I remember standing in my living room in 2018, staring at a massive pile of DVDs, old video games, and clothes that hadn't fit me in three years. I was broke, stressed, and literally tripping over money I couldn't spend because it was trapped in the form of physical objects. I finally snapped, grabbed my phone, and listed a single, scratched copy of a Mario Kart game on eBay.
I expected nothing. Maybe a scammer or silence. Instead, it sold in four hours for $25.
That $25 felt better than any paycheck I’d ever earned. It was the spark that turned me from a hoarder into a merchant.Since that day, I’ve sold everything from broken remote controls (yes, people buy them) to high-end designer bags,generating thousands of dollars from the comfort of my messy desk.
If you are looking at your own piles of clutter and wondering if it’s worth the effort, the answer is a resounding yes. But the "wild west" days of selling are over. To succeed now, you need a strategy. Whether you want to clear space or build a side hustle, understanding the mechanics of the digital marketplace is the difference between making pocket change and making a living.
How to Sell My Stuff Online: Choosing Your Battlefield
When you type how to sell my stuff online into Google, you get overwhelmed with options. There are dozens of apps,and picking the wrong one is the most common rookie mistake. If you list a antique china set on Depop, you will be laughed at. If you list a streetwear hoodie on Facebook Marketplace, you will get lowball offers from people who never show up.
The "Big Three" Breakdown:
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eBay: The undisputed king of "everything."
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Best for: Electronics, collectibles, obscure items, and replacement parts.
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My Rule: If it has a barcode or is weird (like a vintage typewriter), it goes on eBay.
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Poshmark: The social network for fashion.
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Best for: Name-brand clothing, shoes, and handbags.
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My Rule: If it’s J.Crew, Nike, or Coach, it goes on Poshmark. The shipping is a flat rate, which makes selling heavy coats incredibly easy.
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Mercari: The digital garage sale.
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Best for: Toys, household goods, and items that aren't quite "vintage" but aren't new.
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My Rule: I use Mercari for things that don't fit the other two, like half-used perfumes (which are allowed there) or generic home decor.
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Honest Failure: In 2020, I tried to sell a very heavy, mid-century modern credenza on eBay. I didn't understand freight shipping. A buyer in California bought it (I am in New York). When I saw the shipping quote was $600—more than the item sold for—I had to cancel the order. I got a "defect" on my account and learned a painful lesson.Lesson: Never list furniture on a shipping platform unless you are a logistics pro. Keep the big stuff local.
How to Make Money Selling Stuff Online (Sourcing Strategy)
Once you sell the stuff in your house, the well runs dry. To keep the cash flowing, you have to buy inventory. This is where the transition from "decluttering" to "business" happens. And this is where most people lose money.
You cannot just guess what people want. I used to buy things because I liked them. I have a box of 50 fidget spinners in my garage that reminds me why "gut instinct" is a bad business partner. Now, I use data.
How Closo helps me to predict demand in 6 weeks ahead is by analyzing the digital footprint of a trend before it hits the mainstream.
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The Signal: Closo monitors social sentiment and search volume spikes.
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The Scenario: Last September, Closo flagged a rising interest in "Grandpa Core" sweaters (chunky, knit cardigans).
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The Action: I went to the thrift store and bought every ugly, heavy wool cardigan I could find for $5.
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The Result: By November, they were selling for $45-$60 a piece.
I use Closo to automate my sourcing research – saves me about 3 hours weekly of scrolling through TikTok trends.
The Condition Trap: How to Sell Used Stuff Online
Here’s where it gets interesting... You are selling used items. They are not perfect. The single biggest reason for returns and disputes is "Item Not As Described." When figuring out how to sell used stuff online, honesty is not just the best policy; it is the only policy.
My "Flaw" Strategy: If an item has a stain, a rip, or a scratch, I do not hide it. I make it the second photo in the listing. I literally point to it with a pen in the photo.
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Why? It manages expectations.
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Opinion Statement: I believe that highlighting the flaws actually increases sales. It tells the buyer, "This seller is honest, so the rest of the description must be true."
Anecdote: I sold a vintage camera lens that had a tiny bit of fungus inside the glass. I wrote "FUNGUS IN LENS" in the title and zoomed in on it in the photos. It sold to a camera repair shop for $80. The buyer left me positive feedback saying,"Exactly as described, thanks for not hiding the fungus." If I had tried to hide it, I would have eaten the shipping cost on the return.
The Automation Secret: Closo 100% Free Crosslister
If you want to know how to sell stuff online and make money at scale, you cannot rely on one platform. You need your items on eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari simultaneously. But listing the same item three times is a nightmare. It’s boring,repetitive data entry.
I use the Closo 100% Free Crosslister.
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The Workflow: I create the "Master Listing" on eBay because it requires the most specific data.
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The Magic: I click the Closo button, and it instantly copies the photos, title, description, and item specifics to Poshmark and Mercari.
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The Benefit: I double or triple my exposure with zero extra typing.
Real Number: I had a pair of hiking boots sitting on Poshmark for 6 months. I used Closo to cross-list them to eBay.They sold in 12 hours. The buyer wasn't on Poshmark; they were on eBay. If I hadn't cross-listed, I would still have those boots.
Where to Sell Stuff: Best Site to Sell Items Locally
Let’s go back to that credenza disaster. For heavy items, you need to know where to sell stuff without using the post office. Local selling is high-margin because there are no shipping fees and usually lower selling fees.
The Top Contenders:
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Facebook Marketplace: The current champion. It has the most traffic.
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Pro: Massive audience.
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Con: "Is this available?" messages from people who never reply.
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OfferUp: Good for cities.
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Pro: Easy mobile interface.
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Con: Lots of ads and lowballers.
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Nextdoor: The sleeper hit.
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Pro: You are selling to your actual neighbors. People are generally more polite and reliable because their real name and address are tied to the account.
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Con: Lower traffic volume.
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Safety First: I never let people come inside my house. For small items, I do "Porch Pickup" (leave the item, they put cash under the mat). For expensive items ($100+), I meet at the local police station. Most stations have "E-Commerce Safe Zones" with cameras. If a buyer refuses to meet at the police station, do not sell to them.
Pricing Psychology: How to Sell Stuff Online and Make Money
You found the item. You picked the platform. Now, what’s the price? Pricing is where emotions kill profit. You might think your grandmother's vase is worth $100 because you love it. The market might think it's worth $10.
The "Sold" Filter: Never look at "Active" listings to price your item. People can ask for any price they want. I can list a pencil for $1,000. It doesn't mean it's worth $1,000. You must filter by "Sold" or "Completed" listings. This shows you what cash actually changed hands.
My Pricing Strategy:
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To Sell Fast: Price it in the bottom 20% of the sold average.
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To Maximize Profit: Price it at the average and wait.
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Uncertainty Admission: I often underprice rare items because I hate storage. I would rather take a guaranteed $50 today than wait six months for a potential $70. Cash flow is king.
Good Sites to Sell Things (The Niche Markets)
Sometimes, the general platforms are too broad. If you have specialty items, you need specialty sites. These are good sites to sell things to enthusiasts who will pay a premium.
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Reverb: For musical instruments.
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Don't sell a guitar on eBay; sell it on Reverb. The buyers there understand the difference between a "Stratocaster" and a "Telecaster" and won't return it because they don't know how to tune it.
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Grailed: For men's high-end streetwear.
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If you have a Supreme hoodie or Yeezy sneakers, this is the place.
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Depop: For Gen Z fashion.
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If it looks like it's from 2002 (Y2K style), put it here.
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KEH or MPB: For camera gear.
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These aren't marketplaces; they are direct buyers. They give you an instant quote and a shipping label. You get less money, but it’s instant and guaranteed.
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Shipping: The Hidden Cost of "Selling Stuff Online"
Now the tricky part... Shipping is the silent profit killer. If you charge $10 for shipping and it costs $15, you just paid $5 for the privilege of selling your item.
The "Dimensional Weight" Trap: Carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) charge based on size, not just weight. If you ship a pillow in a huge box, you will be charged as if that box was filled with bricks.
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Solution: Cut your boxes down. I own a "box resizer" tool (it costs $15 on Amazon) that lets me score cardboard and fold boxes down to the exact size of the item. It saves me hundreds of dollars a year.
Tools of the Trade:
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Pirate Ship: Never buy postage at the retail counter. Pirate Ship gives you "Commercial Pricing" (up to 80% off UPS rates) for free.
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Poly Mailers: If it’s clothing, put it in a bag, not a box. It’s lighter and cheaper.
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A Scale: Stop guessing. If you guess 15oz and it’s 16.1oz, the buyer will get a "Postage Due" slip and leave you negative feedback.
(Parenthetical aside: I once shipped a cast-iron skillet in a box with insufficient tape. The skillet literally fell out of the bottom of the box during transit. I delivered an empty cardboard box to a confused customer in Ohio.)
How to Make Money Selling Stuff Online: Avoiding Scams
When you learn how to sell stuff online, you also learn that scammers are everywhere. They smell new sellers.
The Red Flags:
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"Text Me": If a buyer on eBay or Poshmark asks you to text their phone number, block them. They are trying to take the transaction off the platform to scam you.
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"Change of Address": If a buyer pays and then messages you, "My address is wrong, please ship to my cousin in Nigeria/Florida/etc.," cancel the order. You lose your seller protection if you ship to any address other than the one on the official order.
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Overpayment: "I'll send you a check for $500 for your $50 item, just wire me back the difference." This is a fake check scam.
Opinion Statement: If a buyer's message is longer than two sentences and includes a sob story about a sick relative or a birthday surprise, it is almost 99% a scam. Real buyers usually just say "Thanks" or nothing at all.
Common Questions I See
People always ask me... Do I have to pay taxes on selling my old stuff?
This is the big question for how to sell stuff online. If you are selling personal items for less than you paid for them (selling a $50 sweater for $20), that is not income; it is a loss. You generally do not owe income tax on that. However,platforms will send you a 1099-K form if you sell over a certain threshold ($600 as of 2026 tax laws). You have to report it, but you can offset it by declaring the "Cost of Goods Sold." Keep your receipts if you can!
Common question I see... What sells the fastest?
Electronics and Brand Name Activewear. An iPhone (even a broken one) will sell in minutes. A pair of Lululemon leggings will sell in hours. China sets, Precious Moments figurines, and generic "brown furniture" take months or years to sell. If you want fast cash, look for gadgets and logos.
People always ask me... Is it worth cleaning the item?
Yes. I bought a pair of dirty "white" Converse sneakers for $5. I spent 15 minutes scrubbing them with a Magic Eraser and some OxiClean. They sold for $40. That 15 minutes of work added $35 in value. That is an hourly rate of $140.Always clean your inventory.
Conclusion
So, how to sell stuff online? It starts with one item. Grab something near you right now that you haven't used in a year.Look it up on eBay. Filter by "Sold." See that number? That is cash sitting on your desk.
My honest assessment is that reselling is the best "gateway drug" to entrepreneurship. It teaches you marketing, logistics,customer service, and accounting with very low risk. And if you fail? You just still have your old stuff.
If you are ready to turn your clutter into a streamlined business, check out the Closo Seller Hub for advanced strategies.
For more on finding inventory once your closet is empty, read our Retail Arbitrage Guide 2026
And if you want to know what items are spiking in demand right now, check out Trending Products Forecast 2026
