OT: Craigslist Questions??

[letsgoagainsoon]

I have an almost brand new Graco Duoglider Stroller that I want to sell. I've never used Craigslist, but I am thinking about posting it there.

What are your opinions, have any of you had good luck or a bad experience with it?? I've heard that you get tons of spam. I'm not even sure how it works.

How have your experiences been?

TIA

 

[VBAndrea]

I've only used it a handful of times, but have had positive experience overall. I did not recieve any spam. My only gripe is people say they want something and arrange a time to come pick an item up and then don't show up for it. Happened twice, but I was still able to sell both those items to someone else. Just be honest in your advertisement, have a good pic and be sure to put cash only.

How it works: Take a photo of your item and decide on price. Post a detailed description with your item. Advertise it as cash only. Use a secondary e-mail (dont use your primary one for safety purposes). Posting your item(s) is really a no brainer.

For safety I also recommend not inviting the people in your house to look at an item. Have it in the garage or in the case of a stroller you can have it outside. Or make sure there is someone else home when the buyer comes to see your item. I've never had an issue and have had nice, decent people come to pick up my items, but IMO you can never be too safe when a stranger comes to your house.

 

[dizneechic]

I agree with the PP. I use Craigslist to sell items that are too big for me to ship on Ebay, when cleaning house this Spring and off loading baby gear I made over $700 (and tucked it aside for Disney ).

Take good pictures, of the stroller I would do it open, folded, a close up of the pattern, and a 2nd open view (you can post 4 images using their regular mode). Also have a great title that says exactly what you have... "Like New Graco DuuGlider Double Stroller Great Cond", you want to include "double" because in the search people will type in "double stroller" and not necessarily the specific item. Get the specs to include in the listing, one hand fold, weight max, compatibility for infant seats etc, the more info the better.

I use my gmail account for listings there, and only once had someone email soliciting me for a WAH gig, I told them I wasn't interested and that was the end of that. I also will line up people who want to purchase it giving precedence to the 1st one who says they will come, then person #2 I tell them someone is coming but they are next and I will let them know, same with #3 etc. I found listing on Weds and Thurs to be much better than listing on Mondays and Weekends, I think people try to line up their rounds for picking up stuff for Fridays and Saturdays.

And just for fun, my most hysterical sale ever... a broken 15 y/o lawn mower that was in my shed for the past 8 years. I listed it "for parts" at $25 bucks and it was gone within an hour of me posting. Who knew!

 

[zoemurr]

my old DR furniture for $400.. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to give it away, but I had a lot of interest.

I've also sold bikes, a big box of barbies, and DDs outgrown Britax. Everyone was nice and I've had no problems at all.

Good luck! I do only show things when I know my husband will be home, and the barbies was to a man who wanted to come in the am so I met him at the corner gas station.

 

[bluesky225]

I've sold things and had all positive experiences. People showed up when they were supposed to, and I never got any spam either. Good luck!

 

[Fall1]

I've sold 2 tvs and 2 strollers using Craigslist. Each time I met someone at a close buy, very busy Dunkin Donuts. It made me feel safer. Good luck!

 

[mitsybella]

I have been selling alot of items on craigslist and just sold a double graco stroller I have had ALOT of spam emails, if you list several things you may get several responses that all say the same thing but from different email addresses, by the way ALL OF THE SPAM I recieved was from G-MAIL addresses (I noticed someone above said they use this to post, just thougt this was funny) I don't respond via email to any g-mail offers without a phone # I put in my listing for them to send a phone number if they are interested, some of the spams I got did have a phone # but when I called the # it was not working so you would probably automatically send an email back saying the # was wrong, DON'T, when I did this I got spam the next day, I got 15 emails all saying the same thing from 15 different gmail accounts each one for a different item I had listed all saying the same thing. I make sure to say "if you see this listing the item is still available" to prevent all the emails asking if the item is still available, again I don't respond to emails asking since I have already said the item is still available. I also ask if they have questions but don't wish to give their # to email me and I will answer them in the listing so for them to check back at the listing after 6pm(you can say anytime this just works for me getting home from work), this all may seem extreme to some people but again I had ALOT of spam and since doing this I only get a few , and someone else recommended set up an email account just for craigslist. If someone is picking up something from my home, I don't let them in I am lucky to have a huge wrap around porch so I take the stuff out there, I also set up a time when my husband is home so I am not alone. Good luck it is a great way to make some extra $$$.

 

[tjbaggott]

I use www.kijiji.com and much prefer that route. Works the same way as craigslist. I find kijiji easier to view as well.

 

[ccaliri]

I sell and buy a lot on Craigslist. I have sold all of my strollers (4) and I just bought a Maclaren Quest for our upcomming Disney tip in September. It has always worrked out great!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

You can set it to use a craigslist one that will forward to your email. As long as you ignore the spam emails, they won't have your real address. If you reply to the spam, then you have given them your real email address. I never reply to anyone who refers to the thing I am selling as the "item" or something generic like that because it is usually spam. I also ignore anything that says "my agent" will come pick it up (more spam).

 

[nonsmom]

I was wondering the same thing, I just bought a Combi Flare '09 today. I was planning on using it and either selling it to someone at the parks on my way out or using craigslist when I return. I figure if I ask about half of what I paid, I will still break even as I have a 9 day trip and it is $$ to rent one. DS4 won't make the whole thing walking. Is there anywhere on here that I could post to see if anyone would want it on my last day?

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

OP here: I had great luck with Craigslist, I listed the stroller and sold it within 2 days, AND for $15 more than what I bought it for!!

 

[dizneechic]

OP here: I had great luck with Craigslist, I listed the stroller and sold it within 2 days, AND for $15 more than what I bought it for!!

Sweet!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I have had good luck, but have had 2 or 3 no-shows in the past year or people who act interested and then vanish. I have sold old furniture, baby clothes, baby gear, last minute baseball tickets.

Here are my recommendations.

**Watch out for "I will send a bank check" replies. Here is one reply I just got on a Marathon car seat I have listed.
Yes thanks for your respond.I want you to consider it sold and pls do withdraw the advert from site now to avoid disturbance.I want you to know that i will be paying via bank certified check or money order so i will like you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check to you......Such as your name and full physical address on the check and note that UPS will not locate P.O.Box, also home & cell phone to contact you.... *** Note that the payment will be shipped to your address via UPS NEXT DAY SERVICE and I will like you to know that you will not be responsible for movers i will have my movers come over as soon as you have cashed the check

** Post big pictures. Here are the instructions.
http://www.howtodothings.com/comput...icasa-photo-hosting-for-big-craigslist-photos
http://knol.google.com/k/murry-shohat/move-that-stuff-pump-craigslist-ads/2srzofgvr8kjr/10#

** Post cash only! I even say in my ads that there is an ATM at the end of my neighborhood so no exceptions.

** Let people who are coming know of similar stuff for sale. In the last year I had 3 different people buy more then they came for! Came to buy 1 baby item and ended up getting bunch of stuff. One woman was spending about $30, ended up with $140 in baby clothes! Another came for a car seat and bought a $60 pack and play.

** If you have an item with a lot of interest, don't let the first person hold you up. If they don't call you, email them and tell them you are going to move on to the next person. My SIL had a toddler bike trailer for $20, the person never called her back to set up a time. Then they had the nerve to call 3 weeks later wanting to pick it up and was mad she sold it to someone else (personally, I am mad she didn't tell me about it first! Those suckers are over $100! LOL)

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

One more pice of advice. I will never list anything for "free" again. I once listed a 9x12 berber area rug that had been in my old aprtment. I was bombarded by people, most probably wanting to re-sell it!

Luckily I was finishing my basement and the heating guy working on it wanted it for his basement!