The best place to sell old magazines depends on their rarity, condition, and whether you prefer local pickup or reaching a wider audience. For convenience and avoiding shipping, Facebook Marketplace is often the top choice, allowing you to sell them locally, potentially all at once. If local sales don't pan out, eBay offers a broader reach.
Best Places to Sell Old Magazines
Selling old magazines can be a great way to declutter and earn some extra cash, especially if you have valuable or collectible issues. The most effective approach often involves starting locally to avoid shipping complexities, then expanding to online platforms for a wider market.
1. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is an excellent starting point, particularly if you have a collection of magazines and prefer not to deal with packaging and shipping.
- Pros:
- Local Sales: Connect directly with buyers in your area.
- No Shipping Worries: Buyers typically arrange for local pickup, making the process simpler and removing the hassle and cost of shipping.
- Sell in Bulk: You can list an entire lot of magazines at once, which can be easier than selling individual issues.
- No Fees: Facebook does not charge listing or selling fees for local pickup transactions.
- Considerations: Your reach is limited to local buyers, and pricing might be lower than on dedicated collector sites.
2. eBay
If selling locally isn't successful or you have rare, high-value, or specialized magazines that would appeal to a national or international audience, eBay is your next best bet.
- Pros:
- Wider Audience: Access to millions of potential buyers globally.
- Higher Value Items: Ideal for selling individual rare issues, first editions, or complete runs that collectors seek.
- Auction or Buy It Now: Flexibility in selling format.
- Considerations:
- Shipping: Requires careful packaging and calculated shipping costs. Magazines can be heavy, affecting shipping prices.
- Fees: eBay charges insertion fees and final value fees on sales.
- Competition: You'll be competing with many other sellers.
Other Avenues for Selling Magazines
Beyond these primary options, consider other platforms and methods depending on the type of magazines you have:
- Specialty Online Marketplaces:
- Etsy: Good for vintage magazines, especially those with unique cover art or fashion spreads.
- Collector Forums/Websites: Many niche communities exist for specific types of magazines (e.g., comic books, vintage fashion, historical events). These platforms often have dedicated buy/sell sections.
- Bonanza/Ruby Lane: Similar to eBay but sometimes with a more curated feel for unique and vintage items.
- Local Options:
- Used Bookstores/Antique Shops: Some may buy old magazines, especially if they align with their inventory. Call ahead to check their interest.
- Comic Book Stores: Excellent for selling vintage comic magazines or graphic novel series.
- Flea Markets & Garage Sales: Great for offloading less valuable or common magazines in bulk. You set your own prices and interact directly with buyers.
- Consignment Shops: Some shops might take vintage magazines on consignment.
- Auction Houses: For extremely rare or valuable magazine collections, a reputable auction house might be the best option to reach serious collectors and secure high prices.
Tips for Successful Magazine Sales
To maximize your chances of selling and getting a good price for your old magazines, consider these tips:
- Assess Condition: Magazines in excellent condition, especially those still in their original polybags, will fetch higher prices. Be honest about any flaws (e.g., tears, water damage, missing pages).
- Research Value:
- Check completed listings on eBay for similar items to get an idea of what buyers are actually paying.
- Consider the magazine's rarity, the significance of the issue (e.g., first issue, famous cover, historical event coverage), and the popularity of the content.
- High-Quality Photos: Take clear, well-lit photos of the front and back covers, any significant articles or ads, and any damage.
- Detailed Descriptions: Provide accurate descriptions, including:
- Publication date and issue number.
- Key features, articles, or famous cover subjects.
- Condition (e.g., "Very Good," "Good," "Fair") and details of any imperfections.
- Bundle Similar Issues: Consider selling magazines in themed bundles (e.g., a run of a specific title, magazines from a particular year, or those focusing on a specific topic like cars or fashion) to attract buyers and increase perceived value.
- Shipping Best Practices (if applicable):
- Use sturdy cardboard mailers or boxes.
- Protect magazines with plastic sleeves or bags.
- Add cardboard inserts to prevent bending.
- Choose a reliable shipping service with tracking.
By evaluating your magazines' specific characteristics and leveraging the right selling platforms, you can effectively turn your old collections into cash.
