Painless Selling on Craigslist
I love craigslist. It’s simply the best way to get rid of things you no longer need, reduce what goes to landfill and make a few bucks. (It beats ebay, since it’s free and you don’t have to pack items of schlep them to the post office.) I moved recently, and while re-evaluating my worldly possessions, I sold lot of things on craigslist. There is a bit of a learning curve, so here is the system I eventually settled on.
Create an account
It only takes a minute and then you can manage all your items on your my account page. (If you don’t, you have to painfully dig around in your email for the authorization links.)
Take photos
There’s no excuse for not having photos in your ad. Buy one, borrow one, use your webcam, whatever. Not only is this nice for the buyers, but if people know exactly what you’re selling than you won’t have to describe it to them in email or on the phone and they are less likely to show up and decide that they don’t want it. Yes, it’s a bit more work to snap a picture and get it onto your computer, but it’ll save everyone time in the end.
Control your contact information
You want to have some control over who has your email and phone number, so don’t post it in directly in the advertisement. Just focus on describing the item. (I initially posted full info and then people contacting me long after it was sold.) Use the anonymous email. It will save you from spam and phone calls.
Provide nearest intersection
You have an option of stating where you are located in your posting. Some people put something generic (like ‘Toronto’ or ‘GTA’) which is useless. Put the nearest major intersection so readers can figure out if it is a 5-minute walk or a 1-hour drive.
Have a form response
When someone inquires about an item, i answer any questions and then send them a standard response. This includes my address, basic driving/transit directions, phone number, and my terms. Saves a lot of time. My terms are: All sales final. Cash and carry. First come first serve. (more about the last one below.)
Dealing with No-shows
For some reason, craigslist buyers love to say they will come by and then don’t. So, my solution is first come, first serve. Put this wonderful phrase in your standard email that you send out to interested buyers. I forgot once, and this woman who wanted to come in five days was upset when I emailed her to tell her that I had just sold it. “You mean you sold it after we scheduled an appointment??” Did she expect me to say no to someone at my door with money, because she was maybe coming next week? Crazy.
Email the non-buyers when something sells
If 10 people email me about an item, and I’ve sent all of them my address, I don’t want them showing up after it’s gone. It’s a bit of extra work, but I send an email (bcc) saying, “Sorry, but xyz has been sold.”
Free items are a hassle
Nothing brings out the eccentrics like giving away something for free. And just because it’s free, don’t think that people will be any easier to deal with. First, if it isn’t total garbage, you’ll get a flood of emails. Then, you’ll get calls. Then you’ll have to setup a time for them to come and pick it up. Then you’ll have no-shows. In other words, it’s exactly the same amount of work as selling something, except you don’t get any money for your trouble.
I suggest a minimum price of $5, which is sort of a bozo filter. If you can’t sell it for $5, then just haul it out the curb and post on craigslist’s “free stuff” area with the address and no contact info, and your job is done.
Remove old ads
Great, you sold that old record player to some chump for $10. Now, go to your “my account” page, and delete the ad. (Some people like to edit their posting, and add “SOLD” or “GONE” to the subject. Unless your posting is so good it will make it to best of craigslist, it’s just noise.
So, those are my craigslist tips, now start selling some junk!
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August 10th, 2007 at 15:10
[…] Xinsight: Painless Selling on Craigslist - Great tips on setting up an account, taking photos, controlling your contact info, and helping folks find you easily. Great advice on terms: “All sales final. Cash and carry. First come first serve.” […]
June 16th, 2008 at 16:33
Great advice. Thank God for people like you.
January 8th, 2009 at 16:03
I’ve sold a number of things on Craigslist and always treated the email order as the “first come”. It’s worked pretty well, but I end up holding items longer than I want and the no shows screw it up. They’re coming, don’t show up and and then they don’t respond to email, etc.
I usually sell nice stuff real cheap so there are no tire kickers, but after this one item with a few no shows, etc. I’m switching to first come first served. Will definitely be more painless.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:37
yeah thats all good but people dont leave phone numbers and alot of people like me cannot figure out how to set up the mail server email portion of craigslist so alot of things are not getting sold by people because people cannot email them please help with this
May 26th, 2009 at 16:54
Great article. I have sold some things, all furniture items, on CraigsList but really appreciate your idea about the nearest intersection as we are rural and this will help a lot.
Also, just to alleviate any questions, I usually add “No deliveries, you must pick up as it won’t fit in our Dodge Neon!” :)
Just a nice/funny way to avoid having to answer that question!!
Thanks again!
June 29th, 2009 at 1:53
i WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE ARTICLES FOR SALE BUT NOT SURE HOW TO GET IT ON CRAIGSLIST
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:58
I would like sell some items on Craigslist. First time customer. Need help in proceding, have pictures of items.
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:59
How do I enter items on Craigslist.
July 2nd, 2009 at 13:00
How do I enter items on Graigslist?
July 2nd, 2009 at 13:00
Please respond to request.
August 9th, 2009 at 18:03
How do I make a cregs list account so I can’t sell stuff?
September 2nd, 2009 at 22:22
I will like to sell my chihuahua dog on criagslist
September 2nd, 2009 at 22:23
Thankyou
October 3rd, 2009 at 18:09
I have a brand new medium sized fall “Prada”, jacket black in colour, how do post an add to sell this for 150.00.
October 3rd, 2009 at 18:11
MY email is www.chantzcastel@yahoo.com I live in East vancouver need to sell immediately.thx
April 8th, 2010 at 0:21
2004 ford spor,t trac for sale,fully loaded,4wd,dark green,no acc,91,000km.very nice truck. 16500 or best offer,ph 778 840 7481 or604 524 8852 leave msg thanks.
April 8th, 2010 at 0:25
goodluck
April 27th, 2010 at 11:00
I wish to sell a kitchen light fixture. I will enclose a picture. I just need to know how to go about this. I have neither bought or sold on craigs list before. I could use some help. Thanks Diane
July 7th, 2010 at 14:28
I have a “clue” I want to sell to all of these people who need one! Xinsight just blogged a whole article on what is needed to post an item on Craigslist and yet a gaggle of lazy a$$es still want him to do the posting for them — kill me!
July 8th, 2010 at 8:15
@Dick: I know - some of the comments here are wild. But it clearly shows that craigslist can be confusing for first timers. Maybe someone can make a screencast showing how to do those basic things? (Actually that could be a whole business: Screencasts showing people how to do basic things online.)
July 16th, 2010 at 16:18
craigslist is cool i look at stuff all the time on hear