We all have stuff just gathering dust or taking up space in the garage or closets. Why not turn these items you don’t need into extra cash? Or maybe you want to save some money, which you can do by buying used stuff online. You probably already know about this and have gone through a couple of VarageSale App reviews. If you are still up in the air whether to use the app, we will tell you everything you need to know including all the dirt.
What is VarageSale?
VarageSale app found at Varagesale.com is an app developed to assist people buy and sell used items locally. Did you know sites like Swagbucks.com can pay you for downloading apps like these? Now you do. In any event, VarageSale was founded in 2012 by co-founders Tami Zuckerman and Carl Mercier. It’s funded by several investment groups, including Sequoia Capital and LightSpeed Venture. The startup is currently headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
How Does The VarageSale App Work?
Well, it seems the app is not for just anyone. You will have to join a VarageSale community within your area. VarageSale communities are monitored by admins for the safety of the members. Once you are approved by your area’s admin you can now log in and start transacting.
Approval can take days. If the admin in your area does not approve your membership request you can contact them for assistance.
Transacting with VarageSale App
If you have an item you’d want to sell, you simply take photos of it and post it up. When a member is interested in your item, the app will send you a notification of the same. They can comment on the photo of the item or send you a private message.
Once you agree to do business, you will have to reserve the item for the buyer up until you seal the deal. You can then schedule a meeting with the buyer. If everything sails through you exchange the item for cash.
How Much Does VarageSale App cost?
The VarageSale app is totally free on the App Store and Google’s Play Store. All you have to do is download and install it on your mobile device and start transacting. Did you know you can get paid for downloading apps like this on Swagbucks.com? Now you do. If you don’t have iOS or Android, you can use VarageSale through your web browser.
How Do I Start with VarageSale?
Once you download the app you can go in and register. If you are using your web browser to sign up, you can do that directly using your Facebook account, or you can register using your email. You can either buy or sell using one account.
If you are a buyer, you can start browsing for items, contact the seller and schedule a meeting. If you are selling, all you have to do is post a few pictures of the item and wait for a notification from an interested buyer.
VarageSale App Features
VarageSale Community
As mentioned earlier the app is not for just anyone who needs to buy second hand items. You will have to go through a screening process before the admins in your area approve you to join your area’s VarageSale community.
Several selling categories
It appears you can sell almost anything on VarageSale including fashion accessories, men's and Women's clothes, jewelry, cars, electronics, toys, men's and women's shoes, and a whole lot of other stuff.
User rating
The rating feature allows both buyers and sellers to rate each others’ overall experience. If you had a good experience with the person you did business with you can praise them and this will reflect on their profile.
What We Like About VarageSale
Tight vetting process
They don’t allow just anyone in. You’ll have to pass a strict vetting process before you can buy or sell through the app or desktop website. This makes the app safer and more trustworthy.
VarageSale App Complaints
So far it all sounds good and dandy. But like any company there are complaints against the VarageSale app that you need to know so you can make an informed decision.
Some administrators are a bunch of jerks
There are several complaints about how the admins treat people. If you’ve got a problem, they can make you feel like an idiot. If you don’t have thick skin, they can get to your last nerve pretty fast.
They can shut you down for no good reason
Some users have had their accounts taken down for reasons you can’t sell to a five year old. It seems this happens when you register using your Facebook profile. Even if you passed vetting, it doesn’t mean they won’t come for you sometime in the future.
You have to move your ass to do business
You have to meet the buyer or seller if you plan on doing business. Some users have complained of buyers jerking them around for months before finally agreeing to meet. Did you know you can conveniently make money at the comfort of your home with the Swagbucks.com app? Well, now you know.
No online payment method
Unlike Amazon.com where you can buy online from verified sellers, there’s no online payment method at VarageSale which is quite annoying to some users.
No BBB profile
At the time of writing this review, the Better Business Bureau is yet to accredit the company.
VarageSale App Alternatives
Amazon provides used items for sale as well without the headaches of having to meet someone and the other issues listed above. For instance Amazon.com offers free 1-2 day shipping so you don't have to meet with possible sketchy people.
Is The VarageSale App A Scam?
It is definitely not a scam. They’ve really tried to make it a safer alternative with strict vetting. However, there are complaints that make the app not as popular as the developers in Toronto would want it to be.
Their administrators could use a class or two on people skills. Furthermore, you have to be willing to meet strangers to buy or sell something with the app. The lack of a Better Business Bureau accreditation may turn some people off as well. At the end of the day, it’s all up to you. Some of these complaints may not be deal breakers for you.
If so, you have sites like Swagbucks.com that you can use to buy stuff online on the cheap all the while putting some money back into your wallet in the process. You can also shop for the same stuff using Amazon.com app and take advantage of the FREE guaranteed Amazon Prime Free 1-2 Day Delivery. So you have other options as well to consider.
Well, that's enough from me. Don’t forget to chime in your thoughts in the comments section below. We would love to know what you think about this or any other similar app.
Until next time,
Eddy with a y
VarageSale App
Summary
VarageSale is an app and website that allows people within a certain community buy and sell used items. The app has been around for a while, but its popularity is slowly burning out. There are complaints, red flags and broken promises you might want to know about. We have broken them down in this VarageSale App review.
This article was helpful to me because I have never heard of this company before. I wasn’t even aware they were operating in my local area. It’s a shame that they don’t have any online payment portals. I have tried to sell a few things second hand from home and yes, I too have been mucked around by people booking a time to come and look at the item and then not turning up. Thanks for reviewing this application for me. I wouldn’t have known about it otherwise.
You’re very welcome.
Great Impartial Review
Thanks for sharing, I’ve heard of Varagesale but never downloaded. Living in NYC, Craigslist is definitely my go-to online community marketplace, but it’s always cool to hear about new or improved services; in this case, Varagesale is neither. That’s such a shame to hear about the admins; why assemble a community just to degrade and berate them? The app developers should have a better handle on the situation and take more pride in their business. Try hiring a professional customer service manager to run your admin instead of allowing nonsensical reviews to taint your brand, such a rookie mistake!
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Thanks for this review.
The idea of VarageSale sounds great on paper, as great means of getting rid of expendable stuff. I would welcome having the app despite all the cautions you mention. Because common sense and carefulness is needed in everything. Like you said one person’s garbage can be another’s asset. It’s all about needs. And humans…they will be humans and there are those who will try to screw others.
Thanks again,
Eli
You’re welcome. I agree that common sense can go a long way to avoid bad experiences.
I haven’t heard of VarageSale before, but I do a lot of selling through apps and, as you say, this doesn’t sound like a great one. It’s hard when these apps don’t focus on customer care for either the buyer or seller. This one sounds like it’s more just to connect up buyers and sellers, but not having a way to pay through the app is a big mistake. No one wants to carry cash to see a stranger to buy something. Thanks for the heads up.
Agreed they should facilitate a payment. Thanks for chiming in.
Thanks for sharing this Eddy. I think it is really great idea since it will help connect buyers together easily.
But I have a question for you. Are the sales only for people within this community, or only for people in the U.K, America, Asia can we get to see buyers from around the globe?
You’re welcome. So community and location are pretty much the same thing. You join a community based on your location from what I understand. But I’m not sure what countries are excluded or not.
I didn't know
Great information. I have never heard of this app Varage. It doesn’t sound like a very good app so I will stay away for sure. I didn’t know that Amazon offered a program to sell used items. Will have to check this out and the closet is getting too full and not enough time in the day for a yard sale. Thanks for the heads up.
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You’re welcome. Good luck.
Hi Eddy
This concept sounds like a Facebook selling group with a bit of E-bay mixed in.
It’s a good idea for safety reasons, however I think perhaps social media is a bit saturated with selling sites that can be operated via a phone app hence the hype over this one is burning out?
apart from all the local selling groups on Facebook which I tend to go to first you have Shpock as well which is doing a massive marketing campaign at the moment here in the UK.
I do find Facebook a lot easier as I just invoice them through pay pal or give them 24 hours to collect if they want to collect in person if not it stays on sale.
Does it look like Varagesale could be going out of business?
It sounds like you do a lot of buying from Facebook and are happy with it. So that’s cool. Unfortunately I’m not a psychic otherwise I’d be rich. lol So I don’t know if Varagesale is going out of business or not. I’m just sharing what the feedback has been. I guess time will tell. Thanks for chiming in.
Hello Eddy:
Thanks for your review on Varage Sale. At first it sounded like a new and cool way to sell stuff. But after reading the complete review, I don’t think it is something for me. It sounds too complicated and the negative admin support is a turn off. But I will be looking into SwagBucks. That may have some potential for me personally. Thanks for your honest review and best to you in the future.
Mike
You’re welcome Mike. I’m glad I could introduce this to you.
I have great results with Varage Sale. Yes, their are some hick ups but after awhile, you learn how to deal them.
Try it out first, before you make a negative comment.
Because it is in your local area, it makes it very easy, to buy and sell.
Safety is a reasonable factor in making your decision. Choose your location your picking up wisely. Also, Choose who you have picp up wisely too.
Enjoy!
Please Help
I was a successful letgo seller for years, I had many sales and had a 5 star rating. Don’t waste your time on offerup/letgo if your a yard sale type person, there are way to many new high end items, for the average junker to list with. If anyone knows an easy no frills sales app. I’ll be looking out for it.
Don’t bother with Craigslist or mercari or varagesale already tried them. Thx
VarageSale admins suck
Great idea for the app. Has some bugs periodically. But the admins destroy the greatness of this app. They won’t give you a chance to talk to them. They say we can’t have fake names, yet all the admins do. You look the wrong way and they shut you down. They should get a real job, but they probably can’t so that’s why they are admins on varagesale. Horrible non existent customer skills. These people couldn’t hold a real job for two minutes. The degrading way they talk to members/customers are despicable. When you even try to talk to them, they hide and shut you down. Have never had such a horrible experience as this. Oh well. They won’t be around much longer. They can go work for Trump
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