Your options
Instant-sell sites: fastest for everyday items
Sites like musicMagpie, Ziffit and WeBuyBooks give you a price straight away when you scan or type in the barcode. You send everything in one parcel, usually with free postage or collection, and get paid once they've checked it. Prices per item are low, often well under a pound, and some items get no offer at all. Most have a minimum number of items or order value, so check before you start scanning.
CeX: games, consoles and DVDs
CeX buys games, consoles, DVDs and gadgets in its shops and online. It usually offers more if you take store credit instead of cash, and you'll need ID to sell. It's quick for recent games, but you'll often get more selling them yourself.
eBay: rare, collectable and retro
eBay is free for UK private sellers, and its buyers search for exact titles and editions. It's the place for first editions, signed copies, out-of-print textbooks, retro games and complete box sets. Search the title and filter by "Sold items" to see what it actually sells for.
Vinted: popular titles and bundles
Vinted charges sellers nothing, and the buyer pays postage. It works well for popular fiction, children's books and recent games. Bundles work best: five books in one parcel make the postage worth paying.
Tips for a better price
- Check an instant quote first. If an item gets £3 or more, it's probably worth listing yourself.
- Bundle the cheap ones. Books by the same author, a series, or a set of kids' books.
- Check the discs. Scratched discs and missing cases are the most common reason for returns and rejected trade-ins.
- Note the edition. For books, include the ISBN, the edition and any signatures. For games, say which console and whether the case and manual are included.
- Use a padded envelope or small box. See the packing guide.