Online prices for second hand items

[cktc]

I feel like I must be doing something wrong. Every time I look for used items on craigslist or buy/sell groups the prices just seem outrageous. I could shop sales and get items for the same price or less new. It seems people think they should get at least 80% of what they paid years ago for their stuff. 


Am I supposed to haggle? Should I be selling all my old junk for current market value instead of donating it? Do people just feel like they are getting a good value because they are buying used?


Yard sales still seem reasonable, and I've found a few kid exchange places I like, but online is a joke.

[Anne_in_VA]

I use Craigslist to sell items occasionally, using 25% of my initial cost as a base.  I do get some people that want to haggle, but depending what it is, I generally won't go below 20% of my cost.  For example, I bought a queen size cherry bed a few years ago for over $1k but we don't use it any more.  I'm selling it on CL for $250.  If it doesn't sell then I'll donate it, but it will probably sell in a few days.  Some things are not worth what you paid and you will never get what you paid for them.  

I do see some people who list items for almost full price, but they usually don't sell at that price.  

[bean29]

I just bought a 4 drawer file cabinet for $150. the guy was asking $175. I offered $100 b/c it was a little scratched up, but he firmly told me know. It is a HON, and they are well over $600 new. It was worth the $150 to me, I would have paid the $175 but I wouldn't have felt as good about the deal if he hadn't come down a little bit.

As Swamp said in another thread, when I stop at Rummage sales, they often just have JUNK. I don't bother to stop anymore. I am also going to try to find a gas stove on FB Marketplace for our rental unit. Years ago I said no more used appliances b/c we don't have good luck with them, but we need a Stove, Refrigerator and New laundry center for our rental. We got a scratch and dent refrigerator. I also "bought" a closeout stove, but want to look around for something cheaper - my thinking is Stoves have longer useful lives, so less risk.

I think Anne's pricing rationale is reasonable and it is probably close to what I would do. 

When I have Rummage Sales, no one seems to want to give me anything close to 20-25%, they offer pennies on the dollar to me, so I refuse to sit in my garage and sell stuff to strangers.  I give everything to goodwill/salvation army.

ETA, I very rarely buy stuff from Goodwill - IMHO, they often are overpriced.  I have bought a few things there, and found decent deals, but it is not consistent at all.

[Lizard Queen]

I also find new stuff cheaper in stores than what people want for their old, used up crap. I don't understand it. Gave up on getting a bike for my kid on CL, and snagged a brand new one for ~ $47
I joined a local FB garage sale page, and it's terrible for prices! Anything there with a decent price is snatched up in a heartbeat.

[cktc]

Jun 1, 2017 16:12:43 GMT -5 bean29 said:

I just bought a 4 drawer file cabinet for $150. the guy was asking $175. I offered $100 b/c it was a little scratched up, but he firmly told me know. It is a HON, and they are well over $600 new. It was worth the $150 to me, I would have paid the $175 but I wouldn't have felt as good about the deal if he hadn't come down a little bit.

As Swamp said in another thread, when I stop at Rummage sales, they often just have JUNK. I don't bother to stop anymore. I am also going to try to find a gas stove on FB Marketplace for our rental unit. Years ago I said no more used appliances b/c we don't have good luck with them, but we need a Stove, Refrigerator and New laundry center for our rental. We got a scratch and dent refrigerator. I also "bought" a closeout stove, but want to look around for something cheaper - my thinking is Stoves have longer useful lives, so less risk.

I think Anne's pricing rationale is reasonable and it is probably close to what I would do. 

When I have Rummage Sales, no one seems to want to give me anything close to 20-25%, they offer pennies on the dollar to me, so I refuse to sit in my garage and sell stuff to strangers.  I give everything to goodwill/salvation army.

ETA, I very rarely buy stuff from Goodwill - IMHO, they often are overpriced.  I have bought a few things there, and found decent deals, but it is not consistent at all.

25-50% of what you paid seems reasonable to me.

Appliances are tricky, but they are some of the better bargains used. Good luck!

I agree about goodwill too!

[zibazinski]

I've been looking at consignment furniture. Um, some of these prices seem obscene. This is Florida. No one wants dark furniture so it should be very inexpensive second hand.

[dee27]

I found one thing, a mid weight jacket, for YDS at the thrift shop in all of the years of looking. A lot of the merchandise was stained, dirty, and overpriced. Even Plato's Closet had overpriced and outdated clothes. Truthfully, I find better prices for clothes at major department stores at the end of the season when they were deeply discounted. 

[pooks]

We buy a good bit off of craigslist and have always had good luck with prices.  We have bought laptops, phones, exercise equipment, bicycle, appliances, motorcycles.  It helps to know exactly what you want down to the make and model.  For example you can buy a treadmill new for less than my used one, but my treadmill new was 5x what I paid for it.  I don't think we have bought any furniture though.  I look, but there isn't ever anything I want.  People here don't seem to buy good furniture, so there isn't any good used furniture.  

[TheOtherMe]

My niece sells a lot on FB garage sale sites.  She says she always lists with a high price knowing it won't sell for that.  I don't know how she determines her bottom sales price.  Her stuff are toys and furniture.  She also sold the wooden swing set that had cost around $600 new when her kids outgrew it.

I am going to attempt to sell part of my Beatles collection on eBay.  I let the bidding set the price.  I do pull the listing on the higher priced items if they aren't selling. 

[cktc]

I'm usually looking at furniture and kid stuff. Maybe those things are just higher demand, and less urgent to remove so they can be priced higher. I'll consider making lower offers. Haggling is just against my nature 

[Deleted]

I'm not an expert on this but I'd caution that in some cases the new items you buy at the store are more cheaply made than the garage sale stuff.  I participated in a neighborhood garage sale last month with not very good results (sold only $32 worth of stuff and got talked down on most items) but I can tell you that even if you can buy a shiny new wrench or screwdriver at Wal-Mart for 99 cents, it's not going to be the same quality as the 20-year old Craftsman wrenches and screwdrivers I was selling for $1 each.  Same with clothes although I didn't try selling clothes.  There's a huge variation in quality.  The cheap stuff will shrink, fade or fall apart faster.

I do remember an earlier discussion here about how thrift store prices are going up.

[emma1420]

It's the same with Craigslist by me.  I'm always amazed at the number of people who advertising their Ikea or Ashley furniture wanting 75% of what they paid for it.  

Occasionally you can find a great piece of furniture that way, but more often than not it's people who are selling worn out junk expecting to make a bunch of money.

[muttleynfelix]

It depends. Sometimes I find good deals. Sometimes I don't. I don't tend look at things that more than 50% of their retail price. I tend to sell my stuff for around 30% retail. It will languish if you price it higher. If I'm not getting a good deal, I don't buy it used. There is a level of hassle that you have to put up with, finding what you want at the price you want, meeting the person. Forget it.

Clothes for the kids, I look at a consignment store. I spend about $2 per item that typically retails $6-$10 on sale on the stores. I know some people find kids clothes for $2 in the store, but I can't seem to.

[empress of self-improvement]

Jun 2, 2017 11:50:54 GMT -5 emma1420 said:

It's the same with Craigslist by me.  I'm always amazed at the number of people who advertising their Ikea or Ashley furniture wanting 75% of what they paid for it.  

Occasionally you can find a great piece of furniture that way, but more often than not it's people who are selling worn out junk expecting to make a bunch of money.

I noticed that as well. I was looking for a kitchen table and people were asking some stupid prices for the things. Plus they all seem to include chairs. I didn't need chairs. I finally gave up and found just what I was looking for at Savers for $10.

[zibazinski]

There are two stores that I'd like to check out. They're both running huge sales but not at their nice stores but in an area that I don't feel safe in in broad daylight. If I have to carry a gun to shop there, I have no business going there. I know that's why they're running the sales there, to try to lure a better quality of customer down to that area but no thank you.

[Lizard Queen]

Jun 2, 2017 14:17:55 GMT -5 alwaysbeoptimizing said:

Jun 1, 2017 16:23:27 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I also find new stuff cheaper in stores than what people want for their old, used up crap. I don't understand it. Gave up on getting a bike for my kid on CL, and snagged a brand new one for ~ $47
I joined a local FB garage sale page, and it's terrible for prices! Anything there with a decent price is snatched up in a heartbeat.

i think part of it is hassle.  I donate much more than I sell just due to not wanting to waste time with people.  if I do sell, i list it cheap.  I want the first jackass who shows up to leave with it.  if I have to meet two people, I've lost money on it.

your sellers are taking he opposite approach of "i'll list it high to cover the hassle" the problem is, they'll have more hassle than if they just listed it cheap and got it sold to the first person to not flake out and actually show up

Oh, definitely the hassle factor.  As a buyer, I don't want a hassle either, which means I don't want to take the time to haggle over a few dollars.  It's also a bit of a hassle for the buyer with going to the seller's location for the exchange.  At this point, I'm only in the group any more for the garage sale notifications.  I still feel like it's possible to snag a good deal on something I might need for my boys at those.  I'm still kicking myself for letting a pair of $5 hockey skates slide by a couple years ago at a neighbor's garage sale.

[azucena]

I'm slightly addicted to the local fb swap site and I have most of a house to furnish. 25% to 50% of retail is my goal.

Just got back from picking up a twin pink ladybug comforter set for $15. Last night it was a $10 set if hot pink black out curtains. 4 yo's new room is coming together.

Last week I got a patio set with 4 chairs and umbrella for $40. DH groped about having to pick it up and then move it but for that price I couldn't pass it up. He will thank me when we can eat on our new deck on day 1.

I'm looking for...
-bathroom vanity to replace the pedestal sink in the kids/hallway bath. They will need a place to store their towels and later hair and make up items and there isn't even a linen closet.
-dresser or two
-bathroom storage cabinet
-coffee table
-2 tv stands
-mudroom bench and/or shoe storage (may hit ikea)
-basketball hoop for the driveway for 8 yo and myself (total stress relief)
-entryway table
-seating for the front porch
-I may get brave (or stupid) and look at couches and rugs. With young kiddos I don't really want new things.

Trying not to get too crazy but it's so exciting to be furnishing the house we've saved for and waited on for about 5 yrs.

[Deleted]

We live near enough to the largest thrift store in the country. I buy books and some clothes there, daughter buys most of her clothes there, but no furniture. I've gotten some things off Craigslist, but it's really hit or miss. I'd say I've found things I've liked to have, but never the thing I might have been specifically looking for...

We loooove yard sales. 

[TheOtherMe]

I've got some Beatles collectibles that I am going to attempt to sell on eBay.

Our local FB garage sale sites have people asking way too much money for things, imo.  There is a guy who has offered 3 new in box flat tvs in the last week.  I googled all 3 of them and he is asking the same amount of money as Best Buy or Amazon.  I'd have no protection with that guy who wants cash only

[resolution]

I've only ever bought one thing on Craigslist, which was a formal dining room set with a china cabinet. I paid $800, which was probably more than she paid for it when she bought it 40 years ago, but it is in pristine condition and solidly built. I don't think I could get anything as nice in the local furniture store.

[CCL]

Jun 8, 2017 16:37:03 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I've got some Beatles collectibles that I am going to attempt to sell on eBay.

Our local FB garage sale sites have people asking way too much money for things, imo.  There is a guy who has offered 3 new in box flat tvs in the last week.  I googled all 3 of them and he is asking the same amount of money as Best Buy or Amazon.  I'd have no protection with that guy who wants cash only

I always wonder where those people get the new or almost new tvs and electronics. How does someone happen to have 3 extra brand-new tvs? I always think they must be stolen lol.

[Lizard Queen]

There were a couple decent items on my FB site lately. Really good prices--maybe a little low even, and people swept in like vultures. Damn!

[TheOtherMe]

Jun 8, 2017 21:23:10 GMT -5 CCL said:

Jun 8, 2017 16:37:03 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I've got some Beatles collectibles that I am going to attempt to sell on eBay.

Our local FB garage sale sites have people asking way too much money for things, imo.  There is a guy who has offered 3 new in box flat tvs in the last week.  I googled all 3 of them and he is asking the same amount of money as Best Buy or Amazon.  I'd have no protection with that guy who wants cash only

I always wonder where those people get the new or almost new tvs and electronics. How does someone happen to have 3 extra brand-new tvs? I always think they must be stolen lol.

My exact thought. 

[cktc]

Jun 8, 2017 16:37:03 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I've got some Beatles collectibles that I am going to attempt to sell on eBay.

Our local FB garage sale sites have people asking way too much money for things, imo.  There is a guy who has offered 3 new in box flat tvs in the last week.  I googled all 3 of them and he is asking the same amount of money as Best Buy or Amazon.  I'd have no protection with that guy who wants cash only

I bought a TV off craigslist for my grandma because for some reason she hates flat screen TVs and finding anyone that sells CRTV new today is impossible. It seemed to work fine in the dudes apartment when we went to pick it up, but was shot the second we set it up. Thankfully we have finally gotten her to accept flat screens so we can just buy a new one cheap.

[TheOtherMe]

And today somebody posts a chest of drawers for sale in the Freecycle group.   

I am happy that my parents had gone to a flat screen television before they moved here.  Can't remember how they got rid of old television as it weighed about 300 pounds according to nephews.

[empress of self-improvement]

Jun 9, 2017 19:18:54 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

And today somebody posts a chest of drawers for sale in the Freecycle group.   

I am happy that my parents had gone to a flat screen television before they moved here.  Can't remember how they got rid of old television as it weighed about 300 pounds according to nephews.

I took ours to Best Buy. They take them back for free. Got rid of 3 of them. Also, my old city had an electronics day where for a small fee, $10-20 per unit you can drop off whatever. Got rid of another TV and an air conditioner that way.

I've been trolling craigslist for exercise equipment since the weather has been annoyingly uncooperative and my schedule sucks so anything that helps is a plus for me. I did find an elliptical trainer thing for a decent price. I'm looking at it tomorrow and hopefully I can force DH into using it as well. We shall see!

[TheOtherMe]

There was no Best Buy in the small town where my parents lived.  That is why I don't remember what happened to it.  It may have gone to one of the nephews.

Here there is Best Buy and Goodwill takes most electronics.  Not sure about tvs.

[empress of self-improvement]

I made my first ever craigslist purchase today and I think I did pretty well. It's a Compact Strider elliptical thing without the arm part. I looked it up and it usually goes for over $100. Picked it up for $55 and a nice trip down 495 to Acton. Could have done without seeing my second dead deer on the side of the road today though. GAWD!!!

[gooddecisions]

I furnished my whole house second hand. The only things I bought néw were mattresses. My dining room table, chairs, buffet and China cabinet = $700. Home office with executive desk, credenza, executive chair, art, printer cabinet and Persian rug = $500. My basset king size slay bed, end tables and 2 dressers = $750. Just one end tables was $800 new. For the girls' room 2 twin bed $40. Sectional for the family room $300. Front porch glider and rocking chairs $50, back patio table, chairs, umbrella, teak set of loungers, another teak table with chairs, 2 outdoor rug $100. And there is more rugs, kitchen table, toy room. It is a big house and I did not have to spend a lot of money making it look nice and functional on good quality items. I also buy all my girls' clothes and most of their toys from my neighborhood facebook swap. The price is always really low and the location is near.

That said, I have seen ridiculous prices on other sites. I don't buy on those.