I’ve come a long way since the days when every item in my home had dollar signs attached to it in my brain. Selling on eBay was fun, but it did warp my view of decluttering. Things sat in my home long after I’d decided to get rid of them, waiting for the time/energy/season to put it up for auction.
I’m now a huge fan of donating. Stick it in a box and let someone else sort it and get it on its way to a new home.
But local Facebook swap groups or online garage sales are a big thing these days. They come across my feed and suck me in. I have friends who have sold huge amounts of stuff this way.
My main reason to not utilize them was the frustration I experienced when I sold things on Craigslist. Unlike eBay, where an auction winner is technically required to complete a purchase, you can go back and forth emailing random people who claim to be interested in what you’re selling, but really aren’t. You can spend forever arranging a pickup only to have them not even show up. When you go back to the second buyer, they’re no longer interested.
But maybe Facebook groups would be different?
Over the past year, I’ve tried selling a few things. I could say I was doing it as an experiment to share here on the blog because I’m a super-committed Slob Blogger, but it was really because I saw dollar signs again as I purged. (It happens.)
The first thing I listed was “the bench.” If you’ve been around a while, you know “the bench.” The white one people love. I loved it too, and this is why each time I decluttered it, I ended up bringing it back into the house and trying it in a different place.
It’s cute, and should be functional, but it wasn’t. It just wasn’t.
I decided it was a good thing to sell. Some of you offered to buy it every time I mentioned it on the blog, but I needed it picked up from my house. I wasn’t about to ship it, and I needed it gone NOW.
One weekday morning, I listed it in a Facebook group for $15.
The comments started coming. The messages started coming. People wanted that bench and they were willing to pay more than $15.
But I did the right thing and sold it to the first commenter. This was fine since I’m a Super Mature and Experienced Declutterer, but I felt the sting of knowing I could have made more money.
That’s a unique challenge of selling in a FB group. People see other people’s comments. They know when they’re the first commenter, and they get kind of nasty about people who don’t sell it to the first commenter who is willing to pay the asking price. I’ve seen it happen.
When the buyer asked where we should meet, I glanced at the bench and groaned. I just wanted it gone.
I didn’t want to get murdered or anything, but hoisting that thing into my Suburban, by myself, and then helping her hoist it into her car (where it might or might not easily fit) stressed me out.
I took advantage of Facebook and checked her out. She lived in my town. We had quite a few friends in common, most of whom are perfectly sane. I gambled and told her my address. She gambled and showed up.
No one died.
It was a good experience. Within a few hours of deciding it was FINALLY time to let go of that bench, I had cash in my pocket and space in my home.
So when we decided to get rid of a monstrous TV, I listed it in the same group.
Crickets.
No one wanted that ridiculously heavy, at-least-15-years-old, perfectly working thing. Even for the low, low price of five measly dollars.
Seriously.
I also posted a basic wooden table. The kind you tell yourself you could definitely sell (someday, while it sits in random places waiting for someday to come) because it’s exactly the kind some crafty person somewhere would love to paint. Yes. Somebody would totally want it.
Somebody was nowhere to be found. Crickets, again.
Days later, a commenter wanted to know the measurements of the TV. By then, I didn’t care one little bit and couldn’t be bothered to find the measuring tape. I didn’t even answer. I opted to walk around the stupid thing for another month (or so) until we begged someone to take it for free at my daughter’s garage sale.
(Note to self: write a post about how your 9yo daughter suckered you into having a garage sale . . . )
I didn’t post anything else until my boys and I were cleaning their room at the end of the summer. A few things they’d outgrown seemed like they might be worth the hassle.
First, a fart gun.
Right. It’s what I said. It was still in perfect condition (for a fart gun . . . ). I posted it for $3.
Evidently, Facebook Group Buyers like cute white benches and fart guns. Everyone wanted that thing, and they were willing to pay more than $3. Again, we went with the first commenter since we’re not jerks. But even though I’m mature and can handle it, 11 and 13 year old boys tend to be a little resentful when their mama didn’t properly value their fart gun.
I arranged to meet the person in a grocery store parking lot at 5:00 p.m.
I also posted a toy WWE championship belt. It was a prized, saved-up-for possession the boys bought a few years ago, but they agreed they were over it now. Because they had once been obsessed, I thought the response would equal the Fart Gun Mania we’d just experienced. I asked for $5.
Ummmm, no.
We finally had one response, and I arranged to meet her in the same parking lot at the same time as Fart Gun Lady.
I was proud of myself, the boys were excited about their money, and life was good.
And then, that afternoon, around 4:30, I remembered I needed to run to the store. Not the store where I had arranged to meet the two buyers.
I went to the (other) store. I took my time. I bought what I needed to buy. I enjoyed walking around kid-free.
I got in my car, and leisurely checked my Facebook messages.
There were several. From the two buyers. “Which car are you in?” “Are you here?”
And, “I have to leave for a meeting at my child’s school.”
I had completely forgotten.
I drove as quickly as I legally could. (Almost.)
I sold the Fart Gun, but the belt buyer was long gone.
She never answered my offer to meet her somewhere else.
So, basically, even though my eye-rolling, heavy sighing hesitation about arranging these kinds of sales was that I didn’t want to waste my time with people who didn’t show up when they said they would, I ended up being that person.
Ugh. I felt awful.
So would I do it again?
Hmmmm. Maybe. On certain things. Depending on the mood I’m in at the moment when I declutter.
When it works like it did with the bench, it IS easy. I like that it’s local. I like that it’s somewhat immediate. I like that I can post a thing here and there straight from my phone and donate the rest. I can throw that thing in the Donate Box if it’s not gone by the time the Donate Box leaves the house.
Sometimes, I feel like going through hassle for a little money. Sometimes, I don’t.
I’d love to hear your experiences selling in these kinds of groups. Love it? Not so much?
Other posts you might like:
My Changing View of Stuff and Value
Why I Don’t Care Who Sells My Stuff
I tired to sell my decluttered items on Facebook and had mixed results. I listed 5 items and out of those one person showed up at the designated time in the designated meeting area. The other 4 either didn’t show up or sent messages at the last minute to reschedule. In the end it was a waste of time and I just dropped the items off at Goodwill.
For small items like the toys, I just do porch pickup. I leave it out, and the buyer swings by and leaves the money under the doormat. Much more concurrent for everyone since the pickup time is flexible, and you don’t have to open your front door to a stranger. I just have them commit to a day so I know when to set it out. I’ve never had anything stolen, but a $5 item would not break my heart if it was.
This is totally what I do as well, along with Nony’s suggestions of sometimes I feel like it and sometimes I don’t. Right now the FB page I use has a 3 “bump rule” so once I get something listed (which isn’t always as taking the pictures is a hassle to me) I put it in the donate box. I “bump” it 3 times and if no one is interested, or they don’t show up, then off it goes. It seems to be working pretty well right now. Also, I have found that toys are really the only thing to sell. I have had no luck selling any other household stuff.
I have had mixed results as well. I tried selling toys my kids have outgrown and some clothes. The toys got a pretty good response, and I am surprised by what items get the most offers. I feel the same as you, sometimes I’ll do it and sometimes I don’t want to be bothered. Since the holidays are coming up, there are a few big things I will probably try to sell.
That’s a good idea.
Those facebook groups are why I quit facebook altogether. People can just be so mean and it stressed me out too much as I take everything very personally and I always ended up on the losing end.
I’ve sold (and bought) a few items through facebook groups. But making the arrangements to meet someone usually isn’t worth it to me. I might sell something, if I think it would be worth it for the cash. But usually it’s easier to donate it.
I’ve had mixed results with the fb garage sale pages. I’ve sold some items with great success, with 10 people wanting the item, and then I post things I think will go quickly and, like you said, crickets. I cannot get a handle on how it all works! I’ve sworn it off a few times, then I’ll find something I just *know* will sell. Sigh. I’m not sure it’s worth it anymore, in the big decluttering picture.
I have been using the Buy Nothing project facebook page for my neighborhood. Works well. Even at the price of free there are never takers for the pre 2003 heavy televisions. Local thrifts still take them, but they are difficult to move!
Spending sixty dollar hours on getting five bucks, maybe, just wasn’t worth it for me. (Value your time at your state’s minimum wage for your dollar hours.)
Our neighborhood has a buy, sell, and swap page. This makes it very easy for buying and selling. I’ve just bought, haven’t sold. Because it is our neighborhood, I am more likely to “trust” those I am buying from. I agree it can be quite controversial, but it is definitely entertaining!
I’ve been using my FB garage sale groups for about a year now, also with mixed results. At first I would schedule meet ups in order not to give out my address, but that got to be kind of a hassle, so recently I’ll offer to meet, but then give the option of porch pick up at the other person’s convenience, so we don’t need to set a time to meet face to face. Most of the items are $10 or less, but I’ll usually make more of an effort to meet if the amount is $20 or more. It seems to have worked well so far. I agree that kid’s toys and sometimes clothes are easiest to sell, but I’ve gotten rid of random household things with a good degree of success…especially if they are new or things I couldn’t donate (nail polish).
I just don’t bother. Unless it’s really really bi, needs 2 people to move, I just donate it. The big things, I just listed on Craigs list. But made sure I wasn’t home alone!
I didn’t have any valuable stuff to start with. No heirloom china or Rembrandt’s here! lol
Four months ago I didn’t even know these things existed – and now I am hooked. I have had very good success with these sites, but have to admit that I am usually totally wrong as to which items will be “hot”. I also have found more success dealing with Varagesale as opposed to my local FB group. I put a limit of days on an item – if it doesn’t sell within that time frame it is removed and donated. One way or another its leaving the house. Ànd I realize I may just be lucky – but I haven’t run into a jerk yet.
I’ve sold some things on our local FB buy/sell/trade group, but some things are just not worth it. TVs are one of them. Unless it’s a flat screen, don’t bother. Even people who can’t afford a TV don’t want one that isn’t a flat screen.
I sold a graphing calculator and a car on Craigslist. They were both good experiences. However, I try to avoid selling items online (unless they are pretty valuable) because my husband travels for work and I’d rather donate or trash it than risk being murdered.
A friend of mine suggested that you don’t sell anything for less than $50 because your time is valuable and FB sales can be time consuming. Just donate the less expensive items.
I haven’t gotten into the FB garage sales too much, but I did sell a pair of brand new shoes that I got on Amazon Black Friday deal for super cheap and were too big. I figured selling them for what I paid was better than packaging them up to return. I had the buyer meet at my office. We ended up knowing each other from HS (35 years ago), and we talked for an hour. Time saver? No. Good experience? Yes! She was thrilled with the shoes, and they were gone from my closet. I have a “1 in – 2 out” rule for shoes.
I’ve been on lots of ride-alongs with my daughter when she sold stuff on FB. She had strollers and toys galore, and she made a LOT of money cleaning out her basement.
I sold a box of hot wheels cars for $3.00, awesome. I also sold some polly pockets, again awesome. But a dragon house for 20.00, I paid 65.00 for, no one even wants…I also listed softball clothes and cleats, barely worn, no responses. ugh! I had a kids table from Step2, only asking 35.00, 4 responses, the standard “i’m interested”. So? I say “ok”. No more responses! Ugh. Why? If you are interested, aren’t there basic questions like, when can we meet? or when are you available? or still available? NOT ONE RESPONSE. 4 different people. at 4 different times. I am about to just donate it all. It isn’t worth 60.00 stressing me out, staying in my home, when I want it gone!
I must say, I love other people for doing it, because anytime I’m buying something rather expensive (a new shelf, new desk, a dog bed for my car, attachments for my stand mixer, sport equipment…) I often calculate that I’m gonna save up for it for a long time and then someone actually wants it gone quickly, so I was able to get nice things at times when I couldn’t afford them by any means.
But when it comes to sell something myself I just don’t, because I’m not willing to put in the time and I just donate. I even buy books in a thrift store for like 50c to 1€ and when I’m done I donate them back to the same thrift store. I kinda feel like it’s totally worth the ease and flexibility and I don’t have to feel bad when I donate stuff I got for cheap anyway.
I have had amazing success with FB marketplace and local buy sell swap groups – but i’m in Australia so maybe it varies with places. I have had manyof the annoying time wasters, dont get me wrong, but overall it has been successful. I have sold all manner of items from our old hot water system to camping gear, to random house hold items – from as low as $1 but usually not more expensive than $150 for a whole bunch of car audio stuff of hubbies. I have also purchased many second hand items from same places with no hassles – using my earnings from selling other unneeded items to procure items we now need and not wasting money on new items. Almost makes it feel like the ‘new to us’ item was free. We have this concept now where if we want something we have to sell something else to pay for it (depending on the cost/value).
Hubby wanted a new laptop so he sold some expensive car part he was never going to use in reality and now he’s much happier with said laptop.
I also donate regularly and frequent our local buy nothing group and give often and sometimes i receive items too – it’s been a great concept and a nice change to our default thinking of ‘i need to buy X’ – i search these pages to see if i can get it there first.
Does anyone end up with ‘donate’ boxes that pile up? Just me? I never end up taking them to charity shops… Like I think part of my feels embarrassed that I need their help to take my unwanted things… And don’t get me wrong, it’s usually great stuff and clothes that still have the tags on them but… I still feel awkward about it and keep putting it off… :/
I have two organizations that pick up donations, otherwise I would have boxes in my car that never got donated!
Items in great condition.
It’s the total opposite: Think of it as putting those items back into circulation, giving them a chance at a new life where someone else will be THRILLED to have discovered them at that thrift store! How could anyone feel anything other than joy at that? Donate to your heart’s content, thus sharing your blessings you are bestowing on others. 🙂
I had a hard time GIVING AWAY items on Facebook, so now it’s either friends who I can give it to or a donation site.
That seems like a lot of work. I finally made a rule with myself that I would only sell things on eBay that would earn me over $20 because it is a lot of work, too. That made it easier for me to put things out on the porch for charity pick up. I try hard to think of it as being good for everyone (out of the house, helping someone who needs it more), but my natural frugality wants to make it a struggle. Your blog has been a huge help in making my life easier and fighting my tendencies of slob-ness.
I loved this post. And it just so happened to come on the perfect day. I was just at the Goodwill wondering what I could buy and flip. Suddenly I had a business idea. Then I came home and read this. 🤣🤣🤣
I’ve had the same feelings as you have for online garage sales.
I’ve been irritated by some who sounded interested and kept saying they would come pick my items up, and never did. And, 2nd and 3rd in line people who said they wanted to know if the 1st interested party backed out, and I’d tell them, and like yours – they were no longer interested. So irritating.
But, mostly, I’ve had pretty good luck getting rid of larger items.
Missy
I use Facebook to sell large items, and items that the charities won’t take (which is quite a few things in the UK as charities are fussy).
I’ve found that putting things on Facebook as ‘free’ results in a bunch of time wasters and messages that come to nothing. Free seems to mean ‘of no value, so no commitment to collect’.
Advertising for £5 gets much better results.
I’m generally just wanting to get rid of things rather than to make money out of them, and ideally to get items re-used in a new life rather than be trashed.
eBay used to be good for smaller things but now full of scammers and complainers. The same goes for FB marketplace if buyers want things posted. It’s very common for people to do a PayPal chargeback once they have the item, leaving you with no item, no money and the cost of the postage. PayPal always takes the buyers side never the sellers regardless of the circumstances. I advertise things as collection only, and ignore all the messages asking for it to be shipped.
I found that I have better luck with the selling than the giving away. We always do porch pick up and have only sold like 5 things.
The people who were getting stuff for free were often pretty demanding about how the transfer went, what the exact dimensions were, and so on. In about 5 experiences, I’ve had only 1 work, and that was for a ton of aquarium stuff that was worth at least $100 if I bothered to sell it.
I’ve bought several things in this manner and had wonderful results. The sellers are motivated. It shows. I got a brand new daybed for $100, a brand new couch for $450, tons of toys and clothes. For many years, my kids’ winter coats were used and bought at $10 or less.
Buys are easy. Sales are not.
I sell heaps of items every year. For low value items under $50, I have a table on my front porch with a Nest camera above it. If I am working or away I leave the item there around the time the buyer is due to arrive( or earlier) and they leave the cash under my door mat. In 15 years and thousands of transactions ,only one person has left the wrong amount of money.
Otherwise face to face at my local station or here at home.
It motivates me to see everything in the house and value it as clutter or not.
I use the porch table for free items that I give away as well. These are items I tried to sell but after a set time and a few price reductions, they didn’t sell so I give them away.
My most recent experience with selling something on marketplace was helping my dad sell a treadmill. We priced it to sell because it was time to get it out of their garage! I said the first $50 would get it and they’d have to pick it up. We had FIFTY responses! The first person missed out on it when they didn’t get back with me soon enough but the lady who got it was thrilled! And my folks were thrilled! Could we have sold it for more? Maybe. But with gobs of other treadmills for sale, who knows? Win/Win!
I have two organizations that pick up donations, otherwise I would have boxes in my car that never got donated!
If I can’t get more than $50 for an item and they are not willing to come and pick up when my husband is home it gets donated. We have a reuse store at our local landfill and most of my possessions go there as I can’t be bothered with the nickel and diming on Facebook Marketplace as well as the increasing influx of spammers and con artists