What to do with unwanted Christmas gifts

Listen to Kate Delaney’s 12/30/09 interview on her nationally syndicated radio show, “America Tonight”, with Easysale Vice President David Goldstein about the trend of “rehoming” unwanted gifts.

Nearly everyone will get something at Christmas that either isn’t “them” or just isn’t something they could ever use. Maybe you’re one of the handful of folks who didn’t really want a Zhu Zhu pet, or perhaps you received a blinged-up purse, and you’re more of a conservative, Salvatore Ferragamo-type gal.

Many people will be heading to the store in the days and weeks after Christmas, armed with receipts and original packaging, to return their unwanted gifts, but many, many more will be powering up their computers to sell them online. Keep the following in mind as you troll eBay and other online sites looking for good places to unload some of that swag:

Some things are better off going back to the store in which they were purchased rather than sold online. Clothes and shoes, for example, will give you dollar-for-dollar what the buyer originally paid for them, but will likely net less online (unless they belong to that rarefied category of designer items with long waiting lists, such as the Hermes Birkin ostrich handbag). You’ll also need to factor in shipping and handling costs, including the time you spend waiting in line at the post office, and selling fees such as those charged by eBay.
Regardless of whether or not you plan to return the gift for a refund or exchange, or to sell it online, keep all the original packaging and receipts. Electronics and appliances in particular will give you a much better return on your money if they’re new, unused and have all their original packing materials intact.
Most stores will charge a restocking fee for computers and laptops, particularly if there’s any indication that they’ve been opened, so if you don’t think you’ll even want it, don’t open it. If you’ve already opened the box, be prepared to pay the restocking fee or try your luck selling it online for the original selling price.
Bear in mind that many stores have different return policies, depending on the item in question. Electronics and computers, for example, often have shorter return periods than clothing and accessories. Find out as soon as possible exactly what the return policies are so that you don’t end up disappointed.
If you’re going to be selling your items on eBay, consider going to an online auction consignment service such as Easysale, Dallas’ largest eBay store. More often than not, eBay consignment services can net a much higher profit than if an individual were to sell an item herself. They generally have stellar buyer feedback ratings; have the professional expertise and experience to list and photograph items in a way that will attract the most potential buyers; and will do literally all the work involved in selling items, from listing to taking payments to shipping to following up with buyers. In fact, Easysale even offers free pickup services to nearly anywhere in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. With eBay consignment stores, all you do is sit back and wait for the check to come in. And perhaps the best thing about eBay consignment services? The transaction takes place entirely within Easysale’s online eBay store, under Easysale’s name rather than yours, so you’ll never have to worry about your gift-giver finding out. So call us now at 817-640-EASY (3279) to schedule a pickup or to find out more about how it all works.