Craig’s List

[Vash01]

Has anyone sold or bought on Craig’s list? I had sold a couple of items on it 10-15 years ago. However, for a couple of other items (laptop and piano) I got some suspicious messages so I removed those products.

Then I read about some problems (criminal?) with Craig’s list so I stopped looking them up. Yesterday I looked them up, out of curiosity, and saw that they were advertising many things on the site. So they are in business. Did they ever resolve the problems or/and reestablish themselves as a safe site to buy and sell?

 

[genevieve]

I've sold things on craigslist - but I was also selling on FB at the same time so it all mushes together in my memory. Some people flaked, but I sold all the things I needed to sell. The most trouble I had was with a couch I was giving away for free - when there is no cost, people are WAY flakier.

The usual precautions:

• only accept cash*, payment in full before they take the item
• be clear with yourself about the price you list, and the price you are willing to accept before you list it. If your list price is absolutely the lowest you will accept, make that clear in the listing.
• do any price negotiating before they come and pick it up. Plenty of people will try to bargain in person in the hopes you just want it gone. Of course, it's up to you if you want to do that, but I find it obnoxious and would rather donate items to a thrift store than deal with obnoxious people
• if you are concerned about people casing your place, either meet in a neutral/public space (small items only, obv) or bring whatever it is outside. Maybe have a friend with you when they pick it up. I live in a coop building, so I didn't worry about people knowing my address. There was only one item that I needed people to come inside for, everything else I brought it to them at the building entrance.
• if someone does not show up/contact you within the agreed upon time frame, move on to the next person.

* Teh Kidz today use venmo and other electronic payments - I suppose that's the same, but I'd ask for it BEFORE they come to pick it up.

 

[overedge]

Also be clear about how the item is going to get to the buyer. If you want them to pick it up, say "buyer picks up" in the ad, or you will get buyers trying to get you to bring it to them. Post the dimensions of the item in the ad, particularly if it's large, so they can bring the right size vehicle.

And when you get a buyer, tell them when they can pick it up, I.e. what days/times you are available. Otherwise you will get buyers wanting to drop by at all kinds of weird hours. I'm not kidding.

 

[Vash01]

Is PayPal safe for accepting payment on Craigs List?

 

[genevieve]

If you would accept it otherwise, sure.

ETA: I personally wouldn't, but I don't like using PayPal with strangers, and I only accept cash for this types of sales. But lots of people use PayPal.

 

[overedge]

When there is no cost, people are WAY flakier.

^This. Somehow, when you're doing people a favor by giving them something for free, it suddenly becomes your responsibility to deliver it to them, or to help them un-assemble it to fit in their too-small car, or to clean it even more for them because it's not clean "enough" even when the ad says "as is", or be awake at stupid o'clock so they can come pick it up, etc. etc.