BuyMeWhiskey
🇬🇧 UK

What is the best way to sell DVDs, silver or jewellery?

Looking for US rules? → US money answers

USPublished · Written by BuyMeWhiskey Editorial Team · How we check facts

The best selling method depends on the item’s resale value, condition and how much work you are willing to do. Use specialist buyers for precious metals and higher-value items, while ordinary DVDs and low-value goods are often better suited to online marketplaces or local resale.

Check HMRC’s current guidance if you regularly sell goods online or buy items to resell for profit.

Check HMRC selling-income guidance

Run your own numbers: Compound interest and savings calculator.

Match the selling method to the item

There is no single “best place” to sell everything. A box of ordinary DVDs is different from a hallmarked bracelet, a bag of silver coins or a collectible item with a specialist market. The first job is to identify what you actually own and whether buyers value it for its materials, brand, rarity or simple second-hand usefulness.

Low-value media is usually easier to sell in bulk or through a marketplace. Precious-metal items should be valued using weight, purity, condition and the buyer’s offer. Branded jewellery can be worth more than its metal content if there is genuine demand for the brand, while collectible coins can have values that differ from their melt value.

Where should you sell ordinary DVDs?

For ordinary DVDs, compare the likely selling price with the cost and effort of listing, packing, postage, returns and messages. Selling ten low-value discs individually may generate more gross revenue but much more work than a single bundle.

Before listing, check whether the titles actually sell. A platform showing many copies for sale does not prove that buyers are paying that price. Look at completed or sold listings where the platform provides them, and price with condition honestly stated.

How should you sell silver?

Silver can be worth different amounts depending on purity, weight and whether the item has collector value. For bullion-like material, specialist dealers may quote close to the relevant market value after their margin. For old coins or unusual pieces, a coin dealer or specialist valuer may be better placed to identify numismatic value.

Do not accept the first offer without understanding what the buyer is weighing and which purity they are using. Ask whether the price is based on gross weight, fine-metal content or an item-specific valuation. For jewellery, stones and brand value can matter too.

What about branded jewellery?

A branded bracelet or similar item can have a resale market independent of scrap value. Keep the original packaging, receipts and authenticity documentation if you have them. Photograph hallmarks, stamps and condition clearly. A specialist or established marketplace may produce a better result than selling purely for metal value.

Be realistic about fees. A higher advertised price does not necessarily mean higher proceeds after platform fees, postage, insurance and the time spent managing the sale.

Could selling items create a tax issue?

Occasional sales of your own used possessions are not automatically the same as running a trade. HMRC says you are probably trading if you sell goods you bought intending to resell for profit, and the £1,000 trading allowance applies to relevant trading and miscellaneous income. If you sell personal possessions, different Capital Gains Tax rules can apply to valuable assets.

HMRC also says you may have to pay Capital Gains Tax when a personal possession is sold for £6,000 or more, subject to the rules. The £6,000 test concerns the disposal consideration of the item, not simply the profit you think you made.

What if you need change for a shop float?

That is a different problem from selling goods. If you need coins and notes for a float, use your bank’s cash services or another legitimate cash-management service. Do not confuse the need to obtain change with selling an asset; the practical and security considerations are different.

How should you compare offers?

  • Ask exactly what the buyer is valuing.
  • Compare the net amount after fees and postage.
  • Check whether the buyer is a specialist for the item.
  • Use insured shipping for valuable goods where appropriate.
  • Keep receipts, valuation notes and sale records.
  • Do not hand over valuable goods before confirming payment.

For jewellery and silver, two offers can differ because buyers expect different resale channels and margins. For DVDs, speed may matter more than squeezing out the final few pounds. The best method is the one that maximises your realistic net proceeds for the effort and risk involved.

How do you avoid resale scams?

Stay on the platform’s normal payment process where possible. Be cautious if a buyer says a courier will collect the item, sends a payment screenshot instead of cleared funds, asks for an overpayment refund, or wants you to move the conversation to an unrelated payment service. For high-value metals or jewellery, meet or transact through established businesses and keep a clear record.

Worked example

Illustrative comparison: suppose you have a box of DVDs that sells for an illustrative £120 in total. After an illustrative £20 of postage and fees, your net proceeds are £100.

Now suppose an unrelated silver item cost you an illustrative £300 and sells for £500. The simple gain is £200. For a personal possession sold for £500, the disposal is below HMRC’s £6,000 personal-possession threshold, although separate trading or other rules could apply depending on how you acquired and used the item.

  • DVD net: £120 − £20 = £100.
  • Silver gain: £500 − £300 = £200.

All prices in this example are illustrative.

In a real sale, compare the amount you receive after costs with the convenience, speed, security and specialist knowledge offered by each selling route.

Where is the best place to sell old DVDs?#

Use a marketplace, specialist media buyer or local bundle sale depending on the titles. Check real sold prices before listing. For low-value DVDs, fees, postage and time can matter more than the headline selling price, so bundling similar titles can make the sale more practical.

How can I sell silver close to its real value?#

Get at least two quotes and ask whether each buyer is valuing the metal by purity and weight or the piece as a collectible. Specialist coin dealers may value numismatic items differently from a precious-metal buyer. Compare the net payment after any fees rather than just the advertised rate.

Should I sell jewellery for scrap or as a branded item?#

Check both possibilities. Hallmarks, condition, brand and documentation can create resale value above the raw metal content. A specialist jewellery buyer may offer for the complete item, while a scrap buyer focuses on metal. Compare the two routes before removing stones, damaging settings or accepting a scrap-only price.

Do I pay tax when I sell my own things online?#

Not automatically. HMRC distinguishes occasional sales of personal possessions from trading activity. You are probably trading if you bought goods intending to resell them for profit. Valuable personal possessions can also fall under Capital Gains Tax rules when the disposal value reaches the relevant threshold.

Can selling silver or coins trigger Capital Gains Tax?#

It can, depending on the item and sale value. HMRC says most personal possessions worth £6,000 or more can be chargeable assets, with special rules for wasting assets, sets and restricted gains. Keep the purchase price, sale amount and eligible costs so you can work out the position.

Where can I get coins and notes for a shop float?#

That is a cash-management question rather than a resale question. Start with your business bank and ask about cash services, change orders and collection arrangements. Avoid informal cash exchanges with strangers, especially where the money source is unclear. Your bank can explain what is available for your account.

Keep reading

Next question →What should you do with a sudden $1.2 million windfall?

Sources

  1. HMRC: Selling goods and online platforms
  2. GOV.UK: Capital Gains Tax on personal possessions
  3. HMRC: Work out your gain on personal possessions
  4. HMRC: Capital Gains Manual – chattels disposal consideration

Figures were checked against these sources before publication. If a rule changes, we update the page and show the new date.

General information, not personal financial advice. Rules depend on your circumstances; check the official source or speak to a regulated adviser before acting.