If you're looking for the best platform to sell used items, you're not alone. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which local selling platforms is best for you and your items.

Whether you're looking to sell clothing, furniture, electronics, or anything in between, there is a best selling platform for used items that can help you reach your target audience and get the best price for your items quickly and easily.

We've compared some of the best platform to sell used items, and outlined the strengths and weaknesses of each platform. In this article, we'll help you determine which platform is the most suitable, as well as some precautions that you should take so you can start selling used items with confidence.

How To Stay Safe on Local Selling Platforms?

According to EarthWeb's Scam Statistics 2023, 1 out of every 10 American adults are at high risk of being a fraud victim. With online identity theft, payment scams and other frauds going on, you can never be too careful when using local selling platforms. Here are some tips to stay safe when selling your used items online:

1.Research the platform: Before using any online buying and selling platform, research the platform to ensure that it is legitimate and has a good reputation. Read reviews and check the platform's policies and terms of service.

2. Use secure payment methods: Always use a secure payment method when making a purchase. Use a credit card or a payment service such as PayPal, which offers buyer protection.

3. Verify the seller: Verify the seller's identity and check their ratings and reviews on the platform. Be cautious of sellers who have no reviews or ratings.

4. Don't share personal information: Avoid sharing personal information such as your home address, phone number, or financial information with the seller or buyer. The platform should provide a secure messaging system to communicate with buyers and sellers. However, should you choose to talk to the buyer or seller offline, we recommend using a burner number to keep your identity protected. You can easily try one from Phoner app, which has an anonymous number that changes for each person that you contact.

Use anonymous texting on Phoner app to hide your personal contact information on local selling platforms.

5. Check the item carefully: Check the item's condition, size, and other details before purchasing it. Ask the seller questions about the item and request additional photos if necessary.

6. Meet in a public place: If you are buying or selling items in person, arrange to meet in a public place. Bring a friend or family member with you and let someone else know where you are going.

7. Trust your instincts: If something seems too good to be true or makes you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts and don't proceed with the transaction.

By taking these precautions, you can minimize the risks associated with using local selling platforms and have a safe and enjoyable experience. Now, let's go into the best marketplace to sell things and everything you need to know about them.

5 Best Platform to Sell Used Items

1. Facebook Marketplace

Since its launch in 2016, Facebook Marketplace has been one of the best platform to sell used items. It has a number of unique features that set it apart from local selling platforms, including:

  1. Integration with Facebook: Facebook Marketplace is integrated with the Facebook app and website, making it easy for users to access and use.
  2. Large user base: With over 2.96 billion monthly active users, Facebook has one of the largest user bases of any social media platform, providing a large pool of potential buyers and sellers.
  3. Trust and Safety: Facebook uses its existing trust and safety measures, such as user profiles and ratings, to help create a safe and secure environment for transactions.
  4. Convenient Location-based Search: Facebook Marketplace allows users to search for items based on their location, making it easy to find items that are nearby.
  5. Easy Listing Process: Listing items on Facebook Marketplace is quick and easy, and can be done directly from the Facebook app or website.
  6. Free to Use: Unlike many other buy and sell platforms, Facebook Marketplace is completely free to use, with no listing or transaction fees. While there are no fees for using Facebook Marketplace, buyers and sellers are responsible for any transaction-related expenses, such as shipping or payment processing fees. Do note that Facebook deducts a fee from the seller's payout automatically. Called the "selling fee", it costs the seller 5% per shipment, or a flat fee of $0.40 for shipments of $8.00 or less.
  7. Boosted listings: Facebook Marketplace sellers can also boost their listings to reach more potential buyers, so that the item can be sold faster. Facebook Marketplace allows sellers the flexibility of customising their budget, durations and locations of the boosted listing. Sellers can easily view performance insights to understand if their boosted listing was effective.

All in all, these unique features make Facebook Marketplace one of the best selling platform for used items and established it as a trusted and convenient destination for buyers and sellers alike.

2. OfferUp

OfferUp is another of the best platform to sell used items. With over 50M+ downloads on Google Play Store alone, OfferUp is popular among a wide range of age groups and demographics. Here are a few features that make OfferUp a popular online marketplace to sell used items:

  1. "TruYou" system: TruYou is a two-step verification system that allows users to verify their identity by submitting a government-issued ID and taking a selfie. Once a user is verified, they are given a badge on their profile indicating that they are a "TruYou member." The TruYou system provides an additional level of trust and safety for buyers and sellers, as it helps to reduce the risk of fraud and scams. It also allows users to filter search results to show only items listed by TruYou members, which can help to increase the quality of the items being sold.
  2. Community MeetUp Spots: This feature allows users to locate and suggest meetup locations in safe, designated public spaces such as local businesses and police stations. These locations are well-lit, and have video camera surveillance that make them great spaces to meet in-person and inspect items prior to completing the transaction.
  3. Large user base:  OfferUp's merger with top competitor Letgo in 2020 greatly expanded the number buyers and sellers, reaching over 56 million users. As the largest mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers in the U.S., OfferUp's iOS and Android apps have been in the top five most popular shopping apps lists for more than three years.
  4. Nationwide selling: OfferUp also helps sellers to ship their items nationwide to and from all US states except Alaska, Arkansas, and Hawaii through the US Postal Service (USPS). Sellers are required to pay a service fee of 12.9% of their item’s final price (excluding shipping costs) with a minimum fee of $1.99. The rate is shown on the OfferUp app when sellers accept the offer.
  5. Promoted listings: To sell your item faster, OfferUp has in-app purchases such as Single Item promotion, 1 day Promotion, 3 day Feature and more to increase the reach to potential buyers. The app even offers the Promote Plus subscription for sellers who would like to promote an item for 30 days or more. Further, sellers can check how many views they are getting in real-time, and how much time is left until the promotion expires.

These features, along with its focus on creating a local marketplace, make OfferUp one of the best marketplace to sell things.

3. Craigslist

Craigslist was founded in 1995 and while Craigslist does not release official user numbers, it is estimated that the platform receives over 50 billion page views per month, making it one of the most widely used and best platform to sell used items.

Craigslist is a relatively simple platform, with a minimalist design and straightforward interface. It allows users to post classified ads for free, in a wide range of categories including housing, jobs, items for sale, services, and community events.

One of Craigslist's key features is its focus on local communities. The platform is organized by location, with users able to browse and post listings within their own cities and towns. This allows for a more personal and community-focused experience, with many users building relationships and connections through the local selling platform.

Craigslist is available on iOS and Android.

4. Depop

With over 26 million registered users, Depop is a well-known local selling platform for buying and selling vintage and unique items among millennial and Gen Z consumers. The platform has a strong focus on fashion, with many of its users selling clothing and accessories. The mobile app has a user-friendly interface and allows users to post items for sale with just a few taps.

Depop's most unique feature is its focus on fashion and creativity. The selling platform is designed specifically for users who are passionate about fashion, art, and design. Depop provides a fun and engaging environment for buying and selling fashion items, and encourages users to express their creativity and individuality through the items they sell and the way they present them.

Depop also provides a number of tools and features to help users create and share their personal style, including a virtual closet, styling tips, and a social feed where users can connect with others who share their fashion interests. This focus on fashion and creativity sets Depop apart from other buy and sell platforms and has established it as one of the best platform to sell used items for fashion-conscious buyers and sellers.

5. eBay

eBay is an online marketplace to sell a wide range of goods and services, including both new and used items. The platform was founded in 1995 and has since become one of the world's largest online marketplaces, with millions of active users in over 190 countries.

eBay's platform allows users to list items for sale and to bid on or purchase items from other users. The platform offers a variety of buying and selling formats, including auction-style listings and fixed-price listings.

Its auction-style listing format allows sellers to set a starting price for an item and then allow potential buyers to bid on the item, with the highest bidder winning the auction when the listing ends. This can create a sense of excitement and competition among buyers, which can sometimes result in higher selling prices for sellers. This differentiating factor makes eBay one of the best platform to sell used items for users who enjoy the competitive game-like element in auctions.

In addition to the auction-style format, eBay also offers a "Buy It Now" option for sellers who prefer to set a fixed price for their items. This allows buyers to purchase the item immediately at the listed price, without needing to wait for the auction to end.

eBay also offers features such as seller ratings, buyer protection, and a messaging system to facilitate communication between buyers and sellers.

eBay is known for its wide range of categories and items, from clothing and accessories to electronics, collectibles, and even cars and real estate. The platform also offers a global reach, allowing users to buy and sell items from around the world.

Overall, eBay offers a convenient and reliable way for people to buy and sell goods and services online, with a wide range of options and features that cater to both buyers and sellers. This makes it one of the best platform to sell used items.

How To Find the Best Selling Platform for Used Items?

To find the best online platform to sell used items for cash, consider the following factors:

  1. Target audience: Determine the target audience for your items and choose a platform that caters to that audience. For example, if you're selling luxury items, consider Poshmark or Depop.
  2. Item categories: Some platforms specialize in certain categories of items, such as clothing, electronics, or furniture. Choose a platform that allows you to list your items in the appropriate category.
  3. Fees: Consider the fees charged by each platform for listing and selling items. Some platforms charge a percentage of the sale price, while others charge a flat fee. Choose a platform that offers fees that are reasonable for your items. If you're wondering where you can sell your stuff online for free, the five platforms we've listed above are the best online marketplace to sell used items and more importantly, free for users to sign up.
  4. User base: Consider the size of the user base on each platform. The larger the user base, the more potential buyers you will have.
  5. User interface: Choose a platform with a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate. This will make it easier for you to list and manage your items.
  6. Payment options: Consider the payment options offered by each platform. Choose a platform that offers payment options that are convenient for you and your buyers.
  7. Shipping options: Consider the shipping options offered by each platform. Choose a platform that offers shipping options that are convenient for you and your buyers.
  8. Customer support: Consider the level of customer support offered by each platform. Choose a platform that offers responsive and helpful customer support.

By considering these factors, you can find the best online platform to sell used items and maximize your chances of making a successful sale.

Conclusion

Finding the best platform to sell used items can be tricky given that there are so many options available. Especially if you're trying to sell your used items quickly and easily, you may want to consider listing on multiple local selling platforms to increase the chances of your product listing being seen and clicked. Regardless, it's important to transact safely online to avoid being a victim of scam or fraud. You'll want to avoid giving out your personal contact information, which is why an app like Phoner can protect your privacy on platforms to sell used items.