Pricing
How to price second-hand items so they sell
Updated · 4 min read
The short answer
To price a second-hand item, look up what the same or similar items are listed for near you, then adjust for your item's condition and age. Set the price a little above the lowest amount you would accept, so there is room to negotiate. If nobody is seriously interested after about a week, lower the price. Price for the condition the item is really in.
- Similar listings near you are the best guide to price.
- Condition matters more than what you paid.
- Leave a little room to negotiate, then decide your lowest price in advance.
- No real interest after a week usually means the price is too high.
How do I find out what my item is worth?
Your item is worth what a local buyer will pay this week. The quickest way to find that out is to look at what is already for sale.
- Search for the same item. Use the brand and model on Marketplace and one or two other second-hand sites.
- Compare like with like. Match the size, age and condition, and stay within your own area. Prices differ between cities.
- Ignore the outliers. The very cheapest are often damaged and the dearest often do not sell. Look at the middle.
- Check today's new price. If the item sells new for less than you thought, that new price is the ceiling. Few buyers will pay more for a used item than for a new one.
How much does condition change the price?
Condition changes a second-hand item's price a lot. Two identical items can sell for very different amounts depending on wear. Before you check local listings, use these benchmarks as a rough starting point only:
| Condition | A common starting point |
|---|---|
| New, unused | Just under today's new price |
| Used, like new | Around two thirds of the new price |
| Used, good | Around half of the new price |
| Used, fair | Around a quarter to a third, or less |
Should I leave room to negotiate?
Yes, leave a little room to negotiate. Buyers on Marketplace often make an offer, so decide your lowest price first and list a little above it. If you would take $80, listing at $90 or $95 gives you room to say yes to a reasonable offer.
If you do not want to haggle, say so kindly in the description, for example "price is firm". If you are open to offers, "or nearest offer" (ONO) invites them.
When should I lower the price?
Give a listing about a week before lowering the price. Plenty of views and no messages usually means the price is too high for the condition. When buyers go quiet after one question, a detail is often missing: add the measurement or photo the buyer asked about.
- Lower the price in one clear step rather than many tiny ones.
- Edit or renew your existing listing rather than posting the item again, because duplicate listings can be removed.
- If you need the item gone by a certain date, say so in the listing: "must go by Saturday" brings out buyers who were waiting.
What makes a second-hand item worth more?
A second-hand item is worth more when:
- It is clean, complete and working.
- The original box, manual, charger or accessories are included.
- You have a receipt or can say when and where it was bought.
- The listing gives measurements, so buyers know it fits.
- The photos show the item clearly and honestly. See how to take photos that sell.
Can an app suggest the price?
SnapVent suggests a fair second-hand price for the item's visible condition, in your local currency, when it writes the listing. Treat that suggested price as a starting point: compare it with a few local listings and adjust it before you publish if your market is different.
Questions people also ask
Should I price high and wait for offers?
You can price a little above your target to leave room for offers, but do not price far above similar listings. A price well above similar listings gets scrolled past, so you never receive the offers you were hoping for.
Does what I paid matter?
What you originally paid does not matter to buyers. Buyers compare your price with other second-hand listings and with the price of buying the item new today.
Is it better to sell things as a bundle?
Bundle small, related things that are not worth a trip on their own, such as a set of baby clothes or a box of books. Sell valuable items separately.
When should I just give something away?
Give an item away when the sale price would not be worth the messages and the pickup. Listing the item as free clears it quickly, and anything left uncollected can be donated.
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