Key Takeaways
- OfferUp and Craigslist are popular apps that sell used appliances directly to buyers. OfferUp’s TruYou program helps establish trust by verifying the seller’s identity, while Craigslist allows for easy listing in specific cities and categories.
- Facebook offers various ways to sell used appliances, including the Marketplace feature, buy-and-sell groups, and live videos. The platform’s built-in trust factor and easy sharing capabilities make it an attractive option for sellers.
- Other options for selling used appliances include hosting a garage sale (with proper advertising), contacting recyclers (who may pay for specific parts or materials), checking with local appliance stores for buy-back or disposal programs, and selling to scrap metal yards based on the appliance’s metal content.
Use Free Apps to Sell Used Appliances
OfferUp
A great app for turning over your used appliances is OfferUp.
It’s totally free. No shipment charges are included as it helps the buyers and sellers connect directly.
TruYou Program
This program differentiates OfferUp from other buying and selling apps. The TruYou program allows sellers to validate your identity. To do this, you’ll need to do three things:
- Verify your Facebook profile
- Scan your driver’s license
- Take a selfie
Craigslist
So, how can you use Craiglist to sell your appliances?
- Visit Craigslist and select your city
Choose your state and city. If you can’t find the name of your town or city on the list, choose the nearest location.
Be sure to list your appliance only under a single city. Using multiple cities for the same ad is against the platform’s rules.
- Select the “post to classifieds” button
If you are a private seller, tick the “private seller” option under this button.
- Choose the “for sale” button
Now, under the “for sale” button, select the most appropriate category for your item.
- Upload product photos and a description of your item
Potential buyers will want to know the details of each appliance you’re selling, along with the sale price, any warranty information you have, and the condition of the item. Don’t skimp on the details, and be honest with your information.
- Check for errors
Go through your ad and information one more time. Double-check that your listing is categorized under the correct location and that your pricing details are accurate.
It only takes about 15 minutes to get your product listed on Craiglist. Keep an eye on your email for interested buyers.
Leverage Facebook groups
Facebook is not only the place to go for cat videos, photo sharing, and heated political debates. This popular social networking site has spawned an ecosystem all of its own.
From the Facebook marketplace to groups dedicated to selling used goods, Facebook is the perfect place to start searching for a buyer.
Let’s find out why Facebook is ideal for selling used appliances.
Increased trust-factor
You can easily limit the advertisement of your appliances to your circle of friends, reducing the risk of connecting with overly difficult customers or strangers online with less-than-innocent intentions.
On the other side of the transaction, you will have an easier time establishing yourself as a trusted seller.
Easy sharing
Quickly get your products in front of a sprawling audience by asking your friends to share the listing.
Live videos
Live videos make it a breeze to connect with your circle of friends, announce the products you have for sale and communicate with potential buyers.
Second-hand groups
Browse the “Groups” tab for pages based in your area with keywords like “second-hand,” “upcycle,” and “buy and sell.” Be sure to read the group rules thoroughly before listing your products.
Facebook Marketplace
The Facebook app recently introduced the Marketplace feature, which allows buyers and sellers to manage products and transactions directly through Facebook. Listing products is as simple as uploading a photo and a price.
Host a Garage Sale
Every year, hundreds of American households host garage sales. As low-tech as they might seem, garage sales are still one of the best ways to get your money’s worth from used appliances.
The most challenging aspect of the humble garage sale is attracting customers. You’ll need to plan plenty of time to advertise your sale before the big day. You’ll want to take advantage of free advertising streams to get eyes on your products and buyers browsing your tables.
You can advertise for free through Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. Let friends know about large items you’ll be putting up for sale, and don’t be afraid to make deals and offer discounts.
Contact recyclers
If your item is not in sellable condition, you may want to try connecting with area recyclers.
Recyclers don’t pay premium prices for products, but, for appliances that cannot be sold on the open market, you might be able to recoup a portion of your investment.
Be sure to do plenty of research before reaching out to any recycler. Many accept some parts, but not the whole appliance, and some will be quite picky about how the appliance is packaged, delivered, or disassembled.
Take quotations from different recyclers and compare not only the price they offer but also the cost of delivering your appliance.
Although finding a reputable recycler who pays well can be difficult, once you meet one, you can enlist their services over and over.
Some popular recyclers that have offices all over the USA include:
Try a Local Appliance Store
You can contact a local appliance store, such as Sears, Best Buy, Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores, or Home Depot, to find out if they offer appliance buy-back or disposal programs in your area.
Sears
Sears will haul away old appliances for just $25 if you are buying a similar appliance from them.
Best Buy
Best Buy will remove appliances similar to those that you’ve purchased new through their stores for just $14.99. They charge $99 for all other items.
Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores
Lowes will not charge customers anything to remove the old appliance if you purchase a similar item through them.
Many stores will buy your appliance back from you at a reduced rate. Be sure to contact your local retailer’s customer service desk to find out about rates and how they determine the condition of your items.
Turn it into Scrap Metal
If none of the above options are a good fit for your appliance, a local scrap yard will be your safety net.
Scrap metal shops will weigh your appliance and then offer you a payment based on the amount of metal found in it. Depending on the metal’s current price, the offers you’ll see from scrapers give you will vary.
Average prices for appliances are:
- Washing machines: $18-$22
- Refrigerators: $16-$22
- Ovens: $11-$18
- Cast iron bathtub: $30-$40
More tips for Selling Used Appliances
To get the most from any platform on which you list your used household goods, you’ll need to follow some basic marketing best-practices.
Use an eye-catching headline
Vague, or non-specific headlines won’t attract buyers. For instance, “refrigerator for sale” won’t have nearly as big an impact on potential buyers as “KitchenAid Chrome Finish Dishwasher – 24 inch for sale.”
Try to mention the unique make and model of your product in the title and use descriptive words that will appeal to buyers searching specifically for that item. There are hundreds of used refrigerators for sale on any given platform, but people searching for a particular type will be willing to pay more than other, generalized buyers.
Use visuals
Listings with photos and videos consistently get more views and attract more interested buyers than those with only product descriptions. More interest in your listing means you can ask for a higher price for your appliances.
Share your own experience
This is especially true for unbranded products or appliances that are rarely seen on the market. Be sure to explain how you’ve engaged with the item and mention specific ways it has improved your life.
Avoid lengthy paragraphs, and instead use bullet points to list things like “very rugged, stood up to years of use,” and “has only needed one tune-up in the 10 years it was in our home.”
Write clear dimensions
Provide all the most important information in the product description to reduce lengthy conversations with buyers who will ultimately not buy.
Don’t forget to include the dimensions of the item so that readers can find out exactly if your product is a good match for their space.
Price competitively
Take the time to research what others are asking for the same appliance on the platform you will be using. Try to keep your price on par with other listings. Don’t be afraid to price up to 10% higher than your minimum acceptable price. People will negotiate, and you will want to have room to offer them a deal without feeling cheated yourself.
Earn Extra Cash
Upgrading your home appliances can become a much more palatable endeavor if you can sell your old items to help fund the upgrades.
Making sales can be simple and hassle-free, as long as you take the time to do your research and understand the platforms available to you.
