What are your Criagslist tips?

[CORVETTE]

I have been buying and selling on CL for the past 4 years and have had reasonable success (sold about a grand worth of stuff this month, clearing out the garage and basement) and haven't had an issue, yet.

I try to "screen" the best I can, and have felt a few might be people I do not want to my house, meeting them at a public place. Turned out, I was right.

Anyways, I am finding myself selling more and more on CL and while I do not think it's much different than when one would take an ad out in the paper, there is an inherent risk which comes with anonymous responses to ads.

Also, what are your successes to selling? Any key words work better than others for your ads?

So far, not including vehicles sold on CL, I have "made" a few grand over the past few years. But the past month has been especially good to us

[lspencer534]

Stay away from "Men looking for men" section....

[CORVETTE]

I should probably reiterate, I am selling stuff, not offering or buying "those" kind of services

[polarbear]

I've had excellent luck on CL, both buying and selling. Same here- never had an issue, but seem to have to wade through 25-50 emails to come across a real one. Most recently sold the in-laws RV.

[bill_daniels]

When selling, I usually specifically state in the ad, this will be a local sale, if you can't come in person to inspect the item, it isn't the item for you.


That occasionally still might draw a scam, but I'm sure it cuts down on them.

[Steve Austin]

Good pics. I always work at getting good pics. I wont even click on an ad with no pics.

[CORVETTE]

I just got an email from a guy who offered me $60.00 for something I am listing for $350.00.

Said it was "in rough shape". I am guessing if it were that rough, why offer a dime? Anyways, tracked them to being a collector of the items I am selling, so I suppose they want to buy cheap, then re-sell.

[BADRACR1]

Meet in a public place, not your home. Bring a friend, and have the handle with you!

[CORVETTE]

Originally Posted by BADRACR1

Meet in a public place, not your home. Bring a friend, and have the handle with you!

It's tough, as some items are too large to fit into my truck.

We sold some furniture, for example, and it went fine. But I had their full name/number/real email, before the arrived.

Also just sold a piano, which the person paid MORE than my asking price, as they liked it better than my description Anyways, those items would have been tough to take to the McDonalds, etc.

So how would you deal with those sales? Most at home, I simply meet in the driveway, garage door closed.

[polarbear]

Originally Posted by CORVETTE

I just got an email from a guy who offered me $60.00 for something I am listing for $350.00.

Said it was "in rough shape". I am guessing if it were that rough, why offer a dime? Anyways, tracked them to being a collector of the items I am selling, so I suppose they want to buy cheap, then re-sell.

Lot of flipping going on too- at least I notice it in the car & truck ads.

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by BADRACR1

Meet in a public place, not your home. Bring a friend, and have the handle with you!

That is good in theory, but in Houston people are still robbing others in public.

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by CORVETTE

I simply meet in the driveway, garage door closed.

That's what I do, and in plain view of the cameras outside.

[SnikPlosskin]

First rule of Craig's list. Don't talk about Craig's list.

[Fastguy]

Lots of pics, weed out the dum dums, trust your instincts.

[mike100]

A red flag pops up if people start talking price before they have seen the item- especially a big ticket item like a car.

People who ask all kinds of questions about the item's condition are more likely to be legit, although they could still turn out to be lowballing time wasters.

I also become wary when an interested party will not voice call a phone number after the initial exchange, but I'm not real firm on that as texting seems to take preference with the younger buyers.

[CORVETTE]

Had a lady answer an ad for some furniture (end tables), so I wasn't going to load them in the car to meet at McDonalds, etc.

Anyways, the lady sends her husband, who was a compete jerk! Upon entering the house, he looked at the end tables and said "they were too short" (dimensions were in the ad)

But he said he wanted a piece in the dining room, which we said was not for sale. He asked again, then again, and again

Finally, he offered $1,000 for this teak cabinet unit, which we said no!

He asked again, "name your price", which I said "fine, we'll sell for $10,000". This was met by his response, saying "that isn't worth $10k" I said, "it is to me..."

He then walked around the house quickly, asking what else we would sell... I asked him to please leave What an zzz

[VatorMan]

Only when the item is larger than I'm willing to haul do I meet at my house. Too many stories about thieves casing homes while on a C/L buy.

I ALWAYS meet at a public place. Good pics, Decent description should go a long way to selling the item. Item priced right as well. Vehicles are a PITA as you get so many scam e-mails and vehicle "selling" services.

[CORVETTE]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

Only when the item is larger than I'm willing to haul do I meet at my house. Too many stories about thieves casing homes while on a C/L buy.

I ALWAYS meet at a public place. Good pics, Decent description should go a long way to selling the item. Item priced right as well. Vehicles are a PITA as you get so many scam e-mails and vehicle "selling" services.

My tip of the day:

If one comes to the house, I document EVERY license plate number and vehicle description.

[Yerf Dog]

Who's mining for old threads?

[LilRedCorvette]

Just completed a CL transaction earlier today, I sell a lot of sheit on there.

As others have said, meet in a public place (I always do so at a very busy Walgreen's parking lot not too far away from where I live).

I'm pretty good at screening people...there's always going to be low-ballers, but I'm upfront with prospective buyers that I'm firm on price (especially when I've gotten a lot of interest in an item).

Sometimes I get some real 'winners'...but they're entertaining at least, like this one: https://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/o...eople-lol.html