??? Craigslist ???

[donald&daisy]

I have used Craigslist to buy a Wii before Christmas last year that was gently used and I even got it for $30 less than retail. I have sold a couch. Bought books, etc. I also use facebook marketplace, which is pretty much the same. I even used freecycle to give away books and a dresser. I love them all!!

 

[Robinrs]

How does it compare to Ebay? I found ebay to be kind of a pain.

I do both. Ebay I use for smaller items, CL for furniture, etc.

My house and just about everything in it is from Craigslist. I admit, I'm addicted! I love it! I live in a transient city so every week there is another person moving out of state and needs to get rid of something! I got a FREE 36" tv because the guy just had to move and didn't want to take it with him!

I first found out about it from my niece in San Francisco, the mecca for CL. Until then I depended on the newspaper ads which were very limited. Since CL is free I can just get a thought, put it up and it's sold! I sold a desk and a loveseat this weekend alone... $160 in my pocket!

Last year I moved and had to sell my washer and dryer. I sold them for the price I paid for them originally. It was like borrowing them for 2 years!

Love love LOVE Craigslist! And have NEVER met a person I didn't like!

 

[Fitswimmer]

I do both. Ebay I use for smaller items, CL for furniture, etc.

My house and just about everything in it is from Craigslist. I admit, I'm addicted! I love it! I live in a transient city so every week there is another person moving out of state and needs to get rid of something! I got a FREE 36" tv because the guy just had to move and didn't want to take it with him!

I first found out about it from my niece in San Francisco, the mecca for CL. Until then I depended on the newspaper ads which were very limited. Since CL is free I can just get a thought, put it up and it's sold! I sold a desk and a loveseat this weekend alone... $160 in my pocket!

Last year I moved and had to sell my washer and dryer. I sold them for the price I paid for them originally. It was like borrowing them for 2 years!

Love love LOVE Craigslist! And have NEVER met a person I didn't like!

Well, that settles it! If Robin likes it-it's gotta be good!!! I'm going to start selling tomorrow!!

 

[Imzadi]

The biggest problems I've had are the No shows. The ones who call or email. You arrange a particular time for pick up, give info, etc. then they never show up or call to cancel. OR they email a day later telling you they couldn't come. Like you didn't already figure that out YESTERDAY?

The No shows are the worst. Even if you'd be home anyway if they don't show up, it still wastes your time. Then you have to make an appointment with another person & hope they show up.

If anyone can figure out how to sell something so that if the first person doesn't show, another person is on the way anyway. And yet, if the first person does show, the second person won't be mad for wasting a trip. It would be hard to list something "garage sale" style - first come, first served if it's just one item. People may not make the trip for one item they think may be gone by the time they get there.


A second problem with Craigslist is their search function is very limited. If you type in bunk bed and someone else listed it as bunkbed, or even bunk beds, it will not show up in the listings. you need to do a search for every possible variation you can think of as you don't know how they listed the item you want.

 

[jenrose66]

I find Craiglist seedy

 

[grlpwrd]

The biggest problems I've had are the No shows. The ones who call or email. You arrange a particular time for pick up, give info, etc. then they never show up or call to cancel. OR they email a day later telling you they couldn't come. Like you didn't already figure that out YESTERDAY?

The No shows are the worst. Even if you'd be home anyway if they don't show up, it still wastes your time. Then you have to make an appointment with another person & hope they show up.

If anyone can figure out how to sell something so that if the first person doesn't show, another person is on the way anyway. And yet, if the first person does show, the second person won't be mad for wasting a trip. It would be hard to list something "garage sale" style - first come, first served if it's just one item. People may not make the trip for one item they think may be gone by the time they get there.


A second problem with Craigslist is their search function is very limited. If you type in bunk bed and someone else listed it as bunkbed, or even bunk beds, it will not show up in the listings. you need to do a search for every possible variation you can think of as you don't know how they listed the item you want.

Ditto.

Also, be careful of those who email you from Cameroon and other countries. Scam, scam, scam.

With ebay at least you have the assurance that the auction is a legally binding contract and they have to pay (with few ways to renig). With CL it's not that simple because they can renig or not show up at all. It can be a pain.

I have sold on ebay for 10 years and bought and sold on CL for 4 years now. I always meet at a public location, I only use a web-based email address, I never give out my phone number, I state "cash only" and "firm" in my listing, and I always take my dh with me if I buy something.

In our area it's a great place to find deals. I recently bought a piano, bike trailer, desk, and upgraded my sofa to a great quality leather one ... and they lived only 10 minutes away.

I also list in more than 1 area and I usually offer to meet halfway if it is not too far. For example, I list in the Richmond and Hampton Roads sections. I have also listed in the Baltimore section because my dh works there. This opens my listing to more possible buyers.

By coincidence I met up with 3 people I knew: one sold a playground and it was my 13yo dd's friend's mom, one was looking for part-time daycare and it was from a mom of a former Girl Scout in our troop, and just recently I bought a This End Up desk from the mom of a new Girl Scout.

I have also paid it forward by offering free stuff, like clothes and things I don't need.

 

[Robinrs]

Well, that settles it! If Robin likes it-it's gotta be good!!! I'm going to start selling tomorrow!!

I wish my kid had the faith you have in my opinion Fits!!

Ditto.

Also, be careful of those who email you from Cameroon and other countries. Scam, scam, scam.

With ebay at least you have the assurance that the auction is a legally binding contract and they have to pay (with few ways to renig). With CL it's not that simple because they can renig or not show up at all. It can be a pain.

I have sold on ebay for 10 years and bought and sold on CL for 4 years now. I always meet at a public location, I only use a web-based email address, I never give out my phone number, I state "cash only" and "firm" in my listing, and I always take my dh with me if I buy something.

In our area it's a great place to find deals. I recently bought a piano, bike trailer, desk, and upgraded my sofa to a great quality leather one ... and they lived only 10 minutes away.

I also list in more than 1 area and I usually offer to meet halfway if it is not too far. For example, I list in the Richmond and Hampton Roads sections. I have also listed in the Baltimore section because my dh works there. This opens my listing to more possible buyers.

By coincidence I met up with 3 people I knew: one sold a playground and it was my 13yo dd's friend's mom, one was looking for part-time daycare and it was from a mom of a former Girl Scout in our troop, and just recently I bought a This End Up desk from the mom of a new Girl Scout.

I have also paid it forward by offering free stuff, like clothes and things I don't need.

ITA with all of this.

Mostly the scammers you can tell from the very beginning. CL has the info on them all over the site. Just email them back that you know what they're doing and they'll go away.

As with anything that involves human beings, you must be careful and be aware that things may not go as you expect. It's the nature of the beast.