How to sell your used items in Japan - other than via flea market apps

When trying to dispose items that you no longer use, there are several options available here in Japan - the most popular of which would be to sell to second-hand stores, or to online flea markets. At the moment the most popular mobile app is Mercari, a selling site that also has operations in the US and UK. Other flea market apps worth looking into are Rakuma (formerly fril) by Rakuten, and PayPay Furima (PayPay フリマ).

While transactions using these flea market apps are pretty straightforward, it is not always easy to make a sale. Also, for every item you intend to sell, you also need to mark it up a bit to cover your shipping costs.

Recently, I discovered an alternative to the flea market apps. There is an app that allows you to offer your branded used items for purchase by either an online reseller shop or a discount store network. I am referring to the following: Brandear, Reclo, and Offer.

A. Brandear and Reclo  

Both Brandear and Reclo are online shops that resell popular brand items. At the same time, they purchase branded items from customers who wish to dispose of them from their closets.

To begin the transaction, create an account on their websites and then you can immediately request for them to pick-up the items you intend to sell. You can also request for a cardboard for your items, and you can even choose the size of the cardboard. It is also fine to use those cardboards or paper bags that are already piling up in your home.

After their courier picks up your items, it will usually take about 3-4 days before these shops inform you of the price they are willing to buy for each item. Once they inform you, you can choose to accept or decline their offer. If you choose to proceed with the sale (of all or just some of your items), you will be asked to provide your bank account details.

B. Offer

Offer is an app developed for the Hard-Off network of stores. The process of selling your items here is a bit different compared to Brandear and Reclo. Here, you definitely need to download the Offer app after creating an account. The app is necessary for you to upload photos of the items that you intend to sell.

Another difference between Offer and Brandear/Reclo is that while the latter sells and purchases only fashion items, Offer also buys kitchen appliances, computers and peripherals, digital cameras and audio equipment, among others.

Anyway, the Offer app also has a guide for the type of photos that you must take and upload for each of your items. After uploading the photos, the app will set 3 days for the shops in the Hard-Off network to give you a price offer. If no shop gives an offer after 3 days, you will be asked to delete the item. Not to worry; you can re-upload them at a later time. I did that several times and I got offers for some of my items after a second (and for one item, even a third) upload.

Once you receive an offer, the app will prompt you to accept it and you will then be forwarded to their web page, where you will place the date and time you would like them to pick-up your items. You will also be asked to enter your bank details.

For both types of shops, aside from entering your bank details into their system, it will also be good for you to provide a photocopy of your IDs and bank book (or ATM card) - just in case these shops have problems with your name.

In my experience, Offer often gives a better deal of purchase compared to Brandear and/or Reclo. The main advantage of Brandear and Reclo though, is that it can give you 1 ANA mile per 100 yen of sale (for Reclo) or automatic 300 ANA miles (for a minimum of 1,000 yen of sale from Brandear). The condition is that both sites must be accessed via their respective links in the ANA Mileage Mall.

I hope you can explore these sites and apps if and when you plan to sell your used items. When you do, I hope you get a lot of good deals.