Craigslist - My Experience

I have too many things that I don't need and in an attempt to sell them I have put them on Craigslist. It has been interesting. I have had success in varying degrees. Mostly I still have the things I listed for myself, but I have had success listing things for my family or for listing garage sales. One of the keys to successful listing is to list on Friday afternoon since people come home from work and check to see what is available to them over the weekend. Craigslist is more effective for large pieces that will not ship easily. E-bay is good to post items that can be shipped easily. E-bay functions like an auction while you set the price on Craigslist.

To get to Craigslist you need an internet connection. Go to www.Craigslist.org it will direct you to the site. At the site there are columns that include U.S. Cities, United States, Canada, Asia, Americas, Europe, and Int'l Cities" with listings underneath. Down the left is a list of various topics that are helpful. Check them out at your leisure and certainly you will want to read them before you try to buy or sell anything.

The first topic is "help" and after you click it you will find the answers to almost any question that you could ask. It is smart to read a lot of them before you list anything to sell. Be sure to read the information under "scams." Every one was tried on me. All you have to do is pay attention to what is in that section and to your gut. If the response feels too good to be true, delete it.

Registering for Craigslist requires an e-mail address and the password of your choice. Then you have to type in two words written in "mystery script" You know - slanted, with a line through it. If you don't get it right the first time, they will give you two new words to try. After you register Craigslist will send you an e-mail confirming your registration and your password.

To list an item on Criagslist it is helpful to have a picture of the item. Upload it to someplace that is easy to find. Measurements are helpful. Create a listing in your mind. What do you have and where do you want to list it. I was listing under "furniture by owner" since nothing seemed to sell from "antiques". Even though we have had pieces in the family for long enough for them to be antiques. Figure out what you would like for whatever it is you want to sell. If you want to test the water with just one piece, that might be a good way to start.

Before you list a item, it is a good idea to look for things that are similar to what you want to sell. That way you can guess what price you can ask for the piece. To list it, sign in to your account. You will need your password for this. Usually I go to my state and city before I log in. After the first listing you will see a list of previous item that you have posted, but to begin you will see "post new ad" beside a "go" button. After you click the button a screen comes up with "job offered, resume/job wanted, housing offered, housing wanted, for sale(please do not post prohibited or recalled items), item wanted, gig offered (I'm hiring for a short term, small, or odd job), service offered." This really gives you an idea of the various ways that you can use craigslist.

When you click "for sale" you will find a large quantity of listings where your item might fit. If it doesn't work under one place, you can re-list it later in another area. Although there will be a waiting period before you can re-list. The directions for posting are fairly straightforward and easy to follow. It may take a little time for your picture to upload. Don't include your phone number. Do include the condition and a description of whatever you are trying to sell.

Craigslist will send you e-mails from the people who are interested. You will now have a chance to edit the listing before you finalize it. Check your spelling. I usually forget. At the end, before they will post your listing you have to retype some words that are written in more "mystery script." Then Craigslist will send you an e-mail telling you that the item is listed.

So your listing is posted. Shortly you will begin receiving e-mails about the listing. If the response seems the least bit hinkey, delete it. After I posted my first items, I got e-mails that were almost identical to those in the "avoid scams" section. What you want is real people who will either come to your house or meet you at a local shopping center. The shopping centers usually have banks so they can easily give you cash. Almost always you will receive e-mails that ask if the item is still available. If something is priced too high, you will not get any e-mails. If it is too low, you will get lots of e-mails.

If the grammar on the response is not quite right, be aware that it could be someone trying to run a scam. Do not promise the item to the first person who e-mails you. Sometimes they don't e-mail you back later and you will end up not selling the item. Simply give them your phone number and ask them to make arrangements to come and get or see the item. Sometimes when they see it, they decide they don't want it. The only answer is to tell people that there are other people interested and you will sell it to the first person who comes and picks it up. Sometimes people want you to send more pictures, or want more detail about the item. If possible give them what you can.

Really posting on Craigslist can be a good thing for everyone involved. You need to avoid scams, but you need to do that every time you answer the telephone or go shopping or answer the door, or even worse buy a car. Some things sell at some times and some at another. If it doesn't sell when you first post it, take it down for a while and re-post it under another heading later with a different price. Sometimes you find exactly what you want. Good luck.