Many people have used Craigslist or eBay to buy used things or sell things they no longer need or want.
But Craigslist and eBay are not the only way to buy and sell used items online locally anymore.
These days, there are plenty of buying and selling apps out there such as LetGo and OfferUp.
These apps will allow you to buy and sell locally which is very user-friendly and convenient for all parties involved.
They seem more trustworthy than the old-fashioned craigslist and eBay options that now leave a bad taste in people’s mouths.
While Craigslist is still the largest online marketplace to buy and sell locally, both LetGo and OfferUp are safer and easier options to buy and sell locally and tend to have fewer spam and scams.
Like Craigslist (or Facebook Marketplace), you can sell just about anything, including clothes, furniture, electronics, sports equipment, toys, used cars, houses, apartments, and more with these two apps.
Each is an app-based local mobile platform. But which one should you choose?
In this LetGo vs. OfferUp app comparison post, we will look at the pros and cons of both apps to help you decide which platform is a better option for you to buy and sell locally.
Which one should you use? OfferUp vs. LetGo? Keep reading for the answer…
Contents
What is LetGo?
LetGo is a completely free mobile app that allows users to sell their unwanted stuff and find great deals nearby on things they want.
LetGo is the simplest way to buy and sell just about anything, including clothes, electronics, furniture, home décor, cars, and even home for sale or rent in your community and neighborhood safely.
Check out our full LetGo review here.
LetGo is available for both iPhones and androids.
You can either sell something you do not need anymore to make money, or you can browse thousands of items on sale and buy anything or something specific you want at a discount to save money in the app.
However, the app acts as an online platform for potential buyers and sellers.
The app offers a secure in-app chat feature that allows buyers to instantly contact sellers and sellers to reply to buyers’ questions.
It is up to them to negotiate a price or agree on a price or arrange to meet up in person to close a deal.
When a buyer and a seller want to close a deal, it is the parties’ sole responsibility to meet in person to complete the transaction since LetGo does not process credit card payments or offer refunds.
LetGo recommends meeting in a public place to avoid any potential issues.
How Does LetGo Work?
It is super easy to use the LetGo app to buy or sell items locally. First, you need to download the app on your smartphone. It is available for both iOS and Android devices.
Once you have downloaded the app onto your phone, you need to create an account. You can sign up for an account by entering your name, email address, and password. You can also sign up for LetGo via Facebook or Google.
Once your account is set up, you can buy and sell on the platform locally.
To Sell:
If you want to sell an item, click the “Sell Your Stuff” button, then list your item for sale on the platform.
Add/upload a photo you have already taken of the item you want to sell, or use the app itself to take a picture of the item.
Next, add a title, a description, a condition, and a category. You can also add more photos. Using this information, LetGo will generate a title on its own for your item.
OfferUp does not offer this kind of service.
You then enter a price for the item or list it as negotiable. You can also opt to give it away for free if you are not interested in selling the item.
Next, tap the “Post” button to post your listing, i.e., list your item for sale. You can list as many items as you want by repeating the above-mentioned steps.
If buyers are interested, they will contact you through the in-app messaging system. You can view the ratings and features of a buyer to see if he or she is reputable. A new buyer will not have reputation features, though.
If you and a buyer agree on a price, it is up to you and the buyer to decide on a place to meet and close the deal.
Take cash, or use a secure payment platform like PayPal to accept payment through that platform to complete the deal or transaction. After that, you can rate the buyer.
To Buy:
Buying on LetGo is easy and safe. If you want to buy anything on lego’s marketplace, you can browse the different categories for local items for sale. Or type in the name of what you want to buy in the search bar.
When you see something you are interested in, contact the seller through the in-app chat system. If the seller is interested in your offer, you and the seller can decide where to meet and close the deal.
Pay with cash, or PayPal for the item, if you and the seller agree. It is up to you and the seller to work out the payment. After the transaction, once the seller has rated you, you can rate the seller.
The Pros of LetGo:
- The LetGo app is 100% free to use.
- An easy to use the app with great features.
- You can make money by selling your unwanted stuff while decluttering your home at the same time through the LetGo app.
- Find great deals on local items for sale, or buy something specific at a discount locally.
- Secure in-app chat feature – instantly contact buyers or sellers directly through the in-app chat.
- You can buy or sell a wide variety of products safely.
- User’s identity is verified, so you know you are buying from or selling to trustworthy people.
- No listing fee -100% free to post your listings.
- No selling fees – LetGo does not take a percentage of users’ sales.
- LetGo recommends a safe place to complete each transaction, i.e., close the deal.
The Cons of LetGo:
- Buyers and sellers have to meet in person to complete a specific deal or transaction.
- Payments cannot be made through the app.
- There is a small fee to feature your item, but it is an optional feature seller can use to increase the visibility of their listings.
What is OfferUp?
Like letgo, OfferUp is an app that provides one of the largest and most popular local marketplaces for local buyers and sellers to buy and sell a wide variety of products locally.
Now, OfferUp sellers can also connect with buyers from across the US to ship their items.
If you want to buy, you can browse local items for sale or type in a specific term in the search bar. If you want to sell, you can easily offer up your items for sale locally in 30 seconds.
All communication between buyers and sellers happens through in-app chat via secure messaging.
How Does OfferUp Work?
First, you need to download the OfferUp app onto your smartphone to buy or sell items on OfferUp. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices. Once you have downloaded the app, sign up for an account.
You can sign up for an account by entering your name, email address, and password. You can also sign up through Facebook.
Once you have created an account, you can buy or sell used things in your local area through the app.
To Sell:
To sell via the OfferUp app, you need to take a photo of the item you want to sell, set the item’s price, write a short description, and pick a category.
When buyers are interested in your item, they can message you via the in-app messaging system to ask you questions or agree to buy.
If you and a buyer agree on a deal, it is up to you and the buyer to set up a time and place to meet and close the deal.
Take cash, or use a secure payment platform like PayPal to accept payment through that platform to complete the deal or transaction.
Tip: You can post your listing on social media to get more attention and attract potential buyers.
To Buy:
Buying on OfferUp is easy and safe. If you want to buy anything on the OfferUp marketplace, you can browse the different categories for local items for sale. Or type in the name of what you want to buy in the search bar.
When you see something you are interested in, contact the seller through the in-app chat system. If the seller is interested in your offer, you and the seller can decide where to meet and close the deal.
Pay with cash, or PayPal for the item, if you and the seller agree – it is up to you and the seller to work out the payment.
The Pros of OfferUp:
- The OfferUp app is 100% free to use.
- Make money by selling your unwanted stuff while decluttering your home at the same time.
- Find great deals on local items for sale, or buy something specific locally.
- No listing fees.
- List as many items as you want.
- Buy and sell with convenience – no need to include personal information such as your phone number, email address, postal address, and web address in your listing.
- The secure in-app messaging system.
- In-app payment system – OfferUp also lets you take payment right inside the app in some markets.
- OfferUp has a community platform and offers support via Twitter. If you want to talk to a representative over the phone, you will have to submit an online form.
The Cons of OfferUp:
- Personal safety – you have to meet buyers or sellers in-person to close the deal, so if you are not comfortable with that, this app may not be for you
- Shipping fees if you opt for shipping
- Location-based – you can buy and sell only locally.
- You cannot delete your account – you can only deactivate it.
Which App is Best For Selling/Buying Stuff?
As you have seen, both LetGo and OfferUp apps are easy to use, free to join, and pretty much the same in terms of how they work.
Both apps are a good place to buy and sell goods locally and are the best of the best for mobile marketplace apps.
While LetGo is the safer and the more popular app of the two, OfferUp is the better app in terms of customer service.
Both LetGo and OfferUp have their apps available on the Apple and Google Play App Store.
With over 30 million users, LetGo is more popular than OfferUp. It has been featured in many commercials lately.
If you want to buy or sell items on the LetGo platform, you need to be a verified user of this online marketplace, which means it is a safer option to buy and sell in your local area.
Overall, LetGo is the better option of the two apps if you are looking to buy and sell goods easily and safely in your community and neighborhood.
However, both apps are leaps and bounds above, holding a garage sale to eliminate your old and unused stuff.
Helpful resources:
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