Where to Sell Used Items in Colombia Without Paying a Commission

You moved to a new apartment and ended up with a sofa that doesn't fit in the new place. Or you simply upgraded your phone and the old one has been sitting in a drawer gathering dust for three months. In Colombia, selling used items should be simple—and it can be, as long as you know where to post and how to avoid commissions or being flooded with buyers who never show up.

This guide covers the platforms that actually work today for selling furniture, cell phones, appliances, motorcycles, and everything else left over when you move house—without paying commissions or relying on intermediaries. If you want to see real options right now, you can view apartments and houses on Colombia Move —posting is completely free.

Let's be honest from the start: not all platforms work the same for every item. A cell phone sells differently than a refrigerator, and a motorcycle has its own rules. So, beyond just a list of websites, this is a practical guide on what to use depending on what you have.

The most used platforms and their pros and cons

Let's start with the ones everyone already knows.

Facebook Marketplace is, by far, the most popular in Colombia—it has a lot of traffic, it's free, and contact via WhatsApp is direct. But it has real problems: scams abound, there is no protection mechanism for the seller or the buyer, and the "is it still available?" messages that never lead anywhere can become exhausting. If you are going to use it, at least inform yourself about how it works before posting valuable items.

MercadoLibre has huge national reach and a reputation system that generates more trust among buyers. The problem: it charges a commission. Depending on the category, the fee ranges from 5% to 12% of the sale price—and that hurts especially when you are already selling items at a reduced price. For an $800,000 refrigerator, you could be giving up between $40,000 and $96,000 without having negotiated anything.

OLX still exists in Colombia, but its traffic has dropped considerably. It is not the first option for most categories at the moment.

Which platform to use depending on what you are selling

The right platform depends on the item:

• Cell phones and technology: Facebook Marketplace or Colombia Move. Cell phones have constant demand, and quick contact via WhatsApp closes sales. Photos are critical—with a second-hand phone, buyers want to see every angle before asking.
• Furniture and appliances: Colombia Move or Facebook. The neighborhood matters a lot here—moving a refrigerator or a sofa has a real freight cost, so buyers always filter by proximity. Put the exact neighborhood in the title.
• Motorcycles and cars: Colombia Move has vehicle classifieds active. Always include a valid SOAT, mileage, and photos of the engine—without that, buyers assume something is wrong.
• Moving items (clothes, books, utensils): For low-value items, Facebook Marketplace or neighborhood WhatsApp groups are the fastest way. If you have many things at once, a "virtual garage sale" type post with photos of everything works better than posting item by item.
• Tools and work equipment: Colombia Move or WhatsApp groups by trade—carpenters, electricians, builders. There are very specific buyers for those types of items.

Post for free on Colombia Move: no commission, no complications

Colombia Move is a completely free Colombian marketplace—it doesn't charge for posting or for closing the sale. It was born as a bilingual platform to connect Colombians and foreigners, which makes it especially useful if you are selling in neighborhoods with a mixed population (Poblado, Chapinero, El Rodadero).

What sets it apart from Facebook Marketplace: every seller has a public storefront—their own page where all their items appear under their name. If you are selling several things at once (a move, the inventory of a closed business), that is a huge advantage: buyers see everything at once and can make offers directly. Additionally, the ads are indexed on Google, which means someone searching for "used refrigerator Laureles" can find your post organically.

According to active ads on Colombia Move (June 2026), categories like cameras and technology accessories currently have 0 active posts despite receiving real searches from buyers. Whoever posts today in those categories has practically no direct competition—the demand exists, the sellers do not.

The most active categories for used items:

• Technology and cell phones
• Furniture and home
• Vehicles and motorcycles

Five mistakes that cause your ad to receive no messages

It's not just where you post—it's also how you post. These mistakes kill sales before they even begin:

1. Bad or too few photos

In Colombia, the buyer wants to see the item from several angles before even asking. A single poorly lit photo makes people assume there is something not being shown. Minimum three photos: front, detail of the condition, and one showing the real context (the furniture in the space, the phone with the screen on).

2. Not specifying the neighborhood

"Medellín" doesn't say anything useful. "Laureles" already helps. "Estadio Sector — Laureles" is ideal. Appliance and furniture buyers filter by proximity because moving a refrigerator has a real freight cost.

3. Inflated price without logic

If an identical item sells on MercadoLibre for $400,000, setting it at $550,000 "to haggle" only ensures that no one contacts you. Haggling is real in Colombia, but don't start so high that you scare off the first message. An honest price with a margin of $30,000–$50,000 moves more than an over-quotation.

4. Generic description

"Sofa in good condition" doesn't sell. "3-seater gray sofa, bought 2 years ago at Alkosto, no stains or tears, perfect for a small apartment, selling because I'm moving" does sell. Specificity builds trust.

5. Not refreshing the ad

On platforms that sort listings by date of posting or update, an old ad falls to the bottom of the results. Refresh or edit it every week even if you don't change anything—that's the only way it stays visible.

If you are in the middle of a move: sell sooner than you think necessary

Time is the enemy when it comes to selling during a move. What doesn't sell in 2–3 weeks probably has to be given away or you'll have to pay to have it taken away. The advice no one wants to hear but that always works: lower the price sooner than seems reasonable to you.

A fridge sold for $100,000 less than expected is infinitely better than a fridge you have to pay to get rid of. And if you have many items, create a storefront on Colombia Move with everything visible under your name — buyers searching for "used furniture Bogotá" or "furnished apartment" can find you more easily when everything is in one profile.

Frequently asked questions

❓ Does MercadoLibre charge a commission for selling used items in Colombia?

Yes. MercadoLibre charges between 5% and 12% of the sale price depending on the category. For low-value items or when you want to maximize the net price, free platforms like Colombia Move or Facebook Marketplace are a better option.

❓ How do I post for free on Colombia Move?

Go to colombiamove.com/publicar, choose the category for your item, upload photos, add a price and description, and that's it. You don't need a credit card or to create a company. The ad goes live and appears in Google searches.

❓ How many photos should I include in my classified ad?

A minimum of three: one general front-facing photo, one of the details (condition, serial number for tech, engine for vehicles), and one contextual shot showing the item in actual use. More photos always help — buyers of used items want to see exactly what they are buying before contacting you.

❓ Is it safe to receive payments via Nequi or Daviplata when selling?

The risk lies in fake receipts. Never hand over an item based on a transfer screenshot — always verify in your banking app that the money has actually arrived. Falsified Nequi and Daviplata receipts are the most common scam in classified sales in Colombia.

❓ How to arrange a safe in-person delivery when selling through classifieds?

Choose a public and busy place: a shopping mall reception, a supermarket parking lot, or a police station with a public service area. For high-value items, request the transfer before handing over the product—never trust a screenshot of the receipt. Go accompanied if you can, and always during the day.

❓ Is it possible to sell used items from intermediate cities like Pereira, Ibagué, or Barranquilla?

Yes, and often with less competition than in Bogotá or Medellín. Post by indicating your city and exact neighborhood — local buyers will find you directly. In cities where classified inventory is low, well-posted items sell faster because there are fewer comparable options for the buyer.

❓ Can I sell used items in Colombia if I am a foreigner?

Yes, no problem. You don't need a RUT or a local bank account to sell used personal items. Posting on Colombia Move or Facebook Marketplace doesn't require any documents. Just keep in mind that Colombian buyers respond better to ads written in Spanish—even if the follow-up contact is in English.

Ready to sell?

If you've made it this far, you already know more than most sellers in Colombia. The difference between an ad that sells in 3 days and one that has gone 3 weeks without messages is usually simple: good photos, the exact neighborhood, and a realistic price.

Post for free on Colombia Move in less than 5 minutes — no commissions, no hassle, with direct contact via WhatsApp. And if you have questions about how much to ask for something or how to deal with difficult buyers, the community at colombiamove.com/comunidad has people who sell every day.