PART ONE. Where sellers and buyers are real.
Most of us have encountered with the problem of what to do with a thing which is not needed anymore. To throw it out would be a shame. Well, not exactly a shame but still how can you just throw it away? We’re not in Germany, where a fully operational washing machine, a TV set, a monitor or a lamp that has gone out of fashion can be found in a dump. We do not routinely throw away still usable things. We repair them and squeeze profit out of them until the last drop. And when you think how much money from the family budget you spent or, God forbid, how big a loan you took for this "very necessary" thing, the question of throwing or giving away just disappears by itself.
However, jokes aside. Every single one of us has at least one thing that has gone out of fashion, does not fit anymore, or is just "lying on the shelf, not being used, and the money at the moment is needed more." Also there are absolutely unnecessary gifts. Such situation usually occurs after the holidays.
And, let’s not lie to ourselves – we often rash to buy some things, which we regret to have done already next day.
So what are ways to get rid of these consumer goods? Well, other than the obvious "throwing out", which, as we have found out, our countrymen are afraid to even think of. Of course, to sell. What you sell is not the question. The only question is time, method and price. And every product has its buyer.
Pawnshops
So, where can you sell unnecessary, but suitable for use stuff? Thrift shops, where, in Soviet times, one could bring a tight fit jacket, an old TV set or unnecessary porcelain statue, remained in the past. Now, there are only pawnshops. But they take only 100% liquid products. That is, something that they can definitely sell: jewelry, appliances. And at a price about half the market one. May the fate never bring you to pawnshops, and let’s forget about them.
Flea markets – the memory of past
Of course, nowadays you can not just go to the market to sell an old chandelier, an antique dining room set, a film camera or a grandfather’s razor. But, as recently as 5 years ago, on such markets one could find interesting artifacts of the past, unique antiques and trinkets from one’s own childhood for very nominal price. But now such flea markets are occupied by people who deal in antiques professionally. Using the people’s craze for vintage things, interest of the USSR generation in the history, and the tendency of every other cafe to create their own "museum of artifacts," they now ask high prices. However, on Sunday, after a long walk on the so-called "Swine market" in Uzhgorod, you can occasionally find something interesting. However, antiques and antiquities markets are the area of professional antique dealers. Soon, here it will the same as in Europe.
And for now, here are some photos from flea markets in Uzhgorod and Budapest. So to speak, to compare and assess the scope.
But people can be organized according to needs and interests. An example of such self-organization is the "flea market of children’s clothes," organized by Uzhgorod women, mothers of children who grow rapidly and need a change of clothes. And it is more convinient to get rid of usable, almost new things among people with similar problems.
So, buying "from hands to hands."
More children’s products!
We are talking to a resident of Uzhgorod Natalia Kasim, mother of four lovely children who constantly outgrow their children’s clothes. She is one of the initiators and curators of the specialized flea market for mothers, which they organize, agreeing on a time and place on the Internet. Buying and selling children’s clothes via the Internet is also a practice, but it seems that the opportunity for personal contact plays a significant role in this.
– Natalia, is there, in your opinion, a problem with the market for selling used items in our region?
– I think the problem exists because thrift shops are few and prices there are unprofitable for sellers. In addition, there are things that are hard to sell in a thrift shop – like sling for carrying children – it is an expesive thing, and the number of buyers in the city are limited. You could sell to other cities, but then you need to arrange for delivery, and not everyone has the time and opportunity to do it. Local flea market is an opportunity to meet, see the product, drink coffee together
– How did the idea to create a flea market come to you and why do you think it will be effective?
– The idea originated in our local community of mothers. We talked in Skype, and the issue of our local flea market, aimed more at mutually beneficial sale of children’s products, especially all kinds of stuff related to natural parenting, arose in the process.
– Do you think you have a chance to compete with Slando and Aukro? Do people really need a local mini specialized flea market when there are such large sites?
– We do not plan to compete with large companies. Our target groups are different, ways of selling and buying of things in LJ communities are different from other ones. Here, it is based more on an open contact. And the locality has a great advantage – the opportunity of meeting in real life.
– According to your observations, what things do Transcarpathians try to sell the most?
– From what I’ve seen, mostly things for children. Although, I personally would like to have more opportunities to sell and purchase various things, not just clothes. A local place where you can bring something to sell, or find something of interest. The "swine" market used to be such a place, but now it has lost its former character.
– What rules one needs to comply with in order to successfully sell used things online? Make your top of tips.
– First of all – the presentation of the material. High-quality photos, the maximum amount of information, the use of the site features to help potential buyers easily find the goods. Next – a quality contact, clear terms and conditions. Availability of a card, to transfer money to. Preferably, from accessible terminals. And of course, honesty and openness to dialogue.
To be continued…
And now, more photos from the "flea market!" in Uzhgorod
and Budapest
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