Instead of throwing out unwanted items, why not earn some extra cash by selling them on one of the many online marketplaces?
While these marketplaces can make selling your goods easy, knowing how to sell safely online is key before getting started.
This guide to online marketplaces covers the basics — from choosing the right marketplace to helpful pointers and safety tips when selling on platforms such as Facebook, Gumtree, and eBay.
In the digital world, online marketplaces bring together buyers and sellers on an e-commerce platform.
While figuring out how to set up a real-world shop might be daunting, understanding how to sell on an online marketplace can be easy. Generally, anyone can register to join and start selling almost immediately. Simply upload a photo of the item you want to sell, set a price, and wait for interested buyers to reach out. Keep in mind that the process of getting started and listing items will vary depending on the platform, so be sure to do your research in advance.
There are a range of marketplace types — and depending on what you want to sell, some may be more effective than others. Here are some common examples:
While it's exciting to know you could make money from selling your items online, putting marketplace safety first is important. Here are some tips that can help:
With more than 16 million Australians on Facebook every month1, using Facebook Marketplace to sell your items could be a good place to start. It's free to use and easy to navigate, especially if you already have a Facebook account.
Here are some tips to help stay safe when selling items on Facebook Marketplace:
If you want to transact on Gumtree safely, take these things into consideration:
When you create a listing on eBay, you are presented with a range of options at checkout, including credit or debit cards or digital payment providers like PayPal. A potential advantage of using eBay is that you and the buyer may be covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee.2
Other safety factors to remember are:
The Etsy marketplace is a popular platform for people wanting to buy and sell arts and crafts or vintage items. As a seller, you can request a range of payment options, including credit or debit cards, Etsy gift cards, or PayPal.
Here are some tips to stay safe on Etsy:
You've got something to sell, but how do you choose what online marketplace to advertise it on?
Consider asking yourself these questions:
While cash is one way to receive money for your items, an effective and secure alternative for receiving money is PayPal. Once you've set up a PayPal account, you can create a custom PayPal.Me link, which your buyer can click on to securely pay for your item via their own account.
We'll use cookies to improve and customise your experience if you continue to browse. Is it OK if we also use cookies to show you personalised ads? Learn more and manage your cookies