Make some extra money and declutter your house with these tips for selling pre-loved toys online
With more consumers than ever concerned about their environmental impact, shopping and selling pre-loved clothes, toys, and household goods on sites like Vinted, Facebook Marketplace, and Ebay have become common place. Buying pre-loved items is not limited to personal use either, as a 2023 study of 30,000 shoppers commissioned by Oxfam revealed that 33% of shoppers gift pre-loved presents to family and friends over the holiday season with that figure growing each year. With this in mind, now is the ideal time to list any toys that don’t make the pre-Christmas cull and we’re here to help you make quick and profitable sales.
Prep the toy
Something as simple as giving the toy a quick clean before posting online can increase views and sales. This applies to plastic toys that need a wipe down or soft toys that can be popped in the wash, but if the cleaning needed is extensive and worth more than the cost of the sale, price the item accordingly and move on. If you do have the time however, making simple repairs such as tightening a screw or de-fuzzing a teddy bear can increase the appeal and therefore the value of the toy online.
Make it easy
Make it easy for buyers to purchase from you! Give them all the information they need in the original post. If they have to ask for clarification or more photographs, they’ll likely just move onto the next seller that has those things readily available, even if your product is more competitively priced.
Include good quality photographs
Whilst people who are buying pre-loved toys online aren’t expecting the product they receive to be box-fresh (unless advertised), clean, well-lit photographs encourage quick sales. There’s no need to stage professional product shots but ensure you photograph the toy in an area that is clean with no background mess. If possible, make sure you take the photographs in natural light to reflect the true colours of the product.
Supply multiple photographs
Leading online marketplace, Vinted, recommends uploading a selection of photographs with each listing to show the item from multiple angles. They suggest making sure the full item is visible in the first image with subsequent photograph showing close-up or important features to give the buyer a greater overview of what to expect.
Limit stock images
Sometimes it can be helpful to include an image from the manufacturer’s website as it gives the consumer additional information about the toy and indicates what a bargain your price is compared to the RRP. However, prioritise your own photographs first as viewers want to see what condition the item is in before they buy.
Highlight imperfections
It’s never a good idea to hide any damage as the buyer will find out once they receive their goods and open a dispute with the platform that will leave you out of pocket. Instead, photograph the imperfections and allow the buyer to decide whether it is something they can live with. In the description mention any wear and tear but highlight other positive qualities the toy has.
List the official name of the toy
Make sure you include the official manufacturer’s name for the toy in the listing. Coming up to Christmas especially, buyers will be searching for specific toys from Christmas lists and will put the brand and model that major retailers have listed on their website into the search bar. By including the full name alongside a description of the toy a wider range of buyers can find you.
Use keywords in the description
Keep your description of the item clear and concise, there’s no need to write a novel or copy and paste 200 words from the manufacturer’s website. Make sure you list keywords from commonly searched terms that fit your product, for example, “outdoor toy” or “sensory toy”. Also, include the age range and category that the toy fits into as this will appeal to people searching for a gift.
Create bundles
Group some similar toys together and offer a small discount incentive if they go together. Bundles are appealing to consumers as the discount makes them feel like they’re getting a good deal with the added benefit of convenience; being able to source more products from one place and saving on postage at the same time.
Post Christmas-themed toys early
Don’t leave it too late to post Christmas-themed items. One of the drawbacks of buying pre-loved toys online is that there is rarely next day delivery so make sure your potential customers can snap up your items with plenty of time until the big day.
