One man's trash is another man's treasure

 As we prepare for downsizing, how to deal many items that have not been used for long time, but are still useful, is a question. Initially, for convenience, we planned to just throw them into trash.

Thinking about throwing useful items made me uncomfortable. We eventually decided to use online marketplace to sell the items at good price. The useless items to us can be useful to others who need them. We reduce our carbon footprint, and help others, and get some changes in the process, win-win-win.

The best sale for us is the tea set. It was worn out but still in decent shape. Lily recommended to trash it and I listed it at $5. Many people inquired about it to the big surprise of Lily. A lady bought it at listed price! The best buy for the buyers so far, was the double lighted Christmas reindeers, which I listed it at $5 on a Sunday before Christmas, nearly 100 inquires poured in within 20 minutes,  a couple who were treasurer hunting near by, came by in 10 minutes and snatched the two boxes. 

The sale process was pleasing - once the deal was made, I put the tea set in paper bag outside and asked buyer to take it and leave the payment at the door. Guess what? No glitch!

The two lighted reindeers were wildly popular with buyers, they were taken within 15 minutes. It was a super deal. The guy also bought a used tennis racket at listed $15!

Through the sales events I also found that some people buy used goods for very unique reasons. 

For  example the following AiWa Boombox, had beatdown looking, not many people inquired about it at the listed $20 for a week or so. Then one day a guy asked if I would sell at $10. We settled on $15. He told me at the time of pickup that he had no use of the boombox, but he needed the 6 inch speakers! which is sold new at $40.

The old range microwave got some people's attention, but it stayed on the market for nearly a month with no buyer. When I decided to leave it on the market for another week before donating it as a small appliance, a lady made an inquiry and agreed to buy right away. But it turned out that my house was some 20 minutes away from her husband's work, in the opposite direction to her home. She hesitated to buy due to the extra 40 minutes drive. I offered to deliver it to her hubby's work and made the sale.

A buyer got this boombox for its two 6" speakers

The lady who bought this range microwave is an artist, she plan to use the microwave
for her glass art project! 

One's trash is another one's treasure.