Where to Sell Stuff Online in South Africa

You have things to sell, maybe a cupboard of clothes you no longer wear, handmade candles, or a small product line, and you want to know where to sell stuff online in South Africa without losing money to fees or getting scammed. The best place depends on what you are selling and how often. A one-off clear-out, preloved fashion, handmade goods and new stock at volume each have a natural home, and repeat sellers eventually do better on their own store.

Fees below were checked on 4 October 2026 unless noted, and platforms change them, so confirm before you list. For the broader picture of marketplaces, social selling and your own store, see how to sell online in South Africa.

Where to sell used and second-hand items

• Facebook Marketplace: free to use, but it does not offer integrated payment, so you organise payment yourself ^[5]. Good for bulky items sold locally.
• Gumtree: free classified listings, with paid premium listings from R19 according to one 2024 guide ^[6]. Also no built-in payment or delivery.
• Bob Shop, formerly Bidorbuy: a South African marketplace for auctions and fixed-price listings, where payment is held by the platform rather than paid straight to the seller ^[6]. Bob Group lists more than 3 million items across over 30 categories and more than 12 courier partners ^[9]. Success fees vary by category, so check the current fee for yours.

On free classifieds, the cost shows up as risk rather than fees. One guide's safety rules are worth following: confirm the payment is in your account before handing over the item, meet in safe public places, and use EFT or cash for in-person sales ^[6].

Where to sell preloved fashion and handmade items

Yaga is built for preloved fashion. It says sellers keep 100% of their selling price with no fees ^[2], and buyers cover delivery through PUDO, PAXI, Aramex or PostNet at checkout ^[1]. Buyers also pay for its Buyer Protection, which raises the price they see, but as a seller you are not charged.

For handmade and locally designed products, Hello Pretty is a South African marketplace where you can open a store for free and pay commission on sales ^[5]; check its current commission and payout terms before you list. Many makers also sell through Instagram, which I compare with a proper store in Instagram shop vs your own online store.

Where to sell new stock at scale: Takealot

If you sell new products in volume, Takealot is the dominant South African marketplace. It lists a monthly subscription of R400 per seller account ^[3], without stating on that page whether this includes VAT. One seller described the other costs as a commission of between 5% and 18% on every sale, plus fulfilment, storage and logistics costs that can exceed R50 per product ^[4].

That subscription is charged whether or not you sell anything that month, so it suits steady volume, not occasional sales. And remember you are building Takealot's customer base, not your own.

Listings that sell, wherever you list

Whichever platform you choose, in my experience the same basics decide whether an item sells:

• Clear photos in daylight, from several angles, including any flaws.
• An honest title with the brand, size or dimensions, and condition.
• A price checked against similar items that have actually sold, not just listed.
• Delivery terms stated upfront, so buyers know the total before they message you.

Good listings also cut down the back-and-forth messages, which is most of the time cost of selling casually.

How you get paid and how you ship

• On Yaga and Bob Shop, payment runs through the platform ^{[1] [6]}.
• On classifieds, use cash in person or EFT, and only hand over the item once the money is confirmed in your account ^[6]. If you sell regularly, a payment link from a local provider such as PayFast or Yoco is another option ^[5].
• For shipping, PAXI store-to-store delivery through PEP starts from R59.95, with economy delivery in 7 to 9 business days, and faster options for 3 to 5 business days ^[7]. PUDO lockers and Aramex are the other common choices ^[1].

Once you keep a list of customers and their contact details, POPIA applies. The Act sets conditions for the lawful processing of personal information by private bodies, and the Information Regulator enforces it ^[8]. Keep only what you need, and get advice if you plan to market to that list.

When to stop renting space and build your own store

Marketplaces are the right place to start. They become expensive when you are selling the same kind of thing every week, paying commission on every sale and building someone else's audience.

In my experience building and running WooCommerce stores, including my own and client stores such as Brother Elite SA and discreet420, your own store makes sense once you have repeat customers, a recognisable product range and enough sales that commission is a real line in your budget. You get your own checkout through a local gateway, customer accounts and order history, and pages that Google can find. The full set-up is in how to start an online store in South Africa.

“Use marketplaces to find out what sells. Use your own store to keep the people who buy it.”

Many sellers do both: a marketplace for discovery and new customers, and their own store for regulars and the full range.

What to do next

• Match the channel to your item: classifieds for one-off used items, Yaga for preloved fashion, a craft marketplace for handmade, Takealot for steady volume.
• List one or two items first and see how quickly they sell before you commit time or money.
• Confirm the current fees on the platform's own pages before you set your price.
• Set up a safe way to get paid and ship, and never release goods before payment is confirmed.
• If you are selling the same things every week, price out your own store.

If you are ready to move from marketplaces to your own store, tell me what you sell and I will tell you what it needs.