I am a Craigslist Stalker. Not the killing kind mind you. But a stalker none the less.
So for your consideration today, I would like to submit the following Do’s and Don’ts for selling on Craigslist. Also if any of these random Craigslist ads are yours images from the internet are yours, apologies in advance.
10 Do’s and Don’ts for Selling on Craiglist
1. This will always be first. Don’t WRITE IN ALL CAPS! It is super annoying.
2. Do use the creative writing class that you took in middle school!
Yes, it is pretty annoying that this ad was listed 3 times, but those are some catchy titles. Especially the 3rd one. Don’t worry, I clicked it. It was a just a regular memory foam mattress.
3. Do Describe things the way that you would to your best friend.
Let’s just pretend for a minute that you are on the phone with your bff while thrifting. You stumble upon an item, how would you describe it? Does it have really amazing lines? Does it need a lot of work? Does it just need a good scrub, or does it require a Hazmat suit? When people are buying things from you give them as much detail as possible. It is never fun to show up for your dream chair, only to discover that the back is shredded and it smells like cat pee.
4. Do include a picture!
You guys. Honestly. Do people thing that they are going to sell something described as Brown Sofa? I never understand the “pictures available upon request” line either. It would be so much easier to upload it once, than to text it to 27 people individually. Right?
This listing is awesome. The pictures are clear, you know what you are getting when you call:
5. Do take the time to make something presentable.
Presentable doesn’t always mean staged beautifully. Of course if you are selling a desk, clear all of the papers off of it. If you are selling a couch, think about moving the pillows so that we can see it. Anytime something is covered up it makes me suspicious that you are hiding something horrible underneath.
6. Do list things that you think people may not want.
I came across an ad for this center sectional piece. I mean, yes by itself it is not a good idea, but what if someone is looking for that EXACT thing?! Craigslist scores are made up of love stories like this!
7. Don’t Overprice Things!
Don’t think that because your 17 year old puffy sofa is worth $100 less than what it was when you bought it. When you are figuring out the price ask yourself this simple question. How much would YOU pay for it? I love finding deals, so I tend to price my items lower because deal karma is the best kind.
8. Do leave your contact info!
ARGH is there anything more frustrating than not being able to contact someone when they are selling something you want? It is THE most important Do on the list.
9. Do Make Some Money!!
What would you do in this situation?
You have listed a table for $100. You get a call from a lady that wants it, but wont be able to come and look at it until the next day. Right after you hang up with her you get a phone call from a crazy lady named Mandi (hypothetically of course, not all Mandi’s are crazy.) that is in love with the table. You tell her someone is interested in it but they wont be coming to pick it up until the next day. Mandi says that she will pay you $125 and pick it up right then. What would you do??
You are selling your piece for profit. If you have a better offer, that is solid, TAKE IT. Who knows if lady #1 is actually going to come and get it. Of course you can be courteous and let her know asap. The saying one in the hand is better than 2 in the bush describes Craigslist selling PERFECTLY.
Don’t be a Craigslist Sucker!
10. Don’t Be Scared of Negotiations.
If you are set on a price don’t waver, but if you are itching to get something moved out, don’t be nervous to negotiate with the seller! Negotiations are my favorite, so if I show up at your front door be ready!
Do you guys have any other tips to add? Leave them in the comments and we will all love you forever!
I have one that drives me INSANE…. If you are selling a piece of furniture that someone is going to put in their home – please put the dimension of the item in the ad. I will not email or call to ask the particulars. I will just move on to the next ad.
Another observation: it is “low class” to display a couch or a chair out on the gravel/dirt/lawn/curb. Who knows how long it has been sitting there, inviting insects and spiders to take refuge. Those ads are some of the most annoying.
I would add to please, please make a small effort to spell-check your items’ names. I get tired of trying to think of the fifteen different ways someone could misspell the names of furniture pieces. It is a chest of drawers and not “chester drawers”, they are drawers and not “draws”, and dining room is not spelled “dinning room”. Just to name a few.
made me laugh chrissie! because it’s soooooo true!
Chester drawers drives me absolutely bonkers!
Spell check is a good thing, although it won’t catch the difference between words like ‘draws’ and ‘drawers.’ They could be spelled correctly, but used incorrectly. I’ve reined in my judgement on these people. Some people cannot spell well. Some are just uneducated due to personal circumstance, and some are highly intelligent and just can’t spell and don’t think to use spellcheck all the time. I know people from each of these groups. I took a look at myself and stopped judging and just kept shopping. 🙂
I can’t tell you how much I like this comment. So well said. Thank you.
Yes, my husband who has a Masters Degree still says “talk to you latter.”
SO my pet peeve! It is a wrought iron bed, not rod iron. And Chester Draws? Don’t even get me started.
*too
Not everyone may be as educated as others. However I’m looking for deals! Not grammar mistakes.
Yes, however if you’re searching specifically for a “dining table”, results for a “dinning table” won’t show up. This was the original commentator’s point. Not to be a grammar nazi.
Correcting poor grammar, with poor grammar is even more annoying. The Grammar-Nazis have lowered their standards.
I have to add…list the dimensions of the piece! That may fit with “describe things like you would to your best friend,” but so many people leave out this critical info that I think it deserves to be a “Do” all by itself. This omission is made even more annoying when you contact the person for dimensions and they tell you they’ll have to check when they get home…ugh.
I need to post this on Craigslist. You should do a counterpart of how to buy on Craigslist lol. People just amaze me sometimes.
Oh Caroline, you have so read my mind!!
I third the dimensions. I live in a city (i.e. we all have small apartments), and the dimensions are a critical piece in my decision-making.
good tips! One thing i make sure to do is always write ‘cash only. you haul’
dimensions are KEY. especially for people like me who have tiny little houses. also, this may be more of a buyer’s etiquette thing, but negotiate BEFORE you meet in person. if someone emails me about a listing i have up, i always end our last communication before they show up with something like “ok, see you at 6 with $100 cash.” i really hate it when people show up only to haggle with you in person. set the price before you show up, yo, because if i knew you were going to cheap out on me, i would have moved onto the next person who was willing to pay what i asked.
I am the opposite. Don’t haggle the price until you see it and know for sure what it looks like. i am always willing to negotiate, but don’t do it on the phone before seeing it, or I won’t budge. Another thing that just frosts me, take it off CL as soon as you sell it.
Personally, I would never agree on a firm price for something I have not seen in person. Maybe that’s just me.
Ha ha! The part about photos. Definitely. It drives me nuts when people want to sell a dresser and they just take a shot of it still in the room being used with their clothes hanging out of the half-opened drawers, and a cat, a piece of pizza, and a pile of tangled jewelry on top of it. (Seriously? Will I have to help you clean it out when I come pick it up?) Those are usually the ones that are way overpriced too.
Ummm yeah, this post…pree much rocks! Sometimes if I’m bored I look at CL and amuse myself over how over-priced, ill photographed, and let’s call a spade a spade: JUNK! that these people are asking to get rid of…puuleeaseee! On the other hand, I too have scored a few major pieces for my home and am thrilled with these buys and signs of intelligence when communicating with such folks. Love your stuff! You are a comedian!
I forget the website, but there is one that actually looks up misspelled items on Craigslist for you. That way, you are privy to ads that no one else is searching for.
This is so true! I have bought and sold pieces through craigsList for years and I think you touched on every frustration I’ve ever had with listings. This is great advice for anyone that is new to listing on CL.
Mandi and friends, may I introduce you to Craigs Easy. A friend of mine introduced me to this it a couple of years ago, and Craigslist furniture stalking has never been easier. It is such a brilliant way to search, shop or stalk items on Craigslist – all in pictures!!
“You are welcome . . . I love you too!!”
I’m SO going to agree with Chrissie. Use spell check even if you think you know how to spell something. You might be surprised 🙂 I love her examples because I have seen so many postings for “dinning room tables”. I have to disagree with Mandi on using negative Craigslist karma and swooping in to steal a sale out from under someone who already made a verbal contract with the seller. This is pretty crappy behavior and I know I sound like my grandmother when I say this but it’s really a matter of common courtesy which seems to be becoming extinct these days. If you make a verbal contract you should honor it. Your word is a reflection of your integrity and I would rather keep that intact vs. making an extra $20. Still love you though 🙂
I have to disagree. Even though you’ve made a verbal agreement over the phone, I would regard that verbal agreement as an agreement to meet and inspect the item only. The deal is not completed until the buyer nods, says yes, and hands over cash. The buyer could show up, take a look at the item and say, “It’s not the exact shade of blue that the picture showed. It’s supposed to be Cerulean and that’s definitely Azure”. They can always back out because your item has a detail they didn’t notice in the photos, the dimensions are slightly off from what was listed, the color or condition are not as exactly shown in the photo because of the lighting conditions. Maybe the “heft” of the piece is wrong for them or it has a faint odor, or they show up with a spouse in tow who hates the item. Or they could blow you off entirely and never show up at all.
I think the seller, if they have made an appointment with a potential buyer, has the ethical obligation to call that person and let them know that another interested party is willing to show up earlier. The seller has been up front, and what the first potential buyer does is up to them: they can show up even earlier, PayPal over earnest money or convince you with elaborate promises to hold the item. If the first potential buyer does manage to show up earlier, I think it would be unethical for the seller to try and force them to buy for the higher price the second potential buyer was willing to offer.
As a Craigslist buyer, I always make sure that I am coming to LOOK at an item, and will buy if it passes my inpection. If I am coming to see an item, I will still walk away from a item that is not entirely as represented, or even if it doesn’t entrance me the way the picture of the item did. I don’t regard an appointment to see an item as a definite verbal contract to purchase, so the seller is free to sell the item before I get there. That’s CraigsList.
I so agree with this! I scored an awesome card catalog and was on my way to pick it up only to have them sell it for $15 dollars more to someone who lived closer. So not only was that in terribly poor taste but I was out my time and gas $. I was super annoyed. How hard is it to tell someone else that if your initial buyer craps out you will let them know? I held a couch for 2 weeks with a down payment and then the buyer had a medical emergency and had to back out. Not only did I give her the deposit back but I was able to sell the couch for $100 more within the week. Now that is good craigslist karma. Mandi I love ya but jumping in and offering more if someone has already verbally agreed to buy it is not nice!
I agree and that was my biggest ‘no no no’ on the list. I’ll wait for the first person, BUT if they cannot make it within the the day or so, I explain to them that if someone else comes along, I will sell it, but also let them know that I did. People are pretty cool with that. But if I agreed to wait, I wait. I’ve waited and gotten burned, a few times, but usually end up selling for more in the end. I also did the ‘take the better offer’ once. I called the first person to let her know, she was pissed (turns out she lied to me during our first conversation, but that’s another story) and the guy that offered 3 times the amount, I couldn’t get in touch with again, he didn’t reply to my message. I felt horrible all the way around, and never did it again. I replied to an ad that was selling a chair for $25. We made an agreement to meet. She got so many responses, she cancelled our agreement and then put the ad again on CL for $75. I wrote her a somewhat nasty, but well spoken, email. I was so mad. The chair wasn’t even for me, but it was just wrong on her part. Feel you made a mistake? then you chalk it up to experience and do it differently next time.
I completely agree. I just had this happen to me recently. I had been in contact with a lady about purchasing a piece of furniture. I spoke to her on the phone and asked if she would take $X amount for her piece (it was a common piece of furniture that is posted on craigslist quite often and her asking price was ridiculously high). She accepted my offer, which was slightly lower than her asking price, then told me I could pick up anytime that weekend (we spoke Friday night). I told her I’d call her before I headed to her house. We had spoken on the phone a couple times and the last thing she said was “I have it all cleared off and it’s right by my door all ready for you” I thanked her and told her I would call her Saturday or Sunday. She sounded nice enough and the process had gone smoothly, so I felt great about everything. I called her Sunday morning to let her know I was on my way to pick it up when she said “Oh, I sold it yesterday”. I was so shocked and said “Oh…you did??” She replied by saying ” When I didn’t hear from you this weekend I thought you had changed your mind” – ummm…WHAT?!?!? We spoke Friday night around 8:30pm, I offered to pick it up the next morning after my two little boys’ we’re done with their basketball game, but she was the one who said Saturday OR Sunday worked for her and she was free anytime that weekend. I had already paid for and picked up a U-haul to pick it up. I was furious, but more shocked and upset that someone would actually do that then play “dumb”. Our conversations were very clear, she knew I definitely wanted it and would be picking it up. People completely baffle me! I don’t know why she did that, but how hard is it to use manners and common courtesy? If she REALLY had questions about whether I wanted it, she could have texted or called. When you make a verbal agreement with someone, I don’t care if a second buyer calls and offers double the asking price, you should at least contact the person and let them know that you are breaking that agreement. If I have another encounter like that, I think I’ll stop using Craigslist completely. It’s sad that there are so many people out there who were not raised to have manners, respect others or honor their word.
I love it when people try to sell something with a mirror attached and the mirror show them standing there with the camera! Ummmm…….at a little angle please?
https://www.etsy.com/shop/oldstufflove
I LOVE the posts with crappy photos and misspelled words! Those are the pieces others will just click right past, but I’ll swoop in and score for next to nothing. I usually find my best stuff in the worst part of town too. I am bummed Mid-century is getting so expensive right now. A year ago I picked up a 6 drawer Kent Coffey dresser for $15 in great condition. Now-a-days I’d be looking at $200-300 minimum. If only I had a crystal ball, I would have stashed french stuff away 5 years ago, and filled my garage with mid-century 2 years ago.
At first, those ugly photos annoyed me, too. But like Elisha, I’ve found nice little treasures for less money because the ad has sat there. I also look at what they’re not selling but is in the photo. If it looks like something I’d want, I ask them if they’d sell it. And usually they would. I scored a vintage Hobart-KitchenAid DW for free, from an ad that was selling other things from the kitchen before a remodel.
YOU DID IT!!! YOU got Apartment Therapies Homie Award!! Congratulations!! (yes I did a little happy dance for you!!!!!))))))
It completely drives me nuts when people don’t add a photo!
OMG Mandi! ALL of this! I am a CL stalker myself (not the killing kind) and I am so tired of this stuff. I also hate the same items posted a gazillion times a day. It makes me want to create an anonymous CL avenger email and set these people straight. Thank you for your service to CL buyers everywhere!
I like the term ‘deal karma’ and all of this is true! P.S. I love love love love your upcycled ugly leather sofa. So genius!
I sell a lot of items on Craigslist….unless it’s large furniture, I meet at a McDonald’s down the street.
Well lit and busy. Never had a bad experience but I always ask questions before meeting.
I agree with most of these. However, I don’t post my info until someone contacts me and is sincerely interested and leaves THEIR info. I’ve gotten too much spam to post my own info up front. I do check my e-mails pretty frequently if I have current items listed.
In the past I’ve always let the first person who contacted me have first dibs. As long as it’s within a day or two of contacting me. But recently I had a person totally flake out on me and not show for a couple of side tables, while passing up a buyer who would have come ASAP. I still have said side tables in the garage one month later…… I guess I would say it depends on the scenario. I’d hate to have someone sell something under my nose because I couldn’t get away during nap time, for example.
Hi, thank s for your guide, I sometimes use craiglist for selling items, such a helpful post.
Be polite, always!
We never have had anyone come to our house. We’re just not comfortable with that. We always agree to meet someone in a public parking lot close to the freeway. However, we’ve never sold big items like a sofa before on Craigslist, that would make meeting someone a bit more difficult! Thanks for the tips though.
Post a picture, but make it face the right way! It drives me batty to see listings with sideways photos.
Chester Drawers!! lmao! I have one…..Rod Iron. “Paging Mr. Rod Iron” C’mon people! I check CL multiple times a day. I’m amazed at the stupidity of sellers. How about the no city, no price and no picture ads???? Seriously?? It’s all I can do to keep from writing a scathing email. Oh and please, don’t even think of removing your hoarding mass of clothes and papers when selling a desk, dresser, etc,,,,I mean, make me look hard at the sliver of wood peeking out from beneath your crap. Like I really want to buy your roach infested stuff??! Blech!
As for the better offer, that’s a tough call. I’ve had people flake numerous times. But if they sound legit, I always take the second callers info just in case. If someone has offered more dough to pick it up sooner, call the 1st buyer and explain what’s happened. Just my two cents.
May I add….. once the item is sold, remove the ad! Don’t just ignore the newer inquiries!
I’m getting ready to sell a bunch of our junk…er stuff on craigslist and this puts me in the mood, so thanks for that. I know I make money in this scenario, but I enjoy buying waaay more than selling. There’s something wrong with me, isn’t there?
All your points: right on. Seriously, it is not sold until your money is in my hand and I see the piece in the bed of your truck rounding the corner and out of sight. No promises of Saturday pickups, holds, whatever. Buyers love your piece until it’s time to drive across town during rush hour, go by the ATM, and knock on a stranger’s door in the dark. I’ve been that flake more times than I care to admit. So when I’m selling, I’m loyal to no one.
Also, I would suggest that you require buyers take the piece away at the point of sale. I once sold a dining table that had to wait for the weekend to pick up. The weekend became next week until the buyer wanted a refund because she found a different table. I was moving out of state and needed the table gone, so I held her to our agreement. But I learned my lesson.
Can I add to your list?
People need to puh-lease include measurements. I don’t know how many times I’ve texted a seller with “Can you send me the dimensions of your chair?”
It’s simple. It’s practical. It’s a must.
Oh, and always include the color of your item. Sounds stupid, but a picture isn’t always worth a thousand words. Simply say, “It’s a deep gray chair.” If people need clarification after that then they can ask.
Another tip is put the dimensions in the description. It SUCKS when they don’t, and you make an appt to see it only to find out it’s either too huge or too small for your space.
I HATE when people list their price with OBO, and they aren’t willing to go down on their price. I’m not talking low ball offers either. Don’t put obo if you’re not willing to negotiate!
Andrea, I used to have the same issue until I figured out that what many of these people mean by “best offer” is “best higher offer when I tell you someone else is coming to look.”
On the other side of it, I used to always have someone show up to buy something, and with no prior negotiation, claim they’d only brought 2/3 of the cash, or ask me to account for their travel/gas money in the price. Aggravating.
I once got so frustrated I posted a long rant about “chester draws” “rot iron” and “solid oak” and constant re-posts of overpriced 80s tubular steal tables and so on, but wouldn’t you know it, I can’t find it. Those keywords just turn up hundreds of CL posts!
Two of my favorites recently: “Swayed” leather couches and a set of “intables” (end tables) for sale. Seriously, people. I just can’t.
Love the article and all the comments!! LOL! I would like to hear more about safety. I’m single and live alone. Friends and family think I’m crazy to have people come to the house. I always speak to the buyer on the phone and make a judgment. If I have any concerns I make arrangements to meet them somewhere. Is this too much of a risk?
I have to tell you my favorite CL story. I was selling a small decorative shelf for maybe $15-20. A woman wrote me and asked if I would be willing to donate the shelf to her so she could use it for her daughter’s trophies! I told her I was SELLING the shelf. She said ok, she would buy it, but would I mind delivering it to her!! She lived about 25 miles away!! Some people!!
Awesome tips, Mandi! But I have a tip for all CL Buyers out there – If you call me, have a ten minute conversation about how much you really, really, really want my huge stuffed robotic dinosaur that walks and talks, we’ve agreed on a price (lower than what I listed it at, btw) and we’ve decided on a time for you to stop by my lovely home. Then for the love of God, please have the decency to actually come and buy the stupid thing! I “sold” him thing three different times and all three times the people never showed up and never called to say they had changed their minds. In the end, I donated him to the homeless shelter. Buyers not showing up KILL me.
you are so right! I wanted to sell my husband’s ugly glass coffee table. I just thought what the heck i’ll try, even though I didn’t think anyone would really be interested.. the ad was up for over a week then this lady texts me “i love that coffee table can i get it today” She was thrilled because SHE had the matching dining room table! I was so happy for her! Thanks for the tips.. My tip would be to Use your head and be safe. If people are coming to your house to pick it up, have someone there with you. 🙂
The only thing I can add to all these awesome tips: If you are selling large items, move them to your garage for viewing/pickup (if you’ve got one). I never have buyers in our home, and I never arrange to see them when I will be home alone. When I am the buyer, I never go alone. Oh, and in addition to using your creative writing skills, use some humor. It always helps!
I have only been to two houses and bought furniture on Craigslist and had two pleasant experiences. They both were ladies who refurbished furniture. They had lovely homes and were very warm and welcoming. I did ask both of the ladies if you ever feel uncomfortable about people coming to your home. One said, if she does not feel comfortable about the person, she does not let them in and ask them to come around to the side to her garage and the doors will be wide open. The other lady said she can usually tell by the email address that if it has the person’s last name it makes her feel more comfortable and if the email address has some outrageous name like “sexyman”, she will not respond. Both ladies also had screened front doors so no door is ever shut when you walk in (also good advice if you are the buyer.) One important piece of advice to all if you are buying something and when you drive up and feel uncomfortable about getting out of your car and approaching the front door, just keep driving and pass up.
Anything I sell, I always state “first come first serve”. Since I’m a firm believer in “anything can happen at any second” its hard to rely on people. That sounds gloomy…but really! Someone could say “yo! I’ve got the cash, I’ll be there to pick it up within the hour” and you may never hear from them again. People go to jail, emergencies happen, bank balances aren’t what one may think it is, the persons ride fell through, they were texting while driving..and…maybe they were drunk and fell asleep. Only leaving them with no recollection of calling you or being on craigslist at all.
Maybe I have known a large group of unreliable people in my life? Haha. These people are out there.
Therefore..He or She who arrives with cash in hand first, takes home the item. If I EVER do a hold/wait for anything…including things like commission work, they have 24hrs. Holding items and missing sales happens to often. Excuses are the worst.
My peeves…besides the missing needed info…(so annoying!) Is when someone posts “Like New! Used for 1 month!” I’m sorry, but if you used it for one minute, or one day, you used it. Period. Putting “new” on anything thats been tried on, is out of its packaging, doesnt have the tags attached, and has been touched by someone else can no longer be sold at full price or close to it. Gently used isn’t bad, and take at LEAST 30% off that thing.
Incorrect Prices are also high on my peeve list. Most of the things I might be interested in buying online are items I would usually be out rummaging for, and getting pickers price. I can’t recall yesterday, but I can tell you what everything cost that has caught my eye.. I’ve been hoarding, finding, and collecting midcentury goods for 25 years now, and I still know what i paid for these things at that tiny garage sale in 1991. A lamp I grabbed for $5, is now going for $400. Trends. Ugh. I’m not that concerned though, I’ll just buy more in a few years when its dead, and people can’t GIVE it away, like its always been. In the meantime I’ll make some money, lol.
Prices I was saying..geez. I see phones priced at top dollar, wrinkled clothes and worn out couches with high price tags. I always double check the going rate if I don’t know it. I have no problem being patient for an item I want, at the price it should be at 🙂
Mandi, I love your blog and enjoy the projects you have done. 🙂 I do have to say that I disagree with your advice on offering more money for something that someone has made a verbal contract to sell to another person for less money. I have had that happen to me a couple of times, once after I had driven an hour each way to pick something up and was told she sold it to someone else who offered her more money even though I had made it clear when I would be there and was there on time. She didn’t even bother to call me knowing full well I was driving quite a distance to get the item. I was out the item, the gas and paying someone else to go with me to help load the item. She showed no remorse and was actually quite rude about it. “It is what it is” she said. I feel that is very unethical to say the least as well as it shows how much that almighty dollar controls peoples lives. I always stand by my word and I would never do that to anyone, my conscious would bother me knowing that I cheated someone else out of something that they agreed to purchase from someone before I offered them more money. I have seen a few of your posts where you have said you have done that and I am sorry that you feel it is alright to do something like that to others.
Do not describe an item as if you’re talking to your best friend. We already have established trust with our best friends. When buying/selling people trust information more than opinions like, “It was amazing.” Avoid the over-the-top adjectives you might use with a friend. Avoid commentary you’d use w/a friend. I agree that you shouldn’t launch into full ‘creative writing’ mode. Your best best is to list details with brief bullet points. They can easily glance at the facts w/o reading a paragraph. None of your personality or emotion clouds their interpretation.
You should always request that interested parties leave their number & you’ll call them back promptly. Otherwise, there are scammers that simply want your email address. There are scammers that will be the most interested, but won’t give you their number (even though you’re offering this great deal that won’t last). As soon as they get your number, you won’t hear from them. A week later, you’ll get a call from a local number of a person in India, telling you something is wrong w/your compute.r
I know this is an old post; however, I was browsing craigslist etiquette after receiving a harsh response to my email cancelling agreement I made to sell an item. First and foremost, I try to avoid craigslist at all costs by asking friends, family, and colleagues if anyone may be interested in what I am selling at the time. If no one has any interest in my awesome stuff then I post on craigslist. My most recent listing brought in a few inquiries; however, the first person asked to trade (for an item work maybe 25$) and then replied with a “ah, I thought I would try, but my budget is X” x being 75$ less than what I was asking so I said I will be in touch if my listing stays cold, which it did even after I lowered the price. A few days later (maybe three) I emailed back saying that price is fine, I was selling an electronic so I know electronics do not hold value if no warranty or anything (my item had 5 full months left), so I agreed to a price 50$ less than my current asking price – fine, when can you meet, the where is defined in my posting. I am not sure why sooo many people end up replying “where are you located, oh man that is kind of far from me – will you meet in the middle.” No, I will not drive 45 minutes out of my way for a few dollars (150 to be exact). Two emails go back and forth with the buyer asking to meet closer to his area, which I reply with a sorry, but I am willing to drop the price not drive out of my way. Finally the buyer replied stating to meet in the area I specified in the listing on the weekend – I am out of the area listed on the weekend but I agreed, I had some time. An hour later another colleague found out what I was looking to sell and wanted to buy it, the same price. I felt bad but I immediately responded to the buyer stating I have to cancel the sell, regardless of agreement, I rather deal with someone I know than meet a complete stranger in the parking lot . Maybe if the world was not so screwed up, I would of upheld the agreement but it is so it was not worth the hassle or the chance to meet the next Gacy (I did not add this last part). I canceled within the hour, which was two days before the day we agreed to meet on. I would not have canceled the same day, I believe there is a point where an agreement must be upheld but I was upfront and respectful in my email so I didn’t think I would receive a nasty reply – maybe upset but no need to be rude if something doesn’t work out. A seller doesn’t owe a single buyer anything but respect.
We all seem to have gripes when it comes to CL. and rightfully so. My comment is geared more towards the buyers not the sellers including all of us who try to sell on CL. Please please READ the ad before calling with questions! I can’t count how many times I take a call on an item only to field questions that the answers to are right there in black & white IN THE AD right in front of them. Very frustrating…
This is also geared towards buyers.
a. As noted above, read the ad it is annoying to re-explain what I’m selling.
b. Don’t assume because you’ve had a long (week) of back and forth communication that I am going to
sell you that thing.
c. First come with best offer wins the prize. There are no contracts or assumed preferences unless I have the cash in my hand, preferably for the price I’m asking for.
d. Don’t insult me, make accusations (especially concerning above issues) or threats via email, text or paper.
e. When I say cash or cashiers check, I don’t mean personal check. In my profession I do not take personal checks, why would I take one personally? Also telling me that your “banker, who I can call at his home phone number” will verify for you that your personal check is good, doesn’t cut the mustard.
f. Be friendly and respectable people. I am a considerate person, but I am not gullible, naive or a push over. For all you know, I might be a police officer, your bosses boss, your next boss, neighbor, next partner’s father/mother/sibling, a member of the mob, or a private investigator or maybe I’m just someone looking for an excuse to become unhinged and I own a lot of guns.
g. Use common sense and follow the golden rule.
Best Regards.