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Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

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Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby AJB Temple » 25 Jan 2022, 23:22

The time has come for us to de-clutter. With two abodes (one in Germany) and a rental it is high time we got rid of stuff. It is so daunting. Any tips?

I want to get rid of furniture, pictures and paintings, tools, shoes, clothes, antiques, garden ornaments, wood, consumables, ever such a lot of musical gear including recordinsg stuff, guitars, amps etc. books, various collections (eg Dinky army toy collection). hi fi gear, lots of kitchen equipment I will never use again, rugs, knick knacks, equestrian stuff, motorbikes and god knows what else.

Listed my first three trial items on eBay this week. Two sold straight away - inside an hour. This is stuff I would in the past have taken to the tip. I know there are selling fees, but I don't mind really as I would rather have empty lofts, empty sheds (there are 6), and a lot more space in my workshop, and empty garages and clear out my wood barns (in Warwickshire) where there is a ridiculous amount of stuff (co-owned with my paraplegic brother) that we can never use.

I've had a dabble with gumtree (no joy - just time wasters) this year and I don't really do facebook but my wife does. Seeing people selling ridiculous stuff like bits of cherry logs for £75 when we have a big barn full of oak that we have had since the late 1980's, makes me realise it is time to let go. I've got good tools that I will never use, and some are still new and unused in boxes, because for whatever reason my brother and I got spares. It's madness. (Don't picture a house full of old newspapers - it's not hoarding like that). My brother had two double garages full of engineering machinery. He can never again use this stuff.

Is it better to use eBay or get an auctioneer in? So far I have just listed pretty cheap stuff. I estimate that we have at least 500 items to sell. Maybe more if we strip out the garages my wife and I have in Germany. My FIL has pointed out that I have stuff there that I've completely forgotten about.

This whole thing may be a precursor to simplifying our lives radically and relocating abroad permanently within 2 years. People here are pretty clued up so I would welcome any advice as for my whole life I have been an accumulator not a seller.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby wallace » 25 Jan 2022, 23:59

Auction companies charge a fortune and are not bothered about getting you the best price. My FIL got ripped off when they sold his collection of grandfather clocks.
Facebook is ok but you get alot of time wasters, you get to recognise the wasters quickly. The good thing is you dont pay any fees.
Machinery dealers will offer very little
Ebay is ok
By the sounds of it its going to be a very time consuming time.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby droogs » 26 Jan 2022, 00:08

decent stuff would probably be best going through an auction house and then sell the brica-brac as you get time to put it up on fleabay or if you just want rid of stuff then try the local chapter of Trash Nothing ( https://trashnothing.com/beta/ )where stuff can find a new home from people in need.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Trevanion » 26 Jan 2022, 00:11

Like Wallace, I wouldn't bother with an auctioneer, they take a massive cut.

I know people have had good results getting a few tables laid out on a nice weekend putting a load of stuff on them and advertising via FB Marketplace and the usual FB groups that you're having a clearance, posting a few pictures of the volume of stuff and some of the more juicier items, you might be surprised how quickly stuff will disappear if the prices are fair.

Some of the more exotic items like high-end tools, kitchen stuff, etc... will typically sell better on eBay, if you wait until you get an offer for reduced fees they aren't too bad then.

I suppose a lot of it is down to how valuable is your time to you. Listing, dealing with buyers, packing, and posting stuff takes a lot of time.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby AJB Temple » 26 Jan 2022, 00:43

Yes. Thanks. I agree about the time. Thanks for views about auctioneers. As you can see I am clueless.

My business partner has a daughter. She's bright. Almost early teens (13 soon). The idea we (BP and I) have discussed is that she takes all the photos and administers the listings, and she and her brother wrap everything that needs posting, and I pay them. Obviously I will need to do the descriptions, but the big upside is that the kids get some good pocket money and I don't have to do too much. It can be spread out through the year. C (daughter) is also keen to do some boot sales at which she will sell stuff belonging to the children and her mother.

The slightly more valuable stuff (music related) will need to go to specialist sites as the market is probably mainly US.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Cabinetman » 26 Jan 2022, 00:56

Hi Adrian, you can’t imagine just how timely this is, I’m in exactly the same situation with my move to the US, luckily I do have a three story building with my workshop on the ground floor so I do have some storage room, but an awful lot of stuff acquired over a lot of years has to go! Not getting rid of the workshop yet as it’s too useful and valuable and costs virtually nothing to keep going and I shall be in the UK 25% of the time. But I suppose I’m just putting off a decision on the stored things - probably a bad idea.
I really do like the idea of a tech savvy 13-year-old, I just don’t happen to have one. I shall watch this with very great interest, thanks Ian
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Andyp » 26 Jan 2022, 08:27

Yep, the tech savvy teenagers to do the balls aching tasks seems a great idea. Being able to print your own stamps at home takes away a lot of the hassle of posting stuff.

Your problems are a prime example of the adage that, stuff expands to fill the space made available for it.

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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby NickM » 26 Jan 2022, 09:11

Yes, paying kids to help sounds like a great idea.

Are there any interesting woodworking tools which you could put up for sale here? What about the oak you want to sell? You could be confident of not getting any time wasters.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Woodbloke » 26 Jan 2022, 09:17

Everything I've ever put on Facebook Marketplace has sold so it's definitely worth considering. Punters will try and knock your prices down which is irritating but I just tell them that the 'price is the price' and that usually works. The last two items I sold I specified cheque only and both the buyers were happy with that arrangement - Rob
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby wallace » 26 Jan 2022, 09:29

I had a little clear out of my workshop and instead of lugging stuff to the post office I used a courier collection service. Print the labels at home. It would of been a nightmare taking 20 parcels at a time to town.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Cabinetman » 26 Jan 2022, 09:36

Woodbloke wrote:Everything I've ever put on Facebook Marketplace has sold so it's definitely worth considering. Punters will try and knock your prices down which is irritating but I just tell them that the 'price is the price' and that usually works. The last two items I sold I specified cheque only and both the buyers were happy with that arrangement - Rob

Yes I heard FB marketplace was good, why did you specify cheque only? Surely that takes time to clear, wouldn’t cash be better/safer? Ian
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby RogerS » 26 Jan 2022, 09:41

Certainly IMO one-size does not fit all as far as selling things go. Depends on the items.

Quite a few items will readily find a home using Etsy. You'd be surprised what sells on there.

As far as woodworking stuff goes, I'd try here first. Do you have any auctioneers like Pugh's of Ledbury down your way. Always a good outlet.

As you say, music/hi-fi stuff has definitely got good outlets in the US. But don't ignore eBay. I sold a Bird-Curtis LP for over £800 to a Japanese collector on eBay. I'd inadvertently put a block on some international countries but he saw the listing and was keen enough to contact me to change the country limit. Glad I did !

Gumtree is hit and miss and predominantly time-wasters. I have heard good reports of FB marketplace.

eBay is frequented by companies that dress TV and film sets. We sold a lot of old garden equipment that way.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Woodbloke » 26 Jan 2022, 10:23

Cabinetman wrote:
Woodbloke wrote:Everything I've ever put on Facebook Marketplace has sold so it's definitely worth considering. Punters will try and knock your prices down which is irritating but I just tell them that the 'price is the price' and that usually works. The last two items I sold I specified cheque only and both the buyers were happy with that arrangement - Rob

Yes I heard FB marketplace was good, why did you specify cheque only? Surely that takes time to clear, wouldn’t cash be better/safer? Ian

We have transferred wonga in the past by BACS but recently got scammed so SWIMBO is now very reluctant to give out our banking details over t'interweb. When I explained the reason to the buyers, both were in full agreement about using cheques and were very happy to do so. Yes, it's a bit 'old skool' but it's much safer and doesn't really take too long, only adding a few days to each purchase. On receipt, cheques can be paid into our First Direct account instantly by using the app and the then the parcel can be whisked down to the PO. On each occasion since Christmas, I posted the parcels Second Class and they were there the next day :shock:

So much for 'Snail Mail'! - Rob
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Lurker » 26 Jan 2022, 10:53

I use fb market place strictly cash on collection.
I don’t give full address until they specify eta.
And then meet them on the drive usually the transaction takes place on the wheelie bin as I don’t want folks round the back casing out the joint.
Having said that everyone has been delightful.
I have learned not to underprice my junk.
Last edited by Lurker on 26 Jan 2022, 11:48, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Blackswanwood » 26 Jan 2022, 11:00

One task you could perhaps delegate to your helpers is to do a bit of internet research on price expectation for items. This may also throw up a few specialist outlets for some items.

I was executor for the estate of my MiL and remember my expectation often being wildly different to the price something actually fetched. I suspect that until I cottoned on (and enlisted the help of my savvy daughters) a few buyers probably got a very good bargain.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Woodbloke » 26 Jan 2022, 11:01

Lurker wrote:I use fb market place strictly cash on collection.

I did that when I sold some furniture which was far too big to post, but recent smaller items have gone 'oop narth' so it was impractical for them to be collected, but yes, cash on collection is the preferred method - Rob
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby TrimTheKing » 26 Jan 2022, 13:27

But what if the cheque bounces Rob? Who's going to care enough at the (presumably fairly small values we're talking here) to help you reclaim if they are bare faced scammers?
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Woodbloke » 26 Jan 2022, 14:03

TrimTheKing wrote:But what if the cheque bounces Rob? Who's going to care enough at the (presumably fairly small values we're talking here) to help you reclaim if they are bare faced scammers?


I think you have to 'go with the flow' Mark. You can get a pretty good idea of the sort of person you're dealing with from the conversations on Messenger, but yes, I'd agree that ideally you'd want to see the cheque clear before posting. One or two people in the past have been distinctly 'iffy' and I've declined to sell stuff to them but most people have been absolutely fine. The value of stuff I've been selling has only been around £100ish but for a much larger sum I'd defo want the cheque to clear - Rob

Edit-most naturally want to do instant transfer BACS or Pay Pal so that assumes that they must have the fundage available in their account(s)
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Lons » 26 Jan 2022, 21:45

I've sold, and given away quite a number of items via FB without issue but you have to be prepared for timewasters, stupid offers and scammers etc. which soon become easy to suss out. I recently sold a couple of didjeridus, just tourist items but they sold for a reasonable amount within a couple of hours of posting. I hadn't held out much hope tbh.
It very much depends on where you live and whether it's worth travelling for the items for sale. That reminds me I have a few items to list, not tools, I find them difficult to part with. ;)
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby AJB Temple » 26 Jan 2022, 22:04

Would I be right in thinking that with FB you just list at whatever price you think, whereas with eBay you set a starting bid (which appears to operate like an open reserve but has no listing fee) and people then bid if they wish.

So far three things have sold. I like that I can print an address and postage label, and a delivery note, and pay for it all in one go. There is a shop in the village that takes Hermes parcels and eBay knows as soon as they scan it that I have dropped it off. It's very slick and easy. The post office is useless - expensive and usually queues.

I dislike cheques intensely. When I was running a FS business they were such a nuisance and of course the clearance rules are such that they can take 8 days and can be subject to recalls anyway, so funds that look cleared can disappear again. I will not accept them. We will run a bank account purely for sales, it will take no other transactions, and funds will be stripped out whenever they arrive. There will be no crossover with our normal banking.

Cheques are on the way out and frankly so is cash. I don't carry any cash at all now. I don't think I have made a cash withdrawal for at least 3 years.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Lons » 26 Jan 2022, 22:28

Yes you list at the price you want for it though there are often ads with multiple items listed as free or with a silly amount and then individual prices put in the listing. You can and should post photos as that draws in buyers and I found the best contact method is for them to use messenger so you don't give phone or any other details until you need to. Important to list clearly the rough location - not exact! Always sell via cash and only collection as there are plenty of scammers as in other selling methods. \it's free and very simple.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby AJB Temple » 27 Jan 2022, 00:11

OK thanks. Very helpful.

We are not super keen to have lots of visitors, so I may well stick to eBay. It's also very much easier for my almost a teenager helper to administer. She is very motivated and we are working on an incentive scheme :lol:

I am quite motivated, with prices as they are, to dispose of most of my wood stash. That will require a trade buyer and I am putting feelers out. Some is owned by my brother, though I think the proceeds will be consumed by medical care needs. Such is life.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby Lons » 27 Jan 2022, 00:29

AJB Temple wrote:O my almost a teenager helper to administer. She is very motivated and we are working on an incentive scheme :lol:


:lol: My soon to be 9 year old granddaughter already has her head tuned in when it comes to incentives, much to my son's amusement she drives her mum nuts with her regular negotiations. Not that I ever encourage her of course. ;)
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby RogerS » 27 Jan 2022, 00:34

Adrian...several options on eBay for selling. Auction...with/without a reserve (the former costs you more) or Buy It Now.
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Re: Selling surplus stuff. Anyone experienced?

Postby MattS » 27 Jan 2022, 09:38

I tend to look on Facebook Marketplace now for things when both buying and selling, sold quite a lot of stuff and my process for deciding is;

1 Is it too large to post easily?
Facebook, hate hassle of packaging anything slightly bulky or likely to get damaged

2 Is it a fairly common every day item, would include basic woodwork equipment in this.
Facebook to avoid fees (do check listing prices on Facebook and sold prices on ebay to check)

3 More specialist items, say your hifi equipment, unusual or obscure wood tools I'd go straight to ebay but of course you can always list on both.

4 Is it really worth selling?
Yes things like clothes can sell, and it adds up if you sell 100 things at £4 each but there is quite an overhead in time and so I'd be tempted to give low value saleable stuff to the charity shop if the aim is clearing rather than money making.

Being fairly local to you I'd also say try tools on here first :lol:

Couple of selling tips;

Facebook
I know others have mentioned doing bank transfers / cheques etc on Facebook I'd stick to cash only. I broke that rule once and did buy a coffee grinder and get it posted simply because the price was so cheap but if you want to sell beyond your local area I'd take the ebay fees for peace of mind.

Ebay
If you have a price in mind for things I favour the buy it now with offers on, allows people to offer and you can obviously decide whether to accept. For everything else let the market decide and list as an auction. Often I think you end up with higher sale prices in auction format.
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