Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Close5 in partnership with Bloggin' Mamas. I was compensated to share my personal, honest opinion of this app with my readers. For more details please visit my Disclosure Policy page.
Like a lot of folks I know, my house is drowning in toys. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but with Christmas approaching we decided it makes sense to phase out some of the “baby” toys to make room for the toddler gear we know is coming from grandparents and godparents. We try to donate much of what Mia outgrows, but some organizations understandably don’t take toys for liability reasons, and some consignment shops are pretty picky about what they will resell.
Enter Close5, a new app covering the Bay Area that offers super easy functionality to get rid of those unwanted items. When I got the opportunity to review the Close5 app I jumped at it, mostly because it's all about selling your stuff in your community, which is really important to me. The app is a breeze to set up—I was signed in and verified via Facebook in about 2 minutes, and immediately saw my feed populated with all types of items for sale as close as a mile away.
Close5 makes it easy to sell almost anything—right now my feed is full of everything from home decorations to handbags, even a car! The interface is simple, clean and easy to use. Since the app is so new listings are still coming in and a few of the categories had nothing for sale yet in my immediate area, but I’m sure that will change as more people learn about Close5 AND as people sell what they no longer need after the holidays. (If you’re looking for kid’s toys check the app in about a week after I list Mia’s forgotten toys)!
It’s easy to expand the search area as well, which makes sense if you live in one part of the Bay Area and work elsewhere. There weren’t many kids items for sale yet close to me, but after I expanded my radius I found tons of things I’d consider driving to pick up, like this sweet Radio Flyer bike in Palo Alto.
I like the "Make An Offer" aspect, so anyone interested in your item can see what it's selling for easily. Most of us have used Craigslist to buy or sell something at least once, and Close5 offers a neater way to keep all the back and forth public without having to divulge too much personal info. While the app doesn’t require personal details to start the negotiation, there is still the element of meeting in person to hand off your items. It’s nice that the Facebook verification aspect exists but it's not a requirement, so keep this in mind as you make arrangements to hand off your items.
MAMA SAYS: Close5 is a great app to have in your arsenal if you like to buy or sell things directly from folks in your community! It’s a great way to clean out your closet and earn some extra cash at the same time or pick up gently used gear. Download the iPhone or Android versions here and get started!