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Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

post #1 of 24
1/20/09 at 7:15am
Thread Starter 
I put my old TV (Sony WEGA HDTV from '02) on sale on my local Craig's List -- my first time ever using Craig's List or selling anything online. I've got a good ad and an attractive price, and I've gotten multiple emails already.

But now I realize I have no idea what I'm doing next I've got to schedule visits of strangers at my house to see the TV. Any common sense tips?
* Is it bad form or a bad idea to have multiple prospective buyers visit at once?
* Cash only generally expected for Craig's Listers?
* I've got a coworker interested and visiting this afternoon; should I schedule Craig's Listers to visit this evening too, or hold off on responding until my buddy has decided yes or no?
* Some, but not all, emails from CraigsList buyers have a "CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY" tag in the subject. Are these particularly suspect emails? CL help says nothing about it.

I remember now why I'm an engineer and not a salesman
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post #2 of 24
1/20/09 at 7:25am

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Don't forget, you will probably have to filter out the Nigerian scammers...

I have had nigerian scammers from a facebook ad I had!!! Craigslist I think is more rampant as it is more popular...

I would probably try to see how interested your coworker is. If the sale isn't life threatening, perhaps hold off a day or so before the general public... Just a thought anyway...

Jay
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post #3 of 24
1/20/09 at 7:32am

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

We've sold several items on Craig's list. My take:

Quote:
Is it bad form or a bad idea to have multiple prospective buyers visit at once?
Personally, I would avoid this. Deal with one person at a time, and whoever you can agree on a price with first gets the item.
Quote:
Cash only generally expected for Craig's Listers?
Since cashier's checks and money orders can be forged, I would only accept cash. That's pretty standard for Craig's list.
Quote:
I've got a coworker interested and visiting this afternoon; should I schedule Craig's Listers to visit this evening too, or hold off on responding until my buddy has decided yes or no?
Since this is someone you know, I would give him first crack before the Craig's list responders. I did this with a Canon telephoto lens I was selling. I ended up selling it to the co-worker. He's happy, and I got my money.
Quote:
Some, but not all, emails from CraigsList buyers have a "CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY" tag in the subject. Are these particularly suspect emails? CL help says nothing about it.
It is highly recommended you deal with local buyers only. You will get all kinds of scam emails offering to buy your item at higher than asking price, with the buyer arranging for a shipper to pick it up. This always involved a non-cash payment, and is a scam. Those email response disclaimers are just experienced Craig's list people stating they only deal with local buyers and sellers.

Good luck.
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post #4 of 24
1/20/09 at 7:37am
Thread Starter 

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Thanks for the info! Great tips.

I got an info from CL'er stating he'd give me some cash amount (lower than asking, but acceptable). I googled his gmail email and found one hit in a different sales forum from 2005, stating he is a "Jamaican living in Asia, China looking for partner in Jamaica". Is this a red flag? Should I attempt an email check on all prospective visitors?
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post #5 of 24
1/20/09 at 8:08am

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Running a check on the buyer's whereabouts will not hurt, but you will find out if they are local soon enough once you attempt to setup a local meeting.
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post #6 of 24
1/20/09 at 10:27am
Thread Starter 

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Yep, I figured that. I'm trying to set up a visit now with him and another.

I'm surprised at the strong interest: 10+ emails this morning on it. So I'm hopeful to complete a sale in a couple days.

But selling things is time consuming. I'll stick with giving old stuff to charity or friends in the future.
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post #7 of 24
1/20/09 at 10:50am

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

INSIST on an IN PERSON CASH SALE ONLY! That's what I do and I have sold a LOT of stuff on Craig's.
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post #8 of 24
1/20/09 at 12:25pm

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
But selling things is time consuming. I'll stick with giving old stuff to charity or friends in the future.

If only it were that easy. Around here you have to pay to dispose of an old TV and even then only at certain places and none of the local charities will accept them since they don't want to get stuck with having to dispose of dead TVs. I find it easier just to stack them up in my garage like some demented shut-in.
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post #9 of 24
1/20/09 at 12:45pm

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Warner
If only it were that easy. Around here you have to pay to dispose of an old TV and even then only at certain places and none of the local charities will accept them since they don't want to get stuck with having to dispose of dead TVs. I find it easier just to stack them up in my garage like some demented shut-in.

We were able to donate a couple of working 13-inch TV's to the Vietnam Veterans association late last year. I was surprised they accepted them.
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post #10 of 24
1/20/09 at 2:03pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Thanks all the tips and advice. I sold it this evening to a coworker. CraigsList interest gave me a good pricing level for negotiation. Verbal agreement made on price. Hope to exchange $$ and get the TV out of here next week
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post #11 of 24
1/20/09 at 7:58pm

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
I put my old TV (Sony WEGA HDTV from '02) on sale on my local Craig's List -- my first time ever using Craig's List or selling anything online. I've got a good ad and an attractive price, and I've gotten multiple emails already.

But now I realize I have no idea what I'm doing next I've got to schedule visits of strangers at my house to see the TV. Any common sense tips?
* Is it bad form or a bad idea to have multiple prospective buyers visit at once?
* Cash only generally expected for Craig's Listers?
* I've got a coworker interested and visiting this afternoon; should I schedule Craig's Listers to visit this evening too, or hold off on responding until my buddy has decided yes or no?
* Some, but not all, emails from CraigsList buyers have a "CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY" tag in the subject. Are these particularly suspect emails? CL help says nothing about it.

I remember now why I'm an engineer and not a salesman

Just list it on Ebay and allow for local pick up.
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post #12 of 24
1/21/09 at 10:41am
Thread Starter 

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

How does "Ebay" answer any of those questions? Ebay only makes it harder with PayPal, fees, ratings, etc.
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post #13 of 24
1/21/09 at 2:54pm

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

I use Craigslist all the time.

1) You should only have 1 buyer show up at a time. Prepare to display some content on the screen (so they know that it works). Have the remote and manual handy as well (no digging through drawers after the sale has been made).
2) Cash or money order only.
3) The way I run it is to send each person who is interested an e-mail and tell them to call me (I never put my phone number in the actual ad). The 1st caller gets first dibs (for a day or so). If that person passes, then I call the 2nd person on the list (and so on). Typically the first person buys the item if you've already posted specs and a picture (i.e. they know exactly what they are getting).
4) That quoted saying comes from the Craigslist server when a buyer sends you e-mail. It's their warning so you don't fall for internet scammers. It sounds like you included your e-mail in the advertisement (plain text) so people are e-mailing you directly? I would suggest not doing this for security reasons. The Craigslist system is setup so e-mails are anonymous and the sender only knows the other person's e-mail if that person replies. In other words, if you get an obvious scam reply to your ad then they will never find out your e-mail address unless you reply back to them.

IMO, Ebay is not worth the hassle for local-only sales (unless you are in a major city like NYC or LA). Craigslist is the preferred option for local classifieds.
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post #14 of 24
1/21/09 at 3:16pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_R
4) That quoted saying comes from the Craigslist server when a buyer sends you e-mail. It's their warning so you don't fall for internet scammers. It sounds like you included your e-mail in the advertisement (plain text) so people are e-mailing you directly? I would suggest not doing this for security reasons. The Craigslist system is setup so e-mails are anonymous and the sender only knows the other person's e-mail if that person replies. In other words, if you get an obvious scam reply to your ad then they will never find out your e-mail address unless you reply back to them.
My ad had the anonymized email address. CraigsList doesn't seem to offer posting of personal email addresses in the ad. But of course the anonymized emails from CraigsList came to my personal email, as they're supposed to.

What was strange was that only some of the emails had the warning, but not all. I couldn't figure out the pattern, and it made some seem like they were being labeled as "bad".
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post #15 of 24
1/22/09 at 4:45am

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg R
2) Cash or money order only.

Personally, I wouldn't accept a money order -- only cash. A money order can be forged quite easily.
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post #16 of 24
1/22/09 at 3:46pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

TV sale completed today, paid in cash, and TV removed from my house with minimal hassle. Selling to a coworker / acquaintance is the way to go.
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post #17 of 24
1/22/09 at 4:08pm

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

I've been using Craig's List for a while and for the most part have had good results dealing with local people and cash. I have had a number of people asking to pay with PayPal (one woman wanted the item shipped to "West Africa"). I'm not exactly sure what their scam is, but I've avoided them. I think it has to do with using a credit card to make the payment, and then after receiving the item turning around and canceling the payment. There's a video on YouTube by a guy who got burned this way.

As far as scheduling goes, the only bad experience I've had was when I wanted to give away some movie posters. I had a dozen responses, and I selected a few that seemed local to send my phone number to follow up. One woman took this as a sign that I was holding the posters for her and her alone, and then was very upset a few days later when she finally answered my email. She went total psycho in her email, in one sentence forgiving me, and then in the next telling me that she was a computer engineer and was plotting my doom. Sheesh!
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post #18 of 24
1/22/09 at 11:27pm

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
TV sale completed today, paid in cash, and TV removed from my house with minimal hassle. Selling to a coworker / acquaintance is the way to go.

I see that you've sold it already but with Craigslist you want to follow a couple of different things:

- Meet in a public place whenever possible. It may not be the case with you since they have to see your TV.

- Bring friends.

- Only accept cash. Be firm about it.

Or just sell it on ebay.
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post #19 of 24
1/23/09 at 7:25am

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

The first thing you need to know when selling on Craigslist is that most of the people who contact you are not serious buyers & will waste your time. Having been given the run around before by the "tire kickers", my policy is cash only & the first person to show up & put it in my hand gets the item. I give people my address & a time interval when they can come. If multiple people show, oh well. I suppose it's a bit of a dick move on my part, but it's about the only way you can protect yourself from the time wasters who swear up & down they are coming but never show.
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post #20 of 24
1/23/09 at 9:42am
Thread Starter 

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

What about people who offer asking price, sight unseen? Have you found them to be serious, generally? I had a response from someone like that; I used his email to set a fair price when my coworker chose to buy it.
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post #21 of 24
1/23/09 at 1:26pm

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

Just curious.....how much did the seven year old TV bring?

Mort
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post #22 of 24
1/23/09 at 1:40pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

It was a 2002 36" Sony WEGA (HD monitor). It came with matching stand, original remote and manual, all in excellent condition. I did some looking on eBay, another HT forum, and the local CraigsList: CRTs were offered for $100 - $500 and selling for various prices in that range. I was more concerned about getting the TV out of my house as fast as possible than about getting top dollar.

A day after my post, I sold it for my asking price of $150, and I think I underpriced it. I posted the ad about 10pm and by noon the next day I had someone offering full price sight unseen. I had already given a coworker first dibs; but because of Craigs List I learned my asking price was fair, so he agree to my full price.
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post #23 of 24
1/23/09 at 5:00pm

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

"What about people who offer asking price, sight unseen?"

In my experience, people who say this rarely follow up and buy anything. Some of them are from out of town and seem to want to pull a PayPal scam. Only one woman, who wanted a movie poster for her husband, seemed sincere.
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post #24 of 24
1/23/09 at 6:02pm

Re: Quick Help: selling on Craigs List?

What about people who offer asking price, sight unseen? Have you found them to be serious, generally?


I recently bought a used car from craigslist, and did just that . a guy dropped his price by $1000(from $9000 firm to $8000 obo), making the deal a hot one instead of just a warm one, and I told him if it passed the mobile inspection service and there were no surprises, I would buy it at his asking price. It did and I did. The reason I did that was his price was more than fair and if I had lowballed and someone else offered regular price, I would have missed it.

He did insist on cash though, which was fine with me - we agreed to do the deal inside my bank, where I could get the title signed over and notarized and he could get the cash without me having to carry it to some shady parking lot. He then left and went across the street to his bank.
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