TL;DR: LetGo can be a useful app for selling old possessions and has a lot of different categories for items. But, you need to be careful as scams are possible and there is no return policy for sold items.
Over your life, you have probably picked up a lot of random stuff you don’t need anymore. Maybe those clothes don’t fit you anymore, or maybe you want to get rid of that old gaming console.
Instead of tossing that old stuff out, why not make a few bucks? LetGo is an app service that helps you sell your old stuff to people around you. You can use the app to sell old things without having to worry about shipping or driving hours to meet the buyer.
We are always fans of apps that help you make extra money. So today we are going to take a look at LetGo and see if it is a good selling app to make some side cash.
EASE OF USE
Super simple layout with an app that’s fairly intuitive.
STREAMLINED SELLING PROCESS
LetGo gets you directly in contact with potential buyers and sellers. You can message through the app itself so you don’t need to give out your phone number.
CATALOG
Their catalog is vast and includes listings for clothing, electronics, home goods, crafts, and even used cars.
LetGo: Overview
LetGo is a free mobile app that is designed to help you sell your old possessions. Simply create a listing for an item you want to sell and the app will use location services to find potential buyers in your neighborhood. You can use LetGo to sell all kinds of things: clothing, furniture, electronics, and even used cars.
The main draw of LetGo is how it streamlines connecting sellers to buyers. Now you don’t have to make a classified on Craigslist or put something up on eBay with no guarantee anyone will see your listing. LetGo makes it pretty straightforward to find buyers in your area and connect you with them
In addition to selling old possessions, you can also post about jobs and services you need performed. So LetGo is more than just a selling app; it can also be a way to find people for odd jobs.
How Does LetGo Work?
Essentially, LetGo is a big online repository of classified ads, like those you’d find in the newspaper. The difference is instead of paper, it’s on a mobile platform.
First things first; when you download the app you will be prompted to make an account. You can create a new one from scratch or you can sign in using an already existing Facebook or Google account.
The homepage contains a selection of local listings and a sidebar from which you can navigate all the categories. Some of the more popular categories include cars, housing, home goods, electronics, sporting goods, and fashion (clothing). There is also a special section for jobs and services.
Listings are pretty standard for a classifieds app. Each listing has a picture of the item and a short description. If you find something you like, you can send a direct message to the seller and agree to the price and work out where to pick up the item.
How Does Shipping on LetGo Work?
The best part of LetGo is that it hooks you up with people in your local area. That means you most likely won’t have to ship then to buyers at a distance. Instead, you can just meet up with them in person to make the transaction.
Of course, you can always choose to ship an item if you find a seller that is in a different city or state than you. However, LetGo does not handle shipping so there is no guarantee that the seller will keep their end of the bargain.
Many other selling apps help facilitate the shipping process, either by making shipping labels or actually sending the packages themselves. So this is one of our main criticisms of the platform.
How Do I Make Listing on LetGo?
Making a listing is as simple as searching through listings. From the main menu, you can select the option to make a new listing. Choose the category of the item you want to sell, take some pictures, and write a description. You can then post the listing for everyone on the app to see. If someone contacts you with an offer, you can agree and meet up to make the sale.
LetGo displays classifieds with the most recently listed items first. So if you post a listing, and no one buys it, then it will move down the list as more people make postings. In other words, the longer the listing sits, the less likely it is that people will be able to find it.
LetGo also has a feature that lets you see how many people have looked at your listing. Go into your profile and click on the “settings” tab. From there, navigate to the listing you want to view and clock on the “more info” button near the top. The number next to the eye symbol is how many people have viewed your item.
To fix this issue, LetGo allows you to “bump” your listing which moves it back to the top. Individual bumps cost $1.99, so depending on what you are selling, buying a bump may not be worth it. However, buying bumps can be a good way to keep your listings visible so you have a better chance of making a sale.
Keep in mind that you can’t sell everything on LetGo. Some prohibited items include adult content, drugs & alcohol, live animals, food items, weapons and other dangerous items, and currencies, among others. You can read a full list of prohibited items here.
How Does Payment Work?
LetGo itself does not facilitate any of the transactions. Rather, it just makes a platform where you can find prospective buyers. That means LetGo does not handle payments through the app. You can agree to make payments however you want, whether its cash, through an app, or some other method of payment.
How Is the Quality of Items for Sale?
LetGo is an open marketplace, meaning that virtually anyone can sell whatever they want. As such, time quality can vary drastically. Unfortunately, LetGo does not vet the quality of items, so it is possible that you might buy something that is in less than ideal condition. So, when looking at listings, make sure you closely inspect the item and inquire about the quality before you buy it.
What About Item Returns?
Once again, LetGo is not directly involved in the selling of any items on their platform. So the company does not have any return policy for items sold in their marketplace. Transactions between buyers and sellers are considered final. Besides, most people are selling things they don’t want anymore so it is unlikely that they will take them back.
LetGo Pro
LetGo Pro is a premium paid service for the app that is aimed at those selling cars. The Pro option gives you a few extra tools to make finding customers and selling items easier.
Those who sign up for the Pro service will get a verified Pro badge on their account, direct leads to customers, and free bumps to help boost your listings. You will also get a useful click to call option so you can get in contact with potential buyers much easier.
The 3 pricing tiers for LetGo Pro are:
- $99/month – up to 30 vehicles
- $399/month – up to 70 vehicles
- $599/month – up to 150 vehicles
Is Selling My Stuff on LetGo Safe?
Selling your stuff on LetGo is about as safe as using any other classifieds site. That means, yes, it is possible to get scammed. If you agree to a transaction that involves shipping rather than an in-person cash transaction, then it is possible that the seller will take you money and not send the item. It is also possible that the item will not be as advertised.
So, it is very important to be diligent and inspect anything you want to buy before you hand over any money. You should also try to only accept cash, and only make transactions in person. Also, make sure you read product descriptions thoroughly and ask the seller for more information, such as pictures from different angles or purchase receipts. If you pay attention and are diligent, then you should not run into any problems when using the app.
LetGo Alternatives
LetGo is just one of many marketplace apps that connect buyers with sellers. Other popular marketplace apps include websites like Craigslist, OfferUp, Facebook marketplace, and 5Miles. All of these sites have a similar structure to LetGo and have their own strengths and weaknesses. We would recommend checking out at least a couple of these alternatives before making a decision on which service to use.
LetGo Pros & Cons
Pros
- Large catalog list. LetGo has a wide range of items for sale that span multiple categories. Their catalog includes listings for clothing, electronics, home goods, crafts, and even used cars. If you have something to sell, you can list it on LetGo.
- Simple layout. It is very easy to navigate pages and create your own listing. The app interface is fairly intuitive, although we noticed that it takes some time for a listing you make to pop up on the feed.
- Streamlines selling process. LetGo gets you directly in contact with potential buyers and sellers. You can message people directly through the app so you don’t have to contact them via email or phone. That also means that random people won’t have your email address and phone number.
Cons
- Scams are possible. Because LetGo does not vet any of the listings, it is possible that bad actors will try to scam you. Items may not be as advertised and if you agree to shipping, there is no guarantee that you will actually get the item.
- No return policies. All sales between buyers and sellers are considered final. The app itself does not handle any kind of payments or transactions, so if you buy something from someone, you won’t be able to return it.
- Bumps make selling some items not worth it. Bumps cost $1.99 per bump. If you are selling something for $5-$10, then that $1.99 bump fee may make it not worth selling.
Conclusions
So, do we recommend using LetGo to sell your old possessions? Yes, we would recommend LetGo, but with a few caveats. If you use the app, make sure that you only agree to in-person transactions with cash, unless you know the other person and can trust them to ship your items. Also, we would highly recommend inspecting every item before you buy and ask for additional pictures. Remember, if you buy something and it turns out lower quality than was advertised, you won’t be able to return the item or get your money back. As long as you are diligent and pay attention, then you should not have any problems using LetGo to sell your stuff.
