Craigslist question

[miaclear]

I've never listed anything on Craigslist before. Can someone give me the lowdown on it? I went there and it doesn't really look like there's too much to it.

We're listing a bed. It has to sell by next Sat or we'll just donate it when they deliver our new one.

[emmjay]

Make sure you include a picture, and be willing to negotiate from whatever price you list. Also state that it is cash only, and they have to pick it up. I wouldn't include that it has to sell by next Saturday because people might use that as an excuse to lowball you on the price.

For people coming to see it, we did one of two things. Sometimes we would just set up one appointment at a time for people to see it (and move down the list if they didn't take it). Otherwise we would set up appointments with anyone who was interested and then once someone bought it, sent an email to anyone who had scheduled a time to come. I prefer the second approach because that way if someone is a no-show, you already have someone else coming to look.

We had a lot of success selling on Craigslist before we moved - we sold a ton of furniture, and we sold everything we posted there. Much easier than having to haul it to Goodwill or whatever!

[miaclear]

Great! Good suggestion on not putting the Sat sell by date in there. Although I'd take whatever we could get for the bed. I'm thinking of asking $100, but even if we got $50 that'd be nice. It's a Cal King, nothing special, about ten years old but clean and in descent condition.

[Rosebud]

Do a little comparison pricing before you list your item. Search for other beds being sold in your area and see what the asking price is. If 10 other people are selling Cal King beds and asking $75, then you should probably ask something similar, or else people won't respond to your ad. Just make sure your price is reasonable compared to what's out there.

People will definitely want to talk you down in price. I always list my items for more than I'd be willing to accept, knowing that potential buyers will say, "I know your dresser is listed for $100, but will you accept $80?"

Good luck!

[hdewey]

Go ahead Craigslist is one of the most popular free classified sites. Its free!
:)

[miaclear]

Well I listed it. I think I way underpriced it at $100 but I think it's also one of the oldest mattresses out there (18 years!!!)...but it's clean. Within 30 min I got a call and the guy and his wife are coming to look at it tonight. Sweet. Like Free Money! Although if they buy it we'll be sleeping on the floor till Saturday...haha.

[AlisonCO]

:) - I have become an addict. The money I make from craigslist is our cash/fun money - I have had great luck with all kinds of crazy things that were just sitting around my house. I think that underpricing items just a bit is worth it because they seem to go so much more quickly.

[miaclear]

No doubt....especially since we were just going to send it away with the delivery guys. It's like free money. Or at least makes up for the fact that we went over budget on our new mattress:o