10 Mistakes Students Make When Selling Their Stuff

Safe local selling.  Easier said than done.  If you’re not careful, you can get robbed or worst when transacting locally.  So that you won't find yourself in this situation, below is a list of mistakes that college students make when selling their stuff and how you can avoid them. 

1.     Relying solely on social media.
Not all students use the “Free and For Sale” groups.  They are great for giving stuff away but just scratch the surface for making the sale.  If people miss your first post, there is no easy way for them to find it or even know to look for it.  There is no way to financially close the deal there.  And, you’ll need to continuously re-list your stuff so it shows up.  If you want to get a bunch of clever comments about your couch or deal with a bunch of lowball offers, these sites are for you.  Otherwise, you are better off posting things you want to sell on sites that sell.
Advice:  Use social media for social media not selling stuff.  That said, social media is a great way to advertise that you are selling something.  Make sure to use a sell site that allows you to post to social media.

2.     Posting flyers.
Really?  Is it 1989?  While that year may work for Taylor Swift, it’s highly doubtful that this approach will work for you.
Advice:  Use an online marketplace designed with colleges in mind to sell your stuff.

3.     Using the old standbys.
Everybody has a Craigslist story.  Got ripped off.  Met a creepy character.  Buyer didn’t show.  The list goes on.  Yes, there are millions buyers sitting in their old underwear surfing the net at 2AM to find your stuff.  But it’s sketchy, text-based, and crowded.  Another way to go is EBay.  But Ebay is an auction site that’s not really meant sell stuff quickly or locally.  Plus, they are going to charge you to post.
Advice:  Steer clear.  Find a visual marketplace that does not charge you to post AND fits your needs.

4.     Not posting photos of items.
People are visual.  We want to see stuff rather than read about it.  I don’t want to wade through a dictionary of text to try and figure out what type of bike it is.  Show it to me!  Plus, for potential buyers, items without pictures tend to be considered shady or of poor quality.  Are you really going to take someone’s word on it or do you want to see it yourself?
Advice:  Always include at least two pictures with your listing.


 

5.     Not properly vetting buyers.
In your haste to make a quick buck, you can easily forget to properly vet out who you’re dealing with.  As a result, you can find yourself in an uncomfortable situation or meeting someone who’s smelly, scary, or worse.
Advice:  While there is yet to be a technology advancement to screen for bad BO, there are sell sites that allow you to see who you’re dealing with.  Use an online marketplace that enables you to check profiles and communicate with potential buyers within the system and before the meet-up.

6.     Exposing personal info to strangers.
No one should ever expose themselves to others.  Once you have a buyer on the hook or an item you want to buy, what is next?  You want to chat.  You may be tempted to give your email and/or phone number to ‘speed up’ the process but what this really does is open you up to an influx of spam or unwanted calls from people you don’t know who may never buy your stuff.  Listen to your mother - never give your phone number or email to people you don’t know.
Advice:  Use sites that have a way to mask your information from strangers and, even better, enable you to do the talking and the selling in one place.

7.     Depending upon third party apps for payment.
You have Venmo or PayPal.  Great!  What if they don’t?  Could be a major hassle.  BTW, do you really want to wait up to three (3!) days to get your cash?
Advice:  Use a seamless marketplace where payments are baked in and you get paid NOW.

8.     Using cash.
There’s nothing like a fresh wad of cash.  Bills of different denominations and grimy coins that have passed through thousands of unfamiliar hands.  Do you eat with those?  Beware.  Any one-on-one transaction where money changes hands is inherently unsafe.  Plus, someone may have to make change or, worse, you open yourself up to last second low ball offers.
Advice:  Find a solution where you can make cashless payments and where closing prices can be adjusted on the fly.

9.     Going to unknown or secluded places to close the deal.
Congrats.  You’ve got a potential buyer.  But a deal’s not done till it’s done.  Next, you have to meet.  The ATM on the residential corner sounds safe… until you think about the bushes and the side streets.  Meet above the public transportation rail?  Yes, that’s a great getaway.  Wait,… that’s a great getaway!  Be smart and careful about where and when you meet-up.  You can still get robbed, even with a friend.
Advice:  Pick brightly lit public places when meeting face-to-face.

10. Inviting strangers into homes.
Hard to believe this still goes on.  Many people throw caution into the wind for the opportunity to make a quick buck.  Vampires cannot enter a home unless they are invited in.  Do you want a vampire in your house?  Do you want a vampire to even come to your house?  Yes, I am sure that your buyer, or that seller, you are going to meet is (probably) NOT a vampire but why chance it?
Advice:  Meet at public places if you can.  If you have to meet someone at your home, vet potential buyers as advised in #5.

That’s it for now.  Hope this helps you transact safely next time you need to sell your stuff.  In our next post, we’ll provide tips for buying locally.
 

#seeitsnapitsellit #nohasslesnosketch #cashlesspayments #safelocalselling

About the Author

Sean Brown is the Founder and Chief Pixan of Pixiboard and an advocate for making local commerce safe, easy and seamless for buyers and sellers alike.