The Age Of The On-Line Garage Sale Is In Full Swing – What To Know

Not sure if you've noticed, but it seems like all of a sudden, there are a slew of apps getting into the secondhand retail game. Craigslist and eBay are getting some stiff competition, but what companies will emerge as the next big thing?

I like these apps because it allows me shop around locally and see what people are selling all over Acadiana without having leave my couch. When you open any of these apps, they automatically use the internal GPS in your phone to show you items for sale starting with what's closest to you. You can then filter what kind of items you want to see. You might have someone on your block selling a nice refrigerator you need for a great price!

As with most resale situations, you'll find some sellers asking way too much money for things. I've seen people selling drawings of cartoon characters on notebook paper for $20. I've seen one seller asking $200 for a handheld cassette/radio because it's "Vintage". But like they say, things are only worth what people are willing to pay for them. If you really want that radio, you'll pay the cash. As long as you get what you want, who cares right? More often that not though, you can find some great deals.

All these apps are free and available in the iTunes or Google Play store. I'm not sure if it costs you money to post or sell your items, but I'm sure there's some sort of fee involved.

The first app in the on-line garage sale movement I've downloaded is called Letgo. You've probably seen the commercials on TV. You can search numerous categories like electronics, automotive and clothes to name a few. You can also message the seller about any questions you may have about the item. I'm not sure if sellers ship items, but you can always message them to find out.

Another app I've downloaded is called Wallapop. It functions pretty much exactly like Letgo, only with Wallapop, you can search by entire collections. Collections like "Get Healthy", "Change Of Season" and "Long Weekend" will bring you to items people have tagged in those collections.

The newest one of these apps I've downloaded is called OfferUp. If I were a betting man, I'd say this one will be the one to cut through the crowd and stick around. It's got a lot of investors behind it currently, and has a lot of potential. It functions very similar to the others, but the layout is a little cleaner I think. It also shows you how long ago an item was put up for sale. Maybe it's my OCD, but I really like that feature.