Beyond Ebay

by Christine Vick

In a response to both a down economy and the push for a greener lifestyle, we're recycling, reselling and seeking ways to earn extra money and pass along used goods. Craigslist and eBay are obvious choices, but if you'd like a niche market, a quicker sale, or just less hassle, here are some worthwhile alternatives.

Red Swan

The price of gold is high, and if you're thinking of cashing in dusty jewelry, broken chains and rings that don't fit your fashion profile, Red Swan makes it simple. Fill out the online registration form and they'll send you a box and a shipping label (so you pay no postage and can track your jewelry's progress). When you receive your check and an itemized receipt, you have two weeks to experience seller's remorse and request that your items be returned. "You get to sell jewelry from the privacy or your own home for a fair price" says Red Swan Executive Vice President Jamie Bright, "and if you change your mind, you can get it back, and we don't ask why." redswan.com

Replacements, Ltd.

If you decided, like Melissa Stanton in "How Brad Pit Helped Me Sell My Silver," that the formal dinnerware you selected for your bridal registry doesn't fit your soccer-mom lifestyle, Replacements Ltd. provides an opportunity to resell china and silver pieces. A quick phone call to one of their purchasing agents lets you know whether they are buying your line and what it is worth (you're responsible for proper shipping and packaging). Also, wares must be in good repair-they may take items with minimal damage for a discount, but won't accept broken, chipped or stained pieces. Check the website for specifics. replacements.com

Mainline eConsign

If you love couture, but cringe at the thought of throwing out items you paid so dearly for, contact Stacie Forman of Mainline eConsign. Forman, whose clients claim she has a sixth sense for what's in demand, specializes in reselling designer clothing. She researches sales histories to benchmark prices, charges no extra fees, and gives clients up to 80% of the value of their goods. "I work on a sliding scale," she says, "so the more an item sells for, the more the customer gets." If you're investing in upscale clothing, shoes or handbags with an eye to reselling them in the future, don't throw out the original receipts or tags, recommends Forman. "Keep anything that would verify authenticity, because that's a problem on eBay." mainlineeconsign.com

Kid-to-Kid

A nationwide resale retailer, Kid-to-Kid will purchase new or gently used childrens' apparel, toys, furniture or other equipment. Simply bring your items to one of their locations (they have franchises in over 21 states) and their computer appraisal system will figure out how much it's worth. You can opt for payment in cash or store credit (you receive a bit more if you choose the latter option). You may make more selling the items yourself, but if you want less hassle, it's worth investigating. kidtokid.com

4Sale4Now

Think of it as eBay without the bids. This new online auction site, which launched last fall, allows you to list a product at a specific price, and then select a series of reductions depending on how long the merchandise is listed. Say you list a pair of boots at $100.00 and they don't sell right away. You choose a sale schedule--after 4 days, the merchandise is reduced 10%, after 10 days, 20% and so on until the item is purchased. Buyers know that the price for an item they're eyeing is likely to go down, not spike up in a bidding frenzy during the last minutes of an auction. 4sale4now.com