Tell me about Craigslist.

[jlima]

What do you look for in the listings you look through, if you are buying something?

Any pet peeves?

Likes? Dislikes?

Tell me everything. I have to do some Craigslist advertising for my work; just trying to do a non-scientific survey. Thanks!!

 

[AntePrincess]

Oh, I definitely have pet peeves when dealing with anyone through Craigslist, Freecycle or anything similar:

1. Pretentious faux business speak. When I read "please advise" or even pushier phrases from a potential buyer or seller, I see "wants to be taken seriously, doesn't know what they're talking about," and write them off. As a buyer or seller myself, I'm not someone's employee to be bossed around, and that person loses a sale. On the flip side, I appreciate people communicating like equals.
2. Wanting to talk over the phone exclusively. Granted, without a phone number, I think the buyer or seller is a little less serious, but if they won't communicate by email at all, I'm less likely to work with them. With email it's simple to compare prices on multiple versions of the same item side-by-side and harder to lose things like phone numbers, addresses, and pick up times.
3. Belligerence. It's amazing how often someone makes nasty comments about bad prior buyers who didn't show up or snarls in their ad about "low ballers" (people who try to bargain on the item). It takes some practice feeling out how to bargain on Craigslist, true, but with an attitude like that, I won't do business with that individual. If you won't take lower offers, saying the price is "firm" is enough.

 

[ssawka]

One of my pet peeves is when people don't include pictures. In this day and age where people carry digital cameras all day, there is absolutely no reason why a picture cannot be included on the post. Even worse than no picture is adding a placeholder picture just so "pic" shows up on the listing.

Another thing that agrevates me is when sellers don't know the value of what they are selling, especially with electronics. I'm sorry, but no one is going to give you a couple hundred dollars for a standard definition television today. I don't care that you spent a thousand dollars a few years ago, that is not what it is worth today.

 

[ICF]

be prepared for the crazy people to email you.......

we listed an item for $5 or so (some kids toys I think) and this person wanted to know if we would bring it to her. Our post clearly listed the city we were located (a fairly well known city for people in the area) and she wanted us to drive to some small never heard of place in the middle of no where (really, we had to find it on a map to see where it was) to bring her the item. It would have cost us $10+ in gas round trip (not to mention time involved) to do it....we emailed and told her no due to distance and then she got upset and fed us some sob story about how she couldnt get to us to p/u the item....blah..blah..blah...

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I responded to a "wanted" ad where they were looking for an apple imac G3 computer (which are really old). Their listing said they didn't care the specs or even if it worked. Well, they have since sent me a half dozen questions about the specs--individually so I had to go look each time. After he said he wanted it and I sent him my adress, he "changed his mind" since it didn't have as much memory and hard drive space as he wanted. I have spent an hour plus dealing with this guy to get him something he specifically asked for and come to find out he is totally wasting my time. He was only offering $30 in the first place, so it's not like we are talking about something high end or expensive. I just wanted it gone, but I'd rather give it away than waste any more time with this guy.

 

[wmharley]

I hate the fact when they advertise an hour of their time for $150 "roses" its usually 30 minutes... I paid for my "companionship" so I want the full hour..

Also, the ladies aren't up to date with their pics..




seriously... with cars... they don't include VINs... They list it under FSBO but they are dealers.

Not removing ads when sold 2 weeks prior. "Oh we forgot"
lack of pics
lack of phone number. I don't want to email you and spend 3 days trying to get ahold of you, I want to call you now or get a call back soon

 

[andrews_dad]

I hate the fact when they advertise an hour of their time for $150 "roses" its usually 30 minutes... I paid for my "companionship" so I want the full hour..

Also, the ladies aren't up to date with their pics..

Well, then! Oh my!

Overall, it is great and FREE. No paypal fees. no listing fees, no final value fees. Gotten some great deals on theme park tickets (Dutch Wonderland at $10 a pop), Thomas the Train stuff, and sold good stuff.

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh, I definitely have pet peeves when dealing with anyone through Craigslist, Freecycle or anything similar:

1. Pretentious faux business speak. When I read "please advise" or even pushier phrases from a potential buyer or seller, I see "wants to be taken seriously, doesn't know what they're talking about," and write them off. As a buyer or seller myself, I'm not someone's employee to be bossed around, and that person loses a sale. On the flip side, I appreciate people communicating like equals.
2. Wanting to talk over the phone exclusively. Granted, without a phone number, I think the buyer or seller is a little less serious, but if they won't communicate by email at all, I'm less likely to work with them. With email it's simple to compare prices on multiple versions of the same item side-by-side and harder to lose things like phone numbers, addresses, and pick up times.
3. Belligerence. It's amazing how often someone makes nasty comments about bad prior buyers who didn't show up or snarls in their ad about "low ballers" (people who try to bargain on the item). It takes some practice feeling out how to bargain on Craigslist, true, but with an attitude like that, I won't do business with that individual. If you won't take lower offers, saying the price is "firm" is enough.

Just an fyi, many of us who list on CL also work full time and use phrases like "please advise" all the time. I use that phrase every day at work, many times over and that overflows into my personal life. I've even used that phrase on the Dis. So, not everyone is "trying to boss you around", that's the way they actually talk.

I'm just getting into the whole CL thing tho, so I'll be following this thread for some of my own tips. I actually have some timeshare time to sell, I was going to put it on CL but I don't have photos of the resort, thoughts on that?

 

[lindsmom]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned: when you list something for sale, you will inevitably get dozens of emails for people offering you a job (they assume you're unemployed if you're selling your belongings), or to help you get out of debt quickly, or... etc.

That's a pet peeve.

But I've had some good experiences with craigslist. I do believe each "list" depends on the area it's in, how successful you'll be. I'm pretty sure that our local list isn't too busy.

 

[Cedarmom]

1. No pics.
2. If the price is firm, say 'firm'. No need to go on and on about low-balling.
3. Don't be too proud of your stuff. Trying to sell a used item at say, 20% off of retail is unrealistic (unless of course, it is a hard to find item). I can probably buy it in the store for less w/ a coupon or waiting for a sale. I'm looking at craigslist b/c I want it *cheap*.
4. Businesses disguising themselves as an individual seller.
5. Wanting to communicate by phone only. That annoys me. I would much rather communicate by email.
6. Not selling what I want, when I want it, for the price I want to pay. I don't have much patience.

 

[andrews_dad]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned: when you list something for sale, you will inevitably get dozens of emails for people offering you a job (they assume you're unemployed if you're selling your belongings), or to help you get out of debt quickly, or... etc.

That's a pet peeve.

QUOTE]

Really? I've posted lots of things for sale lately and never gotten anything like this.

One thing that bugs me is it seems like a high % of people backing out of deals. I always try to keep a 2nd potential buyer on the hook, as way too often the first person bails out at the last second.

 

[AntePrincess]

Just an fyi, many of us who list on CL also work full time and use phrases like "please advise" all the time. I use that phrase every day at work, many times over and that overflows into my personal life. I've even used that phrase on the Dis. So, not everyone is "trying to boss you around", that's the way they actually talk.

Despite working full time in a professional office environment for quite a large chunk of my life, I've never seen the term "please advise" or its cousins from anyone who actually worked in that environment, hence the vibe I get from its use that this is someone who definitely is not a professional trying to sound professional. Mostly memos spoke in complete thoughts, and the only similar language came from a visibly stressed or displeased superior to an inferior who was being slow. Different work culture, I suspect. In any event, there's nothing like receiving: "do u still have this? will pick up fri. plz advise." I mark the price up just for having to read the blistering bad writing.

 

[pixiewings71]

Despite working full time in a professional office environment for quite a large chunk of my life, I've never seen the term "please advise" or its cousins from anyone who actually worked in that environment, hence the vibe I get from its use that this is someone who definitely is not a professional trying to sound professional. Mostly memos spoke in complete thoughts, and the only similar language came from a visibly stressed or displeased superior to an inferior who was being slow. Different work culture, I suspect. In any event, there's nothing like receiving: "do u still have this? will pick up fri. plz advise." I mark the price up just for having to read the blistering bad writing.

I communicate daily with people overseas and domestically and like I said all of us use the term "please advise" in almost every message. And I don't work in a "professional" environment at all, I work in the music industry where we all wear jeans, tee shirts, tennis shoes, wear little to no makeup and are very casual and laid back. For example some our messages might say "please advise your preferred shipment method" or "please advise your staff that this product is now obsolete" or "this product is out of stock, please advise us if you wish to cancel or keep the product on back order".

I hear you on the bad writing tho, if you'd like something from me please use proper English.

 

[jlima]

1. No pics.
2. If the price is firm, say 'firm'. No need to go on and on about low-balling.
3. Don't be too proud of your stuff. Trying to sell a used item at say, 20% off of retail is unrealistic (unless of course, it is a hard to find item). I can probably buy it in the store for less w/ a coupon or waiting for a sale. I'm looking at craigslist b/c I want it *cheap*.
4. Businesses disguising themselves as an individual seller.
5. Wanting to communicate by phone only. That annoys me. I would much rather communicate by email.
6. Not selling what I want, when I want it, for the price I want to pay. I don't have much patience.

Does it matter if it's an individual or a business, when you're trying to find something?

 

[SandrA9810]

I hate bad writing, no pictures, and little detail.

Always include a good description, a good clear picture, and the way to contact you. Even if you just want to use the fake craiglist email, put in the post, please email. Or call with a phone number.

Ohh, and list where you live. Don't just put the closest Major city, CL already has that narrowed it down for you. Like I was looking for a couple of things for my aunt, and Dallas/Ft Worth section is HUGE, not to mention the city is huge too. So it was much nicer to see the suburb of Dallas that the seller was in, to see if it was worth while in drive time. Because some one could say Dallas, and still be like an hour away.

 

[AntePrincess]

Also post if you're willing to ship. For some purchases I, and others, price shop pretty much the whole US on Craigslist. If it's not a big hassle to you and if the item is shippable, you may make a lot more sales that way than you otherwise would have.

Last, post if you're willing to receive or make payment via Paypal. Most individuals can't take credit cards and almost no one wants to mess with checks from a stranger, but making a payment via Paypal protects me if the buyer sold me a lemon or, on a shipped item, never sends it at all. Then I can simply dispute the charges, and if the shipper can't produce a tracking number or some similar proof that they did their end of the bargain, I get my money back. Not so with cash.

 

[Cedarmom]

Does it matter if it's an individual or a business, when you're trying to find something?

No, as long as the price is right and the business is up front about being a business.

 

[jlima]

I hate bad writing, no pictures, and little detail.

Always include a good description, a good clear picture, and the way to contact you. Even if you just want to use the fake craiglist email, put in the post, please email. Or call with a phone number.

Ohh, and list where you live. Don't just put the closest Major city, CL already has that narrowed it down for you. Like I was looking for a couple of things for my aunt, and Dallas/Ft Worth section is HUGE, not to mention the city is huge too. So it was much nicer to see the suburb of Dallas that the seller was in, to see if it was worth while in drive time. Because some one could say Dallas, and still be like an hour away.

Here in Vegas, people put their cross streets if they are actually in LV, or sometimes another city (Henderson, North Las Vegas, etc). LOVE that.