Cate in NZ Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Thins is a very timely thread for me as I'm having to declutter. Tried to do a bit last year, but I'm hopelessly sentimental about "stuff" and I think I had my head in the sand a bit about the very real need to prune our possessions in a drastic way. Now I'm also quite stuck financially, and really, really need to watch the pennies............and if I can earn a few from all my stuff then all the better. But hubby has always been the ebayer, sold a few bits & pieces on there, and done quite well, but he somehow seemed to find the time (I guess that was because he didn't waste his time on forums ) for fiddling about on ebay and posting parcels etc. It always seemed a bit of a faff to me to be honest . Now I can't decide whether to get rid of stuff via charity or recycling or if it's worth having a go on ebay. I can hijack hubby's account as Seb knows all the log in details . I have loads of books? Is ebay a good place to get rid of them, or can anyone suggest any alternatives? Otherwise I guess it's our local Oxfam bookstore, but they're open at such funny times and I'm often at work during their opening hours.............unless I grit my teeth and struggle to park (paying a fortune for the privilege ) near to them on a Saturday. That is my least favoured option I'm afraid, simply because of the parking issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I think that if people want to give on a Sunday, then charity shops should get a local volunteer to pick the stuff up and push it into the shop on a Sunday. Beware of people collecting clothes door-to-door: there are many scams on the go, mostly Eastern European. I have made a web-page to warn people about these: http://www.headington.org.uk/news/items/clothes_collection.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleredhen Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I use Freecycle a lot, I know you can't make any money from it but it is hassle free, people come and collect the stuff from you and it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside to give your things to someone. Chances are they then go and flog it on ebay though (what a cynical thought!) n Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I have loads of books? Is ebay a good place to get rid of them, or can anyone suggest any alternatives? I don't know about E.bay. You could try Green Metropolis. They are very good, they do all the putting up of pics etc., you just have to list your books and be honest about condition. All books are sold at £3.75 each, you get £3, they keep 75p. You do have to pay postage however. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted February 22, 2008 Author Share Posted February 22, 2008 I think that I will probably drop it off at the charity shop. Teesside hospice actually recycle anything that they cant sell into stuffing and things. I dont think that I will be dedicated enough to set up and run and ebay account . im actually rather lazy thanks for the advice everyone though cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I have loads of books? Is ebay a good place to get rid of them, or can anyone suggest any alternatives? I don't know about E.bay. You could try Green Metropolis. They are very good, they do all the putting up of pics etc., you just have to list your books and be honest about condition. All books are sold at £3.75 each, you get £3, they keep 75p. You do have to pay postage however. Tessa Thanks for that Tessa. I might explore that one a little, I guess it depends how much the p&p works out at, hardbacks certainly wouldn't be worth the effort, but I've got some recent popular fiction type paperbacks that might be worth trying with . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I have loads of books? Is ebay a good place to get rid of them, or can anyone suggest any alternatives? I don't know about E.bay. You could try Green Metropolis. They are very good, they do all the putting up of pics etc., you just have to list your books and be honest about condition. All books are sold at £3.75 each, you get £3, they keep 75p. You do have to pay postage however. Tessa Thanks for that Tessa. I might explore that one a little, I guess it depends how much the p&p works out at, hardbacks certainly wouldn't be worth the effort, but I've got some recent popular fiction type paperbacks that might be worth trying with . I think the p&p on a paperback is around £1.30, so you make £1.70 a book which isn't bad really. If you send a hardback I think they make a donation towards the extra postage. Recent popular fiction is what they specialize in. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I just take all old clothes and books to the charity shop. Even brand new ones I just can't be bothered with the hassle of all the listing and posting. I did sell on Greenmetroplois for a while but the cost of postage made it too much hassle for too little return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I think that if people want to give on a Sunday, then charity shops should get a local volunteer to pick the stuff up and push it into the shop on a Sunday..... ....er, is that an offer Gallina? We are desperately short of volunteers to keep the shop open and sort through the donations. Our shop is actually trying to open on a Sunday now to help pay the rent & rates & receive donations. But, that means 2 people giving 4 hours each on a Sunday, with very few customers to make it seem worth their time. Are you offering? If the shop seems "snotty" about accepting low quality items, it's because we have to needlessly sort through rubbish (yes, a lot of rubbish & we have to pay to have our bins emptied). Although Oxfam recycles textiles, we try & encourage good quality sellable goods. We like to keep a high standard of items for sale & this is appreciated by our customers. Just trying to put across the other side of things, not picking on anyone. It's a really hard job & not enough staff, and we're not looking after ourselves by being "snooty", just caring about our shop & the charity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I am very conscious of only giving clothes to charity that I think someone might actually want to buy ... I've seen friends stuff the most appalling items into charity bags, clothing that is stained, has holes in etc. so I can understand your point, Sheila. Jumping back a couple of posts, I use Green Metropolis a lot, mostly for paperbacks - I have only sold half-a-dozen but my sister sells one or two a week, or so it seems. I would definitely use it for books, although I pass most of mine on to friends. Have pm'd you Cinnamon - I am inspired to sort out a few decent things and try eBaying them. I logged on last night and accidentally bought a garden shredder (well, it was a bargain and I've wanted one for ages) so I need to recoup a bit of the outlay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I want to hastily add when I said said all the old clothes go to charity I did mean the decent ones and not the ones with various baby dinner stains on them! Honest . Serioulsy I'd be embarrassed to take anything grotty in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I have never used E.bay have heard so many scary stories it puts me off. I have a load of very old Rupert annuals which I think would go well there Ooooh! I love Rupert Annuals and would be interested if you did put them up for sale! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I want to hastily add when I said said all the old clothes go to charity I did mean the decent ones and not the ones with various baby dinner stains on them! Honest . Serioulsy I'd be embarrassed to take anything grotty in. Many of them sell the grotty stuff on to rag dealers. I helped out in a charity shop for a while, and they used to get 50p a bag for rags, and made £50 or so a week that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I wish the seven charity shops just around the corner from me would use a rag dealer. They put all their unwanted clothes in rubbish bins, and the thieves often used to sort it out in my road. Then they put locks on their rubbish bins to stop this, and the thieves broke the locks and continued as before: see http://archive.oxfordmail.net/2007/8/16/180792.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I've just bought a mannequin - it was expensive BUT I think it is like a sort of loan, when I'm done slimming I'll slow down on the clothes buying and selling so I'll re-sell the mannequin and hopefully get my money back. I'm buying pretty much all of my clothes off Ebay and out of charity shops at the moment and I have clothes from sizes 20 to 26/28 which need listing and selling. Imagine - I buy a pair of jeans (which do have to be tried on) and 6 weeks later they are too big. I wonder if I can get a quid back on a £12 pair of jeans. I mean they only get washed about 3 times as I only wear them for short periods over the weekend (more likely to find me in my gardening clothes!) Same is happening with smart work clothes. I can't stand the thought of spending all the money on them and not getting it back so when the mannequin comes look out for some serious listings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I have never used E.bay have heard so many scary stories it puts me off. I have a load of very old Rupert annuals which I think would go well there Ooooh! I love Rupert Annuals and would be interested if you did put them up for sale! We have one somewhere, I'll get Rosie to look it out and let you know which one it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Beware of people collecting clothes door-to-door: there are many scams on the go, mostly Eastern European. I have made a web-page to warn people about these: http://www.headington.org.uk/news/items/clothes_collection.htm I always thought they were a bit dodgy, but I didn't realise they were just selling the stuff in the UK for profit! I read enough of the leaflets to become suspicious about the general vagueness of who they were and what they were claiming to do, and decided I'd rather give my stuff to a well-known charity like Scope or British Heart Foundation (who usually provide their own bags). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 [Ooooh! I love Rupert Annuals and would be interested if you did put them up for sale! We have one somewhere, I'll get Rosie to look it out and let you know which one it is. Thanks hon. I would definitely be keen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
