? For those who have sold on Craig's List

[dis2cruise]

I was thinking of selling my dd sweet 16 gown on craigs list instead of eBay
How do you do a transaction like this doesn't the girl have to try on the gown to see how it looks fits, etc?

 

[Alexander]

The only thing we've sold were our 2 kayaks.....so they obviously had to come to our house. I wasn't worried at all. I had repeated telephone conversations with the man prior to him coming. He actually lived quite a ways away, but had a camp less than 5 miles from us.

Why is it any different having them come to your house than if you were to have a garage sale? You get even more strange people coming then!

 

[EllenFrasier]

Most of the time Dh meets them at a store parking lot on the way home from work. That way we are not going out of our way and if they don't show up within 15 minutes of the arranged meeting time, we just move on to the next person who was interested. We have been stood up a few times - once for an item which we were practically giving away because she said she just moved here and didn't have anything and was a single mom, etc. She stood us up!
The only time people come to the house is when it's something large, like a Little Tikes climbing thing. Those people drove from PA to NY to get it - I'm thinkng, "don't they have toy stores in PA?". We actually made money on that. We bought it at ToysRUs on sale and sold it for the original price - I think that was on Ebay though, but it's the same idea - too big to move ourselves.
That story of the family that was selling the diamond ring got me scared though. They arranged for the people to come to the house to pick the ring up and I think they killed the husband and tied up the child and the wife - awful. They said they always had people come to pick things up and never had a problem.

 

[Vijoge]

I haven't sold on Craigslist but I have bought quite a few things. I have always just gone to the seller's house to pay in cash and pick up the item.

 

[JusbKoz]

Hi....the samething here. I meet them in a parking lot and have sold a few things from my house BUT we have even taken things to buyers house before. Once a man bought a lawnmower from us and had never had a mower before so my husband had to show him how to use it and the other time we sold a patio table and chairs to a elderly lady and so my husband delivered and set it up for her. Our transactions have always been 100% positive. Like one previous poster said we have had people flake out on us when they were not meeting us at our house? We buy also from craigslist and have numerous friends that buy and sell none of us have ever had any trouble.

 

[IDoDis]

I just sold a ceiling fan the other day. DH thought I was nuts for listing it on Craig's List. He was ready to haul it to Goodwill. It was 11 years old but still looked new so I figured I'd give it a shot and see if I could get $25 for it. Sold it the next day. Oh, we also had a 10 year old swing set that we needed to get rid of. It was faded from the sun, but worked good and didn't have any rust. I asked $30 for it and said the buyer had to dismantle it and haul it off. They actually did ME a favor and paid me for it, too!

One summer I had bins and bins of kids' clothes. I had them in bins by size and listed the sizes and brands I had on Craigslist. I had lots of moms come over and go through the clothes and ended up selling a bunch for way more than what I'd have gotten at a garage sale.

 

[MissAndrea]

One summer I had bins and bins of kids' clothes. I had them in bins by size and listed the sizes and brands I had on Craigslist. I had lots of moms come over and go through the clothes and ended up selling a bunch for way more than what I'd have gotten at a garage sale.

Love this!!! I'm totally stealing it!!!

 

[Dashzap]

I was thinking of selling my dd sweet 16 gown on craigs list instead of eBay
How do you do a transaction like this doesn't the girl have to try on the gown to see how it looks fits, etc?

Whenever I list anything for sale, I include a very detailed description. Anything that can be measured or weighed is noted. Absolutely anything I can think of: age, origin, material, any text from labels, etc.

It ends up saving time when you don't have to answer emailed questions. (Anything you don't think of and get asked...go back and update your listing.)

I'd describe the dress by style, color, material, dimensions (get out your measuring tape), and post several photos.

Then I finish out my listing with "from a pet-free, smoke-free home. cash & carry only"

Good luck!

 

[heathernfrankie]

I have sold a lot of CL. Not recently though. 2 years ago, I was selling my baby stuff to go to Texas to visit family and some friends. I always met at a well lit location and always told them cash only. We sold some kind of organ and that sucker was heavy, so obviously, we had to have them come here. We made sure dh was here for that one and didn't give our address until we knew they were going to buy it.

 

[lady_bug_888]

It depends on what I'm selling. Generally smaller items I meet in town at a large shopping centre, larger items I have people pick them up. I always make sure someone is home with me if they are picking up at my house but I know that they have my address and could come back if they wanted so I also practice good home security. I have a dog, a sensor light, I eliminate dark areas in my lawn or around my house, I lock my doors, I know my neighbours and they know my family etc... Enough can't be said for safety.

 

[DisneyShannon]

I sold a lawn mower on craigslist, with the cost of gas for my car I asked them to come here to the house and get it. Other than that I have not had much luck with craigslist.

 

[mamaLori05]

I was thinking of selling my dd sweet 16 gown on craigs list instead of eBay
How do you do a transaction like this doesn't the girl have to try on the gown to see how it looks fits, etc?

not necessarily. I personally would not allow anyone into my house to try it on. If they were buying it at a garage sale they would not get to try it on. Same thing IMO.

 

[forcemejure]

I used to be a professional eBayer (no really! I was certified!) but moved to Craigslist years ago when the eBay market changed.

Some things I've sold on Craigslist:

Washer - $150
Riding Lawn Mower - $800
Baby Stroller - $75 (bought on CL for $50)
Kid's John Deere Gator - $125

Something I've bought on Craigslist:

Stove - $180

As you can see, I've used it for some fairly large ticket items. I always have someone go with me to pick stuff up or have someone with me when people show up to buy. I talk to people before hand, use common sense. I also ALWAYS discreetly check the cash to see if its counterfiet (sp?).

Craigslist is a great tool, much as newspaper ads used to be. BTW, criminals used to target sellers in newspapers, too.

Be smart, be safe, make money! (so you can go to Disneyland!)

 

[tink576]

If it fits easily into the car I always avoid meeting at home and instead meet at the local grocery store around the corner.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I'm currently selling on CL now. If its lil items Dh meets them down the street at a store or gas station. Bigger items they come to the house before dark.

We've sold several larger items with no problems. I also sold a bag of dd's clothes. What I've been running into lately for smaller items is the person lives 2 cities away and they want me to meet them 1/2 ways which would be a 20-25 min drive. I havent done that, not worth it. I would ask for gas but worried they would be a no show. If you do this how much gas do you charge?. Not sure if i would do this unless I had an errand in that area but I find it kinda rude that they dont wanna drive to location.

any thought on this? do any of you run into this?

what dives me crazy are the people who email several times like they are interested, give you a number and you talk to them or text or exchange, a set up time is arranged and they dont show up or call
I usually tell them to call before they leave or i wont show up

 

[Tikitoi]

If you do this how much gas do you charge?. Not sure if i would do this unless I had an errand in that area but I find it kinda rude that they dont wanna drive to location.

any thought on this? do any of you run into this?

what dives me crazy are the people who email several times like they are interested, give you a number and you talk to them or text or exchange, a set up time is arranged and they dont show up or call
I usually tell them to call before they leave or i wont show up

I've been in a situation where someone wanted to buy stuff from me and she was 20mins away. I did ask her for $5 in gas (just for something) and she was fine with that. But at the same time there was a Walmart near by, so I just did my shopping after.

But I've had it happen to me where, I was to meet someone and they didn't show. Then another time after she told me she was going to buy, but once we met she didn't want to (yes,I had put pictures of them on the internet). These were both 15 min drives.

So now I only meet at a store not even 5 mins from where I live. For the most part its ok. I just sold my 2 daughters bikes ($30 each).

 

[lucyem]

I always arrange to meet at Target. It is a 20 minute drive but I combine it with shopping I need to do. I do not charge extra or ask for anything to meet people. If they are no shows then I still do my shopping I was planning on anyway.

 

[Judique]

I've sold quite a bit on CL and either have them come here to my home or carry it to them. The things I've carried have been furniture items which required some vehicle space. For that I've charged $50 - for delivering dressers, etc. I've sold Ikea items and delivered them for close to the price in store - already put together and taken to the home. That seems to work for people who don't have cars and mostly use public transportation.

And, I need to go list a few things now....

 

[cherokeemamma]

I have sold quite a few items on CL. Last year around Christmas, I sold a whole bunch of toys. I had a yard sale first and put the price I wanted on them. The items that did not sale I listed on CL and sold each one for the price I wanted and some for more than I asked for at the yard sale. Funny thing...my DD had a large doll house for Barbie sized dolls. I tried to sale this at my yard sale, absolutely no one was interested. I was shocked because it was made of wood, 3 stories and in excellent shape; we had a hard time finding one. Anyway I placed an ad on CL for $25 more and had people crawling out of the woodwork to buy it. Same thing with a power-wheels Harley....it didn't sale at the yard sale but sold immediately on CL and I got about $50 more for it. The people even texted me later to tell me how thrilled they were to have purchased it.

We always met in parking lots and I always had someone with me...usually my DH. The method of payment...cash only.

I listed a panel van (vehicle) and several pieces of equipment for my dad and he sold it all on CL too! It has been a great experience so far. Just be smart and safe in your transactions.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I always arrange to meet at Target. It is a 20 minute drive but I combine it with shopping I need to do. I do not charge extra or ask for anything to meet people. If they are no shows then I still do my shopping I was planning on anyway.

I wouldnt mind that. The 3 that asked me wanted to meet somewhere out of my way and in towns that I normally dont even go to . Basically it would have been more convient for them. Oh andone wanted me to meet her somewhere outta my way and she want the price reduced by $10-$15. Oh i so wanted to email her back and tell her why dont i just give you the stuff for free, wash , iron, fold it and deliver to your front door!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Instead I just stopped all contact