I Sold Everything Before Leaving China — Here's How I Used This Board
Stay2CN Community Post | Services & ClassifiedsWhen I decided to move back home after two years in Shenzhen, I looked around my apartment and realized I had accumulated... a lot of stuff.
A bike. A microwave. A desk. Kitchenware I'd bought and used maybe twice. Books. Clothes. A guitar I swore I'd learn to play (I did not).
Shipping it all back would've cost more than it was worth. Selling it on Xianyu (闲鱼) was an option, but my Chinese wasn't good enough to negotiate with local buyers.
So I used this exact board. And it worked better than I expected.
What I Posted
I created three separate posts over two weeks:
Post 1: Furniture & Appliances
"Leaving Shenzhen — selling desk, chair, microwave, bike, and kitchen stuff. Everything is 6–18 months old, good condition. Pickup in Nanshan. Prices negotiable, but please no lowballers. WeChat: "
Sold 80% of it within a week.
Post 2: The Guitar
"Acoustic guitar, barely used (I tried, I really did). Comes with case, extra strings, and a tuner. ¥400 or best offer. Nanshan pickup."
Sold to a guy who said he was "definitely going to learn this time." Good luck, buddy.
Post 3: Looking for a Reliable Mover
"Need to ship 3 boxes from Shenzhen to the US. Looking for recommendations for reliable moving/shipping services. Not looking for the cheapest option — looking for the one that won't lose my stuff. Thanks!"
Got 4 recommendations. Used one. Everything arrived intact.
What Worked
• Photos matter. Every item that sold quickly had clear, well-lit photos. The one item that took forever? Bad lighting, blurry photo.
• Being honest about condition. I mentioned every scratch and flaw upfront. No surprises = no disputes.
• Pricing slightly below market. I wanted stuff gone, not to get rich. Priced to sell, and it did.
• Meeting in public. Every exchange happened in the lobby of my building or at a nearby cafe. Safe for everyone.
What Didn't Work
• One guy tried to negotiate my microwave down from ¥80 to ¥20. I said no. He got weirdly aggressive about it. Just block and move on — don't engage.
• Someone asked me to ship a desk across the city. This board is for local deals. If they can't pick it up, it's not worth the logistics headache.
Tips for Buyers (From Someone Who's Also Bought Here)
• Ask for more photos. If the seller only posts one blurry picture, ask for close-ups.
• Test electronics before paying. Plug it in, turn it on, make sure it works.
• Meet in person, pay in person. Don't send money in advance. Ever.
• Trust your gut. If a deal feels too good to be true, it probably is.
The Community Aspect
What surprised me most wasn't that I sold my stuff — it was that I met genuinely nice people. The guy who bought my bike was a teacher from the UK who'd just arrived in Shenzhen. We ended up grabbing coffee and I gave him a list of my favorite local spots.
The woman who bought my kitchenware was a digital nomad from Germany. She told me about a coworking space I didn't even know existed.
This board isn't just a marketplace. It's a way for people passing through to help each other out.
What I'm Looking for Now
I'm actually coming back to China in 6 months (couldn't stay away). So if anyone in Shanghai is selling:
• A decent road bike
• A standing desk
• Quality kitchen knives
...hit me up. I'll be checking this board regularly.
What have you bought or sold here? Any horror stories or surprisingly good experiences?
Stay2CN Team
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