Selling Used Items...Pawn Shop Or.....

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2003
Selling Used Items...Pawn Shop Or.....
1
Mon, 07-18-2005 - 10:59pm

Just wondering if anyone has any experiences selling items at pawn shops, or other ideas on where to sell used electronics.

I would not be selling things I want to get Back....Im just thinking things like...a sandwich maker I haven't used since college, and a heated foot massager I've maybe used twice in 4 years (but it was on clearance!), Hmm, I have 3 walkmans for some inexplicable reason, etc.

I've never done Ebay..but it seems like common, everyday items like this wouldn't be worth setting up an Ebay account and taking the time to sell them, then paying shipping. So, was thinking a pawn shop might be the way to go.

Anyone done this? Should I call around to find the best deal? Should I drive into the next county, which is very high-income, and look for a higher-end shop? (is there such a thing?) If I tell them I definitely Don't want it back, can I waive the time they normally give someone to buy their stuff back, and thus be willing to pay me more? Am I thinking too much and should just load it up and cart it downtown? hehe.

I also have some used textbooks that I am thinking of selling online..it seems like that's the way to go there....

similarly, I have a load of outgrown clothes that im thinking of taking to a consignment shop, but a handful of designer, never or rarely worn shoes that I think would do better online. . . ..

Hmm..

Im looking for both fast cash (hehe, hello, David Ramsey. ;) ) and also some clutter-removal, because I know when my lease is up in October I will have to downsize my living arrangements (My rent is 50% of my income right now).

THoughts? Experiences to share?

Thanks!!

~ Teresa

Teresa
http://www.affordingpickles.blogspot.com

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 07-19-2005 - 9:12am

I've never sold to a pawn shop, so I can't speak from experience on that. But I did have a couple ideas/thoughts that might help.

Generally, a pawn shop is close to the last place you would check, just because they are notorious for not giving very good prices. Some electronics can be sold to places like EB Gameworld (electronics boutiques) that will resell them, and while their prices aren't great, they might be worth checking into. Used games and movies (especially DVDs) are especially easy to sell this way. You might also see if there is a consignment shop or two that would take your items.

Another thing to consider is whether you might not eventually get more money by donating your items. I know it sounds backward, and it won't result in immediate cash, but if you itemize your deductions, this can actually save you more money than you'd get by selling, especially if you're having to sell for super cheap.

When you donate, you can deduct the full value (which you determine) of your item. So, for instance, I donate a lot of clothes. At a yard sale, a shirt might bring about 50 cents, if it sells at all. But when I donate, I can claim its value at $5 or so (about what a Goodwill or whatever will sell it for). Considering that our taxes take out more than 10% (which would be 50 cents), we actually get more than 50 cents back on our taxes for the donation.

The key is to keep very careful track of what you donate--write everything down with the estimated value (for instance, I might write "5 shirts value $25"), and keep the receipts.

This only works if you itemize--if you don't own your home or for whatever reason take a standard deduction, it won't help you.