The best and worst places to buy second-hand online - which one? (2023)

The popularity of buying and selling used goods has grown in popularity in recent years and there are certainly a wide variety of online used goods markets and platforms that you can use.

Note: Branded links take you to marketplace websites.

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The best places to buy second-hand online

We asked 4,000 people about buying and 4,000 about selling at ten of the most popular second-hand markets.

Customer scores are based on an equal and demographically representative sample of buyers and sellers. Buy star ratings are based on those who responded on buy or standalone items. We only ask people about second hand items.

Our search results: Buy used

Table Notes:Survey data was collected in January 2022. Combined customer reviews for buying and selling. Sample sizes in parentheses. For each brand, this is an even split between the people who bought and sold through a marketplace. The customer rating is based on satisfaction with the use of the market and the probability of recommending it. Customers rated other aspects of the service, shown above, as star ratings. 4,000 people were asked how to shop on online marketplaces.

The best sites to sell second-hand online

Customer scores are based on an equal and demographically representative sample of buyers and sellers. Star ratings for sale are based on those who responded about selling or donating items. We only ask people about second hand items.

Results of our search: Sell used

Table Notes:Survey data was collected in January 2022. Combined customer reviews for buying and selling. Sample sizes in parentheses. For each brand, this is an even split between the people who bought and sold through a marketplace. The customer rating is based on satisfaction with the use of the market and the probability of recommending it. Customers rated other aspects of the service, shown above, as star ratings. 4,000 people were asked about selling through online marketplaces.

amazonas

amazonasShoppers were impressed with the ease of finding items and the checkout process, earning five stars on both reviews. He didn't particularly land in any area to buy or sell and was placed in the middle of the table. We only asked respondents about buying and selling second-hand items.

One respondent said that used DVDs and purchased books "were in good condition, some even looked like new"; Another disagreed, saying they had books with "dropping out pages" but never had a problem with refunds and Amazon was very helpful.

21% of people who sold something last year sold a used book, making Amazon Marketplace the most popular marketplace for this category of sales.

Amazon's line is intended for commercial sellers, not private sellers. The A-to-Z Guarantee protects buyers from problems with third-party vendors who also do their own packaging and postage. If you use Fulfilled by Amazon to sell your products (meaning you ship your items to an Amazon warehouse that will pick, pack, and ship your items), you must have return policies in place that are at least as good as listings of products sold directly on amazon.co.uk. Processing by Amazon incurs additional fees.

Erayou can buy/sellPrivate sellers are limited to used books, music, videos and DVDs, video games, auto parts, software, toys (as long as safety regulations are followed). Technological, home and small appliances may be sold second-hand, but only certified and refurbished by the manufacturer and with a one-year warranty, limiting their sale to commercial sellers. Clothing, shoes and accessories, baby products, pet products, sporting goods, groceries, consumables, and topical products cannot be sold used.

Good to know for buyers:Unlike many thrift markets, Amazon purchases are generally returnable. However, depending on the reason for the return, you may have to pay the shipping costs.

It must be known by the sellers.: Business accounts are £25 a month plus VAT and there are no additional fees for each item sold. There is a fee of £0.75 per item and a referral fee (starting at £0.25 with a maximum depending on category) for individual accounts. Please note that buyers can return items.

pop

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A marketplace where users define their style and AI algorithms tailor items and vendors to their preferences. Its headquarters are in London. Last year, it became a subsidiary of Etsy. 90% of the more than 30 million users are under 26 years of age.

WhilepopWhile it got three and four stars in most reviews, it only received two stars in Buyer Payments and Seller Payments, suggesting that improvements can be made in this area.

One seller praised its "huge user market," but another criticized "a lot of back and forth with potential buyers who wanted additional photos, measurements, etc."

Depop allows merchant sellers. Some brands like Lucy and Yak sell samples and seconds directly through Depop, and in 2020, shoe brand Vans partnered with artists to create an app-exclusive capsule collection. However, most of the items on offer are second hand.

what to buy/sell? Brand fashion: men, women, children, some home accessories.

What buyers need to know:.The way you pay changes the way a dispute is handled: If you use Depop payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit and debit card), you are covered by Depop Buyer Protection, which means that Depop helps you arrange a refund or solution. If you use PayPal, you must open a PayPal dispute.

Good to know for sellers:You pay 10% of the purchase price.

Ebay

Ebayhas been operating in the UK since 1999. Some items are auctioned, others are purchased outright. eBay ended its partnership with PayPal last year, but PayPal can still be used to purchase items (at least until July 2023), but you can also use other options like a credit card or Apple Pay. For sellers, this means that the money earned is paid directly into your bank account and not through PayPal.

Buyers have given five stars for ease of finding items and four stars for a variety of reviews.

Opinions on customer service/dispute resolution were mixed, with one respondent praising customer service, saying that eBay is "very hot on sellers stealing from their customers." But several sellers said the market was very much on the buyers' side, saying they seemed to "prefer" the "independent" buyer.

What can you buy/sell?Everything except prohibited items such as firearms, pets, and alcohol.

It must be known by the buyers.: eBay's money back guarantee covers you as long as you pay with a credit or debit card, PayPal, Apple or Google Pay.

Good to know for sellers:Listings are usually free unless there are more than 1000 listings per month. You pay a final value fee of 12.8% of the total sale (including postage and tax on the item) plus a flat fee of 30p per order. If you are responsible for a dispute, you will be charged £16.80 per dispute.

facebook market

released in 2016,Mercadoworks within the Facebook website or application. In the past, it was essentially a collection of classified ads (where the platform took no financial responsibility), but now you can buy some items (in some categories) through Facebook Pay, which offers payment protection; look for the 'Buy Now' button Excludes categories such as furniture and does not apply to items over £500.

Some items offer local pickup and payment. Payment protection only applies to products not received, defective or possibly counterfeit; does not amount to a right of return.

While Facebook Marketplace did reasonably well in our survey, it only received two stars for ease of checkout for items and shipping options, reflecting that much of what you buy on the site is collected and paid for outside. the required app/website. Received five stars for ease of listing items for sale.

23% of recent Facebook Marketplace sales in our survey were furniture or home goods, making it the most popular marketplace for that type of sale.

What can you buy/sell?Everything except services, animals, medical care like thermometers and illegal items.

It must be known by the buyers.: If you don't use Facebook Pay, you don't have financial protection from Facebook. You can still use a secure payment method to purchase your item.

Good to know for sellers:Items sold with Facebook Pay cost a fee of 2% of the total cost and require you to follow certain rules, such as: B. Post within a certain time period.

A free cycle of Rede

Launched in 2003 in Arizona, thefree wheelThe concept is now in more than 110 countries. Members join 'local groups' or 'friend groups'. Waste reduction, conserving valuable resources and reducing landfills are all part of the mission statement.

Freecycle received multiple four-star reviews, with one respondent commenting, "It's an amazing site that helps keep items from going to landfill and gives them a new home and new life." Since you can't buy or sell items on Freecycle, some factors are not star-rated.

What can you buy/sell?Everything is free, you can't buy or sell anything. And anything that's cool and not age-inappropriate is potentially available.

Good to know for buyers:You don't "buy" anything. Generally, you will need to arrange pickup directly with the seller.

Good to know for sellers:You don't "sell" anything. Many people may want your items, so it's best to make it clear who you're offering it to rather than on a first-come, first-served basis.

gum tree

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online classifieds website,gum treewas founded by two British friends in 2000 and its main objective was to bring together Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans who had just arrived in London or were looking for a new place to live, work or discover. It was bought by eBay in 2005, sold to Adevinta and now the UK market is owned by investment fund O3 Industries and private equity fund Novum Capital.

Used cars can be paid for through Gumtree's online payment platform, which ensures secure payment and incurs a 0.7% fee. Other purchases are not in-app purchases and are not financially protected by Gumtree.

It received three and four stars for the most reviews, with one impressed respondent saying, "My whole house is made of secondhand eucalyptus and it's amazing the value I'm getting."

What can you buy/sell?Anything, as long as it's legal and doesn't do any harm. Popular for used cars.

Good to know for buyers:Please try to view the item first and pay for the item using a reliable online method.

Good to know for sellers:Standard listings are free for private sellers, but add-ons, such as website links or "promoted" listings, incur fees.

beside

beside, launched in the UK in 2016, is not primarily a private classifieds site; It serves to connect users with their neighborhood. This means that users log in and connect with others around them. The app or website provides a news feed (you can also sign up for daily emails) with places offering services, providing updates on car accidents, stray cats, asking for handyman recommendations, and selling or donating merchandise.

One respondent said Nextdoor has "some gems to find" and another liked that it "saves us from clogging up our planet with reusable items." It received three stars from most reviews and is in the bottom half of the lists.

What can you buy/sell?Everything but live animals, illegal items, and anti-aging.

It must be known by the buyers.: Nextdoor does not get involved in disputes; at most they will disable a user's account, but warn that they will probably need several complaints about a user before doing so. View the items before confirming your purchase and use a secure payment method like PayPal.

It must be known by the sellers.: Nextdoor is for private sellers only. Businesses can advertise their business but cannot sell products through the platform.

privileged

A ranked veteran who started in 1998,privilegedit has more than 1.7 million active members. Being a member of Preloved is free and you can post unlimited ads, but paying as a member has some benefits, such as: B. the ability to immediately respond to ads (or buyers) or post multiple photos (for sellers).

Preloved also has a Freeloved section where items are given away for free.

Last year, Preloved introduced Trustap if buyers and sellers agree to use it, in response to the rise in scams during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a form of buyer protection where payment is held until the buyer confirms (within 24 hours) that he is satisfied with the item. The seller then takes your money. It only works for some item categories where items should be listed and not previewed, eg B. Clothing & Accessories.

Preloved received two stars for multiple ratings in our buyer survey, including ease of contacting the seller and ease of payment. Sellers gave three or four stars to most reviews.

What can you buy/sell?Anything but illegal and age-appropriate items.

Good to know for buyers:You'll likely need to pay for some sort of membership to gain access to the best items on sale (£5-£15 a year for buyers and sellers).

Good to know for sellers:A membership can be particularly valuable if you have a lot to sell.

Purchase

An acronym for "Shop In Your Pocket", thePurchaseThe app has been in Austria since 2012, but it didn't launch in the UK in 2015.

The premium subscription for sellers (via Google Play or Apple App Store) costs £9.99 per month (after free trial for the week). This will remove the ads, make them bigger, and add more images.

Sellers in our survey gave four stars for multiple reviews, but only two stars for ease of checkout. Buyers were not impressed with the ease of payment or the shipping options available. Some respondents criticized the number of old posts on the site that sellers don't bother to respond to.

What can you buy/sell?Anything but illegal and age-appropriate items.

Good to know for buyers:It's free for buyers unless you buy a Buy It Now item, which means you add Shpock buyer protection, but you also pay a fee (ranging from £0.30 to £3.75 plus 0-15% of the price). from the article).

Good to know for sellers:The sale is free if you place a simple ad.

vinified

Founded in 2008 in Vilnius, Lithuania by two friends: one wanted to sell his clothes and the other had some technical knowledge.vinifiedit was valued at more than €3.5bn last year and backed by four leading venture capital firms. It is now active in 15 countries. It was the highest score in our survey.

It was the only brand to earn five stars in our purchase survey for ease of contacting the seller. It also got five stars for ease of paying for items, the only other marketplace to get this was Amazon. And it received five stars for the ease of searching for articles. One shopper said, "It's a great site and a great community of people."

Sellers appreciated the ease of contacting buyers (again, the only marketplace to get five stars in this rating). They also liked how easy it was to make a list of items. However, it only received three stars for ease of receiving payment, possibly reflecting the fact that sellers have to wait for the item to be delivered for payment to clear.

What can you buy/sell?Fashion (men, women and children), some home decoration.

Good to know for buyers:Fees are paid by the buyer and provide buyer protection (unless you pay outside of the app). Fees are a fixed amount between 30p and 80p plus an additional 3% to 8% of the purchase price.

It must be known by the sellers.: You will not receive payment for your item from Vinted until the buyer has received their item and confirmed it by clicking an "Okay" button or two days have passed after delivery and no objections have been filed.