Listia Auctions: Keepin’ It Fun Cheap

Listia is an auction site for new or used stuff, where members buy and sell goods via virtual currency (called credits), not cash. When you sell something, you earn CREDITS, then use those credits to bid on stuff you want.

Listia's goal is always to keep our unwanted stuff out of landfills and offer a fun, social, shopping experience, as cheaply as possible, for everyone. Listia is like a treasure hunt and a flea market rolled into one. The best part is that you never know what you'll find!

My Opinion?

I've been using Listia since 2011, and I LOVE it! I list/sell handmade jewelry, vintage items, crafty supplies, and other small stuff. In turn, I use the credits I get and bid on things I want, such as silver coins, miniatures, or craft supplies for my beading. I am more than happy with my time on Listia!

Shop Even When You’re Broke!

Listia's slogan USED to say "Get Rid of Stuff You Don't Want, and Get Stuff You Do Want For Free". That led to a lot of complaints, because some sellers will ask you to pay for shipping (making it not so free for you). But, lots of sellers offer “free shipping”. Technically, you could shop for free-if you buy with credits and get free shipping!

TIP #1: Use the “FREE SHIPPING” search option that helps a lot (which is what I use), and you can save/follow sellers who consistently offer free shipping (see below).

Let’s face it, as much as I love Listia, we’re not dealing with the level of professional sellers as you would on, say, Amazon or Etsy. Though most sellers that take their auctioning business VERY seriously, there are also members who think Listia is a good way to make a quick
buck, or who are just young, unprofessional, or inexperienced. Some sellers can be rude, or untrustworthy, like on any other site.

Tip #2: Before you bid on something, read the description thoroughly.

Tip #3: Always check the seller’s ratings, verification and feedback before you buy (see image below)-just like you would on Ebay or Amazon, or Etsy. If there is no user pic, no prior auctions, no verification-just pass on it.

Now, That Being Said...Here's some pointers to help you get the most out of your Listia
experience:

Tip #4: List items that are small, lightweight, and cheap to ship, but that people are willing to pay more for. 

You need to 'sell' stuff to earn credits. I suggest listing items that don't cost a lot to ship, and, if possible, offer free shipping-you'll get a lot more bids. Some of the things I've seen listed that are cheap to ship are silver coins, baseball cards, jewelry, collectibles, clothing, electronics, and more...

Tip #5: Some items that are in high demand, command a lot of credits, and  are cheap to ship are ...

📦Postage Stamps
📦SS or Gold jewelry
📦Collectible Coins
📦Baby Clothes
📦Cell Phones or cases
📦Gift Cards

Get the idea?

Tip #6: Always use tracking numbers when you mail something, by using padded envelopes, so buyers can’t say they never received it. 

Final Word

All sites, especially shopping or auction sites are going to have some issues. They are going to have buyers and sellers who are unscrupulous. Ebay has all of these. So does Bonanza, Tophatter, and many others. But millions of people s till use them and love the results. Don’t bash it until you’ve bought and sold just ONE thing.