Is It Better To Sell Or Donate?

Is it better to sell or donate? My usual response is going to be to answer a question with more questions. Everyone needs to examine our own situation. Let's look at some different venues for selling the items we declutter. And look at the strengths and weaknesses of each one.

Garage Sale- One of the most common ways people sell their unwanted possessions is through a garage sale. Some questions to ask when considering this option? Is there enough stuff to attract buyers? Do you have a free weekend to commit to this? Would a few hundred dollars be worth hours of work? Could you take the same number of hours and make more money at your place of employment?
Positives: Garage sales do not have to take hours of prep. You can set up tables and put up signs. All shirts $1. All pants $2. Books .50. The bulk of the time will be on the weekend when the sale happens. It will require your undivided attention for at least 8 hours each day. Once the garage sale is over, your work is done. There is no delivering, packing, or shipping.
Negatives: Low return for your money. Personally, I will not pay more than 10-25% of original price at a garage sale. This method requires the entire weekend.

Facebook/ Craigslist- The most recently popular means of getting rid of clutter has been through Facebook sale sites and craigslist. Some questions to ask when considering this option? Is this item of a high value, that I cannot return the money in another method? Is it too heavy to be shipped? Is it something that couldn't be sold at a children's consignment sale?
Positives: For someone who works long hours, this method could be done anytime of day. It does not require a weekend. It is the least time consuming. It takes 5 minutes to list it. If you meet someone nearby, you can drop it off in a few minutes also.
Negatives: I know many people that have been stood up. Meeting 2 to 3 people because the first 1 or 2 have canceled is not saving time. And you have to consider how much gas you are using making those 3 trips. I hate to even mention it, but I will never use this method because I see it as unsafe. Our local preschool teacher and her husband were killed at a craigslist transaction. They were selling their car and had their car stolen. If you do this form of sale, please do it in the parking lot of a police station.

Consignment Sale/ Resale Shop- This is my favorite method of getting rid of unwanted stuff. Some questions to ask yourself when considering this option? Are you selling children's things? I appreciate this form of sale because at this point in my life, most of what I am getting rid of is stuff my kids are outgrowing. Are the items in great condition? Is it the right season to sell it?
Positives: A lot of money can be made at a consignment sale. Many times, if the item is popular, such as Legos, you can get 50% of original purchase price. That is far more than can be made at a garage sale. Someone else is selling it, so it doesn't require an entire weekend off. It requires time to input the items, but that can be worked on any time of day or night.
Negatives: Consignment sale people are picky. Even if there are no stains, if it looks worn, they won't take it. If it is the wrong season, they won't take it. So if you want to sell your kids' outdoor toys at the end of the summer, you have to store them somewhere during the winter. Some people think it takes too long to enter all of the data into the computer. I, personally, don't think it takes that long. You do have to make sure you know all of their rules. Make sure the hanger is facing the correct way, the clothes are pinned on correctly and the tags are attached properly. I usually take one Saturday afternoon to do it all. My husband takes the kiddos for a trip and I get it all done in about 6 hours.

eBay- eBay was once a favorite pick for people selling unwanted stuff. It's popularity isn't as high as it was 10 years ago. Some questions to ask when considering this option? Is this a rare item? Is this a collector's piece? How much would shipping cost? Would someone pay that much to have it shipped?
Positives: Putting something up for sale on eBay does not require much time. It can be done at any time day or night. If it is a rare item, it may be the best method for regaining your money. Millions of people shop on eBay. It is now an international market. A rare baseball card may not attract the right customer at a garage sale. But with eBay someone looking for your rare baseball card can find that card, and you to sell it to them.
Negatives: The market on eBay is oversaturated. If you go to eBay right now and type in Mickey Mouse clock, over 1,000 items come up. The supply/ demand rule tells us that when there is that much supply, and little demand, the price of the item goes down. Additionally, you have to include shipping in the price. Included with the shipping I would require proof of delivery because I have experience with more than one customer saying they didn't receive what I shipped. You also have to buy shipping materials. And if it is breakable and expensive, shipping insurance.

One last consideration. Our time is worth money. Our peace of mind is worth money. Most people are on this minimalist journey because they want a simpler, easier life with more free time. Holding onto this stuff for months waiting for the right buyer, or the right season for a garage sale, is that much more time and freedom this stuff is being allowed to take from you. When we donate our stuff, it is an act of compassion. Whether we give it to someone for free or we give it to an organization that will sell it for the fraction of the original price, we have helped someone in our community. Is it better to sell or donate? Only you know the answer to that question.