How to sell second-hand items in Slovenia: Bolha, Facebook or instant buyout?

Three routes, three different deals

Selling yourself (Bolha, Facebook): you reach the highest price but take on all the work, from photos and the listing to haggling, meetups, shipping and the risk of complaints. Typically takes days to weeks.

Instant buyout: a buyer like us at Dober ulov appraises the item, picks it up and pays on the spot. The price is below listing prices because the buyer takes over the work, the risk and the resale. In exchange you get money the same day without a single "is this still available?" message.

Selling on Bolha: biggest reach, paid promotions

Bolha.com is Slovenia's largest classifieds site and the first stop for serious buyers, so it gets the best prices for in-demand items such as electronics, tools and kids' gear. A basic private listing is generally free, but promotions and renewals cost money; without them a listing quickly sinks below newer ones.

Expect buyers to negotiate every price. Set it 10–15% above the amount you would be happy with and note that the price is mildly negotiable, which keeps you in search results at a realistic figure.

Facebook Marketplace and groups: free and local

Marketplace is free, posting takes a minute and it works well for selling bigger items locally (furniture, appliances) where in-person pickup avoids expensive shipping. The downside: plenty of non-serious buyers and slow back-and-forths.

Watch for scams: if a "buyer" immediately sends a link to a "courier service" where you should enter card details to "receive payment", it is a scam. No carrier ever needs your card details to pay you. Keep the conversation inside Facebook and accept payment at handover or via cash on delivery.

Buyout: same-day money, zero work

A buyout makes sense when time matters: moving house, clearing a flat, needing cash quickly, or simply not wanting to answer messages for weeks. It also pays off for items that are hard to sell individually but add up nicely, like a whole box of cables, games or tools.

With us the process looks like this: you send photos and a short description via the form or chat, we reply with an indicative price, at pickup we inspect the item and pay immediately. No obligation: if the price does not suit you, the item stays yours.

A listing that sells: title, photos, honesty

• ·Put the brand, model and key spec in the title: "iPhone 14 128 GB, battery 91%" finds more buyers than "selling a phone".
• ·Shoot in daylight on a calm background, from all sides, flaws included. 6–10 photos is the sweet spot.
• ·State defects up front. A scratch the buyer discovers at home means a return and a bad review; a scratch described in the listing is just a pricing argument.
• ·List what is included (box, receipt, charger) and why you are selling; both build trust.
• ·Check comparable active listings and price realistically; an overpriced listing goes stale, and even discounted it then looks old.

Safety: in-person handover and cash on delivery

• ·Meet during the day in a public place; bring company for pricier items.
• ·Count cash at handover; for larger amounts an instant bank transfer shown in the buyer's app is safer.
• ·When shipping to strangers, always use cash on delivery and never ship "on trust".
• ·Never click links buyers send you and never enter card details to "receive a payment"; that is always a scam.

What about taxes?

Occasionally selling your own used belongings (things you bought for personal use and are now selling, usually below what you paid) is generally not taxed in Slovenia. Regular reselling for profit is different: it counts as a business activity and requires proper registration. If you sell your own things a few times a year, there is nothing to worry about; at larger volumes check the current guidance from FURS.