How to sell before Christmas: the short answer
Buyers are shopping secondhand: in eBay's 2026 Recommerce Report, 36% of U.S. consumers said secondhand is "very important" to their household budget (eBay). The catch is the calendar: USPS recommends shipping Ground Advantage by Dec 17 and Priority Mail by Dec 18 for delivery before Christmas in the lower 48 (USPS).
1. Do a sell sweep
Room by room, pull out things worth $15 or more that you haven't used in a year: electronics, games, tools, brand clothing, toys, small appliances. Check recalls first, and wipe devices.
2. Price from sold listings
Search eBay and filter for sold items, not asking prices. Price near the middle of what actually sold in the same condition, with a little room for offers.
3. Photograph and list in batches
Daylight, a plain background, every angle, every flaw. Title formula: brand + item + model + key detail + condition.
4. Pick the channel by size and fees
On a $60 item with $10 shipping, that's about $9.92 before sales tax (our math from eBay's fee page). Facebook Marketplace local pickup paid in person has no fee; shipped Marketplace orders are reported at 10% (check the fee shown before you accept). Sell bulky items locally and small ones shipped.
5. Sell safely
Get paid before you hand over or ship anything. If a buyer overpays and asks for the difference back, it's a scam, and never share a verification code (FTC). Meet in public.
6. Ship on time and keep records
Ground Advantage by Thursday, Dec 17; Priority Mail by Friday, Dec 18; Priority Mail Express by Saturday, Dec 19 (lower 48). For 2026, platforms generally send a Form 1099-K only above $20,000 and 200 transactions, and personal items sold at a loss aren't taxable (IRS). Keep what you paid for each item.
General education, not tax, legal, or financial advice. Not affiliated with eBay, Meta, or USPS. Facebook's shipped-order fee is as reported by third-party trackers and unverified on Meta's pages. Facts checked October 7, 2026.
