Where to Sell Used Items in Colombia Without Paying Commission

They moved apartments and ended up with a sofa that doesn't fit in the new place. Or they simply changed phones and the old one has been collecting dust in a drawer for three months. In Colombia, selling used things should be simple — and it can be, as long as you know where to post and how to avoid being charged a commission or getting flooded with buyers who never show up.

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

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

Quick text for posting an ad that actually gets messages

A good ad doesn't need to be long. It needs to answer what the buyer is going to ask anyway: what it is, where it is, what condition it's in, how much it costs and how it's delivered.

Template: "Selling [product] in [neighborhood/city]. Condition: [new, used, real details]. Includes [accessories]. Price: [amount] negotiable/non-negotiable. Delivery in [area] or pickup. Write on WhatsApp if you can come this week."

If you want to save time, post from Colombia Move and reuse that same text when you share the ad.

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 are abundant, there's no protection mechanism for either the seller or the buyer, and messages of "is it still available?" that go nowhere can become exhausting. If you're going to use it, at least inform yourself 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 commission. Depending on the category, the fee ranges from 5% to 12% of the sale price — and that hurts especially when you're already selling items at a reduced price. For a refrigerator worth $800,000, 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's not the first choice for most categories right now.

What platform to use depending on what you're selling

The right platform depends on the item:

• Phones and technology: Facebook Marketplace or Colombia Move. 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 sofa has a real shipping cost, so buyers always filter by proximity. Put the exact neighborhood from the title.
• Motorcycles and cars: Colombia Move has active vehicle classifieds . Always include current 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 that type of item.

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

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

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

The most active categories for used items:

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

Five mistakes that keep your ad from getting messages

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

1. Bad photos or too few

In Colombia the buyer wants to see the item from several angles before even asking. A single poorly lit photo makes people assume there's something not being shown. Minimum three photos: front, detail of 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. Buyers of appliances and furniture filter by proximity because moving a refrigerator has a real shipping cost.

3. Inflated price without logic

If the same item sells on MercadoLibre for $400,000, posting $550,000 "to negotiate" only makes sure 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-quote.

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. Don't forget to refresh your listing

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

If you're in the middle of a move: sell sooner than you think you need to

Time is the enemy when it comes to selling during a move. What doesn't sell in 2–3 weeks will probably have to be given away or you'll have to pay to have it removed. The advice nobody wants to hear but always works: lower the price before it feels reasonable to you.

A refrigerator sold for $100,000 less than expected is infinitely better than a refrigerator 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 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 your item's category, upload photos, add price and description and you're done. You don't need a credit card or to create a business. Your listing stays active and appears in Google searches.

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

At least three: one general front photo, one of the details (condition, serial number for electronics, engine for vehicles) and one contextual photo showing the item in real use. More photos always help — used item buyers want to see exactly what they're buying before contacting you.

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

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

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

Yes, no problem. You don't need an RUT or local bank account to sell used personal items. Posting on Colombia Move or Facebook Marketplace doesn't require documents. Just keep in mind that Colombian buyers respond better to ads written in Spanish — although contact afterward can be in English.

Ready to sell?

If you 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 goes 3 weeks without messages is usually simple: good photos, exact neighborhood and realistic price.

Post for free on Colombia Move in less than 5 minutes — no commission, no hassle, 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 selling every day.