It’s a truth more often than not that people don’t replace monitors because the old one broke, but rather because they wanted something bigger or with the newer LED-backlighting methods that provide better light and color.

What this means is that you probably have an older LCD panel monitor that’s in perfect working order and aren’t doing anything with it. It’s sitting there, in the closet, and you’ve finally decided to get rid of the thing.

Below are my suggestions on how to sell an old monitor quickly.

Before I list off my suggestions, here are a few no-no’s:

• Don’t state how much you paid for it originally. Nobody cares, and it doesn’t make your monitor any more valuable because the thing is used. Saying "Originally paid $X" in your ad means absolutely nothing.
• Do not price it higher than the current lowest-priced new monitor of the same size. It’s very unlikely anyone will buy it if you do this. Let’s say you have a 19-inch panel. The current lowest-priced panel in that size is $95. If you price it anywhere near there, that’s bad. "But I paid $250 for it originally!" Again, nobody cares because it’s used. The highest price you can charge is 20% below what the cheapest new monitor of the size size costs now – assuming yours is in mint condition.
• Not showing a photo of the monitor with a picture on it. It’s a monitor and buyers want to see it working. Don’t show that, and it will be a hard sell.

Where to post your ad?

In the USA, the best place is Craigslist. No cost for the ad, and tons of people use CL every day.

How to post your ad?

Unless you live in the middle of the woods, it should be a local-only sale, cash only, local pickup only (meaning no shipping). If you have to ship the thing, you’ll have to increase the price out of what most people would be willing to pay.

Example ad

Title: [Size here] [Brand name here] [Model here]
Price: [20% below cost of same-size monitor brand new here]
Description: Mint condition [Size here] [Brand name here] [Model here] monitor. No dead pixels, backlight is good and bright, all controls work, comes with power cable. Local pickup only, cash only.

Some people feel compelled to write ads that waffle incessantly. Don’t do that. Just get to the point and the monitor will sell quickly.

How to determine your price and deal with hagglers

Using the 19-inch example, we know a new monitor in that size sells for $95. Knock off 20% and you end up with $76. Knock off another buck resulting in an "even" number and you have $75, so that’s what you post as the price.

The haggler, looking to get everything for nothing, will lowball you and offer $40. Come back with $65, he’ll say $45, you say $55, he says $50, you take the $50.

And yes, if you can sell a 19-inch used panel for $50, take the money and be glad you got it.

Final notes:

Don’t discuss price in email. If the haggler makes an offer before coming over to see it, just reply with "We can discuss price when you come to take a look at it". That lets the haggler know you’re willing to negotiate. However if the haggler starts getting snippy at you in email, don’t bother with the guy and wait until more replies to your ad come in (and believe me, they will).

There’s always that idiot that will reply to your ad and say "Do you ship?" even though you said point blank "Local delivery only" in your ad. If this happens, reply and say you’ll have to add in shipping cost to do that. If the buyer agrees, calculate the ship cost, reply back, tell the buyer the new price, and if he agrees, sell it.

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