Five tips for selling online like a pro

MANILA, Philippines - You open your closet, and a couple of hard things fall on your feet – an old handbag, or some dusty pocketbooks maybe? A pair of heels you no longer wear? If you can’t shut your aparador properly anymore, it’s time to let them go. And the best part is, you can even earn money from them!

Holding a garage sale is one way to do it. You post a sign on your gate, in your village’s clubhouse, and other well-frequented spots. But expect only your neighbors to come. Also, you need to have not just two or three, but boxes and boxes of items to interest potential buyers.

Thankfully, these days, there is a much more convenient option for selling old items. Post an ad online at Sulit.com.ph, and watch as hundreds, or even thousands come to learn about your ‘product’. Here are some tips to make sure you make the most out of online selling:

• Price it well. Search for your item, check how much the others are selling it, and price it in the same range. Examine if there are damages and deduct from the value accordingly. Be honest. 

• Describe your product well. Try to be in the buyers’ shoes and ask yourself the questions they will ask. How old is the product and what is its condition? What are its features and what makes it special? Why are you selling it if it’s so good? Buyers are parting with their money, so convince them that your product is worth it.

• Take a good photo. A picture does paint a thousand words: you can go on and on describing your product, but a bad accompanying photo can ruin the effort. Make sure the image is well-lighted, and captures the details, especially if your item has special ones, say, a colorful embellishment on the vintage dress, or a beautiful patina on an antique vase.

• Provide different payment options. Not all buyers have the time for bank transactions. What about mobile money? If you are open to meet-ups, make sure you enumerate good meet-up places, like a coffee shop, or a fastfood – for the buyer’s safety, as well as your own.

• Conduct all transactions promptly. Once you post an ad, be ready to respond to every inquiry, and immediately. The buyer will most likely be looking at ads of other sellers as well, so if you don’t text back, they may not really have the time to wait. Once the deal is sealed, inform them during all stages of the transaction – when you’ve received the payment, when you’ve shipped the item, and when they might receive it.

If you’re lucky, the buyer may post a positive feedback about you through Sulit.com.ph, and you will most likely be motivated to sell again. After all, it takes only three easy steps to sell online these days. As Sulit.com.ph’s tagline goes: “Post. Usap. Deal.”