Learning where to source free items to sell on eBay will allow the biggest margin for profit and error. Successfully sourcing free items will keep your cost of goods low and benefit new resellers the most.
Reselling items on eBay is a side hustle that can lead to more money in your pocket and a potential business.
Most resellers keep their sourcing goldmines to themselves. Learning where to source and buy cheap items can multiply your eBay payouts significantly. Also, since you didn’t pay anything for these items, customers asking for returns won’t impact your business as much.
Here are the best places to source free items that still hold enough value to resell on eBay.
Table of Contents
- Nextdoor marketplace
- Craigslist
- Your home
- Facebook Marketplace
- Dumpsters and trash day
- Family and friends
- Conclusion
Nextdoor marketplace
The Nextdoor marketplace is the best place to source free items to resell on eBay. On Nextdoor, there is a category specifically or free items people nearby are just giving away. It’s a reseller’s dream.
All you need to do is message the seller and see if they still have the item available. Then go to their location and pick it up.
Sourcing can be done through the app or online website.
Nextdoor is a platform for members of your community, so you’ll never have to drive too far to get these items you source. It’s a great way for new resellers to build their eBay stores with a lot of items that have value and won’t cost you anything.
Craigslist
Besides Nextdoor, Craigslist is the next best platform to source free items to resell. Craigslist has just about everything you can imagine, including free stuff.
Log onto your local area’s Craigslist page and click on the ‘Free’ link under the ‘For Sale’ category.
As you can see in the screenshot above, there is an entire free section on Craigslist. These people just want to give their stuff away, usually to clear space in their homes.
These free items range from random boxes to profitable electronics and more. Be sure to check back often.
Your home
Checking your own home for stuff you already have and don’t use but can resell is a great way for new resellers to get started. Sourcing items for free at home will give your eBay store a great start and clear out space at home.
Look around your personal space and make a pile of things you don’t use often and don’t think about. Start listing those items first. Just make sure you’re completely fine with getting rid of these items.
There’s an entire list of pre-owned eBay items to resell and most can be found in everyday households.
Listing items that you find at your own home will allow you to understand what sells quickly and what takes longer to sell. It’s a great way to learn and earn at the same time.
Facebook Marketplace
Checking Facebook Marketplace for free listings is another great way to cheaply source eBay inventory. Many listings on Facebook Marketplace are free, you just have to search for them.
However, Facebook is known for having a lot of scammers so make sure you verify this is a real person with a real item. This can be done by checking out the profile of the seller and seeing if they are a real person.
Also, when meeting up with sellers on Facebook Marketplace (or any other platform on this list) make sure it’s somewhere safe. This might include a police station or public restaurant. It’s the best way to go about doing local deals and not worry about anything negative happening.
Dumpsters and trash day
No one is suggesting you to go dumpster diving, but if you see valuable items outside of dumpsters or on trash day, grab them.
Many resellers make hundreds of dollars every month by reselling free items they find in the trash. From valuable sneaker brands to electronics that can be sold for parts, you can make a lot of money.
This is a method that you shouldn’t actively pursue. Meaning if you’re driving around and see valuable items you know you can flip just lying at the curb on trash day, pick them up.
But don’t go to the dump or dumpster diving with the intention of looking for items to resell. It likely will be a waste of time and there are better ways to find free items to resell.
Family and friends
Asking your family and friends for things they no longer want is another great way to find free items to resell. Instead of your family and friends having to take all of their things to get rid of, you can come over and take it off their hands.
Most people have a lot unused items they no longer want but don’t feel like taking the time to remove it from their homes. Your family and close friends are the same.
Ask people who are close to you if they have anything they’d like to contribute to your reselling side hustle. Since you’re asking for old items and not for money, they are way more likely to throw you their old junk and trash.
Conclusion
Free items are a great way for resellers who are brand new to earn money. They can then use the money they earn from those free items they’ve sold to invest in paid items and make even more money. Learning where to source free items to sell on eBay is an important step in the reselling process.
Rolling over your funds like this is the best way to grow as a reseller, expand your business and increase your buying power.
Many resellers think they need hundreds of dollars to start their business, but that’s really not true. An eBay reselling business can be started for free by sourcing free items.
FAQ
Q: Is selling items pulled from the trash allowed on eBay?
A: Yes! Items that are sourced from the trash or dumpster can be resold on eBay. Just make sure you clean them off and take good pictures so buyers don’t get upset.
Q: Is Nextdoor legit?
A: Yes, Nextdoor is a legitimate platform.
Q: Is Craigslist safe?
A: Yes, Craigslist is safe but make sure you meet sellers and buyers at neutral locations, not at their homes.
Q: What is a good neutral location to meet-up for a local deal?
A: Good neutral locations include police stations, coffee shops, restaurants and most other public spots. The key is to make sure you’re seen by other people in public.
Q: How to get receipts for local deals?
A: Tax day will require receipts for your local deals. For these receipts, you’ll have to create them yourself. You can use receipt paper or just a plain piece of paper. Write down the date, purchase amount and seller. Then keep this paper for your records.
