Selling something on craigslist - any tips?

[sigp220.45]

I have a Celestron telescope I want to sell. Its a fairly high dollar item (new they go about $1800) and normally I would try eBay, but I don't have the original packaging and I think shipping would be a nightmare.

I'm considering using Craigslist, but its a new thing to me. I think I can avoid the scammers, but I'm not sure the best way to handle a transaction if I get a buyer.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has successfully navigated a sale on Craigslist.

Thanks.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Don't invite them to your home. Meet in a public parking lot with plenty of people around.

Don't give your home phone number. Give cell phone number.

Take a someone with you.

Make the terms of your sale clear and discuss those terms over the phone. Meet them only after they agree to your terms.

Accept cash only and inspect the bills.

You will get unsolicited offers involving money orders, questions about your bank account etc...

Ignore them.

 

[cudamank]

I use Craigslist almost as much as ebay. All of the suggestions about are great. Post photos with your add. You will have to weed out the frauds and the low ballers but you have to do that with anything you sell. Is there an astronomy club in your area? might want to let them know you have one for sale.

 

[Dan M]

Unless you enjoy Text Messaging put in your post "No Text Messages"
When I 1st sold something I received 100's of texts to every 2 or 3 calls or emails.

Dan

 

[raisedin99]

google craigslist robbery.

there have been a few in this area,one seller was shot, so take a "friend" along... sorry state of affairs when one cannot transact a little business without having to concern yourself about becoming a victim...

 

[snowman]

I wish you all the best, but I've all but given up trying to sell on Craigslist. In this area one doesn't need to worry so much about the criminal element. However my efforts have taught me just how common it is these days to encounter maddeningly disrespectful, inconsiderate, irresponsible, unfaithful, immature, etc. people in my own geographical region. For some reason Craigslist seems to draw these folks, probably because it's free.

Those words of course weren't very helpful to you, except perhaps to forewarn you and help you not be quite so surprised/disappointed if you happen to encounter similar people. I sincerely hope that you don't, but if you do, you heard it here.

Andy

 

[HCD]

Use a hotmail address not your real address in replys and postings

if you give a phone # use words and numbers like
1 two 3 four

register for CL useing a hotmail address. not your real address

edit to add: after you are done on CL delete all temp. internet files.

 

[doublesharp]

I buy and sell regularly and I treat CL the same way I used to treat the newspaper classified before Cl put them under. Caution is the word but I've been around awhile now and I trust my bs detector. I use email as my contact when I'm selling and don't give out my phone # unless I'm confident. I ask for their # and initiate the call. If it doesn't feel right, bail.

What I mainly sell is outdoor related. I've never had an occasion to let anyone in my home but I've had buyers come to my house a few times only by appointment. I don't text, tweet nor twitter, it's old fashioned email for me.

 

[sipowicz]

It would be ironic if you didn't see a scammer coming from a mile away...

 

[G-Mac]

Click the option to not have people be able to e-mail you. Otherwise you'll get tons of spam e-mail for years to come. Use your cell phone number and do it with text...five-five-five-one-two-one-two. My last Craigslist sale...I met the buyer at a Wendy's parking lot. No reason for them to know where I live or what I have. I'm probably repeating what others said, but this is how I've done it. Good luck.

Oh yeah...and if you're listing a gun in sporting goods (prohibited goods)...list it as a "hunting implement" (kidding).

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

It would be ironic if you didn't see a scammer coming from a mile away...

Not really...he's a feebee not a real cop
And that "telescope" is probably some of his surveilence gear that the bureau forgot about

 

[Memphis]

Very timely post. I just found a nice looking, small, antique, collectable pot belly stove here in my area on craigs list . Just posted last night so I call bright and early this morning. The fella said he still had it and I committed to buy it for his posted price ($150). He said he'd consider it sold until I could get there with cash this evening. My mind has been going over all that could go wrong...like bad description, safety etc. He's not too far from where I live and I have completed several transactions both as buyer and seller on CL. I think if you are very aware, and do transactions in public etc then you'll be ok. I like the fact that it is free, and in my case I'll alway get to look at what I'm buying before I hand over the samolians. One can never be too safe though.

Roger

 

[truckemup97]

Ditto the throw away e-mail address. While on ArmsList, I sent a message to a seller, and when he replied, he used his ISP e-mail. From that and his first name (at the end of the e-mail), I found out where he lived, his phone number, the value of his house, his wife's and kids' ages, etc. If I can do that, imagine what a hacker can find. BTW, I was just trying to figure out who I was dealing with, because I'm paranoid. I also agree with meeting at a neutral, public place, like a Wal-Mart parking lot. If I go alone, I tell someone what I'm doing and leave all info about the seller/buyer just in case. Like I said, I'm paranoid.

 

[Maximumbob54]

My girlfriend can't even still use the Hotmail address she used to register. I keep it blocked because it sends out trojans, spam, or whatever constantly. She tried to sell her iPad recently and just gave up since it was so crazy trying to separate the crazy "Will you accept and escrow account to be set up in your name" kind of jack from the real people that just wanted a good deal on the first previous gen electronics. Too many leaches to have to wade through is my opinion. I will still try and buy from there but forget becoming a seller unless you have a lot of time on your hands. And you can arrange for local only sales in eBay unless they have changed. You might even try an ad in the paper. People still read them and they will also add them to their websales pages if they have one.

 

[Deanintemp]

I have used CL to purchase and sell items in the past with no issues. I see it like the classifieds ads used to be - just use good judgement! The risk of driving on public roads to make the transaction is probably higher than the transaction itself.

 

[Recoil Rob]

I post this at the bottom of any CL ad... keeps down the riff raff. It's true BTW.

"Anyone attempting fraud with the old "please hold this for me, my agent will pick it up" scam will immediately be reported to the IC3, The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)."

 

[srsmyth]

What is the reason for giving a phone number with text?
Steve

 

[cowart]

You could also sell it through a local auction house. Way less hassle than Craigslist *or* Ebay. Sometimes an auction will bring in more $ than you would normally ask for the item.

 

[truckemup97]

What is the reason for giving a phone number with text?
Steve

Web-bots can scan text and "see" phone numbers and e-mail addresses. I think it's a bigger problem with e-mail, but why take chances?

 

[reddogge]

I recently sold my mom's dining room set and wicker porch set. I use email only and we exchanged phone numbers, I drove up to meet him, he handed me the cash and we both left. Worked out fine and no way could I meet him somewhere else. I must have sold it too cheap because I had to take the ad down I had so many emails when I got back home.