Second-hand sellers share their top tips for making extra cash

Some people seem to have the golden touch when selling second-hand items online – and this could be an untapped way of making extra cash for some older people, new research suggests.

Only a quarter (26%) of over-65s have considered using online marketplaces, according to the new findings from Barclays. This is despite them having an average 18 items lingering at home that they would like to sell on.

However, some of the people surveyed said they don’t feel confident using online platforms, or don’t know where to start. But it could be easier than some think, with a few insights from people who have already built up years of experience.

Denise McConkey, 63, says she has made upwards of £2,000 over the years by selling online, and has funded significant purchases such as holidays and garden furniture with the money she’s made selling unwanted items.

“I’ve been selling on second-hand marketplaces for around 10 years now and it all started when I gave a jacket to a charity shop and saw them label it up for £105,” says McConkey. “It made me think that perhaps there’s money I can be making from more of the items I have at the back of the wardrobe.

“With daughters too, I was always surrounded by clothes they no longer wanted, so it gave me lots of stuff to put on the platforms. They actually then understood that if they left anything at my house, it was fair game and could end up being sold!”

McConkey, who lives in England’s Kent, says eBay has been her “go-to” for selling.  “Within five minutes, I can have a listing set up. I am not the most tech-savvy so found it slightly more difficult on the computer, but on my phone it’s so easy,” she adds.

“All the money I’ve made has gone into bigger things I’ve been saving for, as opposed to more clothes, and I actually have a separate account I keep the money in. Over the years it’s helped me pay for holidays and the outdoor garden furniture we have.”

And “sheer volume” has helped her make money, she continues – not necessarily having lots of designer goods to sell.

“Just household brand names that are still in good condition,” she explains. “For example, clothes from Wallis and Topshop. My daughter let me sell a couple of her Kate Moss for Topshop dresses and they actually ended up making more money than she had paid for them. I’ve also sold furniture and ornaments in the past when I moved house, but good quality clothes have made me the most.”

Thankfully, she says she has not had many bad experiences selling online.

To help ensure that sales go smoothly, she tries to put as much detail as possible in listings, for example adding measurements of sleeves and legs, to help prevent people needing to ask. McConkey explains: “I have found that helps my items sell and helps buyers make a decision.”

Samantha Jenkins, 50, from Hertfordshire, has also been using online marketplaces for several years. She made £2,500 when moving house and having a clear-out.

This included furniture as well as kitchen and dining items that she had acquired over the years. She has sold clothes and items like bags in the past, but says “furniture was definitely the biggest money-maker”.

Jenkins says she loves the sustainability aspect of passing items on too.

It is always a good idea to do your research before you begin, however. Fees or charges are also worth weighing up if you’re considering selling online. Some websites will allow you to sell items at no charge. If you’re selling on eBay, it’s worth keeping an eye out for any discounts it is offering to sellers on fees.

For those hoping to make some extra cash from a side hustle, it’s also worth knowing about the tax-free trading allowance, which allows people to earn up to £1,000 of trading income each financial tax year and not pay tax on this income. More information about how this works can be found on the gov.uk website.

If getting to grips with the tech is holding you back, bear in mind there are free resources available to help people get started online – for example the Barclays Digital Eagles service has free online digital courses.

Many organisations offer free online learning too. You can search for online learning resources on the nationalcareers.service.gov.uk website.