This guide will go over tips and best practices for selling collectibles (art, toys, etc)
Summary:
- I/Marketplaces
- II/Tips on Selling
I/Marketplaces
- eBay - eBay is going to be mentioned on our list here! With over 159 million users, selling your collectibles is a very optimal marketplace. Everything is very straightforward here. as well as being able to do just about everything on the mobile app. Reaching such a high buyer base is extremely useful when selling your items and getting those quick sales in.
Website | IOS | Google Play
- OfferUp- OfferUp is an excellent marketplace for local sales. I don't recommend selling with their shipping service as they charge a high 12.5% sales commission. This is exceptionally high, and you have much better options. About a year ago, they bought out the popular local marketplace, Letgo, and have since made major software improvements. Overall, very straightforward as the seller. Personally, I think the UI is a bit "old" but doesn't take away from the fact that they have over 56 million users.
- Mercari - Mercari has made huge strides into becoming a much larger marketplace. With over 19 million monthly active users reported in 2021, this is one of the best upcoming markets. Mercari also recently introduced Mercari Local. This feature allows for local pickup for items which is extremely useful. Mercari has one of the lowest fees, at only 10% sale fee. This is low compared to other marketplaces such as eBay, which can range up to 15%! It may not be a massive deal for lower priced items, but you will notice a big difference when you start selling higher valued items! The overall interface is very seamless and beginner-friendly.
Website | IOS | Google Play
- FaceBook Marketplace - Facebook has recently made some considerable improvements to their marketplace. With shipping and local pickup feature both fully operational, this is another excellent marketplace to check out. FB Marketplace started specifically for local sales, however, it added shipping more recently. Although they have been pushing out more updates to make the platform look nicer, I will have to say that it is pretty annoying how everything is laid out. In order to post a listing, you will have to go to the Facebook app to list, and you will find messages via Facebook Messenger. You'll get used to going back and forth, but hopefully, Facebook will add a separate Marketplace app that incorporates all features in one! The shipping feature is 100% underrated with only a 5% fee, the lowest of any marketplace. Not sure how long they will have this set fee, so I would get right to it if you can!
Website | You need Facebook + Facebook Messenger for mobile
II/Tips on Selling
Online: Selling online is probably the most common way to sell collectibles. For more figurine/toy style collectibles (Funko Pops! for example), I highly recommend trying out Mercari. The collectible marketplace within Mercari is exceptionally high, and you should have a good amount of success selling there. Apart from Mercari, eBay will also be your best bet in general. With just the sheer number of users on eBay, you can never go wrong selling there. Do note we recommend looking to insure your items on eBay if they are higher priced. Prints, vinyls, and toys are all prevalent search terms on eBay.
Local: Regarding local sales, it can be something annoying. One major tip is building up those sales and verifying your information. Meeting up to buy something locally is very different from ordering it online. There needs to be a sense of trust built. With more reviews and a solid-looking page, most often, buyers will choose to message you because he have already built that "trust".
That being said, besides just being friendly, communicative, and listing a lot, it can take some time to build. When selling locally, I also recommend meeting in public and covering what payment methods work beforehand.
Selling collectibles locally is dependent on your location. I recommend listing your items as that can't hurt, but it may be harder to sell, especially those limited edition collectibles.
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