INSIDE: Today, we’re talking about the Decluttr, a site that makes it easy to sell DVDs, CDs, old cell phones, and more for cash. But is the Decluttr app legit? Let’s learn all about it!
Does your house have too much stuff in it? If you’re anything like me, that answer is periodically a resounding “YES.” You buy new books and movies and music, enjoy them for a while, and then they wind up gathering dust on your shelves. This means you have to dust – and dusting is the worst!
What if you could take these things, ship them off to someone else, and make a little extra money instead of dusting them every weekend?
If this decluttering method sounds like something you would be into, you’re going to appreciate this post: We’re talking about Decluttr, a site that makes it easy to sell old DVDs, CDs, cell phones, and other old electronics, as well as books and even Lego toys. Their slogan is “Make room. Make money.”
What is Decluttr?
Decluttr is a website (and an app) that offers people a pretty easy way to sell their used media items, such as CDs, DVDs (and Blu-Rays, of course), games, and books. They also accept tech devices (helping to solve tech’s trash problem). They’re based in Kennesaw, Ga. (just north of Atlanta) and have been around for at least four years.
How Does it Work?
Let’s break it down into easy steps:
1. Decide What to Sell
Look through those aforementioned shelves for any movies or TV shows you’re not interested in keeping, any dusty books you’re not reading, the music you’re not listening to, and so on through the other categories of items, Decluttr accepts.
Remember, those other categories include video games, LEGO toys, and tech items, such as cell phones, iPads, video game consoles, and more.
2. Scan the Barcodes
Once you’ve determined what you have to sell, head over to Decluttr’s website and enter the barcode number from your items. If you’ve got the app on your smartphone – it’s available on both iPhone and Android devices – you can just scan the barcodes instead. When you’ve entered the item’s information, Decluttr will make you an instant offer by telling you the price they’ll pay you for that item.
When it comes to technology items, they offer what they call their Tech Price Promise, where they guarantee you’ll receive the first price they offer you or you can request they send that item back. So if they say they’ll pay you $50 for an old iPad but then offer you less once they receive the item, you can just ask them to send it back to you at no charge.
3. Pack Up Your Items
After you submit your details, get a box and pack up the items you’re sending to Decluttr. They’ll mail a packet to you that contains a shipping label, so you can ship your stuff to them free. Their prepaid shipping labels are for UPS, so you’ll just need to drop your package off wherever UPS picks it up.
4. Receive Your Payment
Then it’s just a short wait until they receive your items. Once they do, they promise next-day payment after their warehouse team has a chance to inspect your stuff and make sure everything’s in good enough condition for reselling. This is one way to make money fast.
5. Go Shopping!
Next comes the fun part: buying new STUFF to enjoy. You can find good deals right on Decluttr – remember, one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. You can even search online for a Decluttr coupon code for a discount.
What Kind of Items Can You Sell?
Now, let’s look at what you can sell on this site.
Books
Books may be among the lowest-valuated items you can sell used, but check out what Decluttr will offer you for popular novels. Textbooks are the most valuable type of book you can sell, so see what you can get for your college course texts as soon as you finish a class.
Music
You might think there’s not much of a market for physical CDs anymore, but there’s a thriving resale market. Once you’ve saved your music to your computer’s music library, why hold on to the hard copy?
Movies
With so many streaming services available these days, why continue letting those DVDs and Blu-rays take up so much space? Let someone else enjoy what you’ve already watched. The more popular movies and TV shows can make you a tidy little bundle on Decluttr.
Video Games
With so many streaming services available these days, why continue letting those DVDs and Blu-rays take up so much space? Let someone else enjoy what you’ve already watched. The more popular movies and TV shows can make you a tidy little bundle on Decluttr.
LEGO
It wasn’t that long ago that the San Fransisco Gate published a story on Legos being a better investment than gold (especially those sets). I’m serious. And Decluttr will purchase old LEGO bricks from you by weight. So if your kids have outgrown them, turn that investment into cash.
Cell Phones
There are a ton of different phone types that Decluttr will accept, from Apple and Samsung products to HTCs, LGs, and more. Old phones don’t do much hanging around, and it can be dangerous to leave their batteries moldering in a drawer somewhere.
Other Old Tech
Decluttr welcomes your used Apple products (iPads, iPods, iPhones, and MacBooks) and your old Kindles, along with video game consoles from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. They’ll even take some wearables, such as smartwatches.
When and How Do You Get Paid?
Decluttr.com issues payments for your items the day after your shipment is received AND processed by their warehouse staff. That second step is important: Decluttr wants their people to examine the items you send them to make sure they’re in good condition and that there aren’t any serious issues with your tech items, such as a cracked screen on your iPad or smartphone.
But Decluttr may still buy damaged tech items from you, and you can warn them about damage up front. They just may offer a lower price. Remember, they empower you with the right of refusal and free shipping to get your item back if you don’t like their lower offer – that’s their Tech Price Promise.
You can choose to receive your payment from Decluttr in three ways: They can issue you a direct deposit, pay you through PayPal or mail you a check. If you’d like to donate the extra cash you earn to charity, they can do that directly for you as well.
Pros and Cons of “Decluttring”
Trying to decide whether it’s worth it to sort through your stuff and send it to some company on the Internet? I hear you. Let’s break down a few pros and cons.
Pro: You get unwanted items out of your house. I don’t think the mental happiness quotient of clearing out a bunch of unused stuff can be overstated. And did I mention there’s less to dust?
Con: There have been reports of mistakes in warehouse reception. Decluttr is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an excellent Trustpilot rating. However, they have made mistakes, as you can see by reviewing their BBB complaints. Some people have said Decluttr has mixed up tech items sent to them and said there was more damage than the seller reported. Their customer service department seems ready and willing to resolve disputes quickly, though.
Pro: You make money. If you’ve got stuff you’re not using – or you’re keeping for sentimental reasons – giving it a second life with someone else while you get a little financial reward is the best.
Con: You might be lowballed. The resale market with a company like Decluttr isn’t always fair for the seller, so it may be worth your while to do a little research and find the company that’ll give you the best amount of scratch for your stuff. Then weigh that against the convenience of selling all your stuff in one go at one place and decide which offer you’ll go with.
Other Sites Like Decluttr
If you’re in the mood to clear out a bunch of stuff, Decluttr isn’t your only option to sell your used items and make a bit of cash. Other companies follow similar models: You tell them what you have to sell, box it up, mail it and then receive money, though some buyers may focus on a specific kind of used item. Here are a few other options:
Amazon Trade-In – If you shop on Amazon, you’ve no doubt seen their purchase offers near the buy buttons on any product page. They’ll buy back games, movies, books, tablets, and more, and you can get paid in Amazon gift cards.
Bookscouter – Bookscouter is a great place to start if you are looking to resell books. Get quotes and compare prices at several online reselling sites.
Poshmark – Poshmark takes a little more effort on the seller’s part. You take a photo of your gently used women’s, men’s, or children’s clothing with your smartphone, list it, then ship it to the buyer using a Poshmark prepaid label. Poshmark will pay you after they take their cut. They buy accessories and handbags, too (designer handbags also sell well on eBay).
SecondSpin – SecondSpin has been in business since the ’80s, and they want to buy your Blu-ray, DVDs, video games, CDs, and vinyl. It can be worth it to check what they offer on the items you’re considering selling to Decluttr.
Feeling inspired to do late-late-late spring cleaning and produce a little cash? Me, too. Hit me up after you go on your selling spree and tell me what you were able to pull in from selling to Decluttr. Get started here.