Where to Sell the Worst Purchases During the Pandemic (and How to Get More Money for Them)
Many people have made it through quarantine with a little retail therapy. I recently asked Lifehacker readers to share pandemic shopping that made sense at the time but now fills them with shopper’s remorse. From inline skates to cycling gear to an above ground heated pool, these acquisitions felt right as we were trapped in the depths of 2020. Intentionally or not, it’s following us.
You may have resigned yourself to the fact that one of your pandemic purchases is officially a waste of space. However, it doesn’t have to be a complete loss. There are many options for selling any objects that cause you remorse as a buyer. Here are some tips on how to sell off the worst purchases made during the pandemic in the post-quarantine market.
Be strategic and sell locally
We have previously covered the various pros and cons of using Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor . There’s also OfferUp , another solid online option for buying and selling on the spot.
All three of these platforms are popular localized alternatives to marketplaces like Craigslist or eBay (which have a reputation for being sketchy). The main reason to ditch eBay’s broad reach and opt for local marketplaces instead is to avoid the hassle of shipping and handling. If you can get the customer to come and pick up the item, you will save yourself a lot of time and effort.
There will always be someone who wants to buy your stuff
While many of us try to sell smaller items like guitars or skateboards, let’s say the quiet part out loud: tons of people are also getting rid of Peloton exercise bikes . It was the pandemic craze turned meme, and if you’re looking to sell your s, you’re not alone . Luckily, there are still a few loyal or ambitious bikers who are looking to buy.
Leah Ingram, founder of the Real Sophisticated Consumer blog, estimates that bikes sell for an average of $1,000. I saw similar numbers after joining the Peloton Buy/Sell/Trade (BST) Facebook group, which is technically “private” but approved my joining within minutes and has almost 210,000 members. Many of the supposedly “almost used” bikes available there have been selling for a few hundred dollars below $1,000, which is a significant bargain considering the current price for a new bike direct from Peloton is around $1,500.
How to sell your purchases during a pandemic
Throw a wide net, but keep it in place. Feel free to copy and paste the same listing across platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and OfferUp.
If your item is hardly used, show proof. These could be screenshots showing less than 50 rides on your Peloton, or multiple photos of the property from multiple angles.
Submit your location on Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor and OfferUp to find buyers ready to pick up your items directly. Or, if you can, offer to hand over the item to the customer. You may consider adding personal delivery as an additional charge, or you may include it in the high price of the item.
Find online groups dedicated to the product you are selling. Facebook’s general marketplace is full of shoppers who seem to think Peloton should only cost $200. However , the Peloton BST Facebook group is dominated by buyers and sellers who have done their research and know how much each item costs.
Do a factory reset before selling. Tech items like Peloton store personal data that you’ll want to delete before sending it to new homes. Check with the manufacturer on how to do this (information on wiping Peloton can be found on the official website ).
Pets are not pelotons
It doesn’t need to be said, but here we are: many people got pets during the pandemic, which they now regret. Lifehacker reader Eric Jaffe commented that they “volunteer at an animal shelter and can attest that many people who adopt dogs should never have done so.” They go on to say that “Anyone who considers an animal a ‘purchase’ is probably not the kind of person who brings an animal into their home in the first place.”
Time and again we see stories of people returning their pets due to the pandemic . Unfortunately, this is a form of buyer remorse that cannot be canceled on the Facebook Marketplace. You made a huge investment when you adopted a live animal. Try to be your best, even if it means finding your pet a new home through a friend or family member.