It is easy to say you want to get rid of stuff, but most people get stuck when they actually have to physically dispose of an item. Most of the things we keep in our homes are not really "trash," so it feels wasteful to just throw them away. So, to avoid feeling guilty about being wasteful we just hang on to everything, and then our homes start to overflow with perfectly usable but unwanted items.
For the next few posts I'll try to offer some alternatives to throwing things away. If other people have more ideas I would love to hear them!
Today: getting rid of stuff that is valuable but not useful to you:
1) Craigslist. This is kind of like having a garage sale, except without all the work. You can just sell one item at a time, and depending on where you live, you could be counting your cash within the day. I used Craigslist a lot before we moved the last time, and I was amazed at how quickly and easily I was able to sell stuff. I would recommend including at least one photo in your posting, and try to be realistic about your asking price. For some guidelines on pricing, I have used this site.
Also, keep in mind that people will need to meet you in person to make the sale, so please be on your guard. Some people may say they want to look at the table you are selling, but they may be scoping out your home to see what else they might like to have for free. I always met people outside my apartment building when selling small things, and I always had someone else at home besides me when selling furniture. I have never had a bad experience, but it doesn't hurt to play it safe.
2) eBay. This takes a little more work than Craigslist because you have to register on the site and eventually ship your item, but you'll get the best price for it, especially if it is something collectible or valuable. I would use eBay for selling jewelry and other more expensive stuff, DVDs, anything with a designer brand, things that have a limited but enthusiastic audience (e.g. ballroom dance shoes or anime action figures), etc. If you decide to use eBay, I would also recommend that you state explicitly whether or not you will accept returns. Some people like to shop on eBay like it's a catalog, and for me it's just too much of a hassle to deal with returns and reposting the item for auction.
2.5) eBay trading assistants. If it's too much trouble for you to sell on eBay yourself, you can always use a service that will do it for you. They will take a small percentage from the sale, but for a lot of people it is worth it not to have to deal with the hassle. Just do a google search for ebay trading assistants.
3) Amazon. If you've got books (or other stuff) that are in good condition or rare, Amazon can help you get rid of them. Just do a search for the book you have, and then list your book there. You can't expect a lot of money for them, especially because of the shipping, but at least it's better then nothing, and you know your book is going to someone who really wants it.
4) Somebody else's garage sale: because having your own is way too much of a hassle (at least I think so!). A lot of times you can find a community sale where lots of families or even a whole neighborhood are joining together, and those sales get a lot of traffic. If you don't personally know anyone who is having a sale, you might just call someone whose sale is listed in the newspaper and ask if you can add a few things (and maybe offer a percentage in exchange). Most people would be happy to help, and that way you can find a place to sell stuff closer to home.
If you really want to try it yourself, I thought this website had some good sale guidelines.
5) Your local thrift shop or consignment store. I can't give you a whole lot information on these because each one is different, but a quick search online or a scan through your phone book should give you at least a few possibilities. If you stop by the shop you can see what kind of things are likely to sell there, also. If you have any designer or retro items this might be a good option. Just remember to keep your consignment receipt or you may never get anything for all your effort.
6) A generous gift. If you are feeling generous, some charities would be more than happy to take your valuable items (see Kidney cars). Of course, you should call before you schlep the thing over just in case they aren't equipped to deal with that kind of donation. You could also consider young people you know who are just starting out at college or in the work force and who would be estatic to have that 15 year old microwave. They are probably already doing a lot of shopping at flea markets and consignment shops, so why not save them a few bucks and cut out the middle man? You'll probably want to ask them first if they want the thing, but you may be surprised at their reaction. I once witnessed tears, TEARS of joy when a young college student received a used colander. Apparently she had been straining her spaghetti in less effective ways, but that's a story for another day.
Next time: getting rid of the less valuable (but still good!) things you no longer want.
The manufacturing guys over at Evolving Excellence also commented on home clutter this weekend.
http://www.evolvingexcellence.com/blog/2007/06/less-storage-sp.html
Ken
Posted by: Ken | June 25, 2007 at 06:55 AM