10 OfferUp Tips for Selling Your Stuff & Making More Money

Mar 7, 2018 | Frugal Living | 133 comments

10 OfferUp Tips for Selling Your Stuff & Making More MoneyOver the years, I’ve had great success buying and selling on OfferUp, and today I’m going to share my top 10 OfferUp tips with you! These tips will help you to sell your items faster and make more money in the process.

Selling on OfferUp is a great way to make some extra money. We’ve sold all kinds of thingsโ€”home decor, baby gear, furniture, camping equipment, a Blentec blender, snow shoesโ€” you name it!

Our small apartment has limited storage space, so unwanted items are promptly donated or sold.

It’s always nice to declutter your home, clean out your closets, and bring in some extra cash!

Why Use OfferUp?

Personally, I like using the OfferUp app because it’s fast and easyโ€”and not as creepy as Craigslist!

Buyers and sellers have profile pictures and ratings (based on past purchases and sales), so it’s somewhat less anonymous. That alone makes me feel safer, both as a buyer and a seller.

Plus, it’s super easy and convenient to have a conversation right in the app. I don’t have to give out my phone number or email address to anyone!

OfferUp Tips for Selling Your Stuff & Making Money

10 OfferUp Tips to Sell Faster & Make More Money

When you take the time to present your items nicely, market them well, and communicate effectively with potential buyers, you greatly increase the odds of selling your stuff. Plus, you’ll make more money in the process!

1. Before You Sell

Before you start the listing process, spend a few minutes cleaning up the items you want to sell.

Wash clothes, wipe down dirty equipment, repair broken items (if possible), and touch-up scuffed furniture with fresh paint.

2. Photograph Like a Pro

Good pictures make all the difference when selling online! I can’t tell you how many listings I’ve passed by simply because of poor photo quality.

When the details and condition of an item aren’t clear right away, it’s usually not worth the hassle of trying to investigate further.

Do not photograph your items in a dimly lit room. Instead, place your items near a windowโ€”or, better yetโ€”take them outside! Make sure the background is as clean and uncluttered as possible, and make sure the image is sharp.

Take pictures at multiple angles to see which ones look best. Also, take pictures of the entire item, as well as close-up detail shots.

Be sure to edit your pictures before uploading them to OfferUp. Adjusting the brightness, contrast, sharpness, and saturation will go a long way. This should only take a couple of minutes, and will help your items to stand out.

Make sure to upload several photosโ€”not just one. This is especially important for bigger-ticket items.

Of all my OfferUp tips, improving your images will probably make the biggest difference! These tips will increase your buyers’ confidence, both in you as the seller and in the item for sale.

OfferUp Tips for Selling Your Stuff & Making Money

3. Create a Smart Title & Description

Use strong keywords in both your title and description. Include important information, such as the brand, size, model, and color. Good keywords will help potential buyers find your listings!

Be honest and accurate in your wording, and describe your items properly.

4. Price it Right

When deciding how much to sell your item for, I recommend first doing a quick OfferUp search. Then check Craigslist and eBay to make sure you’re pricing your item correctly.

If I see that most people are asking $25-$30 for a particular item, I’ll usually price mine a couple of dollars less (especially if there are several already listed for sale).

This helps my items to sell more quickly. I’d rather sell it in a few weeks, than wait a few months before someone bites.

5. Communication is Key

Respond to messages from buyers as quickly as you can! Be clear and courteous with your wording.

I like to use complete sentences, good grammar, and even smiley faces when appropriate! When you communicate effectively, you’re telling your buyers that you are trustworthy.

Sometimes, buyers will stop responding to your messages, which is incredibly frustrating (especially when they’ve already told you where and when they want to meet)! When that happens, just shrug it off and move on.

Selling Your Stuff and Making Money!

6. Know How to Negotiate

If someone offers you less money than you feel your item is worth, you can always counter. Try to find a happy medium.

When a buyer sends me lowball offer, I try countering with something reasonable. If they continue offering me unreasonable numbers, I just send them the lowest price I’m willing to accept.

“Thank you for your offer, but the lowest price I’m currently able to accept is $50.”

Sometimes, itโ€™s worth accepting an offer that’s a bit low in order to sell an item more quickly. Buyers can be fickle, and coordinating can take a few days, so I like to jump on sales whenever I can!

7. First Come, First Served

Some buyers will not be considerate of your time, and will not keep their word. I’ve experienced this firsthand.

I have a rule: The first person to give me money for an item gets it!

In the past, buyers have asked me to hold items until a certain date. I would agree, and end up turning down other potential buyers while I waited. Then, the original buyer would change their mind and wouldn’t follow through with the purchase.

Talk about frustrating!

So now, if someone comes along, ready to meet with cash in hand, they’re the one I’m doing business with!

8. Confirm Before You Go

Before you leave your house to meet someone, send them a quick message to confirm the place and time. This is especially important if you agreed to meet a few days prior.

(I like to add reminders to my Apple calendar so that I don’t forget to meet my OfferUp buyers.)

And don’t forget to let someone know if you’re running a few minutes late. Be courteous!

Selling Your Stuff & Making Money

9. Choose a Convenient Meeting Place

When choosing a location to meet buyers, I don’t drive long distances in case they flake out on me. Plus, the farther I drive, the more time and gas money I’m spending.

Instead, I have buyers drive to a location that’s convenient for meโ€”especially if I’m selling a small item. The bigger the item, the farther I’m willing to drive.

10. Be Wise

Be wise about where and when you’re meeting someone.

I prefer to meet in front of a large store during the day, when there’s lots of light and plenty of people around. The safest place to meet is up by the entrance of a store, but parking lots can work, too.

Oftentimes, I’ll send my husband to meet a buyer (especially in the evening).

Share Your Best OfferUp Tips!

I learned most these OfferUp tips and tricks through trial and error. They’ve helped me to develop the system I use today for selling on OfferUp, and have successfully made me some extra money!

Have you tried making extra money using OfferUp? What are your best OfferUp tips?

133 Comments

  1. Chasity

    Awesome article, thank you for sharing. It is comforting to know that I am doing exactly what you have suggested, except I set my prices as firm and then lower prices sometimes,not always! Low ballers are more like an insult and less worth trying to negotiate with people looking for something for nothing. And although the selling process has been slow so far, I hope in time things will improve and make it worth my time, money, effort, research….You already know! Trying to stay positive

    Reply
    • Mateo Velez

      This is true! Stay positive!

      Reply
      • Sukura

        Iโ€™m clearing out a house so listing tons. One buyer asked for my phone number to text me and something was definitely up. Offer up had blocked them very quickly. Not sure if scammers are collecting phone numbers this way, for robo-calling and scamming.

        Reply
    • Tim curtis

      USE COMMON SENSE WHEN DEALING WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND MONEY……..they EXPECT a low price, is why they go to this site……..set very fair prices……sell your personal unused items first…..be surprised how low you can mark items, esp with 0 cost to you!…..talk about wide profit margins!

      Reply
      • Malissa Kirby

        I’ve been on Offer Up for MONTHS AND NOT ONE SALE.
        If you archive and then list it back does that promote sales?

        Reply
        • Lauren

          Yes, I like to archive and then relist my items every week or two. You might be in an area where OfferUp isn’t widely used, or you might have your items priced too high. ๐Ÿ™‚

          Reply
    • Tina

      What do you do when your item is too big? How do you work a situation when the person has to get the item from your housr?

      Reply
      • RODLEY

        I recently sold a sofa set, and the buyer has to come to my house. In this case I try to get my full family at home. It gets me secure. Lucky my buyer was a woman and thank to have all my family there she was able to move all to the truck, because she came with 3 kids and no one to help her

        Reply
      • Junior

        May first time in this im alot of conversation for that,they ask me first payment by card before pickup and ask may number.. but May point i want meet and check the item before payment in cash..

        Reply
    • Theresa Warde

      Thank you for this very helpful article.

      Reply
      • Annette

        If they have to meet at my house I ask for details if who is showing up. I also look at how many stars they have and any comments on previous purchases.

        Reply
  2. Terri

    I am new at this! I am Terri Hart and I would like to sell a sand blasting cabinet and some more items…

    Reply
    • Sherry mcmahon

      Does anyone meet people at their homes? I know it only takes one bad experience, but I’m wondering how many, if any meet at their home and deal on the porch?

      Reply
      • Lauren

        Hi Sherry, I’ve done this several times in the past, but only for items like furniture that are really hard to transport, and only if the buyer seems reputable. Otherwise, I prefer to meet at another location.

        Reply
        • JN

          How do you determine if they are reputable?

          Reply
          • Hollywood

            I never ever have them come to my home but you have a few options..You can check out there profile see how many sales they have made, how many other items they have posted, how other buyers have rated them as well as how long theyโ€™ve been using offer up. If they just made the account and have no other items for sale I would be extra careful.

      • Lina Perez

        I usually find a near gas station or public place. I donโ€™t like to share with people were I live. Should never do it. Try to find somewhere close by your house. Is better to be careful than sorry

        Reply
      • Kathy's

        My personal experience
        I’ve meant many people in my porch..I tell them I’m not alone..and they come before dark..and have change.. I’ve never had probs..also no trying on clothes..

        Reply
      • Diane kurtessis

        I sold my first item on here yesterday. I posted item as pick up only. Normally I wouldn’t do that, but I just got the Ring Doorbell. My phone notified me when she arrived, I watched her place the money where agreed, etc. No contact sale. I would highly recommend because then you don’t even have to leave your home.

        Reply
        • Lauren

          Way to go!!

          Reply
      • Suzannah

        Hello, Iโ€™ve had a good amount of success with using Offer Up. During Covid we cleaned out every room of our house and realized afterward that places were not taking furniture donations! How would we get these items out of the way? I used Offer Up and sold almost every item on my list. My tips (after doing this a few months)
        Sell your items at a fair price-
        Itโ€™s better to sell it then sit on it for months. If my item doesnโ€™t sell within a few weeks I usually donate it. I need the space in my house and garage.
        Be honest with buyers- let them know that others are asking about the item and you will let them know if the person doesnโ€™t purchase it. I start creating a โ€œnext customerโ€ list just in case the first buyer doesnโ€™t come thru.

        Yes, I sell from home. My husband is usually home during the times people come and itโ€™s always daytime.
        I let them know upfront my dates of availability so I pin down a date that itโ€™s safe.

        I hope this helps. Use your good judgment. Donโ€™t give out your phone number. Iโ€™ve experienced some odd people but most have been honest and the interaction has been good.

        Reply
        • Lauren

          WOW, way to go! And great tips!!

          Reply
      • Casey

        Yes, I meet everyone outside my house, in my driveway. It’s very convenient, considering how many potential buyers have flaked on me. I never have them come to my door though. I’ve never had any issues, but I do have ways of protecting myself if anything ever does go wrong.

        Reply
      • julia heaton

        I am just wanting to do some sales on this format. I would not want anyone to know where I live, that is just not safe. In today’s world, you can not judge a book by its cover. Be safe and smart.

        Reply
      • Patty

        I do all the time! My husband “works for LAPD and is getting ready for work” keeps the transaction safe! I’ve done it like this for YEARS without an issue! Now if I get a bad vibe about somebody or someone doesn’t the sale for pick up, I cancel the sale! The address is only given when the buyer is ready to pick up the item.

        Reply
      • Annette

        Get the โ€œdealingโ€ done beforehand. Ask if they are ok with the stated price and have your lowest amt in mind. Look at their stars, sales, and profile too.

        Reply
      • Nicolle

        Iโ€™ve sold several thousand dollars worth on OfferUp and Marketplace almost exclusively as porch pick up. Not one bad experience. I never give out my cell number and no one enters the house unless it is a piece of furniture. Even sold a car on Marketplace. I only accept cash or Zelle once they are at my front door. Never ahead of time. If I was selling expensive jewelry or gaming equipment I would be more careful.

        Reply
  3. sherry

    He’s a cutie- you’re pretty lucky- my girl’s a teen now.

    Reply
    • Janet r scott

      I think one of the coolest things about selling on offer up is shipping to the buyer. 99 % of my sales are items I ship. I only had one problem and it was my fault. I gave a ups to the USPS. Other than that it is so easy to ship stuff and get paid.

      Reply
      • Lauren

        That’s great, Janet! Since I originally wrote this post, shipping items has become much more common on OfferUp! I’ve never tried shipping something through the OfferUp app.

        Reply
        • Greg Johannes

          How long do you leave something listed before lowering the price? Or how many views yet no offers before you lower?

          Reply
          • Lauren

            I usually leave something for a week before lowering the price, depending on what it is. If it’s on for a few days without many views, I’ll lower it then as well.

    • Samas

      Hi, new to OfferUp. How to know if I’m communicating with a bot? Its seems to me that there are many bots on the App.

      Reply
      • Lauren

        Hi Samas, I’ve never had an experience like this. Sorry I can’t be of more help!

        Reply
      • Christian

        No Stars on their profile or they just created the account plus a creepy message =bot, scam and trouble so avoid.

        Reply
      • Samas

        When I try to archive things from the buyers page it disappears like it went to archives but in the archives itโ€™s not there and when I go back again to the buyers page itโ€™s back where it was what am I doing wrong?

        Reply
        • Lauren

          I’m not sure… Maybe try updating your app? It sounds glitchy.

          Reply
  4. Dawn Woods

    This is a great article! I agree that photos are so important , thank you for the tips about editing, I wouldnโ€™t have thought of that.

    Reply
    • Lauren

      I’m so glad you found it helpful! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  5. Steph

    Does offer up charge a fee each time I sell an item?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Nope! OfferUp is totally free to use, which is one reason I love it. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    • Casey

      They do if you’re shipping an item. That’s why shipping isn’t worth it. Too many fees.

      Reply
  6. Alex

    Offerup will not download properly. I’m using a Compaq Presario Windows 7 desktop computer. Is there a conflict with the soft ware with offerup app?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      You know, I’m not sure that there is a computer app… I’ve only ever downloaded and used the app on my phone! But you could always try emailing OfferUp and asking!

      Reply
      • Brenda

        I was going to post on Offer Up, but to add pics it wants access to all my pics instead of what I am selling. Why, I donโ€™t want to give access to all my pics, is there a way to only post what I am selling?

        Reply
        • Lauren

          I’m not sure there’s an option for that; I’ve never seen one myself. But maybe contact OfferUp and ask? Sorry I can’t be of more help!

          Reply
        • Md

          Hey Brenda,

          I don’t feel comfortable with giving that permission. So I take pictures through my phone camera and then select them in offer up app rather taking pictures from the app itself.

          Reply
    • Linda

      Hi there, Iโ€™m trying to sell furniture and have had people say they want to buy and will overnight payment along with payment for the pick up delivery co and buyer wants me to pay delivery company. I think this might be a scam. Iโ€™ve said no and want the buyer to handle paying never to hear back from they. What do you think about i

      Reply
      • Lauren

        Hi Linda! It sounds like a scam to me. Personally, I only accept cash in person!

        Reply
      • R Tanner

        That is 100% a scam and one of the most common craigslist/offerup/letgo scam.

        Trust your gut in situations like these. Anyone asking you to do some weird financial process automatically raises red flags for me.

        Reply
      • Becky

        This is a scam. This happened to me several times with Craigslist. Google it.

        Reply
  7. Anjum

    Hi I just started using offer up. It will be a great help if you can give me more information about payments. As a seller what mode of payments should I be offering. Before joining I thought only option is meeting in person but then a guy offered to send a cashierโ€™s check and asked for my full name address and phone number…honestly sounded fishy. Pls advice thanks a lot!

    Reply
    • Lauren

      It sounds fishy to me, too! Personally, I only ever accept cash for anything I sell, and that’s what I would advise others to do, too. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  8. Csims

    My problem is, after I posted my first item “marked sold” appeared under my item, I could not remove it. Wondering what went wrong. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi there! After marking as sold, you can archive listings (from either the “Buying” or “Selling” tab in “Offers”) by tapping the item’s photo and selecting “Archive” from the menu. It will help clean up your Buying and Selling pages. Hope this helps, and Happy Selling! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Rebecca Searles

        Thanks for the info. Im new and bumbling around.

        Reply
        • Lauren

          You’re so welcome! ๐Ÿ™‚

          Reply
      • Sharon

        Hi Lauren. Thanks for all the info! I put a few things in to archive but donโ€™t know how to get them out ๐Ÿ™‚ please apprise. Thanks in advance! Sharon

        Reply
        • Lauren

          Hi Sharon! You’re so welcome. ๐Ÿ™‚ I’m not sure that you can move a listing out of your archives, but you could always copy and paste the text into a fresh listing!

          Reply
      • Brie

        Hi Lauren,
        I believe CSims said after posting an item, the words โ€œ Marked Soldโ€ happened to appear and they tried to remove it from the item posted? It reads as if they only posted it but not sold?

        Reply
        • Lauren

          Hi Brie, I’m sorryโ€”I’m not sure I understand your question.

          Reply
  9. TeriSue

    How often should I repost an item?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi TeriSue! Personally, I like to remove the listing and repost it about once per week. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • eLmo

        Hi Lauren, by delete you mean just archiving it correct?

        Reply
        • Lauren

          Hello! Yes, that’s what I meant. ๐Ÿ˜‰

          Reply
          • Michelle

            If you edit an item, is that the same as reposting it? Or when you edit an item, does it keep the posting date as old as the original posting date?

          • Lauren

            Hi Michelle! Editing an item is not the same as reposting itโ€”the original post date stays the same. I’d recommend starting a brand new listing after a week or two in order to be at the top of search results again.

  10. JACINDA THOMAS

    First time using offer up as a buyer. Are you required to buy before you see the item? Or is there a cash only option for payments?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi Jacinda! No, you typically pay the seller after you meet up and check out the item. ๐Ÿ™‚ I’ve only ever done cash as payment, as I feel that’s the safest route. And I always meet in a place where there are plenty of other people around (e.g. Target parking lot, in front of the doors of a big box store, etc.).

      Reply
  11. Lili

    Hi, I have big furniture (bedroom set, desks, treadmill, etc.) I want to sell. How do you handle meeting up? The only option I see is to have them come to your home to pick up items. Any advice? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi Lili,

      In the past, I have always had people come to my house and pick it up. However, I would recommend that someone else is also there with you as a safety precaution (I’d always make sure my husband was home). And scheduling the pickup during the daytime is also good. Thankfully, I’ve always had very nice people show up on my doorstep! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Angela

        This is good advice, thank you! The bigger pieces are hard to move back and forth. I donโ€™t love having people meet at my house, but always make sure my husband is home too.

        Reply
  12. Donna

    How do you respond to people that say they want an item your selling, but then go no further. This happens to me slot. I pronly with questions like ” when would u like to pick it up?” But so far it’s just weird when there’s no response. So what do you say when told a buyer wishes to purchase an item?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      I’ve had that happen to me as well. Usually, if I message them and receive no reply, I just assume that they’re no longer interested. I always try to reply in a timely manner, whether I’m the buyer or the seller, because good communication goes a long way! Often, I’ll try another message a couple of days later because sometimes buyers (and sellers) just forget to reply or are busy when they read your message. But if it’s radio silence, I’ll just move on…

      Reply
  13. Donna

    Just want to say I think the tips offered are smart and accurate. Especially about posing pix and using correct wording. If going to put effort into it anyway, why not put 100% effort. I find when I’m clear and excited about getting a post just right, I generally get immediate results. I think attitude shows through our postings and positive vibes are contagious.

    Reply
    • Lauren

      So, so true, Donna! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  14. Amna

    Hi Lauren, I have a lot of used/ new clothes to sell. I posted a lot of them on OfferUp with fair prices but somehow not able to sell them. Do you have any advice on how to sell them faster. Thank you

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi Amna! Sometimes clothing sells well in lots, so you could try that. But the only clothes I’ve tried to sell on OfferUp are baby clothes. If you’re selling adult-sized clothing, you might want to try another place like Poshmark or eBay, where people are more likely to be looking for clothes.

      Reply
    • Cody Fiscus

      Mercari

      Reply
  15. DC

    Good article, my wife and I work as a team, I take pics of our merchandise, I make sure to provide a good platform with a backdrop, take several diff pics of the product box and contents, she takes the pics and edits them and makes the post, once its posted I go back and look at the post as if I where the buyer and look at everything from pics to the way that the listing is worded, I give her my inputs on what I thought can be changed and then we adjust and finalize the post.

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Wow! It sounds like you guys have an awesome system down. Keep up the good work!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        Hi Lauren. You said that you delete and repost about once a week. How is that done? I was under the impression that OfferUp doesn’t allow that. I would appreciate your help.

        Reply
        • Lauren

          I think that they just don’t want duplicate ads up on the app… I like to save each item’s title, description, and price in a note on my phone until the item sells. Then, when I need to repost after a week or so, I delete the current ad and start a new one, copying and pasting from the note on my phone. Hope this helps! ๐Ÿ™‚

          Reply
  16. Rebecca

    I’ve posted several items a week ago but when I go on Offerup I don’t see them. I scroll and scroll for my zip code but don’t see them. Where are they? How do you get them to be up at the top of the listing?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi Rebecca! After a week or so, I typically just delete my initial post and repost the listing as a new one. That way, it jumps to the top of the search results again! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  17. Wendy

    Hi!

    I am researching OfferUp before using and I noticed your comment about no fee involved, but according to OfferUp a fee is involved in the form of percentage’s.

    How has this worked in your experience?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi Wendy,

      I believe that the fee only applies when you are selling through the app, which is a more recent addition to OfferUp. I only have experience selling my items locally in person.

      Reply
  18. Michael

    Hi Lauren, Great article. Very informative. I was interested in buying a camera. The seller posted pictures of the camera body and lens, but didn’t specify, if batteries and charger will be included. I politely asked, if those items are included. A check mark revealed that the seller read my question, but never answered. Is that a red flag?

    Soon after I created an account, I received three badges: payment verification, Facebook – and email confirmation. How does one get a “TruYou” verification? That option is nowhere to be found.
    Thank you in advance!

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi Michael, It could be a sign that they’ll be difficult to communicate with. I’ve had some frustrating experiences because of poor communication. But occasionally, they haven’t responded simply because they forgot to. I’ve done that myself. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Try messaging them again and see what happens. As for the TruYou verificaton, I honestly have no idea!

      Reply
  19. Lulu dunn

    Never accept a cashier’s check. These are easily made fraudulent. Even the banks cannot determine the authenticity up front. So once you cash it you’ll be liable to pay it back. This is a very common scam. Beware.

    Reply
  20. Denise

    I paid a lot of money for a vacuum cleaner. it only worked for 20 minutes. The machine was dead. I tried to message the seller to let her know what happened.

    She completely disappeared from the app. Any advice?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      I’m so sorry, Denise! That’s just terrible. ๐Ÿ™ If she’s disappeared, she probably knew what she was selling you was no good… Buying things with motors is definitely more risky on OfferUp, which is why I typically only sell them. (e.g. I sold my like new Blendtec blender once for quite a bit of money, but I knew what I was selling was worth what the man was paying.) I wish I could help!

      Reply
  21. KRIS COLBURN

    People make an offer for my item, but say they can’t come by until late afternoon or evening. I’ll say okay, then I get another offer from someone who can come over sooner. What do I tell the first buyer when I decide to take back my offer and give it to someone else? Or what should I say to them in the first place when they make an offer but can’t come over until later? I’ve had people get really mad (but I’ve also been stood up when I’ve had other offers that I put off). I guess I just want to know the best, polite wording to the first buyer I’m reneging on?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi Kris! That’s a tough spot to be inโ€”I’ve been there many times. If I promise an item to someone, I keep my word and hold it for them until that first appointment. I don’t renege unless they aren’t communicative. But I also make a point to tell them that I have other parties who are very interested, to help increase urgency and their commitment to me. Just be sure to communicate well with everyone concerned, letting them know that several people are interested.

      Reply
    • Sheila

      Hello, I’m getting ready for selling my first item, but could you explain selling through offer up as opposed to meeting in person. Is this the best way when a buyer lives quite aways away at.
      Thanks kindly.

      Reply
  22. Fernando

    I don’t understand why my offer up app doesn’t allow me to sell or buy…

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi Fernando,

      In my experience, when you meet up with someone to buy or sell your item is when transaction takes place. I personally only accept cash in person.

      Reply
  23. Hanahn

    I have items that could be listed under 2 categories, like โ€œtoysโ€ and โ€œantiquesโ€, or arts & craftsโ€ plus โ€œhome and gardenโ€.

    Do I have to create 2 separate posts for each?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi there! I’d recommend just choosing the most relevant category and posting it once. If you’re finding that your listing isn’t being viewed much, try reposting under a different category. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  24. Hanahn

    And one more question…

    When reposting after a week or so, do I have to recreate the entire listing, or can I just bring it up from archives and resubmit somehow?

    Thanks so much for this site and for responding to questions!!!

    Reply
    • Lauren

      As far as I know, you have to recreate the entire listing because OfferUp wants you to pay them to “Promote” listings, which boosts them to the top of search results. I like to write my listing verbiage in a note on my phone, that way I can easily copy and paste the text later if needed. Hope this helps! And you’re very welcome. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  25. Hanahn

    Lauren, do you understand the process by which Offer Up ensures you get paid after you ship? I understand that the Buyer has to provide their bank account information to OfferUp in their profile; but what if they donโ€™t keep enough money in the account to cover the purchase?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      I’ve actually never sold anything that way, so I’m afraid I’m not much help. If I was selling something online, I’d typically sell through eBay.

      Reply
  26. Linda

    Great article. Iโ€™m having decent success also. If after a week I go in and drop the price, does it resurface at the top, or should I do an entire new post? Iโ€™ve done both.

    Reply
    • Lauren

      I don’t believe that the item goes back to the top… I typically do a brand new listing to keep it near the top!

      Reply
  27. Phyllis Bookbinder

    How do I list an item in the free category?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      I’m not sure there is a “free” category anymore… But you can always put “FREE” in your title. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  28. Wendi

    Hi, great article, thanks! I activated my first post a few days ago. I put three appliances in one post. I have good photos as you suggested, I checked around for prices, as suggested and I have a good description with details. I received one offer for one item at half what I was requesting right away and since then no offers. I’d like to sell all three items together (fridge, range and dishwasher). Does the post get buried, like on Craigslist? Should I repost daily? Any other suggestions?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Even though it’s more convenient for you to be able to sell all 3 appliances together, it will probably be much harder to find a buyer who is interested in all 3. I’d recommend separating them into 3 separate listings. Usually, you can make more money that way as well. Yes, your posts will get buried, so I’d recommend deleting them and creating new ones after a week or so. Facebook Marketplace is another great place to sell appliances. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  29. Dianna

    Hello just wanted to ask how does the shipping work because I want to sell but I have no idea how to ship stuff or who do I contact to get the box and shipping labels please help I’m new to this and I have lots of stuff I would like to sell .

    Reply
    • Lauren

      I’ve never shipped something through OfferUp, only through eBay. The flat rate boxes USPS gives you for free make it pretty simple and easy; you always know what the shipping cost is that way! But you can also purchase your own boxes (from Staples, eBay, etc.) and ship through other USPS methods or different carriers as well.

      Reply
  30. Mike

    Hello! I just started on OfferUp and wondered how meaningful the number of views is? Does that really give you a gauge of interest in an item? And is there a ‘good’ number of views? Is it 50? 100? If an item has lots of views should I be less willing to lower the price?

    I appreciate any insight and thoughts!

    Reply
    • Lauren

      I think the number of views partly has to do with how popular an item is, and partly how expensive it is. If I see 50+ views on an item and haven’t gotten any inquiries, I assume my price is too high. I’d almost always prefer to sell my item at a lower price and have it out of my house than hold onto it and make nothing!

      Reply
  31. Beth

    I love your tips!
    In the past I have had problems with buyers not bringing exact cash. I had someone come with two $100 bills for something I priced at $150. I did not have change and so he wanted to offer me the $100 bill. I thought it was shady and so I said no. From then on I always require exact cash.
    Question: What do you say to someone that would like to see item first before considering buying?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚ Asking for exact cash is a good idea. I also like to accept Venmo or something similar to make it easy for people. When someone wants to see an item before purchasing, I usually don’t have a problem with it, especially if it’s a more expensive item like a piece of furniture or something. But I won’t meet up with people who just want to see the item first because I don’t have time for that!

      Reply
  32. D

    Wow ! Love this blog! Got so much info about selling. Iโ€™m new to selling and a lot of questions I had have been answered. Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Lauren

      So happy I could help!

      Reply
  33. Liesl

    Hi Lauren, just posted 2 new listings on OfferUp & app will not enable โ€œbuy nowโ€ or shipping for my items weighing less than 8oz. I have successfully shipped from the site as of last week. OfferUp has not responded to my queries regarding this issue yet. Have u ever experienced this?
    Thx, L.

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Hi Liesl, I wish I could help you, but I’ve only ever sold in person on OfferUp! Maybe try updating your app? Sometimes older versions can get glitchy.

      Reply
  34. Lisa

    If I sell in person, does Offer Up charge me anything?
    And I thought it was free to list…

    Reply
    • Lauren

      It’s free to sell in person! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  35. Jim

    So what do I do when I sold an item, the buyer came and paid cash for it, he took parts of it that would fit in his car and said he was coming back the next day with his truck to take the rest. That was Saturday evening and it is now early Friday morning. I’ve messaged the buyer every day through the app but he is not responding. OfferUp support says they can’t do anything. I need this thing out of my garage because we are trying to sell our house.

    Reply
    • Lauren

      Oh man, that’s strange! I’m not sure what else you can do in a situation like that… I hope he comes back for it!

      Reply
  36. Jane

    How do you discount a price so it shows up that’s its changed?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      I’m not sure that you can. I actually think it’s better that way because it doesn’t look like your items been on a while with no interest. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  37. Diana

    Great tips!
    Is there a way to ship to buyer without exposing your personal information like name and address?

    Reply
    • Lauren

      You know, I’m not sure because I don’t ship anything through OfferUp. Maybe if you have a friend who owns a business location you could ask them if you could use that?

      Reply
  38. Debbie

    I purchase a lot of things on Offer Up and I have a question about buyers. Why do you think a buyer stops communicating when I have requested to purchase in cash at the price they post, they say fine, and then I ask when a convenient time it would be for them for me to pick up and they never respond back. I have sent a couple of more texts in case they had forgotten, but nothing!

    Reply
    • Lauren

      hmmm… It could be that they’ve found something else instead, or just got busy and changed their mind. I’ve had this happen to me as well, and it’s frustrating, for sure!

      Reply
  39. Brian

    I donโ€™t have a bank account yet to link to my account on account OfferUp how will I ship it thru the app without my bank links

    Reply
  40. Diana

    Did something change on OfferUp that I can only see 20 of my items listed? This happened about 1 week ago.

    Reply
  41. aT

    So many of the bad reviews about OfferUp DO have more to do with the transaction itself than the opinion of how the wite operates- this is not that.
    Their business practices are suspect, as I spelled out here (for BBB):
    This company and their CSRs now seem to be deliberately unhelpful answering questions. And now it appears I’m personally being punished for my “insolence” by suddenly requiring that I provide more personal information in order to continue using the account I’ve had and used this way for years.
    The whole time I’ve been using the OfferUp site, theyve steadfastly refused to create a gui that will allow users to access their site functions with a desktop computer- REQUIRING all sellers to ‘Get the App’, and to conduct all this business by smartphone ONLY.
    As though the only users they want to serve are twenty somethings and etc who don’t see the world outside their handhelds.
    Recently and now, every single time I log in (same email, username and pw as always, and from the same physical location), I am required to ‘send a code’ to my cel phone, in order to log in. This was only required in the past when I logged on from a different device and location. Now it’s every time.
    And get this- when I did engage customer service about this, it’s what I DIDN’T see that’s a big deal now- NO “Conversation” history- that is, no included thread of all the previous correspondences related to the original inquiry. They are simply not there, and that’s every time now (I’m fairly certain that they did include them in the past). I imagine that’s a good way to avoid reminding users of anything that might be useful to us in our review of their conduct. Individual CSR replies were so off topic/ unrelated/ unhelpful as to suggest that they didn’t even look any further back than the single email at hand, or pay significant attention to the questions asked.
    It’s hard to find and train good help- I get that. But this company seems to be engaged in a level of age discrimination, and perhaps outright hostile behaviors in my personal experience.
    Who knows if any of this will make a difference- but I can’t be the only one, so there it is.
    Thank you,
    An Oregon user, over 50, not glued to my screens

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello, Iโ€™m Lauren!

Welcome to my cozy corner of the internet, where I share about life in our little cottage and our days of homeschooling. I find joy in growing alongside my children as I nurture a love for learning, embrace the sacred work of home, and savor the beauty of living each day for the Savior.

Read More…

Delightful Discovery Co is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.