How to price second-hand items so they sell

Buyers compare your item with what they could buy new today, and with other used listings. If a newer model has launched or the price of the new item has dropped, your item's value has dropped too, however much you paid. Look up the current price of the same or the closest model first.

Most items lose value fastest in the first year and more slowly after that. Electronics lose value quickly; well-made furniture, instruments and branded cycles much more slowly. Clothing is different: most of its value goes the first time it is worn, and age matters less after that.

Be honest about where your item sits on the condition scale: brand new and unopened, like new, gently used, or fair and functional. Each step down takes a meaningful share off the price. Name every flaw in the listing; a buyer who finds one you did not mention will ask for a bigger discount than the flaw is worth.

• The original box and accessories (charger, cables, case, dust bag, manuals).
• The purchase bill, which proves ownership and is needed for warranty.
• Remaining brand warranty, which can matter more than anything else for electronics.
• Recent servicing, a new battery or new tyres, with proof.

Search for the same item on AltF Marketplace and other listing sites and note the asking prices of listings in a similar condition. Asking prices are not sale prices: items priced at the top of the range often sit unsold for weeks. Pricing a little below similar listings is the most reliable way to sell quickly.

Many buyers will ask for a discount. If you are happy to negotiate, set your price five to ten percent above the lowest amount you would accept. If not, say "price is fixed" clearly in the listing; it saves both sides time.

If nothing happens after a week or two, lower the price in small steps rather than in one big cut, and check that your photos and title are doing their job.

The AltF resale price calculator turns the category, purchase price, age, condition, box and bill into a fair range, and shows every assumption it uses. It does not know your exact model or local demand, so treat it as a starting point and compare with real listings before you decide.

• A phone a year old in like-new condition with the box and bill will usually ask a clear majority of its current new price, less if a new model has just launched.
• A pair of branded sneakers worn a few times with the box can ask a good share of its price; everyday T-shirts sell best in bundles.
• A solid-wood study table in good condition holds value well, but expect to give a discount if the buyer has to arrange transport.