Should I sell my items on ebay or a Consignment Thrift Shop

by: ThriftShopSearch.com

If you need to sell some items, you must make a decision on how you are going to turn your unwanted stuff into cash, easily. A consignment thrift shop can be an easy way to sell, just drop your items off at the shop, sign up and some shops will even clean your goods. The downside of the thrift shop is prices tend to be low plus you will need to split 50/50 or even 60/40 with the owner of the shop. Larger items can sell through these outlets much easier then dealing with ebay. Some stores will even arrange to pick larger more valuable items up at your home. Unlike ebay, you won't need digital photos, emails back and forth with prospective customers, packing, shipping breakage, no pays, etc. Larger items such as a sofas, recliners, refrigerators, chest of drawers, etc. won't ship UPS. The logistics of shipping common carrier is difficult to impossible for an unprofessional seller. Common carriers often deliver with a huge 18 wheeled truck and many times they can't get into neighborhoods so you have to arrange for a pick-up point. Additionally, you will have to arrange transportation to the common carrier terminal and provide proper packaging. A lot of work.

Ebay and other auctions tend to elicit the highest price from buyers all over the US and world. Literally, thousands of people watch the auctions and bid prices up to their approximate worth.

For my money, ebay seems to work best with small, valuable collectible items. Larger items do best in consignment thrift shops.

Should I shop at my local consignment thrift shop or ebay?

This decision depends upon a lot of factors. Ebay will offer you more choices then any number of local thrift shops. The problem with ebay is that you don't get to see, feel and try on anything. Shipping unwanted merchandise back is time consuming and a problem. Prices of items are usually as high as the market will bear because that is the nature of an auction. Larger items like a sofa or refrigerator will be a nightmare to deal with on ebay.

Your local thrift shops will let you see, feel touch and try an item on. You can make a better informed decision and returns, though unlikely, will be easier. Large items can be thrown in a pick-up truck for delivery. Almost everyone knows someone who owns a pick-up. There is also a better chance that you will find an underpriced bargain of the century by a thrift shop owner who may not know what he/she has. On ebay, this is unlikely. Besides, it's just plain fun to shop.

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