Vinted is best for clothing (no seller fees), eBay has the widest buyer base for most other items, and Facebook Marketplace suits large items collected locally. Choosing the right platform for what you are selling makes a significant difference to how quickly items sell and at what price.
Vinted — best for clothing and accessories
Vinted has grown rapidly in the US and is now the go-to platform for second-hand clothing. Sellers pay no listing fees and no selling fees — Vinted charges a small buyer protection fee to the buyer instead. Items are posted using prepaid labels sent via the app. The audience is heavily fashion-focused.
- Best for: clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, children's clothes
- Fees: free to sell
- Posting: Vinted provides prepaid labels — straightforward for most sellers
- Tips: clear photos against a light background, measure and list sizes accurately, bundle similar items
eBay — best for electronics, collectibles and most other items
eBay has the largest buyer base in the US and suits almost any item. Private sellers get a set number of free listings per month; beyond that, a small insertion fee applies. eBay takes a percentage of the final sale price. You can list as auction or fixed price.
- Best for: electronics, gaming, books, collectibles, branded goods, home items
- Fees: insertion fee (some free allowance), selling fee as a percentage of sale
- Posting: you arrange postage — use tracked postage for anything over $20
- Tips: start auctions at a low price to generate interest, check completed listings to price realistically
Facebook Marketplace — best for local, large or heavy items
Facebook Marketplace is free to list and sell on for local transactions. Buyers collect in person, which makes it ideal for furniture, appliances and anything too bulky or heavy to post economically. You can also opt for shipping on some items.
- Best for: furniture, large appliances, bicycles, local collection items
- Fees: free for local sales
- Meeting buyers: always meet in a public place for safety, or arrange daytime home collections
- Tips: respond quickly — competition is high and buyers move on fast
General guidance only — not regulated financial advice.
A realistic income estimate from selling online
A typical US household audit of unused items often reveals: 10 to 20 items of clothing in good condition ($5 to $25 each on Vinted), 5 to 10 books ($2 to $5 each on eBay), old electronics such as a tablet or games console ($30 to $200), kitchen appliances used once ($15 to $60), children's toys and games ($5 to $30). A realistic first sale session — one afternoon of photographing and listing — can generate $100 to $400, sometimes more with valuable electronics.
Writing listings that sell quickly
The most common reason items do not sell is poor photos or incomplete descriptions. Good photos: taken in natural light, against a plain background (a white wall or sheet), showing the front, back and any defects. Good descriptions: include the brand, size, condition accurately (used, good, fair), measurements for clothing, and why you are selling. For Vinted, accurate measurements and condition description are the most important factors. For eBay, including the brand name and model number in the title is essential for searchability.
Staying safe when selling online
- For Facebook Marketplace local sales, meet in a public place or arrange daytime collection at your home with someone else present
- Never give your bank details directly — use platform payment systems (Vinted, eBay managed payments, Facebook Pay)
- For high-value items, use tracked and signed-for postage and wait for payment to clear before sending
- Be cautious of buyers offering to pay more than the asking price or using unusual payment methods — these are scam patterns