Craigslist has become a common household name for anyone with a computer. You can buy, sell, trade, or even adopt a pet, find a date, or “rant and rave.” With so many sections available, how do you know what to do, where to do it, and how to get results?
Craigslist is a site to promote local trading. So before you browse or post, select your state and then the area closest to your location. Once you have come to the main screen there are so many topics and categories to view, it is nearly confusing.
If you are looking to make a specific purchase, select a category closest to what you wish to purchase. For example, if you are looking to buy a horse, there are two places that a horse may be listed; farm and garden or pets. Once you select the category, type in what you are looking for and boom, there are all the results.
When making a purchase, never do a prepayment or deposit until you have had the opportunity to view the item you are purchasing. If you are going to make payment arrangements, make sure you have a written contract. It would be a good idea to compare the signature on that contract to the sellers photo id as well.
Another reason Craigslist is so popular, it is a very inexpensive way to advertise. As a matter of fact, its free. If you want to sell a product, there are some rules you should abide by. First, I strongly recommend typing your advertisement in a word document to be able to utilize spell check. If you are asking $40,000 for an RV that is truly worth twice as much, a poorly worded ad will make you appear as though you are scheming.
Make sure the words go together nicely, and explain or describe your product as best you can and in a completely truthful manner. If you go to sell a coat, but fail to mention it is missing buttons, you will end up with a very unhappy consumer. In turn, they may post on the site their dissatisfaction with their experience and try to sway other potential customers from doing business with you.
Remember, Craigslist does not review the content before it becomes public, so proofread your own work. A simple typo error such as “Four Wheeler for Sale $50.00”, when you meant to list it as $500.00, could cause you some grief. So be certain that before you submit, you make sure all the content is accurate.
To get a lot of attention, be sure to post pictures, the actual price and if the price is negotiable, current contact information such as email or cell phone, and a headline that summarizes what you are listing. If someone is searching for a dog or cat and you have your headline listed as “A precious pet” or something not specific enough, you may be over looked. If the viewer has a distinct idea of what they are looking for, that is the word they will type in the search bar. If you do not have that word advertised, you will not be included in the group, thus missing your opportunity. The pictures posted should be of a size large enough to see, and they should be clear. Post as many as allowed to create interest.
You should know your product and its value. Take a few minutes to create a search for specifically what you are looking to unload. If you want to sell a 1998 SUV for $2,500 and a comparable SUV is listed for $1,500, most likely a potential consumer will purchase the one that costs less. If you have a valuable item that you do not wish to lower the price on, then patrol Craigslist for when there is less competition so you can then post.
When you are ready to accept an offer, always update your listing as offer pending. I would also recommend you put in the body of the ad the date it should be sold. This way if the buyer backs out, you may still have people who are interested.
Once you have secured a buyer and agreed upon the sale, its time to consider what type of payment options you will accept. I recommend only cash, money order or certified check. A personal check may bounce and actually cost you money in bank fees. Once your item is sold you should remove your posting from Craigslist or at least update the ad to show it is no longer available.
Lastly, always consider your personal safety. If you are agreeing to meet someone as the buyer or seller, take someone with you and make sure to have a cell phone with you in case needed. Never agree to meet during night time hours, in dark parking lots, secluded areas or at any abandoned building. If at anytime you arrive and begin to feel uncomfortable, excuse yourself and leave. If you are afraid to just dart out and wish to exit gracefully, you could always say an emergency just came up and you will contact them later.
I do not recommend using your home phone number or home address on an opened ad on Craigslist. You should only share that information once you have established a rapport with someone.
www.craigslist.org
