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Tips for Selling Something Online

Clear, well-lit photos can help do the selling for you on sites like OfferUp.

My own experiment in using these apps was an abject failure. After several months, neither of the items I listed — a carved screen from India and a silver-and-turquoise belt buckle — had sold. But I learned some valuable lessons.

• The image is critical. A good photograph does most of the selling for you. That means photos should be well lit, taken from several angles and in sharp focus. Include close-ups of any wear or damage — it will save you from angry recriminations later.

• The description of your item should clearly include colors, dimensions and weight, even though many buyers will overlook this information and email you asking for the colors, dimensions and weight.

• The more items you list — or better yet, sell — the more people will trust you. According to the Poshmark site, it takes 10 or more listings to make you look like a dependable merchant.

• Price to dicker. Many people are put off by a listing with a firm price. Better to start a little higher and negotiate. To avoid those who just like to haggle, counteroffers with something like: “I’ll take no less than $X, firm. I understand if that’s not in your price range, and if that’s the case let’s just move on, and no hard feelings.”

• Everybody likes to feel they got a deal. One successful seller said that when listings had a sense of urgency — “I’m moving this weekend, and this has got to go!” — buyers felt as though they had more leverage, and it helped speed sales.

• It helps to live in a densely populated place, because most people dislike shipping. Having a large pool of buyers nearby makes everything easier.

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