Craigslist - good or bad in your experience?

[Teacher Terry]

We drive our cars until they are in bad shape so I just look at the BB price and price it under that and it's gone fast. I figure whoever buys it is poor and I disclose anything wrong and figure I rather the person get a good deal versus the dealer.

 

[Music Lover]

I use kijiji (Canada's version of Craigslist) and have a lot of success with it and have had no bad experiences.

Just last week I just bought a PA mixer from a guy who was hesitant to have people come to his house...but then we exchanged Facebook pages and found we had some mutual friends that could vouch. So, I invited him to my place because I wanted to plug it in and test it out...you need speakers and a microphone or an instrument and that's not easy to do in a parking lot.

He came by with the PA, I tested it, and while I was doing that he said that he works with very troubled juvenile criminals which is why he was so concerned about anyone knowing his address. The PA worked fine so I bought it and while we were chatting we found that we had similar musical interests so we exchanged number for future jams.

 

[Ronstar]

We are also downsizing for a move. Sold a car on Autotrader last week. Just started listing stuff on Craig's List today. Vibrating exercise machine was the first listed. Lots more to come. Very timely thread for me.

 

[Arizona1]

I’ve had good luck buying and selling on Craigslist since it started. I sold my house fsbo, houseboat, cars, atv’s, RV’s, and most other commodities. I bet all in all I’ve benefited at least $75.000 over the years using Craigslist.

 

[meleana]

I’ve had good luck buying and selling on Craigslist since it started. I sold my house fsbo, houseboat, cars, atv’s, RV’s, and most other commodities. I bet all in all I’ve benefited at least $75.000 over the years using Craigslist.

I heard of someone else who also sold their home on Craiglist. Can you tell us exactly the details of this whole process because I am considering doing this next year.

 

[brucethebroker]

OP here with final results and impressions of our recent Craigslist experience.

*We sold 39 of the 89 items listed on Craigslist.
*We received full listed price on 38 of the 39 items sold. One item listed for $325 was discounted $10.
*By my choice all sales were made at my home, my experience is if you can get a potential buyer to come to you, you will make a sale. Not one person who showed up left without the item.
*All but one sale was cash, I only accepted a check from a neighbor.
*Many people came from more than 25 miles to purchase items. Furthest drove 5.5 hours each way.
*Only one no show
*Only saw one holstered pistol, but Iowa is a concealed carry state. Guy was super friendly, could have been off-duty law enforcement.
*Guy stuff sells the best, hand and power tools, garage stuff. I about cleared out everything like that except some metal storage shelving.
*If you research prices to arrive at realistic prices and get good pictures and give accurate descriptions you have a better chance to get full price on your items.
*Total sales was $10,625 in 33 days.

Overall we are pleased with the Craigslist experience and plan to use it in the future.

Well done.

 

[Camping]

I sold some personal items on Craigslist last year for a move, as well as a nice vehicle (sold it for a low price, buyer didn't negotiate). I took a lot of good quality photos (higher the value, higher number of photos) and provided as much relative details and information about the item I was selling. I didn't provide my phone number and I usually place a line at the bottom of the ad along these lines:

This item is still available if you see this ad. Out of respect for the community I will promptly remove it when it is sold. I don't check my email often (I only use a PC for email), so please be patient and I will respond soon as possible. Due to the high number of scams, place some specific/detailed info in your inquiry so I won't mistake you for a scammer.

Any replies I got starting with "Is this still for sale?" was ignored. A scammer won't read the full ad, so I just assumed they were a scammer, unless they sent another reply. I also priced things at a very good price for the buyer as I don't like to negotiate (feels cheap). If priced right, good photos and detailed description, things sell quickly. If someone offers a low price without even seeing it, I ignore them, especially if I had just listed the item. It is frustrating dealing with the low ballers wanting something for nothing. To me, I didn't need the money, I just wanted the items gone or to a good home while expecting a fair price (more fair for the buyer than me). If a genuinely poor or needy person showed up, I'd give a big discount or add more stuff or gave stuff away.