, plus some of her own stuff, and had a lot of fun doing it. I refused to take any of the money btw. This year she was decluttering her own stuff and decided on reflection that the hassle of selling, negotiating, returns, mailing expenses etc was absolutely not worth it. Our time is precious but we don’t always realize it until we feel the discomfort of trying to put a price on it.
Friend had a garage sale when her father passed away. But every thing was free! It was great, kids could help, no money to manage, and everything went ! They didn’t need the money but they needed it gone!
I shouldn't confess this out loud in this group but I recently got some great stuff at a "free sale" from a family moving out of the country. I kept a few items, and rehomed a file box of all in Hebrew prayer books, Bibles and texts, and some good quality kitchen knives to people in my buy nothing community.
My mom has encouraged hoarding stuff like this in the past because "it could be worth something!" When my grandma passed and the estate was being sold I saw many similar hoarded items truthfully weren't worth much if anything, despite them being "old". No one wants a 30yr old aluminum canner or 5 boxes of glass vases with flowers on them. And it was SO MUCH stress and work on the family going through the tons of stuff. It's not worth it.
My grandpa looked a lot like Dean Martin when he was young and my mom thought they had records of her dad before she was old enough to read and realized it wasn’t him!
Most people have a vague idea of selling without understanding how tedious and complex the process can be. My daughter went through this selling a few niche items. First posting the item with multiple good photos, adequate description of condition, proper pricing. Then dealing with all the questions from potential buyers, 24/7, many of whom try to undercut your stated price. She would get texts at 3am from people in other countries. Then, once you've made a sale, you have to package everything properly and deal with paying for all the supplies + postage. Ultimately, since the buyer is always right, if they, for any reason, don't like the item, and escalate, you are screwed and have to refund the money. As people advise, unless it's your job, don't bother, just donate and have immediate peace of mind and space in your house!
I am helping a relative sell some things and I get a lot of late night texts from local people too! Lots of people scroll Marketplace late at night and seem to forget they’re texting an *actual human being* at 1am. And then most of them never reply when I text back next morning… It’s such a hassle. And yes, sometimes I’ve ended up doing hours of work only to lose money because a porch pirate (maybe) stole the package and the buyer expects me to refund them. So stressful.
I love that you're giving advice as an actual/former eBay seller! Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom! And thank you for the screensharing footage, really walks an unfamiliar person through where to find this helpful information.
Every auction site, whether online or brick-and-mortar, is awash in objects that people have been decluttering since the shift toward work-at-home during the height of the pandemic. The law of supply and demand being what it is, the value of many items has gone down as there are simply more of them on the market. Add up the time it would take you to photograph the item, take measurements, research prices, write a description, find proper packaging, calculate the shipping charge, and drop the item off at the shipping vendor, and then determine if the return you will get on that item is worth that time. It usually isn't. I've learned that the hard way. I'll never get those hours back.
With the completed listing price, it also included "free shipping." so you need to deduct the cost of shipping, therefore reducing the net return. It probably netted around $5.
I do this when decluttering lots of items- not just to see if they're worth anything but also to see what it would cost to replace something- you know, if I happen to get rid of something and regret it later (which almost never happens). Apart from some very specific professional items, most of what I look up isn't worth the time and effort to try to sell. You can also use the listings to put a value on the items you donate. I try to remember that the money I spent on things is already gone so whether I keep an item or donate it doesn't really change it's value (the money spent is gone) but donating it allows me to free up space in my house/life/soul... whatever. This process has really helped me let go of those "valuable" items that we all hold onto because we spent good money acquiring them.
We did have a free 'sale' when we moved 16 years ago and it was amazing how people took everything, including shingles and a rusty pet cage. When my Mom moved, we gave away a ton of my Dad's stuff and it was great to meet people like a young blacksmith who took tools and metal and a guy who took wood to build his kids a treehouse. Most odd serendipitous find was an unopened Lego set from a box a neighbor was getting rid of in the alley, that brought me $132 on ebay. That almost never happens so I rarely try. :)
After collecting and owning many vintage things, I have found that the value of an item is what someone is willing to pay for it on that particular day! No preconceived notions about worth because of how much I paid for it or I because I saw the same item at a certain price in a store or online!
I remember the time that I kept my son's treasured artwork that he made in elementary school. Many years later when he was in high school I was decluttering and the artwork accidentally came apart from the construction paper backing. I was shocked to see that my son's beautiful handiwork hadn't belonged to him at all and actually was another student's instead!
Thank You so very much, Dana, for posting this video. I was sitting in the living room with my mother this morning. She has a huge Star Trek collection. I've been trying to get her to part with. She used to attend conventions and sell Trek stuff. She sees the $$$$$$ she's invested in all of it. She keeps saying, "They are not going to want to pay what I'm asking for it." So here in our living room, the totes and stuffed bookcases of Trek mememerbilia sits. This video has helped her see the reality of the true non value of the stuff. She realizes that even the original, back in the very beginning, stuff isn't worth as much as she fantasized. She was counting on the money she expected to make from selling all that to go towards home improvement. After watching this video, maybe we can purge at least 90% of it. We are very appreciative about the Ebay education. Unless selling things online is your "job", DONATE.
This has been the single most helpful decluttering video I have seen up to this point, and I've watched hours and hours of them. Finally some actual guidance that will help me make decisions rather than hearing "just get rid of it". THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I'd definitely advise following Dana's no mess method. It means progress & only progress. 🙌🏼 So no more turning the whole house upside down for a week (or a month...) because I decided to "organize" a random hall closet on a Tuesday night! 🥴
Kalinka, yes! AGREED. I suggest you watch more of her videos. Her process is SO DIFFERENT from any others I've seen or heard of. She thinks like a person for whom this is hard, not easy - so her ideas work for us. :)
I felt the same way about a Yard sale (that this video addresses w/ Ebay) After holding on to "stuff" til I could amass enough to make it worth my effort, & then becoming so overwhelmed by the piles, I decided my time & space was/is so much more valuable than any bit of $ I would make...I donated everything & never regretted it!! 😊❤
Dana, we just moved and had some very nice furniture that I could have tried to sell but frankly everyone wants garage sale prices and then there is the issue of a stranger coming to your home which made us uncomfortable. Fortunately, a friend told us of an organization that wants nice furnishings for single moms - that was the perfect place for our furniture to go to help a single mom - FREE!!
I began selling on eBay about 5 months ago, after thinking about it for years. I finally started because I needed to increase my income. And I have. It’s a joy to pick up an item around the house, research its worth, take pics, list it, and sell it. I have tons more to list - mostly vintage china, ceramics and art glass. The key is you MUST enjoy it! It’s become my part time job but I’m having a blast! Several comments expressed concerns about the fees and shipping eating into profits. My buyers pay shipping and I factor in the fees when I set the listing price. Hope that helps someone on the fence about selling!
It's still new and exciting for you. I started selling online in 1999 and I'm so over it. I'm left with 18 complete sets of fine china, 40 sets of silverware, and hundreds of vintage crystal and glass drinkware. Prices dropped, tastes changed, and postage has increased more than 400% in the last decade or so. I loved it for a long time, so enjoy it while the euphoria lasts.
I'm an active ebay seller, too, with a lovely little niche and very little competition. :) I started by selling all kinds of house stuff, but I've made my container so much smaller! I actually donated roughly 80% of my store inventory and shipping materials last year to a refugee resettlement program, so they can have an easy (if somewhat tedious) way to learn e-commerce.
Thank you Dana for being the only declutter person on eBay to actually talk about reselling and give very sound advice 🙏🏼. Last year I was able to make about £2000 profit for my in laws using this method for reselling their unwanted clutter. They had a lot of ‘vintage’ type of items which are very profitable here in the UK. It was only because I had the experience, time and space to do this for them. They would have still been sitting with the items had they just kept them because because it might be worth something and not had my help and expertise. I invested many many hours researching, photographing, listing, packaging and mailing etc so even at that much profit it came at cost. Not to mention that I have all my boxes, packaging, tape, printer and tools at the ready so I can get sold items packaged and shipped quickly. Delay shipping your item because you don’t have the right packaging and you risk a negative review
I just did this last week! The little dolls my uncle bought me from Germany when I was little (I'm 55 now) have been in their plastic containers since I got them because he said they'd be valuable some day. I checked what has sold on eBay and they go for between $9-$12 each. I had 4. They were donated the next day!
I struggle with the dreaded sentimental clutter. It's hard to donate things when my MIL gives them to me from her stuff. She actually caught me trying to sell some things at my garage sale, and took them back to her house! I just can't win! Lol
I find it sad that I did this on various items instead of just enjoying them when I loved them. I'm trying not to pass down that collectible mentality to my kids.
@Joyce Theobald hey, with mil it is probably not about winning, rather about finding a way to communicate....have you tried to tell her that you appreciate her thinking of you when giving you stuff that she loves/d but you don't, but you really feel you don't have the energy to maintain it? Maybe a shift in the approach helps...
@@belllchina That approach can also backfire. I very considerately and respectfully told my mother-in-law that our home is small and has to contain all the belongings of four people. And that I would be unable to accept any more gifts of books and DVD's that she regularly liked to give us. I gently suggested consumable gifts instead. Well, she wrote us off, chose to be offended and will not have anything more to do with us! In retrospect, I should have accepted the constant barrage of unwanted gifts and promptly delivered them to the thrift store instead of her now ignoring even her grandchildren's birthdays.😔
One more bit of advice if you list it on eBay. Have it boxed up and ready to ship. List the shipping weight and dimensions so eBay can charge the buyer for shipping. Then when it sells, you aren't paying more for the shipping than what you charged, AND it's ready to tape up and label and mail. Believe me, things sell when you are crazy busy.
Active ebay seller here. LOVE that you went to Completed Listings!! That's how I price out any listing. Add these to your calculations: 1. Fees are basically 13% of the sale price. 2. Shipping is a minimum of $3.50 (most of my listings are 4oz or less) because tracking is an important metric as a seller. 3. Envelopes or boxes, labels, and packing material usually cost $1/order. 4. You can choose to donate a percentage of your sales. I use this as my tithe, so it's very valuable to me.
Even though I have a strong decluttering muscle there is always that thought of selling in , so … your video was a perfect reminder of not wasting my time to sell!
I find that selling only specific items helps me deal with the money aspect of decluttering. I sell kids toys, dolls, trains, etc. because I know the market on eBay / Craigslist. However, I donate or give away just about everything else (clothes, dishes, decor, etc.) that I’m decluttering. I found that when I tried to sell / EBay too many different things it was overwhelming, but keeping it to just one category, made it easier and more fun. Having a system and plan for what to do with the items I want to declutter is super helpful.
That Dean Martin sold because it had free shipping and the others didn't, willing to bet. Something to think about. I love this because I have a crap ton of this kind of stuff of my grandma's and I need to just send it on its way! Thank you, Dana!
That would have made it the same price as the $8 who charged for shipping. The record was graded excellent, and the inserts very good. Those may have been the difference.
Thank you for this! I hung onto things for years because they might be worth something. Finally, I did put on marketplace and sold for not much, but enough and it's out of my house!
Getting rid of things has helped me realize I should be a lot more careful what I bring into my home. I still make mistakes but I’m soooo much better! I try to be more intentional. Because if I buy something that I won’t use I’ll have to get rid of it. Or maybe think about selling it and that’s so mentally draining.
My dad left two collections when he passed away. My mom insisted they were worth "a lot of money." A cousin was kind enough to check worth on Ebay, which was low and I decided, not worth the hassle of selling on line. Eventually there will be an estate sale, and these items will be put into that. For me, the easier way to sell, or donate if they remain. I recognize the value of my time, which is how I prefer to weigh the "to sell or donate" question. They are boxed up, languishing in my basement, until estate sale time.
I am so glad you pointed out the sold and completed options. Like you said, it gives an idea of how much they're selling and not selling for. I learned about those many years ago. At the start of my decluttering, almost everything in good shape, I said I'll sell it. After selling a couple things, I analyzed the process. Take pictures, create description, look up reasonable starting price, weigh and measure item and look up shipping cost, respond to texts (most people are just tire kickers & waste your time.) If I listed locally, I only agreed to meet at times that I was going to be in that area anyway. That way, no gas and wear and tear cost. After considering all of that, I thought, "I'll be lucky if I can spend only 1 hour doing all that per item." And my time is very valuable. I can never get it back. So, if the item is selling for approx. $20, and I feel I've put in $15-20 of my time, I'm now barely making anything off it. So, it took me no time to raise the sell-vs-donate threshold from $1 or $2, up to $20 or more. That big pile of stuff I was going to make listings for, almost completely evaporated.
Possible PSA for those helping relatives: If you volunteer to do the price checking for non-techy relatives and your relative doesn't believe the prices/data you find....don't waste too much energy trying to prove it or convince them. Sometimes relative has an immutable opinion that {item} is ✨valuable✨ (for emotional reasons or otherwise). Do your best to move onto other items or good luck dying on that hill.
Some years ago I had an old record player from the sixties to get rid of. It was the kind that folded up and was carried around like a suitcase. I'd kept it because I'd remembered it from when I was little but found that if I plugged it in it zapped me and decided that safety was more important than sentiment and added it to the neighbourhood garage sale items. When a woman looked it over I warned her it needed electrical attention and therefore would sell it to her for $5. I thought she was going to hurt herself getting the money out of her wallet so fast. I'd made her day. Now it's possible she fixed the stupid wire in 5 minutes and sold it for a stupid high amount but that doesn't matter. I got rid of something that was in my way and sent her over the moon at the same time. After that I cut out the annoyance of the garage sale and started putting larger things for free on one of those giveaway websites. That had someone else haul it away and gave me a good rating in case I ever need something in return. If it's still around when I'm heading to the thrift store then it goes with me. That woman changed my point of view for the better.
Great video. You covered a lot of key points in a short time. I especially like the idea at the end about it being ok to sell it, but getting it out of the way of your real life and containing it. Something similar I do is lock a time I might have something on Marketplace (for local pick up). It might b 90 days, but if it hasn't sold, I HAVE to donate. That's the window, no exceptions. If market is there, it will sell. But the ebay tip gives me even more insight as to whether there is even a demand to start with. (p.s. love your Dean Martin story. Girl, our kid-crushes are REAL!) ;)
And don't forget shipping and handling costs, that eats a lot of any profits you may think you will get. When I sold stuff on Ebay years ago that was the biggest reason against selling anything, the packaging alone can be very expensive especially if its oversized or bulky or whatever
I was going through my dishes and was going to donate to Salvation Army. Out of curiosity, I googled. I discovered I actually have some worth over $2,000. But, selling is such a hassle so I’m gifting them to a family member. It’s a WIN-WIN. Out of my house and they are HaPpY! 😊
Stay away from Salvation Army. I could write a book on what goes on there. Find small, local thrift shops to donate to. Or churches. Just some unsolicited advice for future reference :-)
@@katie7748 Yes, please elaborate on the issues with Salvation Army. Decluttering is hard enough and finding a worthy, honest donation partner just creates another issue. 😩
@@katie7748 Yea, yea. The staff gets all the "good" stuff. The SA has become "woke". The SA is bad because (whatever the uproar was around Christmas 2021). I actually READ up on what was going on. The MSM, as usual, had the masses in an uproar and boycotting it. Small, local thrifts can be very hard to find and they are a much smaller venue and prolly won't take most of what one wants to donate. GW and SA all the way for fast disposal.
I'm preparing to move (downsizing) and am an eBay seller. I love this example of the Dean Martin record. Just last week I took 6 boxes of vinyl records from my garage to a thrift store. I've had these boxes for 3 1/2 years because "they might be worth something" so I said yes I'll take them when my husband's grandfather died. Unfortunately I hadn't managed to go through this simple process with the last couple of boxes and the value changes, so if I procrastinated on the boxes where I did actually check completed listings the value probably changed in the meantime. I probably made $250+ on records I did sell, but it was such a relief to reclaim that space in my garage when I offloaded the rest of them. My eBay model is changing with this move (my third move since I started selling on eBay) and I'm cutting out most items that require a box because the boxes have become clutter to me (they have been clutter to my husband for years now). It has taken almost 5 years to get to the point I'm at now, where I don't want to expend the effort or give up storage space for things that really aren't worth much.
YES!!!!!! 95% off my inventory goes in padded envelopes! And the rest will not be offered again once these items are sold! I'm not trafficking anything I need to use a box larger than 4x6x2 or 9x6x3 in a padded priority envelope! (Those can all fit in one bin.)
I love this! I exclusively sell things on Craigslist but only if I’m confident I could get $100+ in a few days (often meaning I’m ok listing it heavily discounted in return for getting it out quickly). I used to sell a lot on eBay but times have changed, the seller scene was a lot different 5-10 years ago. I also like the idea of “blessing someone” with a really nice donated item.
Hi Dana, currently reading "Decluttering at the Speed of Life." This point here is a big one for me as we used to sell everything even for a couple of dollars because we needed the money so bad. We could still use it now, but it's not as critical. And what is valuable to me may not be valuable to anyone else. I need these tips as we are decluttering a huge home that has tons of "stuff" in it.
An item is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. Sellers with grandiose ideas of what their stuff is worth, or wanting to get more for their item than it is worth, need a reality check if they really want to unload the item.
Reid’s humor at the end is so awesome! Makes me smile! Thanks for another helpful video! Definitely donating more than I used to in the past and it’s so much better!
So helpful! I’m selling some things for a relative and have had to learn so much about this process. The first search page you showed is worth scrolling down to see how many competitors you’d have if you decided to sell and what they’re trying to get. Some vintage things are a dime a dozen on eBay. Some things are worth a surprising amount - my sister’s Sanrio junk from the early 80s was worth far more than some antiques we’ve sold - but you still have to deal with dumb questions about why shipping is so expensive, breakage, misdelivery, porch pirates, scams, etc. And boxes and padded mailers are so expensive to buy that you start keeping every one you get + bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and suddenly your house is a shipping department. Local pickup sales on Marketplace have their own hassles and a much narrower market, and some people will still ask you to ship things. It’s a huge headache.
This is where I'm super held up at the moment, but I have legit over 10k in stuff from past business and hobbys, not to mention a now toddlers baby stuff we overspent stupidly on etc. But regardless of the value, I know it's gonna take me some serious time and is also keeping my house full of crap I want gone, but when we are really in a tight financial spot lately, how can I decide what to just get rid of and what's worth the time and space to try to make money off of that we could really really use. It's so dang hard. Not to mention the whole inner conflict of being a stay at home mom, but one whose slowly building a new business (which is already all consuming as it is) knowing my time is limited, but also the other half says I can and should make the time and make that extra cash. So I'm just stuck. I went through almost everything in the house, all that's left is keeping items and 4x that in stuff to sell (and a few donation boxes I have no clue where I'm bringing to actually donate to begin with hah) and my house is more stressful to me than ever. Why can't I just get it done, organized, photographed, and listed on marketplace so it's easier selling etc. Or otherwise just get rid of it all, or some of it or what? Haha see I'm just sooooo stuck in my own dang chaos 😓
I'm still in love with Dino, have a collection of movies and a Spotify playlist. Oh, the things we've saved that were once worth a few bucks, probably isn't worth anything today. Sadly I Google Lensed my antique dishes, carnival glass and such, not worth more than a few bucks.
Omg this message is so important. I wanted to sell my stuff but I couldn't. It all got donated or recycled. There's still a few things I'm hanging on to incase I can sell them. I know better... just have to do better.
Selling items, with all the things that can go wrong with the process, can add stress and aggravation to your life. I sold one thing on Ebay and it was a nightmare. Ebay claimed that they were unable to take their little fee out of the price when it sold so they fined me. At the time there were no options for getting help from Ebay. None of it made any sense and I thought I would lose my mind. As a result I lost money on the transaction. In hindsight it would have been a favor to my future self to just donate the item.
I do this all the time. Very helpful. Also, you can *search the completed listings by price+shipping low to high* (a high successful sale price that includes free shipping brings down the effective price & profit a lot) & *compare the # of completed listings to sold listings* . If there were 83 completed & only 10 of them sold, you know it's not in demand; if more than half sold, look again at the prices.
Also as of last year Ebay and other similar sales arenas must report income over $600. On a fixed income this could change numbers to cost you in the long run. Now add in gas+hastle of mailing, wrapping etc...😮
Another thought about selling on eBay: Do NOT forget about all the eBay fees you will be paying, as these will decrease the profit you will eventually make on the sale.
@UCF Hill College Not really. You add the cost of shipping to the item's price. I have a basic rule of thumb that 4oz or less needs $4 shipping, 5-8oz needs $6. Anything heavier gets priority flat rate. If I can't support those shipping costs, then I can't afford to sell that item.
Thank you for this. I never go in for the sell until last week. I had a sea container my ex left here and I didn’t know it had a rusty roof and that’s why he left it. I got about 40% of my asking because of the rust but something was better than nothing. Now I have that yard space. I also got rid of large panes of glass for free (not worth selling) but now I can continue taking down some derelict aviaries and reclaim that space. Haven’t sold the pool table yet but can’t believe I got rid of the other stuff and wasn’t expecting the ads to pay off within 36hrs.
Totally agree with the delusion of the breakthrough! That Dean Martin album shipped for free so once shipping is paid for, what really is the profit? Esh...probably not too much. Yup, better off donating it to get it out of the house! Great video Dana!
Oh wow, I have been hesitating over all sorts of stuff because it "might" be valuable. While watching a video on something completely different, this video came up on the side, and of course the title caught my eye. I had not heard of you before - so talk about timing! Maybe there really is a decluttering angel working to get me out of my rut :)
I am an ebayer who buys when I NEED something. I have sold a few things in the long-ago past. I learned this tip years ago and it is very valid in helping to get rid of things you think are, or could be, valuable. Great video, Dana!
Wow. This is my favorite video of all the ones I've seen on your channel! This category is the largest percentage of my clutter. It's going to be quite freeing to start looking these things up so I can let them go without anxiety. Thank you!
Oh my goodness!!! This was so timely for me as I have several items that I wanted to get rid of or even donate to a special charity thinking they could get a lot for it. I checked and they have sold for $30 and under. That is not enough to make is worth keeping for me. These items were also a little sentimental to me too, so still hard to let go but I would rather have the space then keep them in a box in the garage. Thank you so much for posting this today!
So, I have the opposite issue. I found junk and it’s ending up worth a ton, and continually selling at those prices. I have decluttered about 80% of household items, and now wanting to get into reselling items. I don’t know how to use eBay for reselling yet. Thanks for your work. You have helped me in rough, ‘paralyzing’ moments.
It’s not as hard to SELL on eBay as it is to GET STARTED! I put it off for years but finally started listing last August. Now I list every day. Give it a try, it’s a thrill when you get a notification that something sold!
My husband has a small eBay store, and selling can be a great thing, but eBay has a LOT of rules you need to become very familiar with. I highly recommend reading eBay terms as well as Reddit and Quora posts about rules regarding sales, shipping, tracking, payouts, negotiations, disputes, becoming a "trusted seller" etc! It can take a lot of time to get established, shipping is tedious, your ratings depend largely on buyer reviews, and most buyers don't review unless they're unsatisfied. I recommend tracking the number of active hours you spend on it and see if the money is worth the time. It definitely can be if you manage it well. Wish you the best!
Thanks for the excellent advice! You're absolutely right about selling not always being worth the time or effort. With eBay in particular you need to be very mindful of the rules, especially regarding keeping your account in good standing and holds on payments for new sellers or for items over $1000. My husband has a small eBay store, and you definitely have to manage it well to avoid putting more in than you get out.
Very helpful. There is only one thing I saw worth $300 that I want to sell somehow. But, you reminded me I just looked at the Ebay prices, not PAST BUYER ACTIVITY! That may help me just donate the thing instead.
Excellent post. I am going to continue donating and using eBay. I have an eBay closet. I call it my project closet. It works. Really helps to know what things actually sell for. Thank you!
"Living my right now life." *head explodes* That really helps as I come across the former/fantasy self items that have NOTHING to do with the life I am living today and we are putting in place for the future.
Thank you so much! I had bought an apartment washing machine during the pandemic and it took up room in my closet, thinking I would sell it. Well I gave it away on Facebook marketplace for free and it was out of my apt! I had also started a food stockpile because everyone said there would be food shortages. I am thinning this out and donating it to the food bank. I just emptied a set of shelves that I am also getting rid of. Next I am going to go through my spices!
Excellent suggestions as always to help us think through "delusions" in favor of some reality. I hope folks watch it all because your end credits always crack me up. :)
A little appreciation for Editor Reid... Reid's comments at the end always crack me up. I often play these videos while I'm moving laundry or loading the dishwasher. When I only have ears but not eyes on the end of the video, I always go back to read his comments. Love his humor. Must take after his mama.
Fantastic advice, Dana! This is hard especially with items passed down with promised value. Getting caught in many of the clutter traps, I used to lament over donating things that still had value. But selling is too exhausting for me anymore and it’s always been hit or miss on marketplace. I never tried limiting the inventory and prioritizing based on the value.
I have been holding on to a vase that belonged to my grandmother. I took your advice and did a "completed listings" search on Ebay. This helped so much!
Thank you, Dana! I really appreciated this. My husband is an antique dealer, (on the side). We use eBay just like this to determine value. I would suggest putting a post it note on the item with the value that you discovered and the date, so you don't have to research it again. The dilemma I now face is getting him to establish a "selling" time into our routine. (-- we have an entire room in our basement that we call the e-bay room.) It IS necessary to have a place to put potential sale items, but you also need a plan of when you are going to do the selling. (Have a selling place, not a selling 'Room'!)
One of my personal rules is that when it comes to stuff that isn't my primary niche, I can't keep more than two medium moving boxes of unlisted inventory. Also, that unlisted inventory has a one-year expiration date. If I haven't listed it in 1 year from the time it goes in those boxes, then it gets donated because it's not worth the time or hassle. Also, when it is listed, the correct packed weight is listed (because it's boxed up and ready - just needs my personalized than you note), then it goes on my shelf for listed inventory with a post-it describing what it is, Box size, and weight. I'm okay with inventory lingering on the listed shelf until my next move. :)
I saw a really good quote from someone called Cassandra Aarssen: “Remember that the money you spent on your item is GONE. You are not any richer because you store this item in your home, and you won’t be poorer if you let it go.” 😊👍🏻
This is great advice! I am going to use this the next time my husband says, “No, I don’t want to get rid of that. It’s worth $” To me, the effort invested in selling something is rarely covered by the price someone will pay for it. This is a terrific “Take it there now” tool. Thank you!
Just took most of a trunk full of art supplies to Boys & Girls Club. Yay! We all win. I have an empty closet & the kids have some fun supplies. Ty Dana!❤
I noticed on the listing for the album which sold for more money, it had “free shipping”. So, in terms of how much profit the seller made it probably worked out about the same as the cheaper ones anyway.
I use the eBay COMPLETED & SOLD info to price the things I sell on FB Marketplace. I usually ask 50% or less of what I see there, if it's worth selling at all. I refuse to ship anything and simply sit it on my porch for local pickup. I do it for fun and if an inexpensive item gets taken without payment, so be it but in my four years of just trusting folks, that's never happened. Amazing.
We ran into this with many items of my grandma's. I also have an extended family member that collects and it was a harsh reality when they realize their stuff didn't sell wasn't selling as fast as I thought. I think it was the reality of waiting for that right person and having to store it until then
Lipstick marks on the album cover! Oh my!! I had to giggle and giggle. Good advice on actual worth verses assumed worth/sentimental worth, and how to move forward quickly with your decisions. Very real. Thanks.
Oh my husband sooo needs to see this! He says this so much that we literally have no room to store anything until it sells on eBay. I’m to the point now that I get rid of things and he doesn’t know about it.
Dean Martin 😍 oh, Dana, this is why I love and relate to you! I adored Bing Crosby and had a picture of him on my steering wheel throughout high school (in the late 90s)!🤣 I didn’t kiss it, but still...
This was so helpful! When my kids were young, I had to have garage sales to get money for groceries. Now that they are grown, mostly I have things I bought that I shouldn't have and I don't need grocery money, so I should just get rid of them -- but I still have that "I've got to sell it" mentality! I wish there were more consignment stores so I could get it out of my house and get a little money for it -- but mostly I just need to reclaim my space.
Before I even watch the video, the way I dealt with "I could sell that, ill put it to the side," was taking a photo of the item and throwing it up on Mercari IMMEDIATELY. Just 2 shots front & back & the brand tag and a title. If an item is as prized as its believed, someone will purchase it fast or inquire more info/photos, which you can do AFTER cleaning the area you're in. Kind of like your "put it away now" premise. If you're going to sell it, do it now. You can take better photos & write a proper description, maybe bump the price up LATER. I've definitely sold items with awful photos while I was cleaning hahaha
I go with the theory that donating gives me good karma. I’ve donated for years and one time after just moving to England a plumber was fixing my sink and heard me on the phone telling a friend I needed to buy a desk. He told me he had a desk he needed to get rid of. Now to be honest I didn’t want to inherit someone’s junk…but he brought it by the next day and it couldn’t have been more perfect! He wouldn’t take a penny for it. What goes around comes around.
Inherit someones junk? But thats what donating is about to someone else…
@@busrayalavac That was just my immediate thought when the man told me he had a desk he needed to get rid of. Not that what he had was going to be junk just that I didn’t want to bring just any item in that wasn’t going to be a long term item.
This is so good. I’m in my town’s buy nothing group and that’s what I love is seeing things go to someone who really puts it to good use.
Totally agree with this!
the world seems to have changed. After so many bush fires, floods etc people seem to give away fabulous pieces they no longer need, they recognise they have already paid for themselves for their use, and is better to release freely to someone who can value it in the present time. Storage costs money. Space is valuable
Converting your $ into stuff is super easy. Trying to undo it and turn your stuff into $ is a major hassle. It's just a thought.
Selling is soooo much work, and it was a huge psychological barrier to my decluttering. Thank you for doing this video, because it reminds me to just let it go and donate!
Same. I get SO frustrated trying to sell stuff.
yep I ended up just donating a lot of things because the time and effort involved in eBay selling just wasn't worth it.
Yes, yes, yes! This is pretty much the process (including checking Amazon and Etsy listings), I used to price out the cost to rebuy hundreds of boxes of mine and my parents’ stuff after our homes were totaled by a cat 5 hurricane. Insurance was only going to pay Pennie’s on the dollar, so I made a spreadsheet with every item, a photo of the condition, and the cost to replace right down to the stacks of post it notes. While most of my stuff was pretty cheap, my parents had lots of extremely high end items, collections, antiques, etc. Almost NOTHING was worth as much as they expected it to be. Even stuff like a 100+ year old copy of Mother Goose rhyme book was not a big chunk of change on Etsy. It was pretty eye opening. Folks, don’t invest in stuff expecting it to appreciate in actual value, and don’t hang onto it when it’s taking over your house. It isn’t worth it.
I have a lovely friend who could not handle my donating stuff which she knew might be valuable. I let her have a go at selling some things she thought were really worth selling. She did sell them, plus some of her own stuff, and had a lot of fun doing it. I refused to take any of the money btw. This year she was decluttering her own stuff and decided on reflection that the hassle of selling, negotiating, returns, mailing expenses etc was absolutely not worth it. Our time is precious but we don’t always realize it until we feel the discomfort of trying to put a price on it.
Friend had a garage sale when her father passed away. But every thing was free! It was great, kids could help, no money to manage, and everything went ! They didn’t need the money but they needed it gone!
I shouldn't confess this out loud in this group but I recently got some great stuff at a "free sale" from a family moving out of the country. I kept a few items, and rehomed a file box of all in Hebrew prayer books, Bibles and texts, and some good quality kitchen knives to people in my buy nothing community.
My mom has encouraged hoarding stuff like this in the past because "it could be worth something!" When my grandma passed and the estate was being sold I saw many similar hoarded items truthfully weren't worth much if anything, despite them being "old".
No one wants a 30yr old aluminum canner or 5 boxes of glass vases with flowers on them. And it was SO MUCH stress and work on the family going through the tons of stuff. It's not worth it.
My grandpa looked a lot like Dean Martin when he was young and my mom thought they had records of her dad before she was old enough to read and realized it wasn’t him!
Most people have a vague idea of selling without understanding how tedious and complex the process can be. My daughter went through this selling a few niche items. First posting the item with multiple good photos, adequate description of condition, proper pricing. Then dealing with all the questions from potential buyers, 24/7, many of whom try to undercut your stated price. She would get texts at 3am from people in other countries. Then, once you've made a sale, you have to package everything properly and deal with paying for all the supplies + postage. Ultimately, since the buyer is always right, if they, for any reason, don't like the item, and escalate, you are screwed and have to refund the money. As people advise, unless it's your job, don't bother, just donate and have immediate peace of mind and space in your house!
I am helping a relative sell some things and I get a lot of late night texts from local people too! Lots of people scroll Marketplace late at night and seem to forget they’re texting an *actual human being* at 1am. And then most of them never reply when I text back next morning… It’s such a hassle. And yes, sometimes I’ve ended up doing hours of work only to lose money because a porch pirate (maybe) stole the package and the buyer expects me to refund them. So stressful.
I love that you're giving advice as an actual/former eBay seller! Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom! And thank you for the screensharing footage, really walks an unfamiliar person through where to find this helpful information.
Every auction site, whether online or brick-and-mortar, is awash in objects that people have been decluttering since the shift toward work-at-home during the height of the pandemic. The law of supply and demand being what it is, the value of many items has gone down as there are simply more of them on the market. Add up the time it would take you to photograph the item, take measurements, research prices, write a description, find proper packaging, calculate the shipping charge, and drop the item off at the shipping vendor, and then determine if the return you will get on that item is worth that time. It usually isn't. I've learned that the hard way. I'll never get those hours back.
I love your last sentence! “I’ll never get those hours back” hit home for me. 🙂
With the completed listing price, it also included "free shipping." so you need to deduct the cost of shipping, therefore reducing the net return. It probably netted around $5.
Great point!
Plus you need to deduct the Ebay seller fees!
and you need to consider the hassle of packaging and finding the right sized box!
@@starfire893 and all the clutter that keeping “good boxes” and packaging creates!
Yes! I saw that, too.
I do this when decluttering lots of items- not just to see if they're worth anything but also to see what it would cost to replace something- you know, if I happen to get rid of something and regret it later (which almost never happens). Apart from some very specific professional items, most of what I look up isn't worth the time and effort to try to sell. You can also use the listings to put a value on the items you donate. I try to remember that the money I spent on things is already gone so whether I keep an item or donate it doesn't really change it's value (the money spent is gone) but donating it allows me to free up space in my house/life/soul... whatever. This process has really helped me let go of those "valuable" items that we all hold onto because we spent good money acquiring them.
Dean Martin with lipstick marks! You made my day😅
We did have a free 'sale' when we moved 16 years ago and it was amazing how people took everything, including shingles and a rusty pet cage. When my Mom moved, we gave away a ton of my Dad's stuff and it was great to meet people like a young blacksmith who took tools and metal and a guy who took wood to build his kids a treehouse. Most odd serendipitous find was an unopened Lego set from a box a neighbor was getting rid of in the alley, that brought me $132 on ebay. That almost never happens so I rarely try. :)
After collecting and owning many vintage things, I have found that the value of an item is what someone is willing to pay for it on that particular day!
No preconceived notions about worth because of how much I paid for it or I because I saw the same item at a certain price in a store or online!
At this point in time, we need the money more than the declutter. I have donated many items in the past, but right now we need to sell.
Go for it and best of luck. Don't ask unrealistic prices and your things should move and bring you the needed funds.
I remember the time that I kept my son's treasured artwork that he made in elementary school.
Many years later when he was in high school I was decluttering and the artwork accidentally came apart from the construction paper backing.
I was shocked to see that my son's beautiful handiwork hadn't belonged to him at all and actually was another student's instead!
Oh my!!! (((HUGS)))
Hilarious!
🤣🤣🤣 And you pitched it without a qualm or a delay.
Thank You so very much, Dana, for posting this video. I was sitting in the living room with my mother this morning. She has a huge Star Trek collection. I've been trying to get her to part with. She used to attend conventions and sell Trek stuff. She sees the $$$$$$ she's invested in all of it. She keeps saying, "They are not going to want to pay what I'm asking for it." So here in our living room, the totes and stuffed bookcases of Trek mememerbilia sits. This video has helped her see the reality of the true non value of the stuff. She realizes that even the original, back in the very beginning, stuff isn't worth as much as she fantasized. She was counting on the money she expected to make from selling all that to go towards home improvement. After watching this video, maybe we can purge at least 90% of it.
We are very appreciative about the Ebay education. Unless selling things online is your "job", DONATE.
This has been the single most helpful decluttering video I have seen up to this point, and I've watched hours and hours of them. Finally some actual guidance that will help me make decisions rather than hearing "just get rid of it". THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I'd definitely advise following Dana's no mess method. It means progress & only progress. 🙌🏼
So no more turning the whole house upside down for a week (or a month...) because I decided to "organize" a random hall closet on a Tuesday night! 🥴
Kalinka, yes! AGREED. I suggest you watch more of her videos. Her process is SO DIFFERENT from any others I've seen or heard of. She thinks like a person for whom this is hard, not easy - so her ideas work for us. :)
I felt the same way about a Yard sale (that this video addresses w/ Ebay) After holding on to "stuff" til I could amass enough to make it worth my effort, & then becoming so overwhelmed by the piles, I decided my time & space was/is so much more valuable than any bit of $ I would make...I donated everything & never regretted it!! 😊❤
Dana, we just moved and had some very nice furniture that I could have tried to sell but frankly everyone wants garage sale prices and then there is the issue of a stranger coming to your home which made us uncomfortable. Fortunately, a friend told us of an organization that wants nice furnishings for single moms - that was the perfect place for our furniture to go to help a single mom - FREE!!
Donating is such a relief. I always imagine someone finding something they were really hoping for and needing.
I am one who is thrilled to find an item I have been wanting, needing or looking for! The "thrill of the hunt" is real!
Oh my gosh, my parents played that Dean Martin album all the time when I was a kid! What a great memory!
I began selling on eBay about 5 months ago, after thinking about it for years. I finally started because I needed to increase my income. And I have. It’s a joy to pick up an item around the house, research its worth, take pics, list it, and sell it. I have tons more to list - mostly vintage china, ceramics and art glass. The key is you MUST enjoy it! It’s become my part time job but I’m having a blast! Several comments expressed concerns about the fees and shipping eating into profits. My buyers pay shipping and I factor in the fees when I set the listing price.
Hope that helps someone on the fence about selling!
It's still new and exciting for you. I started selling online in 1999 and I'm so over it. I'm left with 18 complete sets of fine china, 40 sets of silverware, and hundreds of vintage crystal and glass drinkware. Prices dropped, tastes changed, and postage has increased more than 400% in the last decade or so. I loved it for a long time, so enjoy it while the euphoria lasts.
I'm an active ebay seller, too, with a lovely little niche and very little competition. :) I started by selling all kinds of house stuff, but I've made my container so much smaller! I actually donated roughly 80% of my store inventory and shipping materials last year to a refugee resettlement program, so they can have an easy (if somewhat tedious) way to learn e-commerce.
Thank you Dana for being the only declutter person on eBay to actually talk about reselling and give very sound advice 🙏🏼. Last year I was able to make about £2000 profit for my in laws using this method for reselling their unwanted clutter. They had a lot of ‘vintage’ type of items which are very profitable here in the UK. It was only because I had the experience, time and space to do this for them. They would have still been sitting with the items had they just kept them because because it might be worth something and not had my help and expertise. I invested many many hours researching, photographing, listing, packaging and mailing etc so even at that much profit it came at cost. Not to mention that I have all my boxes, packaging, tape, printer and tools at the ready so I can get sold items packaged and shipped quickly. Delay shipping your item because you don’t have the right packaging and you risk a negative review
I just did this last week! The little dolls my uncle bought me from Germany when I was little (I'm 55 now) have been in their plastic containers since I got them because he said they'd be valuable some day. I checked what has sold on eBay and they go for between $9-$12 each. I had 4. They were donated the next day!
I struggle with the dreaded sentimental clutter. It's hard to donate things when my MIL gives them to me from her stuff. She actually caught me trying to sell some things at my garage sale, and took them back to her house! I just can't win! Lol
I find it sad that I did this on various items instead of just enjoying them when I loved them. I'm trying not to pass down that collectible mentality to my kids.
Thank you for sharing that experience 🤗
@Joyce Theobald hey, with mil it is probably not about winning, rather about finding a way to communicate....have you tried to tell her that you appreciate her thinking of you when giving you stuff that she loves/d but you don't, but you really feel you don't have the energy to maintain it? Maybe a shift in the approach helps...
@@belllchina That approach can also backfire. I very considerately and respectfully told my mother-in-law that our home is small and has to contain all the belongings of four people.
And that I would be unable to accept any more gifts of books and DVD's that she regularly liked to give us. I gently suggested consumable gifts instead.
Well, she wrote us off, chose to be offended and will not have anything more to do with us!
In retrospect, I should have accepted the constant barrage of unwanted gifts and promptly delivered them to the thrift store instead of her now ignoring even her grandchildren's birthdays.😔
One more bit of advice if you list it on eBay. Have it boxed up and ready to ship. List the shipping weight and dimensions so eBay can charge the buyer for shipping. Then when it sells, you aren't paying more for the shipping than what you charged, AND it's ready to tape up and label and mail. Believe me, things sell when you are crazy busy.
Active ebay seller here. LOVE that you went to Completed Listings!! That's how I price out any listing. Add these to your calculations:
1. Fees are basically 13% of the sale price.
2. Shipping is a minimum of $3.50 (most of my listings are 4oz or less) because tracking is an important metric as a seller.
3. Envelopes or boxes, labels, and packing material usually cost $1/order.
4. You can choose to donate a percentage of your sales. I use this as my tithe, so it's very valuable to me.
Even though I have a strong decluttering muscle there is always that thought of selling in , so … your video was a perfect reminder of not wasting my time to sell!
I find that selling only specific items helps me deal with the money aspect of decluttering. I sell kids toys, dolls, trains, etc. because I know the market on eBay / Craigslist. However, I donate or give away just about everything else (clothes, dishes, decor, etc.) that I’m decluttering. I found that when I tried to sell / EBay too many different things it was overwhelming, but keeping it to just one category, made it easier and more fun. Having a system and plan for what to do with the items I want to declutter is super helpful.
Thanks, I needed that! Things I thought would be worth $30-50 each were $15 max, other things never sold. Good to know.
I just hope you know you are doing "God's Work." Helping so many of us who are buried in our STUFF!
That Dean Martin sold because it had free shipping and the others didn't, willing to bet. Something to think about. I love this because I have a crap ton of this kind of stuff of my grandma's and I need to just send it on its way! Thank you, Dana!
That would have made it the same price as the $8 who charged for shipping. The record was graded excellent, and the inserts very good. Those may have been the difference.
Thank you for this! I hung onto things for years because they might be worth something.
Finally, I did put on marketplace and sold for not much, but enough and it's out of my house!
Getting rid of things has helped me realize I should be a lot more careful what I bring into my home. I still make mistakes but I’m soooo much better! I try to be more intentional. Because if I buy something that I won’t use I’ll have to get rid of it. Or maybe think about selling it and that’s so mentally draining.
My dad left two collections when he passed away. My mom insisted they were worth "a lot of money." A cousin was kind enough to check worth on Ebay, which was low and I decided, not worth the hassle of selling on line. Eventually there will be an estate sale, and these items will be put into that. For me, the easier way to sell, or donate if they remain. I recognize the value of my time, which is how I prefer to weigh the "to sell or donate" question. They are boxed up, languishing in my basement, until estate sale time.
I am so glad you pointed out the sold and completed options. Like you said, it gives an idea of how much they're selling and not selling for. I learned about those many years ago. At the start of my decluttering, almost everything in good shape, I said I'll sell it. After selling a couple things, I analyzed the process. Take pictures, create description, look up reasonable starting price, weigh and measure item and look up shipping cost, respond to texts (most people are just tire kickers & waste your time.) If I listed locally, I only agreed to meet at times that I was going to be in that area anyway. That way, no gas and wear and tear cost. After considering all of that, I thought, "I'll be lucky if I can spend only 1 hour doing all that per item." And my time is very valuable. I can never get it back. So, if the item is selling for approx. $20, and I feel I've put in $15-20 of my time, I'm now barely making anything off it. So, it took me no time to raise the sell-vs-donate threshold from $1 or $2, up to $20 or more. That big pile of stuff I was going to make listings for, almost completely evaporated.
I use to fall into the (mayb worth something) trap... don't do that anymore. Don't necessarily get rid of it, but have no delusions of selling!
Possible PSA for those helping relatives: If you volunteer to do the price checking for non-techy relatives and your relative doesn't believe the prices/data you find....don't waste too much energy trying to prove it or convince them. Sometimes relative has an immutable opinion that {item} is ✨valuable✨ (for emotional reasons or otherwise). Do your best to move onto other items or good luck dying on that hill.
Some years ago I had an old record player from the sixties to get rid of. It was the kind that folded up and was carried around like a suitcase. I'd kept it because I'd remembered it from when I was little but found that if I plugged it in it zapped me and decided that safety was more important than sentiment and added it to the neighbourhood garage sale items. When a woman looked it over I warned her it needed electrical attention and therefore would sell it to her for $5. I thought she was going to hurt herself getting the money out of her wallet so fast. I'd made her day. Now it's possible she fixed the stupid wire in 5 minutes and sold it for a stupid high amount but that doesn't matter. I got rid of something that was in my way and sent her over the moon at the same time. After that I cut out the annoyance of the garage sale and started putting larger things for free on one of those giveaway websites. That had someone else haul it away and gave me a good rating in case I ever need something in return. If it's still around when I'm heading to the thrift store then it goes with me. That woman changed my point of view for the better.
Great video. You covered a lot of key points in a short time. I especially like the idea at the end about it being ok to sell it, but getting it out of the way of your real life and containing it. Something similar I do is lock a time I might have something on Marketplace (for local pick up). It might b 90 days, but if it hasn't sold, I HAVE to donate. That's the window, no exceptions. If market is there, it will sell. But the ebay tip gives me even more insight as to whether there is even a demand to start with. (p.s. love your Dean Martin story. Girl, our kid-crushes are REAL!) ;)
And don't forget shipping and handling costs, that eats a lot of any profits you may think you will get. When I sold stuff on Ebay years ago that was the biggest reason against selling anything, the packaging alone can be very expensive especially if its oversized or bulky or whatever
I was going through my dishes and was going to donate to Salvation Army. Out of curiosity, I googled. I discovered I actually have some worth over $2,000. But, selling is such a hassle so I’m gifting them to a family member. It’s a WIN-WIN. Out of my house and they are HaPpY! 😊
Stay away from Salvation Army. I could write a book on what goes on there. Find small, local thrift shops to donate to. Or churches. Just some unsolicited advice for future reference :-)
@@katie7748 Salvation Army is bad? I've donated and purchased there. Can you elaborate please?
@@katie7748 Yes, please elaborate on the issues with Salvation Army. Decluttering is hard enough and finding a worthy, honest donation partner just creates another issue. 😩
@@katie7748 Yea, yea. The staff gets all the "good" stuff. The SA has become "woke". The SA is bad because (whatever the uproar was around Christmas 2021). I actually READ up on what was going on. The MSM, as usual, had the masses in an uproar and boycotting it. Small, local thrifts can be very hard to find and they are a much smaller venue and prolly won't take most of what one wants to donate. GW and SA all the way for fast disposal.
I did not know you could filter for completed posts on eBay. That is so useful!
I'm preparing to move (downsizing) and am an eBay seller. I love this example of the Dean Martin record. Just last week I took 6 boxes of vinyl records from my garage to a thrift store. I've had these boxes for 3 1/2 years because "they might be worth something" so I said yes I'll take them when my husband's grandfather died. Unfortunately I hadn't managed to go through this simple process with the last couple of boxes and the value changes, so if I procrastinated on the boxes where I did actually check completed listings the value probably changed in the meantime. I probably made $250+ on records I did sell, but it was such a relief to reclaim that space in my garage when I offloaded the rest of them. My eBay model is changing with this move (my third move since I started selling on eBay) and I'm cutting out most items that require a box because the boxes have become clutter to me (they have been clutter to my husband for years now). It has taken almost 5 years to get to the point I'm at now, where I don't want to expend the effort or give up storage space for things that really aren't worth much.
YES!!!!!! 95% off my inventory goes in padded envelopes! And the rest will not be offered again once these items are sold! I'm not trafficking anything I need to use a box larger than 4x6x2 or 9x6x3 in a padded priority envelope! (Those can all fit in one bin.)
I love this! I exclusively sell things on Craigslist but only if I’m confident I could get $100+ in a few days (often meaning I’m ok listing it heavily discounted in return for getting it out quickly). I used to sell a lot on eBay but times have changed, the seller scene was a lot different 5-10 years ago. I also like the idea of “blessing someone” with a really nice donated item.
I agree. Even 5 years ago, there was a lot less stuff than there is now.
Hi Dana, currently reading "Decluttering at the Speed of Life." This point here is a big one for me as we used to sell everything even for a couple of dollars because we needed the money so bad. We could still use it now, but it's not as critical. And what is valuable to me may not be valuable to anyone else. I need these tips as we are decluttering a huge home that has tons of "stuff" in it.
An item is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. Sellers with grandiose ideas of what their stuff is worth, or wanting to get more for their item than it is worth, need a reality check if they really want to unload the item.
Reid’s humor at the end is so awesome! Makes me smile! Thanks for another helpful video! Definitely donating more than I used to in the past and it’s so much better!
So helpful! I’m selling some things for a relative and have had to learn so much about this process. The first search page you showed is worth scrolling down to see how many competitors you’d have if you decided to sell and what they’re trying to get. Some vintage things are a dime a dozen on eBay. Some things are worth a surprising amount - my sister’s Sanrio junk from the early 80s was worth far more than some antiques we’ve sold - but you still have to deal with dumb questions about why shipping is so expensive, breakage, misdelivery, porch pirates, scams, etc. And boxes and padded mailers are so expensive to buy that you start keeping every one you get + bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and suddenly your house is a shipping department. Local pickup sales on Marketplace have their own hassles and a much narrower market, and some people will still ask you to ship things. It’s a huge headache.
As an eBay seller I use this tool all the time. So glad you put it out there!
Dana. This is one of your best videos, and that's saying something. Love your videos. (Also, love Dean Martin's voice, too.)
This is where I'm super held up at the moment, but I have legit over 10k in stuff from past business and hobbys, not to mention a now toddlers baby stuff we overspent stupidly on etc. But regardless of the value, I know it's gonna take me some serious time and is also keeping my house full of crap I want gone, but when we are really in a tight financial spot lately, how can I decide what to just get rid of and what's worth the time and space to try to make money off of that we could really really use. It's so dang hard. Not to mention the whole inner conflict of being a stay at home mom, but one whose slowly building a new business (which is already all consuming as it is) knowing my time is limited, but also the other half says I can and should make the time and make that extra cash. So I'm just stuck. I went through almost everything in the house, all that's left is keeping items and 4x that in stuff to sell (and a few donation boxes I have no clue where I'm bringing to actually donate to begin with hah) and my house is more stressful to me than ever. Why can't I just get it done, organized, photographed, and listed on marketplace so it's easier selling etc. Or otherwise just get rid of it all, or some of it or what? Haha see I'm just sooooo stuck in my own dang chaos 😓
I'm still in love with Dino, have a collection of movies and a Spotify playlist. Oh, the things we've saved that were once worth a few bucks, probably isn't worth anything today. Sadly I Google Lensed my antique dishes, carnival glass and such, not worth more than a few bucks.
Omg this message is so important. I wanted to sell my stuff but I couldn't. It all got donated or recycled. There's still a few things I'm hanging on to incase I can sell them. I know better... just have to do better.
Thank you Dana, this has been a very wonderful help.👍👍👍👍👍
Selling items, with all the things that can go wrong with the process, can add stress and aggravation to your life. I sold one thing on Ebay and it was a nightmare. Ebay claimed that they were unable to take their little fee out of the price when it sold so they fined me. At the time there were no options for getting help from Ebay. None of it made any sense and I thought I would lose my mind. As a result I lost money on the transaction. In hindsight it would have been a favor to my future self to just donate the item.
I love these very practical videos that tackle such precise problems!
I do this all the time. Very helpful. Also, you can *search the completed listings by price+shipping low to high* (a high successful sale price that includes free shipping brings down the effective price & profit a lot) & *compare the # of completed listings to sold listings* . If there were 83 completed & only 10 of them sold, you know it's not in demand; if more than half sold, look again at the prices.
Also as of last year Ebay and other similar sales arenas must report income over $600. On a fixed income this could change numbers to cost you in the long run. Now add in gas+hastle of mailing, wrapping etc...😮
No one else mentioned Uncle Sam's grubby hands. (Thus far, anyway.) Thank you for doing so.
Another thought about selling on eBay: Do NOT forget about all the eBay fees you will be paying, as these will decrease the profit you will eventually make on the sale.
Plus didn’t that listing say free shipping? Another expense!
@UCF Hill College Not really. You add the cost of shipping to the item's price. I have a basic rule of thumb that 4oz or less needs $4 shipping, 5-8oz needs $6. Anything heavier gets priority flat rate. If I can't support those shipping costs, then I can't afford to sell that item.
Thanks so much for this video! It will help me take back the other half of my garage!
Thank you for this. I never go in for the sell until last week. I had a sea container my ex left here and I didn’t know it had a rusty roof and that’s why he left it. I got about 40% of my asking because of the rust but something was better than nothing. Now I have that yard space. I also got rid of large panes of glass for free (not worth selling) but now I can continue taking down some derelict aviaries and reclaim that space. Haven’t sold the pool table yet but can’t believe I got rid of the other stuff and wasn’t expecting the ads to pay off within 36hrs.
Oh my goodness! I Love Dean Martin! My brother bought my mom his deluxe album set when I was young. I’ve been in love ever since.❤
Saw his Vegas show when I was 18. He was fabulous!!
@@nonnieTerri Lucky you!
Totally agree with the delusion of the breakthrough! That Dean Martin album shipped for free so once shipping is paid for, what really is the profit? Esh...probably not too much. Yup, better off donating it to get it out of the house! Great video Dana!
Oh wow, I have been hesitating over all sorts of stuff because it "might" be valuable. While watching a video on something completely different, this video came up on the side, and of course the title caught my eye. I had not heard of you before - so talk about timing! Maybe there really is a decluttering angel working to get me out of my rut :)
I am an ebayer who buys when I NEED something. I have sold a few things in the long-ago past. I learned this tip years ago and it is very valid in helping to get rid of things you think are, or could be, valuable. Great video, Dana!
This is excellent information I haven't heard anywhere else!
Wow. This is my favorite video of all the ones I've seen on your channel! This category is the largest percentage of my clutter. It's going to be quite freeing to start looking these things up so I can let them go without anxiety. Thank you!
Oh my goodness!!! This was so timely for me as I have several items that I wanted to get rid of or even donate to a special charity thinking they could get a lot for it. I checked and they have sold for $30 and under. That is not enough to make is worth keeping for me. These items were also a little sentimental to me too, so still hard to let go but I would rather have the space then keep them in a box in the garage. Thank you so much for posting this today!
Really valuable information. By the time you add in shipping most things aren't worth the space.
Watch out for shipping costs. That one you called up was free shipping, meaning the seller pays for shipping,so that would have come out of the $11.
So, I have the opposite issue. I found junk and it’s ending up worth a ton, and continually selling at those prices. I have decluttered about 80% of household items, and now wanting to get into reselling items. I don’t know how to use eBay for reselling yet.
Thanks for your work. You have helped me in rough, ‘paralyzing’ moments.
It’s not as hard to SELL on eBay as it is to GET STARTED! I put it off for years but finally started listing last August. Now I list every day. Give it a try, it’s a thrill when you get a notification that something sold!
My husband has a small eBay store, and selling can be a great thing, but eBay has a LOT of rules you need to become very familiar with. I highly recommend reading eBay terms as well as Reddit and Quora posts about rules regarding sales, shipping, tracking, payouts, negotiations, disputes, becoming a "trusted seller" etc! It can take a lot of time to get established, shipping is tedious, your ratings depend largely on buyer reviews, and most buyers don't review unless they're unsatisfied. I recommend tracking the number of active hours you spend on it and see if the money is worth the time. It definitely can be if you manage it well. Wish you the best!
Find some TH-cam channels that you like about reselling. I like the Commonwealth Flipper, Commonwealth Picker, Shed Flips.
Thanks for the excellent advice! You're absolutely right about selling not always being worth the time or effort. With eBay in particular you need to be very mindful of the rules, especially regarding keeping your account in good standing and holds on payments for new sellers or for items over $1000. My husband has a small eBay store, and you definitely have to manage it well to avoid putting more in than you get out.
Very helpful. There is only one thing I saw worth $300 that I want to sell somehow. But, you reminded me I just looked at the Ebay prices, not PAST BUYER ACTIVITY! That may help me just donate the thing instead.
I needed this video more than you know! 😩
Excellent post. I am going to continue donating and using eBay. I have an eBay closet. I call it my project closet. It works. Really helps to know what things actually sell for. Thank you!
"Living my right now life."
*head explodes*
That really helps as I come across the former/fantasy self items that have NOTHING to do with the life I am living today and we are putting in place for the future.
Thank you so much! I had bought an apartment washing machine during the pandemic and it took up room in my closet, thinking I would sell it. Well I gave it away on Facebook marketplace for free and it was out of my apt! I had also started a food stockpile because everyone said there would be food shortages. I am thinning this out and donating it to the food bank. I just emptied a set of shelves that I am also getting rid of. Next I am going to go through my spices!
Excellent suggestions as always to help us think through "delusions" in favor of some reality. I hope folks watch it all because your end credits always crack me up. :)
A little appreciation for Editor Reid... Reid's comments at the end always crack me up. I often play these videos while I'm moving laundry or loading the dishwasher. When I only have ears but not eyes on the end of the video, I always go back to read his comments. Love his humor. Must take after his mama.
Fantastic advice, Dana! This is hard especially with items passed down with promised value. Getting caught in many of the clutter traps, I used to lament over donating things that still had value. But selling is too exhausting for me anymore and it’s always been hit or miss on marketplace. I never tried limiting the inventory and prioritizing based on the value.
I have been holding on to a vase that belonged to my grandmother. I took your advice and did a "completed listings" search on Ebay. This helped so much!
Thank you, Dana! I really appreciated this. My husband is an antique dealer, (on the side). We use eBay just like this to determine value. I would suggest putting a post it note on the item with the value that you discovered and the date, so you don't have to research it again. The dilemma I now face is getting him to establish a "selling" time into our routine. (-- we have an entire room in our basement that we call the e-bay room.) It IS necessary to have a place to put potential sale items, but you also need a plan of when you are going to do the selling. (Have a selling place, not a selling 'Room'!)
One of my personal rules is that when it comes to stuff that isn't my primary niche, I can't keep more than two medium moving boxes of unlisted inventory. Also, that unlisted inventory has a one-year expiration date. If I haven't listed it in 1 year from the time it goes in those boxes, then it gets donated because it's not worth the time or hassle. Also, when it is listed, the correct packed weight is listed (because it's boxed up and ready - just needs my personalized than you note), then it goes on my shelf for listed inventory with a post-it describing what it is, Box size, and weight. I'm okay with inventory lingering on the listed shelf until my next move. :)
I saw a really good quote from someone called Cassandra Aarssen:
“Remember that the money you spent on your item is GONE. You are not any richer because you store this item in your home, and you won’t be poorer if you let it go.” 😊👍🏻
This is great advice! I am going to use this the next time my husband says, “No, I don’t want to get rid of that. It’s worth $” To me, the effort invested in selling something is rarely covered by the price someone will pay for it. This is a terrific “Take it there now” tool. Thank you!
Just took most of a trunk full of art supplies to Boys & Girls Club. Yay! We all win. I have an empty closet & the kids have some fun supplies. Ty Dana!❤
I noticed on the listing for the album which sold for more money, it had “free shipping”. So, in terms of how much profit the seller made it probably worked out about the same as the cheaper ones anyway.
Yes!
Definitely helps to see reality! 😮
Mine has lipstick marks all on it..."Cause everybody loves somebody" 🤣🤣
I use the eBay COMPLETED & SOLD info to price the things I sell on FB Marketplace. I usually ask 50% or less of what I see there, if it's worth selling at all. I refuse to ship anything and simply sit it on my porch for local pickup. I do it for fun and if an inexpensive item gets taken without payment, so be it but in my four years of just trusting folks, that's never happened. Amazing.
Excellent video! Thank you so much Dana.
We ran into this with many items of my grandma's. I also have an extended family member that collects and it was a harsh reality when they realize their stuff didn't sell wasn't selling as fast as I thought. I think it was the reality of waiting for that right person and having to store it until then
Lipstick marks on the album cover! Oh my!! I had to giggle and giggle. Good advice on actual worth verses assumed worth/sentimental worth, and how to move forward quickly with your decisions. Very real. Thanks.
The one that Sold for more Shipped Free. So the seller had to pay shipping!!!
Oh my husband sooo needs to see this! He says this so much that we literally have no room to store anything until it sells on eBay. I’m to the point now that I get rid of things and he doesn’t know about it.
Dean Martin 😍 oh, Dana, this is why I love and relate to you! I adored Bing Crosby and had a picture of him on my steering wheel throughout high school (in the late 90s)!🤣 I didn’t kiss it, but still...
Oh, this made me laugh!
This was so helpful! When my kids were young, I had to have garage sales to get money for groceries. Now that they are grown, mostly I have things I bought that I shouldn't have and I don't need grocery money, so I should just get rid of them -- but I still have that "I've got to sell it" mentality! I wish there were more consignment stores so I could get it out of my house and get a little money for it -- but mostly I just need to reclaim my space.
Time to change the mentality. As we age our priorities should be getting rid of the useless stuff and reclaiming our space.
@@texasmimi5566 I'm in the process! It's slow-going, but it's going!
Before I even watch the video, the way I dealt with "I could sell that, ill put it to the side," was taking a photo of the item and throwing it up on Mercari IMMEDIATELY. Just 2 shots front & back & the brand tag and a title.
If an item is as prized as its believed, someone will purchase it fast or inquire more info/photos, which you can do AFTER cleaning the area you're in.
Kind of like your "put it away now" premise. If you're going to sell it, do it now. You can take better photos & write a proper description, maybe bump the price up LATER.
I've definitely sold items with awful photos while I was cleaning hahaha
I love your sign off for yourself and Reid! Great informative video!