Whether you’re looking to pick up some extra cash by selling some of your stuff or you’re hoping to snag a deal on something you need, Craigslist has been staple of online life since 1996. It’s basically the replacement for the classified ads that used to fill up your old hometown newspaper (remember those?). No matter what you’re looking to offload or pick up, odds are pretty good that someone on Craigslist has what you want.
But Craigslist isn’t without its problems. For would-be sellers, you’ll have to field emails or calls with questions about the item, and you may experience flagging issues that will deactivate your posts if you’re perceived as competition by people who sell for a living on the service. On the buyer’s side, you’ll have to sort through a pile of ads that aren’t always well organized or updated, which can lead to a wild goose chase syndrome of frustration.
Though Craigslist is incredibly useful, there are other options for buying and selling your personal items online — and many are tailored by item type to save you the trouble of scrolling through pages of ads. Try these alternatives:
For General Sales
eBay
eBay is the biggest and best-known online auction site, so you should have no trouble finding what you’re looking for among its zillions of listings. Their search function is strong and listings usually have decent photos, which make it easy for buyers to find what they want. If you don’t like the idea of spending time waiting for an auction to time out — or don’t trust yourself to set limits on your bidding price — limit your search to “buy it now” items.
For sellers, eBay can be expensive. They have several kinds of fees, including insertion fees to list your item and final value fees that take a percentage of your sales price. You’ll also have to take into account shipping costs, including postage and money on boxes and packing materials.
Bonanza
If you want to skip the bidding process, Bonanza is a great alternative to eBay. It’s a much smaller marketplace, but it has a nice interface and standard pricing: You’ll see the final sale price plus shipping (which is sometimes free). Seller’s listings are automatically made scannable by Google and Bing, so you can reach a potentially large customer base if someone is searching for what you’ve got. Fees tend to be lower than eBay’s, too.
VarageSale
VarageSale is what Craigslist would be if it was only about buying and selling personal items (and if it had cuter graphics). You need to join the community by signing up and logging in to see or place ads, which is supposed to make VarageSale a safer community — great for anyone who feels nervous about driving down a dirt road to a sketchy Craigslist meet-up location.
VarageSale is free to use, and your transaction is in person — the website just helps people connect. Once you sign up, you can join any number of community groups in your area to see what’s available for purchase or to write your first listing.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is Zuckerberg’s answer to Craigslist, and it’s fairly new. (If you’ve been wondering what the little red building icon is all about, now you know.) Marketplace harnesses the power of a gigantic built-in audience for you listing, which can help you get rid of your stuff faster. It’s also convenient, since you’re probably on Facebook regularly anyway.
Facebook Marketplace is less anonymous than Craigslist because listings, offers and communications are all connected to Facebook accounts. That means you’ll see a photo of a real person before you meet to complete your transaction. No fees or commissions are involved.
For Clothes
Tradesy
Tradesy isn’t for everyone, but if you’re interested in upscale, designer clothing for way less — or if you’re looking to offload some budget-busting sins of the past — it’s a great place to buy and sell. For sellers, commissions are just 9% (way lower than competitors like Poshmark), and Tradesy even provides an appropriate box for shipping.
Kidizen
Kidizen is for anyone who has gently used children’s clothing to sell. If you have a growing family, it’s a great place to get some cash back for things your little weeds have outgrown, and you can easily turn around and buy great new-to-you items there too, effectively turning it into a mom’s club swap. Kidizen keeps an 18% commission off the sales price, which is pricey, but the targeted platform may help you sell more items.
For Household Goods
Everything But the House
Everything But the House is an estate sale auction site that allows you list just about anything you’d find in your house — especially if you’ve got furniture, decorative items and antiques. All auctions start at $1, though be warned that sellers are subject to a steep commission. Still, if you have an estate to liquidate, this is a great way to go.
For Technology
Swappa
Swappa is an online marketplace specifically for phones, and they have handy tools to let you know the current market value of whatever you’re looking to buy or sell. Their listings also have pretty clear descriptions of conditions and features so you know exactly what you’re getting. You can also use Swappa for tablets, laptops and other tech.
For Vehicles
CarDaddy
CarDaddy is a website designed to connect car buyers and sellers. Private sellers can list for $5 with no commissions, while dealers can get in on the action for a monthly subscription. It’s also for RVs, motorcycles, boats and any other vehicle you can think of.
No matter what you’re looking to transform into cash, there’s a place for you to do it online. Just be sure to read the fine print so you know what you’ll be facing in the way of fees and commissions, and take care to guard your personal information and you communicate with strangers. Once you dip a toe into online marketplaces, you may never want to buy — or sell — anywhere else!
Did we miss one of your favorite places to do business online? Let us know in the comments.
