Do you have experience using Craigslist to sell an item that sat for weeks or months with no takers? As an alternative, maybe you’ve had a contract fall through because the other party was dishonest or just didn’t show up when they were supposed to.
Some people find that selling on Craigslist, a prominent local classifieds website, is a breeze. However, it has been around since 1995, and as a result, it sometimes feels antiquated. And there are a lot of Craigslist substitutes that are probably more effective, depending on what you’re selling.
You may sell your wares to customers all around the world using a variety of applications and online marketplaces. These alternatives to Craigslist are great if you want to conduct some spring cleaning and sell your unwanted items for cash.
Alternatives to Craigslist for Selling Your Items
If you’re looking to start selling locally, the best place to do it is on Facebook Marketplace, which is essentially the current counterpart of Craigslist. On the other hand, there are a plethora of online selling choices that may expose your product to a wider audience and, depending on its nature, may be a better choice.
Overall winner: Facebook Marketplace
As a user-friendly alternative to Craigslist, Facebook’s Marketplace is a great option for both sellers and consumers. Furthermore, Facebook’s massive user base means that its market is always bustling with customers, so you can easily identify the ones who are interested in what you’re selling.
You only need a Facebook account to sell items on the Facebook Marketplace. Posting an ad on the marketplace is free of charge, and you may sell almost anything there, including hot items in these categories:
- Apparel
- Books
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Items for the home
- Sporting goods
- Toys
- Computer games
With its massive user base and absence of listing costs, Facebook is where you should first consider selling your used goods. In addition, it is a flexible and user-friendly substitute for Craigslist because you may sell nearly anything there.
Decluttr is the best for online technology sales.
Do you have any decommissioned mobile devices or computers gathering dust in a closet? If so, Decluttr is an alternative to Craigslist for recycling gadgets for cash. Decluttr accepts the following items in addition to outdated mobile devices and computer systems:
- DVDs and CDs
- Headphones
- Kindle users
- Speakers
- Tablets
- Gaming consoles and video games
- Wearables
Decluttr stands out from the competition because of the wide range of electronics it accepts. Not only can you sell broken or otherwise imperfect technology, but you can do so for a higher price than you would get on many other resale platforms.
Also, after answering a few questions, Decluttr will provide you with an upfront estimate for your used technology, and its prices are usually the highest or among the most competitive of any tech marketplace.
Swappa is the best for local tech sales.
When it comes to buying and selling used and new electronics, Swappa is another great option. What sets Swappa apart, though, is that you may sell technology nearby to save shipping problems without needing to plan a meetup yourself.
Swappa has partnered with Roadie, a parcel delivery service, to provide next-day service in over 40 locations. Put “Local Delivery” in the title of your offering and Roadie will bring the item to the buyer if Swappa Local is available in your area. Selling online is $10, but it’s quick and you don’t have to meet a stranger. The site’s most popular sections include:
- Cameras\sCellphones
- Laptops and computers
- Home technology (such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home)
- Smartwatches
- Tablets
- Computer games
PayPal is used for local Swappa sales.
eBay is the best option for online resellers.
eBay is one of the greatest selling alternatives if you’re seeking to sell a wide selection of items and you want to get rid of everything as soon as feasible.
Up to 250 free listings can be posted each month. From then, listing costs range from 3% to 15% of the sale price, plus $0.30 each order. When it comes to selling, though, there is a huge discrepancy between eBay and Craigslist:
- Auction: Establish a beginning bid and bidding period, then invite interested parties to submit offers on your ad.
- Get It Now! Decide on a fixed price that will be paid by purchasers.
Selling on eBay has several benefits, including exposure to a massive audience of potential purchasers. Assuming your pricing are fair, more people will see your listings and buy from you more quickly. To that end, it’s a great choice for those who operate online marketplaces and secondary sales businesses.
Nextdoor is the best option for hyper-local sales.
Nextdoor is a localized version of Facebook that facilitates the promotion and promotion of events, as well as the buying and selling of goods, inside a neighborhood’s social circle.
Since Nextdoor divides cities up into communities, it’s perfect for selling large or fragile items like furniture, grills, or crates of fine china that you don’t want to risk shipping. Post an ad on Nextdoor with the details of what you’re selling, and then have conversations with neighbors about setting up a meetup.
Even if selling to a neighbor you know is safer than selling to a stranger, you should still exercise common sense and avoid making any rash decisions. However, the hyper-local nature of this marketplace simplifies sales for all parties involved.
OfferUp is the best option for seller safety.
You may sell locally with OfferUp without any fees, and online for a 12.9% charge (minimum of $1.99). You may also sell a wide variety of items; some of the more common ones are:
- Baby supplies
- Clothing
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Health and beauty products
- Pet supplies
- Toys
- Video games
However, OfferUp is exceptional in that it suggests only secure public areas for meeting its users. They’re frequently near police stations and crowded public locations to help keep buyers and dealers safe.
Badges that buyers and sellers acquire for completing security-enhancing actions like authenticating their phone number or identity can be shown on their profiles.
Poshmark is the best place to sell designer women’s clothing and accessories.
Although Poshmark is most known for selling high-end women’s fashion, it also accepts items from other categories, including men’s wear and home decor. All Poshmark seller fees are broken down into two categories:
- Commission is flat at $2.95 for all sales under $15.
- Sales There is a 20% selling charge for amounts over $15.
When compared to selling on free classifieds sites like Craigslist, this selling cost is rather high. Poshmark is a bustling marketplace since it is the go-to destination for many consumers looking to buy new or lightly used apparel and accessories online. The shipping costs are also not your responsibility because the customers cover them.
Mercari is the best for luxury goods.
The Mercari app for Android and iOS allows users to post listings for free. There is a wide variety of items that may be sold online, from clothing and accessories to electronics and home decor to antiques.
However, Mercari’s selection of high-end items is what sets it apart from similar apps. Jewelry, high fashion, high-end gadgets, and timepieces are all well represented in the marketplace. In addition, you may increase your chances of quickly finding buyers for your designer items by posting them on both Poshmark and Mercari.
The Authenticate function even allows you to verify the validity of a designer’s listing, increasing the likelihood of a quick sale. In addition, many of the more expensive items on Mercari are eligible for Zip’s purchase now, pay later feature, which should lead to an increase in sales.
The transaction cost for a sale is 10%, and the seller fee is 2.9% + $0.30. You can either charge for shipping or give free shipment. Shipping costs are determined by factors such as package size and weight, as well as the kind of courier used.
The drawback of using Mercari to sell items instead of Craigslist is the seller fees. The greatest option, though, if you’re looking for a place to sell virtually anything is this one.
Kidizen is the best place to sell children’s items.
Your child will grow out of the dinosaur onesie and lose interest in the “Star Wars” Lego set. Kidizen is a great way to connect with other parents and sell your child’s outgrown items when the time comes. You may sell both new and old children’s items on Kidizen.
- Baby supplies
- Books
- Clothing and accessories
- Maternity wear
- Nursery and room decor
- Toys
Locanto is the best for selling services.
The process of selling on Locanto is identical to that of selling on Craigslist. However, Locanto also features a wide variety of additional classifications, such as:
- Classes
- Events
- Finding roommates or rooms to rent
- Jobs
- Personals section (online dating)
- Services
- Social networking
Locanto’s diversity is one of the reasons it’s such a powerful classifieds platform. Locanto can be used as a means to advertise or launch a second career. In the gig economy, for instance, many people advertise their services in the areas of gardening, cleaning, and so on.
Because Locanto is so similar to Craigslist for simple sales, posting a duplicate ad on both sites might increase exposure for your wares. However, if you’re a small company owner looking to expand your customer base in your area, this Craigslist substitute is where it’s at.
Other Online Classified Sites are the best for duplicating Craigslist listings.
Cross-posting your Craigslist ad may be the solution if you have tried everything else and are still having difficulties selling your items.
These Craigslist alternatives function similarly enough to Craigslist that a well-written Craigslist ad works just as well there and gets your listing in front of more eyeballs, unlike switching to a completely new platform, which needs you to customize your listing to a new audience.
- Bookoo
- ClassifiedAds.com
- Geebo
- Hoobly
- Oodle
- Recycler
- Trovit
It’s true that it takes time to post the same information on several different websites. There are a few things you can do if you’re not seeing any sales, such as decreasing the price or adding additional photographs and details to the description.
How to Pick the Best Craigslist Substitute for Selling Your Stuff
What you’re selling should determine which Craigslist alternative is best. You may get a better return on your apparel or electronics sales if you list them on a specialized marketplace like Poshmark or Decluttr, for instance. However, you may reach a wider audience by listing your items on Facebook Marketplace or Mercari, two more generic selling platforms.
Cross-listing your items on other websites is a great technique to generate quick sales if you have the time to do so. You might even try your hand at retail arbitrage and make a profit by purchasing products to resell if you have an aptitude for selling things online.
Take lots of pictures of the goods and describe it in detail so that customers know exactly what they’re getting. You may use these Craigslist substitutes to establish a side business of buying and selling items you no longer need or want, or you can use them to sell goods you no longer need or want.
