Top 10 Online Selling Platforms For Used Items

This article delves into the dynamic world of online selling platforms for used items, exploring the benefits and practicalities that have transformed how we buy and sell used goods/ items. 

10 Popular Online Selling Platforms For Used Items

Let’s explore the top 10 most popular online platforms for selling used items, a resource I’ve found invaluable in my years of online selling and shopping. These platforms, from giants like eBay to niche sites like Depop, cater to a diverse range of needs, offering unique opportunities for both buyers and sellers.

1. Shopify 

If you’re a beginner, selling online with Shopify is worth considering. The platform is incredibly user-friendly, and its excellent customer service is a bonus. Once you’ve learned the ropes of starting your store successfully, customizing it becomes pretty simple, and the various app options enhance the overall experience.

Key Highlights

• Implementation of a straightforward and user-friendly interface facilitating the establishment of online stores by sellers needing more technical skills.
• Provision of customization options enabling sellers to personalize storefronts through diverse themes and design elements, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
• Efficient and secure fast payment processing, boosting buyer and seller confidence through integrating multiple payment options and encryption measures.
• Adopting a mobile-first approach by Shopify ensures the optimal functionality of online stores across various devices, catering to the growing population of mobile shoppers.
• Integration of inventory management features empowering sellers to efficiently handle inventory, monitor stock levels, and receive real-time notifications, fostering an organized and streamlined selling process.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Easy setup for sellers to launch online stores quickly.
• Diverse payment options that offer flexibility.
• Flexibility as Shopify companies with your business through the journey.

Cons

• Transaction fees of some pricing plans affect overall profit margins.
• Customization limitations of some design and structural limitations despite being highly customizable.

The Verdict

Shopify is ideal for

• Small to medium businesses, as easy entry and scalability make it great for growing companies.
• Individuals and startups who are starting in e-commerce.
• Sellers in niche markets who want a focused shopping experience.

2. Etsy 

Achieving success with your Etsy shop requires dedication and time. It’s essential to recognize that with over 4.5 million active sellers on the platform, garnering sales on Etsy can be a significant challenge. However, the platform’s robust selling infrastructure ensures a smooth process for sellers and buyers.

Key Highlights

• Offering a diverse range of products, encompassing clothes, furniture, musical instruments, collectibles, books, and art, establishing a versatile marketplace.
• Implementation of customizable storefronts featuring banners and profile images, facilitating a unique and branded shopping experience for buyers.
• Provision of a user-friendly listing process, where sellers effortlessly add items to their shop, create descriptions, and upload images.
• Utilization of Etsy’s established selling infrastructure, ensuring a smooth and secure transaction process for sellers and buyers.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Diverse product categories of used items, appealing to a broad audience.
• Customization options of seller’s storefronts, fostering a distinct brand identity and enhancing the shopping experience.
• Proven success stories from many sellers, including those specializing in used items, have found substantial success on Etsy, showcasing the platform’s potential for profitability.

Cons:

• Intense competition with millions of active sellers requires strategic efforts to stand out in the marketplace.
• Etsy Fees of price products appropriately and manage overall costs effectively.

The Verdict

• Artisans and crafters who are seeking a dedicated marketplace.
• Individuals selling used items such as clothing, furniture, or collectibles.
• Creative entrepreneurs who aim to establish a unique online presence and leverage customization options for their storefronts.

3. eBay 

eBay is one of the most popular websites for utilizing cross-listing software, recognized by its iconic multi-colored logo. Its prominence in online selling is due to its longstanding presence since 1995 and its user-friendly cross-listing process.

Key Highlights

• Provision of diverse selling options, encompassing auctions and fixed prices, offering flexibility for sellers.
• Streamlined listing process for sellers to expediently list items by adding photos and creating product descriptions.
• An extensive product range facilitated by eBay, accommodating the sale of nearly anything and establishing a versatile marketplace.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• eBay’s reputation for a user-friendly cross-listing process
• Free joining for both buyers and sellers
• Variety of selling formats for seller flexibility
• Global audience access with eBay’s extensive user base

Cons:

• Fee awareness, including a 10% deduction and possible listing fees
• Intense competition in the popular eBay marketplace
• The overwhelming initial experience of selling on eBay, especially for new users, but it becomes more intuitive with time and activity.

The Verdict

• Individual sellers whoever look to sell used items online, from collectibles to electronics and more.
• Small or large enterprises.
• Quick and steady sales as eBay’s auction-style and buy-it-now options cater to sellers looking for.

4. Depop 

Consider looking into Depop and comparing it with Etsy, but the best approach might be using both. Explore software that facilitates selling on eBay and Depop for a broader reach. Depop, specifically a fashion marketplace, is an excellent platform for selling new and used fashion items, beauty products, and jewelry.

Key Highlights

• Fashion-centric marketplace in selling new and used fashion items.
• User-friendly app interface and social elements, streamlining the process of listing items, managing sales, and letting sellers and buyers connect simultaneously.
• Zero listing fees – a cost-effective platform for sellers to showcase their products.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Fashion diversity, including clothing, beauty products, and jewelry.
• User-friendly design for both new and experienced sellers.
• Zero Listing Fees: Sellers can showcase their items without incurring upfront costs.

Cons:

• Niche Market for sellers seeking items outside the fashion domain.
• A 10% fee on successful sales.

The Verdict

• Fashion enthusiasts who focus on selling or buying fashion-forward items.
• New sellers to online selling.
• Budget-conscious sellers with the aim of minimizing initial costs.

5. Vinted 

If you want to make money without dealing with extra fees and shipping hassles, consider checking out Vinted. It allows you to sell second-hand items for free, and you can even earn £5 by inviting friends to join and use it as an online selling platform.

Key Highlights

• Fee-free selling for sellers to make money.
• Referral bonuses per one person invited to join Vinted from users are an extra incentive for them.
• Vinted’s versatility allows users to sell, buy, and swap thrift items, fostering a dynamic and interactive online marketplace.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Fee-free transactions – a significant advantage for both sellers and buyers.
• Referral rewards incentivize users and enhance community growth.
• A layer of flexibility to the online selling experience.

Cons:

• Limited to used items, making it less suitable for those with brand-new products.
• Shipping responsibility by sellers may add a layer of effort compared to platforms with integrated shipping services.

The Verdict

• Budget-conscious sellers are those looking to make money without incurring selling fees. 
• Eco-friendly Shoppers who are interested in buying, selling, or swapping used items in an environmentally conscious way.
• Community-driven users as the platform encourage community growth through referral rewards.

6. Facebook Marketplace

Launched in October 2016 and integrated into the Facebook ecosystem, it has grown to over one billion active users. Regarding active users, Facebook’s general platform boasts nearly 3 billion monthly users. Navigating the world of online selling, Facebook Marketplace emerges as a local-centric platform where users can seamlessly buy and sell items within their community. 

Key Highlights

• A user-friendly platform with diverse selling options for local buying and selling. 
• An uncomplicated product listing form, allowing for hiding the lists from friends and easy visibility through boosted ads.
• A different but more organized and regulated version of Craigslist.
• 5% Selling Fee per shipment or a flat fee of $0.40 for shipments under $8.00 when using Commerce Manager.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Convenience and integration into the Facebook app. 
• Enhancing safety by vetting buyer’s profiles (assuming it’s not private).
• Quick sales as items often selling within a short timeframe. 

Cons:

• A smaller scale compared to larger platforms.
• Not for large-scale enterprises.

The Verdict

• Local sellers and buyers those looking for local transactions and a community-focused buying and selling experience
• Individuals prioritizing convenience by the integration into the Facebook app and a straightforward, user-friendly interface.
• Safety-Conscious Sellers Those who value a straightforward interface and prioritize safety through buyer’s profile information vetting.

7. OfferUp

OfferUp is your go-to website and app for local buying and selling, similar to a Facebook marketplace but without needing a Facebook account.

Initially envisioned as an “anti-Craigslist,” OfferUp has become one of the largest online marketplaces for local transactions. It shares similarities with Craigslist in infrastructure but distinguishes itself with a modern interface, user profiles, and a rating system to enhance safety.

Key Highlights

• A straightforward and user-friendly platform for local transactions, as sellers are responsible for coordinating the sale and delivery of your item and handling any questions from the buyer.
• Free joining for both buyers and sellers.
• User-friendly app for adding and managing product listings efficiently, communicating with buyers, checking out the competition, and reviewing their inventory, badges, ratings, and transaction history.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Quick posting process in less than 30 seconds for a swift and efficient selling process.
• Enhancing user experience by a clean and modern user interface.
• Safety concerns with user profiles, a rating system, and a Safe Trade Spot feature, providing peace of mind for transactions.

Cons:

• Responsible for coordinating the sale, delivery, and addressing buyer queries.
• Local Focus, limiting its scope compared to more significant online marketplaces.

The Verdict

• Local sellers and buyers who are looking for a convenient local marketplace for buying and selling.
• Those seeking quick transactions and efficient selling experience. 
• Safety-conscious users by using safety measures such as user profiles and a rating system

8. Amazon

Amazon, much like eBay, provides a platform for selling items with fixed prices. As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon boasts broad reach and trust. Its app is the second most used shopping app in the United States, with 98 million users monthly. With a 45% share of the U.S. eCommerce market, Amazon is a top choice for selling secondhand items.

Though known for new products, Amazon accommodates various used items, from books and electronics to musical instruments. Conditions for used items are clearly stated, helping manage buyer expectations.

Key Highlights

• Fixed selling price, unlike auctions.
• Two selling plans for sellers to select as first joining: the Individual plan at $0.99 per item sold or the Professional plan at $39.99 monthly.
• Straightforward and user-friendly interface website for sellers.
• Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program for individual sellers in streamlining the selling process.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• The large user base of the world’s largest online retailer
• Second most trusted brand status for Amazon
• Diverse categories for used items on Amazon

Cons:

• Stringent quality standards in Amazon’s seller program.
• The processing time and fee structure challenges, particularly for lower-value items less than $10-20.

The Verdict

• Quality Sellers of Used Items on Amazon
• Sellers Aiming for a Broad Audience on a Trusted Platform
• Professional Sellers Willing to Invest in a Professional Account for Higher Selling Volumes on Amazon

9. Poshmark 

Poshmark, founded in 2011, is a vibrant online marketplace for selling and buying pre-loved items in various categories like fashion and home goods. With an impressive growth trajectory, Poshmark has garnered 80 million registered users across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Notably, it records one item sold per second in the United States.

Key Highlights

• Poshmark’s establishment in 2011 as a dynamic online marketplace for pre-loved item transactions across various categories.
• Integration of a social element, allowing user engagement through following, liking, sharing, and commenting on listings.
• Impressive user base of 80 million spanning the United States, Canada, and Australia, with a sales rate of one item per second in the United States.
• Transparent commission structure, involving a $2.95 fee for sales under $15 and an 80% commission for transactions over $15.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• The loyalty of around 80% of repeat shoppers, demonstrating the effectiveness of social engagement features.
• User-friendly listing creation process accessible through both the website and the app.
• Global reach ensuring a broad audience for sellers across multiple countries.

Cons:

• Limitation of selling activities to the app, potentially excluding users preferring web-based transactions.
• Fee challenges, especially for lower-value items, despite the clear commission structure.

The Verdict

• Fashion enthusiasts, particularly millennials and Gen Z users value social interaction features.
• Sellers focused on building trust and engagement through following, liking, and commenting.
• Individuals interested in establishing repeat business, given the substantial percentage of sales from loyal shoppers.

10. Bonanza

Positioning itself as a competitive alternative to eBay, Amazon, and Etsy, Bonanza offers a diverse marketplace with a vibe similar to Etsy, especially for collectibles, clothing, and jewelry. It also features musical instruments, video games, and home & garden supplies.

Bonanza distinguishes itself by providing more control over storefronts than Amazon or eBay. It even allows sellers to generate customer lists for re-marketing purposes, adding to its appeal as a platform for selling used items online.

Key Highlights

• The initiation of a no-cost membership on Bonanza, enabling sellers to create their digital product showcase termed a “booth.”
• The seamless inclusion of item imports from recognized platforms like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Shopify, granting sellers diverse choices.
• The implementation of a success fee upon an item’s sale, calculated based on the final offer value (FOV), featuring a minimum price of $0.50.
• The provision of services to boost visibility, with fees ranging from 9% to 30% of the final offer value.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• The encompassing of a broad range of products, spanning collectibles, clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, video games, and home & garden supplies.
• Flexibility with increased control over their storefronts, in contrast to platforms like Amazon or eBay, allowing the generation of customer lists for re-marketing.
• The possession of a distinctive charm as a scrappy eBay, Amazon, and Etsy alternative, contributing to its allure as an exploration-worthy platform for online used item sales.

Cons:

• Considering the success fee structure and advertising fees, despite the absence of upfront costs, is particularly impactful for sellers dealing with lower-value items.

The Verdict

• Individuals sold extraordinary and unique items, aligning with Bonanza’s emphasis on exceptional products.
• Sellers desiring the flexibility to import items from various platforms and aspiring for increased control over their online storefront.
• Sellers with an interest in leveraging advertising services to amplify visibility and potentially boost sales.

Bottom line

The 10 popular online platforms for selling used items offer a variety of choices to fit every seller’s and buyer’s needs, as evidenced by real user experiences and expert reviews. From my personal insights after using these 10 platforms, they not only facilitate easy and secure transactions but also provide a sustainable way to circulate goods.