Getting rid of your extra stuff can be a great way to clear up space and make some cash. That’s just what the founders of the OfferUp app were thinking when they set out to create a mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers. Find out how this peer-to-peer app can work for you.
What is OfferUp?
OfferUp is a mobile app where you can buy and list items for sale. It’s a new iteration of a simple concept. A couple of new fathers started OfferUp when they looked for a better way to sell things they didn’t want and get the stuff they needed without breaking the bank.
What can you get on OfferUp?
Nearly anything! Common categories include clothing and shoes, furniture, household, and electronics, but there is no limit to what you can find. You can also view what’s popular near you and what the people you follow posted.
How does OfferUp work?
The OfferUp app is a peer-to-peer commerce platform that enables its members to buy and sell items from locals. You can sign up through a social account or simply create an account with your email address. Signing up is totally free. If you want to boost your listing later so more people can see it, then that will cost you money.
On the app, you can browse hundreds of local listings or search for exactly what you need. When you see something you like, you can ask about it or make an offer to the seller right away. Not ready for that level of commitment? You can also save the listing for later.
If the seller accepts your offer or you reach an agreement by negotiating through the message feature on the app, you can meet up to retrieve your purchase. Like any peer-to-peer marketplace, it’s important to meet any seller in a public place and take proper safety precautions. If you can, only meet up with a seller if you have a friend or family member with you.
What if you’re on the other end of the deal? To start, list your item. This is as simple as taking a couple quick pictures with your phone and typing up a short description. Then, wait for the offers to roll in. If no one is biting, you may want to pay a couple bucks to move your item up in the listings. This way, it will get more views and you are more likely to find a buyer.
The Pros and Cons of OfferUp
Reviewers of the OfferUp app have many good things to say about it. On the Google Play Store, it has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 725k reviews. It has a 4.8 out of 5 on the Apple App Store from 2.64 million reviews and is even ranked as the #6 app in the shopping category. Here are some of the pros and cons that Debt.com’s review team found:
Advantages
OfferUp is easy to use. Posting an item for sale barely takes any time at all, and the app is well-designed. When you get an offer, it’s simple to message the potential buyer and negotiate. There are also millions of users, so you will likely get a lot of eyes on your posts.
Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage of OfferUp is how quickly the items you post can get buried under newer or boosted listings. This can make it difficult to get offers for your items. Additionally, OfferUp has ads that are disguised as listings. For example, you could be searching for furniture, click on a nice table, and be taken off the app and onto a different website that’s selling you expensive home goods.
Final Thoughts
If you can look past the advertisements, OfferUp is a great app for selling things you don’t need. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and post an item. The messaging feature means you don’t have to give away your phone number to a stranger on Craigslist, and there are so many people using it that it would be silly not to post something there if you need to get rid of it. Our review team suggests using OfferUp to sell your stuff, but also recommends posting it on other apps and websites just in case. The more people, the more offers, and the more money you will have in your pocket.
Curious to see what’s listed on OfferUp? Try it out for yourself.
