Selling something on craigslist - any tips?

[Rugskipper]

Just my 2 cents..... Use Craigslist mail forwarding so you don't have to publish any email addresses. State in ad to respond via email and to include a phone # and a preferred time to call. You can ignore all the idiots who are unable to complete a legible sentence, and call only the legitimate sounding buyers. Use your cell, or use better yet use a prepaid burner phone.

 

[ace22]

i've bought and sold several items on craigslist the past few years. i never ran into so many rude, disrespectfull, lying, cheating people in my life. people that contact you saying that they absolutely want your item for sale that never show up, lowballers that act like they're doing you a favor by offering pennies on the dollar, scammers etc.
you received some good advice in the previous posts, my advice is to follow it.

 

[snowman]

i never ran into so many rude, disrespectfull, lying, cheating people in my life. people that contact you saying that they absolutely want your item for sale that never show up, lowballers that act like they're doing you a favor by offering pennies on the dollar, scammers etc.

There you have it.
Andy

 

[M3Stuart]

Lots of good suggestions here so far. I've used it a half-dozen times recently to both buy and sell. I would second the comment - "cell phone calls only" and specify the TIMES that you will take the calls. Lots of tirekickers. Don't take the ad down until you have cash in hand. One last thing; don't be afraid to just hang up on people. I was selling a decent old truck for $2,500. I found it necessary to add the phrases to my ad: "Yo No Hablo Espanol", "Cash only. seriously, I mean it! If you don't have $2,500 in U.S. currency available, do not waste my time. I know the air conditioner doesn't work, it's already factored into my price. Seriously, don't waste my time if you don't have $2,500 IN CASH!"

With all that, I still got countless calls trying to haggle over the price. I just started hanging up on them.

 

[Recoil Rob]

There you have it.
Andy

On the other hand I needed to sell a chandelier for my mom when she moved. I got a very polite request from a woman serving in the USN in Virginia (I'm in NY) asking if it was still available the next time she visited her mom in NJ if she could come look at it. It took about 2 weeks but she showed up with her mom, they sat down with my mom, everyone was very nice and happy with the deal. Her husband is a USN Captain, just got his first ship, thank you letters have been sent, etc.

I think it's what you make of it, they're simply electronic classified ads, no different than the newspaper ads except they're free. I have sold a bunch of stuff, met some people with the same interests as me. Have gotten lots of fake answers looking to scam me but that warning I suggested above really cut down on that. Just wish they let me list guns...

 

[snowman]

Yes, there are positive experiences to be had. I sold a Lee reloading press to a nice young fellow. But that was definitely the exception rather than the rule.

Andy

 

[ThirtyAcres]

Just my 2 cents..... Use Craigslist mail forwarding so you don't have to publish any email addresses.

Exactly. Your email address is blind until you respond to a query.

I have parted out many a tractor on Craigs List.


You can cut down on 99 per cent of the spam by requiring interested buyers to put a random word of your choosing in their email subject line.


In the item description, I tell buyers to include the word "FARMALL" in the subject line. If they do not, I don't open the email. This seems to weed out the auto-reply spam-bots.

I also ask for their phone number in the first email.

If they want the item bad enough----they will comply and jump through your hoops.

Craigs List has become more attractive as Ebay continues to up their fee schedules.

 

[m1gunner]

Craigs List has become more attractive as Ebay continues to up their fee schedules.

You are aware that eBay has about 30% ownership of Craig's list, right?

 

[ThirtyAcres]

You are aware that eBay has about 30% ownership of Craig's list, right?

25 per cent. I hope it stops there.

 

[doublesharp]

I put a lawn mower on last night at about 5 pm and was paid my asking price of $300 cash by 11 am today.