How to sell your unwanted Christmas presents
Don't tell your mum, but those unicorn slippers have to go
We hope you had a good haul of leftovers and presents following the aftermath of Christmas.
But like the now-rubberised Brussels sprouts which are feeling sorry for themselves entombed in a plastic container at the back of your fridge, there are some gifts you’d rather not keep.
From mis-hit CDs (thanks Gran, Now That’s What I Call Music 178 – you know me so well), to gadgets you just don’t need for one reason or another, there are plenty of ways to make a little extra to ease out the festive financial dents hammered into your wallet.
Put your morals aside. It’s time to make a little Christmas cash.
Ebay – out with the old, in with the new
eBay is a great way to shift old bits of tech without letting them gather dust in long-forgotten corners. From ageing headphones to your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 – which have been usurped by the PS4 and Xbox One – there’s plenty of money to be made on the world’s biggest auction site:
Step 1: Snap a few pics from different angles. Be honest – show off any marks/scratches/signs of wear. If it’s a high-value item then place a piece of paper with your username written on it in every photo, to prove that you do in fact have the item on-hand. It’ll increase people’s confidence in you, especially if you don’t have a lot of feedback.
Step 2: Cook up an informative (and again, honest) description. Explain to people very clearly exactly what you’re selling, including any box contents. Cables, chargers, cases etc. List it all out. If there are a few scratches and scuffs, mention that too. And it’s always nice to let people know that they can ask you questions at any time.
Step 3: Work out the postage costs with Royal Mail’s handy Price Finder. Use bathroom scales to weigh your item for an accurate price. Or make the postage free if you want to attract even more buyers.
Step 4: Most of the bids will land in the last few minutes, so be patient. Once your item’s sold then confirm the money has gone into your PayPay account before sending it off.
You will have to pay an insertion fee and commission on your final sale, but you’ll get your money within a few days, thanks to the swiftness of PayPal.
It’s a great way to make a bit of cash from selling usurped items, and you’ll be surprised what people will pay for. Yes, even that horrendous jumper your mother-in-law knitted you.
Sell My Mobile – Send your smartphone travelling
If you can’t be bothered to faff around with setting up an eBay auction but want to get rid of your recently replaced smartphone then the easiest option is to sell it on to a mobile phone recycling site.
Most phones end up in developing markets like India, Africa and China, and ones that are damaged beyond repair are disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way. Better than wasting away at the back of your desk drawer, we think you’ll agree.
Sell My Mobile is a price comparison site which trawls through all the top mobile phone recycling sites to get you the highest price.
Once that’s done, just fill out a form, wait for a pre-paid bag to arrive, pack it up, send it off, and you should receive a cheque within days.
You could make a little more money off an eBay auction depending on the phone, but this is a lot less work and it’s an easier option if you’re feeling lazy or don’t have a lot of time on your hands.
Music Magpie – CDs, clothes and tech
Music Magpie lets you sell electronics, CDs and clothes, and it works in a similar way tomobile phone recycling sites. It’s quick and easy to sell unwanted CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, and you can even scan barcodes with your webcam for an instant price quote. Electronics and clothes can also be sent in – ideal for dumping off a bunch on unwanted festive clothes.
If you’ve got a lot of stuff you’d rather see the back of then this bulk selling in this manner is probably your best bet.
Amazon – Brand new and boxed
Amazon’s seller service is as easy to use as eBay’s. Everything is clearly laid out and setup for you, all you need is to supply the goods. Shoppers tend to visit Amazon for new, boxed items only, so if you’ve got a present you really don’t want then keep it sealed and shove it on Amazon where it’ll have millions of potential buyers.
As with eBay, seller fees and commission charges are present, though it’ll take you a little longer to get your money as it doesn’t use PayPal. Funds in your seller account are transferred to your bank account every 14 days, but if you sell a lot then you can look forward to a nice little pay-packet mid-January.
Preloved – Sell big, sell local
Preloved is a great way to sell off big and bulky gear which can’t be shipped. Don’t fancy lifting those new dumbbells? Place a local ad on Preloved and let someone come round and pick them up.
There are no insertion fees, no seller fees and no commissions. Just simple ads with a photo and a description. You can even sell puppies and kittens if you like.
You horrible heartless monster, you.
Esat Dedezade
Contributor 
