🛍️ Top Challenges of Selling Online And How to Solve Them

Selling online has become part of everyday life.

Our latest research found that 77% of consumers have sold goods online, rising to 91% of 25–34-year-olds and 87% of Gen Z. Yet despite the popularity of platforms like Vinted, eBay, Etsy and Depop, 81% say something limits how much they sell online.

Whether you’re decluttering, earning some extra cash or running a side hustle, these common challenges could be holding you back.

📊 The insights in this article are taken from our 2026 Consumer Research Report, which explores how consumer parcel habits are evolving in the age of online resale.

⏰ Challenge 1: Finding the Time When Selling Online

For many sellers, the biggest barrier isn’t finding buyers; it’s finding the time.

24% of consumers feel selling online is too time-consuming. Sellers spend an average of 40 minutes travelling to drop-off locations and 32 minutes waiting in queues each month, highlighting how the logistics of selling can quickly add up.

How to solve it

• Batch similar tasks together, such as photographing and listing multiple items at once.
• Reuse listing templates and descriptions where relevant.
• Keep a small supply of packaging materials at home. It’s a great idea to save suitable packaging from deliveries you receive, provided it’s clean and any personal details have been removed.
• Schedule parcel drop-offs alongside your normal routine (sometimes called “trip chaining”), such as grocery shopping or your daily commute.

For many sellers, the biggest gains come from reducing the number of separate trips needed to send parcels.

💷 Challenge 2: Turning a Side Hustle into a Sustainable Income

For some people, online selling is simply a way to declutter. For others, it’s become a regular source of income.

Our research found that:

• 16% sell regularly but casually
• 6% see it as a side hustle
• 5% of 18–34-year-olds rely on it as a significant source of income

As selling becomes more frequent, every minute spent packaging, travelling or queueing can eat into earnings.

How to solve it

• Bundle similar items together where possible.
• Factor postage costs into your pricing.
• Focus on high-demand items that offer better returns.
• Create a dedicated space for items waiting to be listed or shipped.
• Set aside regular times each week for listing, packing and dispatching items.
• Use tools and services that simplify parcel management and reduce unnecessary admin.

The more efficient your process becomes, the easier it is to grow your online selling activity profitably.

🏷️ Challenge 3: Printing Labels and Managing Postage

Printing labels remains one of the biggest barriers for online sellers.

According to our research, 21% of consumers say printing labels at home limits how much they sell online.

Not everyone owns a printer and, even for those who do, running out of ink or paper adds unnecessary friction to the process.

How to solve it

• Use digital labels or QR codes where available.
• Save shipping information digitally so it’s easy to access.
• Look for drop-off solutions that offer integrated label printing.

Reducing the number of steps required to send a parcel can make selling feel much more manageable.

📦 Challenge 4: Managing Multiple Carriers

Selling across different marketplaces often means juggling multiple couriers, processes and drop-off locations. While having lots of delivery options is great for buyers, it can create extra work for sellers.

Our research found that:

• 54% of consumers are annoyed by having to visit different locations for different carriers
• 50% are frustrated by limited drop-off locations
• 20% say special journeys stop them from selling more
• 20% dislike travelling to different drop-off points depending on the platform
• 59% wish they could manage parcels for multiple carriers in a single location

How to solve it

Look for ways to streamline your parcel management:

• Standardise your preferred delivery options where platforms allow.
• Keep track of shipments using a single app or folder.
• Use multi-carrier drop-off locations whenever possible.

One solution is an Open Locker Network (OLN). Parcel Pending by Quadient is an OLN, enabling you to send, collect and return parcels for multiple carriers from a single locker location. This helps reduce the need for multiple journeys and makes it easier to manage sales across different platforms.

A simpler sending process means less time spent managing logistics and more time spent selling.

🔒 Challenge 5: Safety Concerns

Not everyone feels comfortable arranging face-to-face exchanges with people they don’t know.

In fact, 16% of consumers say safety concerns limit how much they sell online.

This can be particularly relevant when selling higher-value goods or arranging collections from home.

How to solve it

• Use established resale marketplaces with built-in buyer and seller protections.
• Keep communication within the platform.
• Avoid sharing unnecessary personal information.
• Choose secure collection and delivery methods rather than arranging face-to-face exchanges where possible.

A secure selling process can give both buyers and sellers greater peace of mind.

🌱 Challenge 6: Selling Online More Sustainably

Many people are motivated by more than making extra money. Selling pre-loved goods helps extend the life of products, reduce waste and support a more circular economy.

This shift is reflected in our research and network data. In fact, 67.8% of items moving through the Parcel Pending by Quadient network are second-hand or pre-loved goods.

However, the sustainability benefits of online resale can be reduced by unnecessary travel and inefficient parcel journeys. Our research found that:

• 36% of consumers make more parcel-related trips than they’d like
• 57% believe lockers reduce the need for special journeys
• 77% of locker users travel half a mile or less to use a locker

How to solve it

• Reuse packaging materials where appropriate.
• Combine parcel drop-offs with journeys you’re already making.
• Donate, recycle or relist items that don’t sell.
• Choose convenient parcel locations that help reduce unnecessary travel.

Small changes can make it even easier to participate in the circular economy while reducing the environmental impact of sending parcels.

✅ Conclusion

The demand for second-hand goods shows no signs of slowing down, but selling online isn’t always as simple as listing an item and waiting for it to sell.

From time pressures and printing labels to managing multiple carriers and staying organised as sales increase, there are several obstacles that can make selling feel harder than it should.

The good news is that small changes to your process, whether that’s batching tasks, using more convenient sending options, or reducing unnecessary journeys, can make selling online faster, easier and more rewarding.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why is selling online so time-consuming?

According to Parcel Pending by Quadient research, 24% of consumers say online selling is too time-consuming. Tasks such as packaging items, printing labels, travelling to drop-off locations and waiting in queues can all add to the process.

What is the easiest way to send parcels when selling online?

The best option depends on your needs, but many sellers choose convenient drop-off solutions, QR-code shipping options and locations that minimise travel time and waiting.

What is an Open Locker Network (OLN)?

An Open Locker Network (OLN) is a parcel locker network that allows multiple carriers to use the same location. Parcel Pending by Quadient’s network enables consumers to send, collect and return parcels for Royal Mail, Evri, UPS and DPD from a single locker site.

Are parcel lockers useful for selling on Vinted, eBay and Depop?

Parcel lockers can provide a convenient way to send parcels, helping sellers fit drop-offs around their schedules and reduce the need to visit multiple carrier locations.

Is selling second-hand items good for the environment?

Selling pre-loved items helps keep products in use for longer, reducing waste and supporting a more circular economy. Combining parcel drop-offs with existing journeys can further reduce environmental impact.

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