Research Resale Value Before You List Anything
Most people price items based on what they paid or what they think something should be worth. The market doesn't care about either. Pricing based on what similar items actually sell for is the difference between moving items quickly and having them sit unsold.
Before you list anything this week, research what people are actually paying for items like yours. Not asking prices, but completed sales. Asking prices tell you what sellers hope to get. Completed sales tell you what buyers actually pay.
Use three sources to determine realistic pricing:
eBay completed listings. Go to eBay and search for your item. On the left side, filter results by "Sold Items." This shows what similar items actually sold for, not what sellers are asking. Look at the last 10-20 sales to see the price range.
If sold prices cluster around $50-70, price your item at the lower end of that range to sell quickly. If there's wide variation ($30-150), figure out what distinguishes higher-priced items. Usually it's condition, included accessories, or seller reputation.
Facebook Marketplace recent sales. Search your local area for similar items and note what's listed. Items that have been posted for weeks with no interest are priced too high. Items marked "pending" or recently removed likely sold, suggesting their price was right for the market.
Specialized resale sites. Depending on what you're selling, specialized platforms give you market data:
Poshmark for clothing and accessories Mercari for general items Decluttr or Gazelle for electronics ThredUp for brand-name clothing StockX or GOAT for sneakers
These platforms often show recent sales prices, giving you hard data on what your item is worth right now.
After researching, you'll find one of three situations:
Items are selling consistently at prices worth your effort. If similar items regularly sell for $50+, it's worth your time to photograph, list, and ship them.
Items are selling but at prices barely worth the effort. If similar items sell for $10-20, you need to decide whether the time spent listing and shipping is worth it. Sometimes donating makes more sense than selling for minimal return.
Items aren't selling at any price. If you see dozens of listings with no completed sales, the market is oversaturated or there's no demand. Don't bother listing these items. Donate them and move on.
Common pricing mistakes that prevent sales:
Pricing based on original purchase price. You paid $200 for something five years ago. That's irrelevant. If similar items sell for $50 now, that's the market price.
Pricing based on sentimental value. You love the item and think someone else should too. They won't pay extra for your emotional attachment.
Pricing higher than new items cost. If your used item is priced at $80 and someone can buy it new for $90, they'll buy new. Price used items at least 30-40% below new retail to account for condition and lack of warranty.
Forgetting platform fees and shipping. If you price something at $50 but pay $7 shipping and 10% platform fees, you net $38. Factor these costs into your pricing strategy.
Ignoring condition honestly. If your item has wear, damage, or missing pieces, it's worth less than pristine examples. Price accordingly or you'll get returns and negative feedback.
After researching prices, decide which items are worth selling:
Items likely to sell for $30+ are worth the effort of photographing, listing, and shipping.
Items likely to sell for $15-30 are worth it if you can list multiple items at once, reducing the per-item time investment.
Items likely to sell for under $15 might be better donated unless you have many of them to batch process.
Document your research:
What item are you selling?
What do similar items actually sell for? (price range from completed sales)
What price will you list it at?
What platform will you use?
This research takes 15-30 minutes per item but dramatically increases your success rate. Items priced at market rates sell within days. Items priced based on hope sit unsold for weeks or months.
Tomorrow you'll list items. Today you're making sure the items you list are actually salable at prices worth your time.
Research three items you're considering selling. Determine realistic prices based on completed sales. Decide which ones are worth listing based on the actual return versus your time investment.
That's the preparation that turns selling unwanted items into actual income rather than wasted effort on overpriced listings no one buys.
