eBay and Etsy sellers the Holidays are fast approaching! With the holidays so close for many entrepreneurs that means most if not all of your cash is tied up in all the inventory you already have listed for Christmas shoppers!
One great way for sellers to keep adding inventory at this cash tight period is to get products for free! Start by reading Part 1 of this my 2 part series The Secret to Finding Free Stuff To Sell on ebay and Etsy!
After getting free goods to sell from your own closet, friends, family, Craig’s List and yard sales what’s next?
Here are more secrets to finding free stuff to sell on eBay and Etsy!
I’m picking up where the previous list left off.
6- Keep a keen eye out for garbage pick up days in your town and neighboring areas!
Every municipality has rules on what can be put out when. So, know the rules. On the days where furniture or appliances are discarded keep an eye out for items that can be resold. Some appliances can be broken down and sold profitably online for parts!
7- Look for moving trucks.
Often when people move they discard bags of clothing and boxes of kitchen appliances, kids toys and more as not being worthwhile to take with them. Those discards can be turned into dollars for you!
8- Shop stores with their sales circular in your hand.
Check the sales circulars for daily or weekly deals. Look in the circulars for extra coupons. Go online and also check Sunday newspapers for manufacturer’s coupons. If an item is on sale, with a coupon from the store most places will allow you to piggyback a manufacturer’s coupon. With combining coupons on an item already heavily discounted sometimes you’ll find products end up being free with you liable for any applicable sales tax.
9- Consider dumpster diving and a trip to the local city dump.
This is not for everyone. You’d be surprised ( or maybe not) at what folks throw out. I’ve heard of some people that find discarded clothes with money still in the pockets! Know your area’s laws re dumpster diving and also the rules governing your local dump. One man’s trash is another’s treasure!
So eBay and Etsysellers look out for moving trucks, know the garbage pick up schedule where you live, shop with coupons and consider dumpster diving!
Any treasure you find to sell from these sources costs you nothing and that means after selling fees and postage it’s all profits for you!
It’s surely nice to hear those cha chings at the Holiday and all the year long from free merchandise!
Thanks Kathy, all great ideas! Adding to Serena’s comment, you can also find styrofoam peanuts and styrofoam sheets and pieces at some recycling centers. You can also find boxes!
Thanks for praise and great tips Dianne!
These are some great ideas, Kathy! Another place to find free items, depending on what you sell, are recycling centers. I know online sellers who source free coupons and books to resell from their local centers. (Yes, people actually buy coupons online)! Due to the glue in the binding, books need to be taken apart before the paper can be recycled, so the people working there will be happy to let you take books off their hands.
Great idea thanks Serena!
Great ideas. WE ALREADY DO MANYOF THESE THINGSANDI AM AMAZED at what people throw out. And dumpster diving is fun
It is amazing what you can get for free isn’t it Brenda!