With Craigslist, the free online classifieds phenomena, you can both save and make money. Here are some tips to make sure that you get the most out of this great service.
While Ebay can be fun, I am a big fan of Craigslist. This is because there are no fews to place an ad and sell merchandise. Plus, there is no bidding, so the price is the price, with some room for negotiation.
Buying from Craigslist
Check the list frequently. You can even save searches and take advantage of feeds from Craigslist if you have the time to shift through a bunch of listings. Be patient and wait for what you want.
Be specific in your search. Search for “cherry dinning room table” instead of “table.” If you want a seingset, search for “wooden swingset” or by brand “rainbow swingset” for example.
Contact the seller right away and be available. This is especially true if the item is very specific or in demand. Make yourself available, or the seller may pass you by. If you can, include a possible time to see or pick up the item in your first email. There is nothing worse for a seller than to get a vague email and have a potential buyer not get back to you. I just move on to the next person on the list.
Go ahead and negotiate. Be fair in your haggling by researching other similar listings.
Throughly inspect your item before you purchase it. Once the transaction is completed then there is no turning back. Bring cash, for the easiest way to go, or check with the seller to see what works for both of you. Cash and carry is usually best.
Be wary of anything that doesn’t seem right. We once agreed to buy an expensive item. The problem was that the seller wanted cash in full before we took ownership. This set up all sorts of red flags for us, and we decided buying from this seller was not worth the risk.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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