Need to resell items you no longer use? Or buy cheap second-hand products? Take advantage of platforms specializing in the occasion to place announcements or find the rare pearl. And thus do good business!
Computers, telephones, televisions and other high-tech products but also clothing, furniture, household appliances, toys, collectibles or decoration, trinkets, kitchen utensils, tools, books, records, sporting goods, vehicles ... Everything can be bought and sold second-hand.
The second-hand market has even become very fashionable in recent years, opening up to a large public concerned both with saving money and participating in a virtuous circle for the environment. And if flea markets and other garage sales are popular, platforms for selling and buying second-hand products between individuals are increasingly successful, whether on the Web, with sites, or on mobile, via dedicated applications, such as Leboncoin, Vinted, eBay, Videdressing, but also Rakuten or the Facebook marketplace, not to mention "classic" classifieds services.
Whether you want to make room in your cupboards, your attic or your cellar by getting rid of unnecessary clothes or objects while earning a little money - or even reselling an unsuitable gift ... -, or, conversely , find furniture, fashion items, computer equipment or musical instruments at a low price, today you are spoiled for choice. And whether you are a seller or a buyer, the platforms specializing in the occasion do everything to facilitate transactions: publication of free advertisement - visible in Our country and sometimes throughout the world -, photos, search filters, contacting, user reviews…
Some platforms are content to host classified ads, with the seller and the buyer responsible for contacting each other and organizing the transaction and delivery. Others, such as Vestiaire Collective or Momox, require the product to be sent to their offices beforehand for evaluation, repackaging, online publication and transaction. Finally, and this is the object of our selection, the most popular publish the ads by often offering secure payment and parcel delivery services in exchange for compensation payable by the seller or the buyer, each platform defining its own rules in this area.
The criteria for choosing a used sales platform
If they pursue the same goal, all second-hand buying and selling platforms have their specificities and their mode of operation, with advantages, disadvantages and limitations. It is therefore advisable to consider a few points before choosing a service, to sell as to buy.
L'audience
If you are a seller, opting for a general site like the essential Leboncoin or eBay allows you to make your ads visible to millions of Internet users in Our country or even around the world. The downside is that they are drowned among millions of others. Conversely, you may prefer a more focused site devoted to a category of objects or services like LinkNsport or Videdressing, knowing that the commissions on the sale are higher. For a buyer, if it is really practical to be able to surf an international catalog, the risk is to end up with customs taxes or high shipping costs or sizes that do not correspond to French standards.
The publication
On the majority of second-hand platforms between individuals, posting an ad is free, with the notable exceptions of Etsy and Amazon. You can accompany it with several photos, come back and modify it in case of error and renew it free of charge. Only the options for highlighting your product, to make it more visible than the others, are chargeable. So do not hesitate to multiply the publications on several services to increase your chances of success. Likewise, as a buyer, if you are looking for a particular product, don't just check out one platform!
Payment
With the exception of Facebook, all the players in our selection offer an online payment solution. The buyer pays the money to the platform, which returns it to the seller when the transaction is complete. A good solution to avoid mishaps: for the seller, it is the certainty of being paid, and for the buyer, it is the guarantee of being able to block the transfer in the event of a problem. However, online payment remains optional on certain platforms such as Leboncoin where the transaction can be organized freely between the buyer and the seller, by check, cash or transfer, including using a third-party system such as PayPal.
Delivery
When a second-hand resale platform indicates that it supports delivery, this means that it has negotiated prices with specialized operators such as Mondial Relay or Colissimo. The associated costs are then always paid by the buyers. You only have to specify the weight of your package when you create your ad, and you will receive the correct label to stick on your packaging. All you have to do is drop it off at a collection point or at the Post Office. For buyers, this adds transparency on the final purchase amount, and often to benefit from lower fees than if the seller proceeds independently of the platform as they have often negotiated attractive prices.
Evaluations
On all these platforms, sellers rate buyers and vice versa. It's systematic. And if you forget to do it, the platform will do it for you, automatically setting a neutral rating. In some cases, the rating is accompanied by a comment left by a user. Before accepting a sale or an offer to buy, therefore, take the time to go through the ratings and comments to avoid possible disappointments or problems later. Also check out reviews left in mobile app stores. They often go beyond technical considerations to evoke a buying or reselling experience.
Litigation
This is the black point of resale between individuals. Indeed, some sites tend to believe that they guarantee sales, but this is rarely the case. However, the fact of settling everything remotely can lead to unpleasant surprises when the package arrives, or to complications facing a buyer or seller in bad faith. And in these cases, it is very difficult to involve the platforms to resolve a dispute, even if you have paid a commission. They are usually content to send back to back the two parties, or to give a bad evaluation to one of the two. Remember, on the other side of the screen, you are dealing with individuals, who are not subject to the same rules as professional sellers. The concept of withdrawal - compulsory among professionals - simply does not exist.
Taxes
The resale of second-hand items is not subject to tax or duty. You therefore do not have to mention anything in your income tax return if you have sold clothes, furniture or other types of products that have already been used. But this is not the case if you buy or if you manufacture products specifically to resell them on sites like Selency or Etsy where it is the core target. Collaborative platforms are also required to transmit your income to the tax authorities in these particular cases.
The price
The price displayed on a used item is not always the final price. Indeed, on Vinted, for example, operating and delivery costs are added. Conversely, if you are a seller, the sale price will not necessarily correspond to what the platform will return to you. Some, like LinkNsport or eBay, will deduct a commission and payment fees.
Accounts
It is quite possible to browse all the sites and apps in our selection without opening an account, even for Facebook. However, it is mandatory to communicate with a seller, or to become a seller. In general, all you need to do is enter your contact details and choose a username and password to become a full member. Please note, in some cases, you must also give a credit card number.
Leboncoin: the largest garage sale in our country
A key figure in second-hand sales between individuals, Leboncoin offers first and foremost the richness and diversity of its "catalog". There is absolutely everything: furniture, decorative objects, clothing, cultural products, tools, vehicles, real estate (apartments, houses and vacation rentals) and even services and job offers. For a seller, the popularity of the site and its app is the assurance that their ad will be seen by as many Internet users as possible. As for buyers, they have several tools to find the rare pearl: multi-criteria filtering, recording of searches with alert in case of novelty, online negotiation ... Leboncoin has evolved well over the years, but by keeping a basic principle : the publication of an advertisement is completely free, only the options of promotion being paying. All transaction costs are the buyer's responsibility if they use online payment and delivery. However, Leboncoin is one of the few platforms that does not yet impose it and it is still possible to make hand-deliveries or carry out the transaction with another service like PayPal. Professional ads are allowed, but they are easy to filter out in search results. Finally, a (free) account is required to post an ad or contact a seller, unless he has agreed to leave his phone number visible.
Visit the Leboncoin website
Download the Leboncoin app for Android
Download the Leboncoin app for iOS
Vinted: the inexpensive storage room
In a few years, the actor of Lithuanian origin has established himself for the resale of second-hand clothes between individuals. Professionals have just been authorized but, for the moment, they remain in the minority. On Vinted, everything is done to help buyers find the rare pearl that was missing in their wardrobe, with very well-made filters. And the systematic evaluations of both sellers and buyers help to reassure themselves about the seriousness of an interlocutor. Posting an ad on Vinted is free, operation and delivery costs are paid by the buyer. The payment methods are varied, Vinted accepting credit card, payment by PayPal and Apple Pay. The platform offers a wide choice in terms of delivery services, both for Our country and for Europe. Your t-shirt can thus be easily shipped to Spain if it finds a buyer there. For a buyer, the research recording system is very useful. Subscribing to brands also allows a personalized home page. Finally, negotiating with sellers is really easy. On the other hand, no hand delivery or hand-to-hand payment on Vinted: all transactions go through the platform!
Visit the Vinted website
Download the Vinted app for Android
Download the Vinted app for iOS
eBay: beyond auctions
Even if it is an ancestor on the Internet, eBay still defends itself very well in the second-hand resale sector. Always very popular, the American veteran benefits from a worldwide audience and a particularly rich "catalog", with many categories, some of which delight connoisseurs and collectors. Above all, it stands out for its auction system. Thus, when an advertisement is published, the seller chooses either a fixed price or an auction to sell his item to the highest bidder. The publication is free within the limit of 150 advertisements per month, and charged at 0,35 euro beyond. At eBay, the costs are borne by the seller, around 10% of the total amount, including delivery costs, and 0,35 euros per order. The list of payment methods is impressive: credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, check and even bank transfer. If you are a buyer, you can filter the ads to keep only those with auction or, on the contrary, those with a fixed price. You can also search for products with free delivery or hand delivery. Finally, the "condition" filter allows you to find used but refurbished items.
Visit the eBay site
Download the eBay app for Android
Download the eBay app for iOS
Rakuten: loyalty rewarded
Twenty years ago, the Priceminister site was a pioneer in the resale between individuals and professionals of electronic and cultural products. Bought in 2011 by the Japanese Rakuten, the platform now mixes new and used products. Today, it is comparable to Leboncoin by the quantity of items available, but without the services and rentals part. The plus: Rakuten offers to buy back your high-tech products itself. Above all, the loyalty program represents a real asset for both sellers and buyers. Each sale or purchase earns points that you can then use on the site. Rakuten only accepts bank cards and money transfers to their wallet as a means of payment. The posting of an advertisement is free and unlimited. But the system of fees charged to the seller is quite complex, with a mixture of fixed commissions and a variable part. As with competitors, payment and delivery are manageable directly via the platform, but hand delivery is possible. For buyers, it is quite easy to distinguish professional sellers from private sellers. In the latter case, it is possible to click directly on a link to initiate a negotiation on the price. The site really works like a regular sales site, with related offers when you view an article, and reviews on the product itself. Convenient !
Visit the Rakuten website
Download the Rakuten app for Android
Download the Rakuten app for iOS
Facebook Marketplace: small sales between friends
Even if this is not its primary vocation, Facebook offers a classified ads service: the Marketplace. It is not the most ergonomic of resale platforms but it compensates for this defect by the visibility of the ads accessible to millions of members. Bo point a posting of announcements is completely free. However, the network does not manage payment or delivery: it is up to sellers and buyers to organize themselves. In addition, all exchanges take place via Facebook Messenger. The interest is to be able to go back to the public profile of his interlocutor and to know a little more about him. A star system is also used as a rating. Network control over advertisements is fairly light, and some sometimes abuse it, advertising 1 euro products when they actually charge several hundred dollars for them. Finally, Facebook offers an unprecedented option for private sellers: the possibility of republishing an ad identically, or of putting several copies of an item on sale via a single ad. As everything is free, we can only recommend that you put your ad, in addition to other platforms to increase your chances. On the other hand, on the buyer's side, it is not always easy to launch a search correctly. There are few criteria and sellers do not always meet them. Note, however, the possibility of defining a geographical area for its research. Useful for hand-to-hand sales. To learn more about using this service, see our Facebook factsheet: how to buy or sell on the Marketplace.
Visit the Facebook site
Download the Facebook app for Android
Download the Facebook app for iOS
Videdressing: the brand at all costs
Unlike Vinted, Videdressing is aimed more at fashion victims, passionate about big fashion brands and eager to get good deals on rather expensive items - there is even a search filter between luxury or mainstream products. There are fewer articles than on Vinted. And the service fees are very variable, from 24 cents to more than 30 euros! And it is impossible to distinguish between professional and private seller. Finally, don't be fooled by the price drop announcements. This is the comparison between the new price, declared by the seller, and the price offered for sale on the site. No guarantee of veracity. For a seller, posting an ad is free. The service charges a commission on sales of around 15%, with a minimum of three euros and a maximum of 300 euros. He even takes a euro fee for transferring his wallet to his bank account. Videdressing offers a secure payment system, via credit card, PayPal or in installments. Delivery can be managed by the site, but hand delivery is still authorized, as on Leboncoin, its owner since 2021. Finally, for luxury clothing, a certificate of conformity service via the Videdressing offices is available for an amount of 30 euros.
Visit the Videdressing website
Download the Videdressing app for iOS
linkNsport: for athletes
Created in 2021, and therefore still very young, linkNsport is dedicated to the resale of sports equipment, as highlighted in its graphic charter, inspired by a famous chain of specialized stores. It only offers a few ads, its search engine deserves to be muscular and there are still mobile apps to be developed. The posting of ads is free, and you can manage the delivery yourself or use the site's services. The charge is 18% off the price of the item. LinkNsport claims to monitor each ad before publication. Professional sellers are also accepted.
Visit the linkNsport website
Amazon Seller Central : un service complexe
Accessing Amazon's huge clientele for its classifieds: it's possible, with the Seller Central service. But all the comments tend to prove that the matter is not simple ... Indeed, if the online commerce giant accepts individual sellers via a dedicated program - the Basic account - it does not make their task easier. For everything on sale, he charges 0,99 euros per item and the selling costs range from 8 to 15% on the total amount including delivery, with a minimum of 0,30 euros. In addition, an individual can post a maximum of 40 products per month, but in certain categories only. You do not have control over delivery rates, although you will have to take care of them entirely. Because of this, even if your used item is cheaper than a new one, a professional dealer may win out if they offer delivery. Finally, be very careful when creating your account not to check "professional account", otherwise you will have to pay a subscription of 40 euros per month. As a buyer, nothing is done to help you sort out professional sellers and private sellers. In short, even if it does exist, Amazon's peer-to-peer buying and selling platform is clearly not the benchmark in the field ...
Visit the Amazon Seller Central site
Download the Amazon app for Android
Download the Amazon app for iOS
Etsy: original creations
Etsy is outside the scope of the occasion because this service is oriented on original creations. If you have artistic talent and want to capitalize on it, this is the right platform. The visibility of your ads is global, and the search tools well suited to creative articles. Internet users can subscribe to your store, and thus be notified when you put something new online. The costs are the responsibility of the seller, excluding delivery costs. There is a € 0,16 listing fee plus a 5% transaction fee. The means of payment are very numerous, from the bank card, to the check via Paypal. On the other hand, your store will be mixed with those of professionals, without the possibility of filtering. For buyers, this is the right place to find an original gift. And very often the creators offer to personalize it. The filters are extremely precise, which allows you to really refine your search. In addition to the seller's photos, there are often photos that buyers have taken of the item when they are home, which gives a really accurate idea of its size and quality.
Visit the Etsy site
Download the Etsy app for Android
Download the Etsy app for iOS
Selency: the flea market online
The bargain hunters meet on Selency. There are furniture, but also decoration, lighting and even tableware. Everything is second-hand, but the prices are rather high. No need to look for a second-hand Ikea bookcase there. The furniture is more in the flea market spirit. Advertisements from professionals are mixed with those from individuals. It is free to post an ad and sellers keep control of the delivery. You can thus choose to use the adapted service proposed by the site, and valid for Our country, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands or organize it yourself. Buyers can also negotiate the price directly online. A paid service for authenticating the parts sold is offered by Selency, to provide reassurance in the case of high-end furniture.
Visit the Selency website
Download the Selency app for Android
Download the Selency app for iOS
Classic classifieds sites
In addition to the platforms, there are a multitude of specialized sites which publish classified ads between individuals, but which do not offer additional services - except sometimes a messaging system - and which do not intervene at any time in the transactions. Here is a small selection, obviously not exhaustive.
- TopAnnonces.com (generalist)
- ParuVendu (generalist)
- Vivastreet (general practitioner)
- PAP (real estate)
- LaCentrale (auto-moto)
- Collector.NET (vintage vehicles and motorcycles)
- Donnons.org (donation of objects)
- AudioFanzine (musical instruments)
- Jemepropose (services)
- Horse Advert (riding)
- Seeds-and-plants (gardening)
Summary The criteria for choosing a platform Leboncoin Vinted eBay Rakuten Facebook Marketplace Videdressing linkNsport Amazon Seller Central Etsy Selency Classic classifieds Computers, ...
