eBay vs Craigslist: Best Online Marketplaces for Selling Your Stuff

Do you have old gadgets or items that you no longer use?

Did you know that you can turn those unused items into cash?

eBay and Craigslist are two online selling platforms that allow you to sell stuff you no longer use and make money. It is a great way to de-clutter your home and make money.

But before you sell online, you must know which e commerce platform is the best, as it can help optimize your sales from these items.

While these two online marketplaces look the same, they have distinct differences you must consider to boost your online sales.

I will discuss the most critical factors in choosing between eBay vs Craigslist so you can pick the best platform to sell stuff online.

 

Let’s get started so you can start making money!

Article Overview

Why Sell Online on eBay?
Why Sell Online on Craigslist?
How are Craigslist and eBay different: Craigslist vs eBay?
Fees
Listing Format
Reach
Buyer Protection
Craigslist vs eBay: Which e Commerce Platform is the Best?
FAQs

 

Why Sell Online on eBay?

If you have any old or rare items you think other people would want to buy, you can earn extra money by selling them on eBay, one of the world’s biggest e commerce sites.

Many small businesses have succeeded when selling online via eBay because of the popularity of the e commerce platform.

eBay offers several benefits to sellers who want to enjoy great success online with this marketplace.

 

1. Larger Audience

The massive user base of eBay is one of its most significant advantages over other sites where you can sell stuff. And yet, the eBay user base continues to grow rapidly.

The best part is that most of its users are active, so you have higher exposure for your items, increasing your chances of making a sale.

 

2. Specialized Categories

eBay offers several categories where you can list your items for sale online. They have categories for larger items like furniture and rare and collectible items.

You can tailor your detailed descriptions on your listings to attract potential buyers looking for unique items to buy from the e commerce platform.

 

3. Bidding and Auction

There are several ways for your buyers to pay for the items you sell online through eBay. Among the unique features of eBay is the opportunity to join auction listings and bid for the items you are selling.

This dynamic selling landscape could potentially drive up the listing price for the item, especially if more buyers are interested in the product. And higher prices translate to higher profits!

 

4. Buyer Protection

eBay also offers its sellers a comprehensive buyer protection policy. It ensures you can give confidence to your buyers when they shop from these e commerce sites.

Therefore, buyers’ confidence in the platform is beneficial for sellers since you can finalize a transaction since they trust the platform.

 

5. Ease of Listing

It’s easy to list items for sale online through eBay. It offers a user-friendly interface and a simplified listing process.

Therefore, you can easily optimize your listings and create detailed descriptions that target certain keywords. You can also add high-quality images to make your listings stand out and generate more sales.

There are selling tools that enable you to calculate shipping costs and determine your profit margin for each product, allowing you to set the most competitive price.

 

Why Sell Online on Craigslist?

Most people looking for used items to buy locally turn to Craigslist. If you’re not into holding garage sales, you can make sales from sold items.

Listing your items online enable more people in your local area to find these items and buy them from you.

Here are some benefits when you choose to sell online through Craigslist.

 

1. Local Audience Reach

Craigslist is an ecommerce site that specializes in the local area and community. It connects buyers and sellers in a particular area, making engaging in a sale transaction easy.

Both parties can agree on a price and how they would like to ship or meet up to purchase the items.

Access to face-to-face transactions is beneficial, especially with the prevalence of fraud sellers. Knowing you can see the item before you decide to buy (and pay for) gives you confidence.

 

2. Free

Yes, listing on Craigslist is free. Unlike eBay, when you have to pay for listing products that exceed the allowed number of items for a free personal account, you don’t have to pay any fees or commissions when selling on Craigslist.

It is highly beneficial for sellers who want to make extra money from any unused items at home because you can keep all the profits to yourself.

The listing process of the items is also simplified, so you can get started selling even if you are new to Craigslist.

 

3. Faster Transaction

Since Craiglist is targeted locally, you can ensure faster transactions once you find a buyer for your items. Depending on your schedule, you can agree to meet up on the same or next day.

There is no need to wait several days to ship the items to your buyer and wait a few more days before the amount is credited to your account.

With Craigslist, you can get the money for the item once the buyer agrees to pay for it. The website does not take final value fees and other charges from your earnings.

 

4. Flexible Pricing

Craigslist also gives you the freedom to set your price for the item, depending on what you think is reasonable for the value of the item and the demand for it.

You can even negotiate with buyers if they express interest in what you are selling. The flexibility in the pricing gives you more wiggle room to stay competitive and maximize the demand for a certain product.

 

5. Building a Sense of Community

Selling on Craigslist is like holding virtual garage sales. It allows you to meet people in your local community and build rapport with them. In a highly digital world, it is refreshing to have the chance to meet buyers personally, and that’s something that you won’t get to experience when you sell on eBay.

 

6. Environmental Benefits

The biggest advantage when selling through Craigslist is that you can recycle used items and use them through the new owners. Instead of throwing old furniture or clothes, you can make extra money and reduce waste. It is a win-win situation for the Craigslist sellers.

 

How are Craigslist and eBay different: Craigslist vs eBay?

There are lots of similarities when selling on Craigslist vs eBay. But let’s inspect the differences for each selling platform to help you decide the right one to use to make money online.

 

Fees

Craigslist does not require paying any fees to sell through their site. It is advantageous if you want to sell locally and maximize your profits. However, eBay has a larger user base, so you can make more sales and list more items.

 

Listing Format

The listing format on Craigslist is straightforward and uses a simple text-based ad. On the other hand, eBay listings are more visually appealing, with more eye-catching images and descriptions.

Reach

Craigslist sellers can target local buyers, whereas eBay sellers have a worldwide reach.

 

Buyer Protection

eBay has buyer protection policies that give customers more confidence and trust when buying through the platform. On the other hand, Craigslist does not offer the same protection, making it more risky for buyers to transact with Craigslist sellers.

 

Craigslist vs eBay: Which e Commerce Platform is the Best?

As a seller, picking the right platform between Craiglist and eBay is about finding the right audience. You can make extra income from the right site by matching it correctly with the audience.

If you want to target a smaller local market, choose Craiglist over other platforms. EBay is the best choice to reach a wider audience and find more buyers.

 

FAQs

 

Does anyone still use Craigslist?

Yes. Craigslist site launched in 1995, and it remains the top general classified site in the US.

However, the website has been on a steady decline since. It is now mostly limited to local sales and is not suited for anyone wanting to sell to a worldwide audience.

 

Is it better to sell on Craigslist or eBay?

If you want to sell locally, Craiglist is a better option because you can finalize your transaction in person. The local reach also makes it easy to target people in your community or area without being limited in reach, as when making garage sales.

You can leverage the features of these e commerce sites but target a smaller local market. Keep an eye out for low ball offers on Craigslist, and set a minimum offer threshold for each item you sell.

On the other hand, eBay offers a worldwide audience reach to allow you to find more prospective buyers for your items. It is also a good place for selling rare and collectible items since you can command a higher price for similar items (vs selling on Craiglist) as more people might want to sell them.

 

Is it harder to sell on eBay?

Not necessarily. Success when selling online on Craigslist vs eBay varies depending on the strategies you use to attract buyers.

For example, you must be strategic when determining the price of the items, depending on the condition and quality. You must also provide detailed product descriptions to make them more appealing to buyers.

When building your listings, ensure you can attract the right audience.

Selling on eBay isn’t harder. It gives you access to a worldwide audience, giving you more potential buyers for your items.

For a more detailed guide on selling on eBay, check out this guide.

 

Does Craigslist charge anything to post and sell items?

There are no fees when listing and selling items on Craiglist. No fee is associated when setting up your account on the online marketplace.

 

What to avoid when selling on Craigslist?

Do not include any personal information in your Craigslist post, such as your name, bank details, email address, phone number, or address. It is also best to do additional verification on Craiglist buyers before you transact with them online or in person.

 

How do I sell on Craigslist without getting scammed?

To avoid being scammed on Craigslist, try to sell locally. You should always finalize a deal in person.

Meeting with a buyer in person ensures the buyer can inspect the item personally and that you can also get paid on the spot.

Avoid sharing personal information or financial details via Craigslist. If you can get paid in cash, that would be better.

And if you were to meet with the buyer, make sure to choose a public place.

 

Want to compare other platforms with eBay or Craigslist? See our related articles below

eBay VS:

 

×
When eCommerce Works!

Find
Profitable Products
& Grow your Business with Unlimited
Market Insights

Find Profitable Products
& Grow your Business with
Unlimited Market Insights

Start your eCommerce Journey with ZIK

Start your eCommerce Journey with ZIK

Start your eCommerce Journey with ZIK