Most people are looking for more ways to find cash – especially with Christmas just around the corner – but you are probably unaware you are sat on a pile of it in the form of unwanted items.
It can seem easier to dump things in the bin, or just leave them in the cupboard, but a few quick clicks can turn your wardrobe into much-needed money.
Millie Wright has been making up to £250-a-month selling her clothes secondhand to Twig.
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“I have a puppy, and sometimes she is very naughty and ends up at the vet,” the 24-year-old told Sky News.
“I had a savings account for her that I’ve had to chip into. But now, if she ends up needing to go to the vet again I know I can make up the money.”
She is also moving into a new flat in West Hampstead and used the change as a chance to clear out her wardrobe – from selling old technology to clothes she doesn’t wear.
There are multiple sites to help you flog your items – and remember, you are not always limited to selling on one (although make sure to delist items across the board once they sell).
It is worth tracking selling fees so you can be sure you are getting the best deals.
Facebook, eBay, Vinted, Depop or Twig?
eBay comes out the pricier of the platforms – private sellers can have 1,000 free listings but when you sell an item you pay 12.8% of its final value to the site, plus a fixed charge of 30p per order. If the total amount of the sale is over £2,500 for a single item (for example, a car) you’ll pay 3% for the portion of the sale price above £2,500.
Depop takes a 10% cut from your PayPal account, or card, before paying the rest of the money to you. You’ll also pay a PayPal fee of 2.9% + 30p per transaction.
Vinted is relatively rare in that there is no fee for selling your items on Vinted – you’ll get the full balance and a postage label making it one of the easiest platforms to sell with. Instead, it charges the buyer a “buyer protection fee” and the cost of the postage.
Facebook is also free – although anyone who has sold through the platform’s Marketplace may tell you that what you don’t pay in fees you make up for in effort – but, because it largely relies on local searches you may find your audience restricted.
Most sales are also collection and cash – which comes with its own dangers. Consider meeting in a neutral, well-lit place, with other people nearby, if you are worried about having strangers round your house.
Twig works slightly differently in that you sell to the site. You take a picture of your items and gain an immediate valuation – you then get the money immediately and have 48 hours to send it to Twig.
“I discovered Twig on the Tube. I love how it is a more sustainable option too,” said Millie.
Beware seller scams
Everyone has been warned about the dangers of buying online, but you can still get scammed as a seller.
Millie almost lost hundreds of pounds selling a camera on Depop.
“The guy was replying really quick, and I was getting excited because I was thinking I’d be getting £200,” she said.
“I packaged everything up and when I was at the post office I realised he had missed the first line of his address. I went back to speak to him and he had deactivated his account.”
She later received a message from PayPal saying the seller had been reported for acting suspiciously: “They said they were waiting for the money to come in, and it never arrived.”
Had she not noticed the missing line of his address, Millie would have posted the camera and never received any money.
Millie had a lucky escape, but a friend wasn’t so lucky: “My boyfriend’s sister sold an iPhone and it was the same thing and she ended up getting no money and losing the phone.”
Use a verified site that handles the money for you to sell items (it’s much harder to do anything if you’re scammed via Facebook Marketplace). Vinted and eBay will let you know when the seller has paid – Vinted only gives you a postage label once it has the money – and will then hold the money for you until the item has been posted.
Similarly, be wary of overpayments. A buyer may pay more than the set price and then say they’ve made a mistake and ask for a partial refund. The seller then refunds only to discover the original payment has been cancelled.
Whether you are a buyer or a seller, be suspicious of anyone asking you to go outside the site’s payment system. If you are using PayPal unless you know the person, don’t pay, or sell, using the friends and family function – although you pay a fee, this protects you if anything goes wrong.
