Selling it yourself on eBay, Marketplace or Swappa, or to a local buyer?

What selling it yourself involves

On any of these sites you do the work a buyer would otherwise do. You photograph the device, describe it accurately, set a price, answer questions, deal with people who ask for a discount or never reply, then pack and ship it or arrange a handoff. On eBay, a sale ends with the money going through eBay's payment system, and eBay's own help pages say new sellers can have payouts held for a time. On Swappa, you need a PayPal account, the buyer pays through PayPal, and you ship to the address the buyer gives. It is real work, and a few evenings of it can pass before a device sells.

Fees come out of the sale

eBay's fee page lists a fee when an item sells, an insertion fee once you pass your free monthly listings, and extras for optional upgrades and disputes. Swappa says listing is free and a fee is split between buyer and seller when it sells, and the payment processor's fee falls on the seller. Facebook describes a selling fee on orders shipped through Marketplace. Exact rates differ by category and change, so check each site's own page before you list. The point is that what the buyer pays and what you receive are not the same number. A local buyer takes no cut from a separate fee schedule: the number we give you in person is the number you are paid.

Meeting a stranger, and scams

Marketplace and similar local listings mean meeting someone you do not know, often at the handoff stage, and sometimes finding out then that they want to pay with an app, a check or a transfer you cannot confirm. General good practice is to meet in a public place in daylight, bring a friend if you can, take payment you can verify before the device leaves your hands, and never click payment links a buyer sends. On a site that handles payment, such as eBay or Swappa, the risk shifts to shipping disputes and claims that an item was not as described. None of this is a reason never to sell yourself; it is a reason to go in with your eyes open.

How a local buyer differs

With us, there is no listing to write and no stream of strangers to answer. You text or call (518) 501-0602 with the make, model and condition, or send a photo, and we tell you the same day whether it is something we can buy. We meet one seller at a time by appointment in the Albany area, or come to you anywhere in the Capital Region, and you are paid in cash before we leave. If you say no, you keep the device. The how it works page walks through each step.

When selling it yourself is the better pick

Sell it yourself if you have time, the device is recent and in good shape, and you want to reach the widest group of buyers. Swappa is a marketplace built around used phones, and eBay reaches buyers for nearly any device, including rare or collectible ones. If you enjoy the process, or you are willing to wait for the right buyer, selling directly can be the better route and a local buyer is not trying to talk you out of it. We would rather you make the best choice than the fastest one.

When a local buyer is the better pick

A local buyer is the better pick if you want cash today, if you have several devices, if you do not want to deal with messages or strangers, or if the device is one that is awkward to list, such as a console with its controllers, a laptop or a camera with its lenses. It is also the better pick if you would simply rather be done. We buy phones, tablets, laptops, game consoles, cameras, smartwatches and more. Tell us what you have through the phones page.

Prepare the device whichever way you sell

Back up the device, sign out of your accounts, turn off Find My or the Google equivalent, and reset it before a sale of any kind. A device still tied to an account cannot change hands, and a buyer from a marketplace will notice just as quickly. The before-you-sell guide covers the steps for each kind of device.

Quick answers

Is it better to sell my phone on eBay or to a local buyer?

It depends on your time. eBay reaches more buyers but charges fees when the item sells and means a listing, messages and shipping. A local buyer pays cash in one meeting. If you are in no hurry and the phone is in good shape, eBay can work.

Is Swappa free for sellers?

Listing on Swappa is free, according to its own fee page, but a fee is charged when the item sells, and the payment processor's fee falls on the seller. Check Swappa's page for the current terms.

Is it safe to sell electronics on Facebook Marketplace?

It can be, with care. Meet in a public place in daylight, take payment you can verify before the device leaves your hands, and never click a payment link a buyer sends. If meeting strangers is a worry, a scheduled meetup with a local buyer is another option.

Do eBay and Marketplace charge fees when an item sells?

Yes. eBay lists a fee on sold items, and Facebook describes a selling fee on shipped Marketplace orders. Rates vary, so read each site's own page before you list.

Where can I sell electronics for cash near Albany without listing them?

Cash For Electronics Albany pays cash in person, by appointment in the Albany area or at your door across the Capital Region, with no listing needed. Use the quote form on the phones page or text us the model and condition.

Ready to ask about yours? Visit Sell your phone for cash in Albany: a local phone buyer near you. See our where to sell computer parts. See our overview of who buys used electronics for cash in Albany. See our mail-in buyers or a local buyer. See our pawn shop or a direct buyer. See our before-you-sell guide. Back to all guides.