The following is a Home Decor Tip and guest post from Toni at The Happy Housewife… enjoy!!
Craigslist Tips for Buyers
Could you use some Craigslist Tips for Buyers?
After Christmas is a great time to check out you local Craig’s List listings for lots of great deals. People get rid of the old to make room for or pay for the new. Christmas credit card bills arrive in mid January and some people need to find a way to pay those bills.
Personally I love these Craigslist tips. Over the past few years we have purchased the following items:
- Upright freezer – FREE
- Side tables – $20
- Wood Desk -$50
- Large Wooden Bookcase- $75
- Bunk Beds – $125
- Kitchen Table, 2 Benches, 2 Chairs – $125
- Ethan Allen Trundle Bed – $200
- Living Room Set – $250
Before I buy anything new I always scan the Craig’s List classifieds to see if the item I want is available for less. I am proud to say that most of the furniture in my home has been purchased for pennies on the dollar by using the following Craig’s List tips…
Related:Â 31 Garage Sale Tips and Tricks!
#1: Check the Free Section First
Many times people don’t want to mess with selling and item, they would rather give it away. Check the listings for a “curb alert.” A curb alert is when people put things on their curb and place their address on Craig’s List. First come, first served.
#2: Check the Listings Often
Listings are updated in real time, which means each time someone adds a listing it is updated. Great deals and big ticket items priced right are usually sold within hours after they are listed. If you are interested contact the seller immediately.
#3: Deal Only with People You Can Meet in Person
As with everything in this world there are people who want to make a dishonest dollar. Don’t agree to mail money or have something shipped. Pay with cash and never give out your bank account information.
#4: Stay Safe By Meeting in a Public Place, or Bring a Friend!
I realize you can’t pick up a bed at Starbucks, but you can pick up a blue ray player or a set of books.
Remember to tell a friend where you are going (including the address) and take a cell phone just in case. I have bought and sold numerous items on Craig’s List over the past few years and I have never had an incident, but it pays to be safe.
#5: Know Your Price Points Before You Start Shopping
Know the average price of the item you are looking for before you scan the listings. There are plenty of people selling used items at almost new prices on Craig’s list. It is not a deal if you pay too much.
A few months ago I started looking for a couch, I knew I didn’t want to pay more than $250. It took me a few months but I finally found and entire living room set for $250. Patience and persistence saves you money.
#6: Don’t Forget to Negotiate
If you find an item that you love, but is priced higher than you would like to pay, negotiate. Most of the time people just want to get rid of their stuff and are willing to take a lower (but fair) amount.
#7: Ask for Pictures
Craig’s List allows you to post pictures on your listing, but unfortunately there are still people who can’t figure out how to do it. If you are interested in an item that does not have a picture, email the seller and ask if they can send you a few pictures.
#8: Show Up with Cash
Always have the exact amount of cash needed to purchase the item. If you negotiated a bed down to $90 don’t ask the seller to make change for $100.
#9: And Take a Vehicle Big Enough to Haul It
When you go to look at an item, be prepared to buy it on the spot. Also, don’t show up in a Honda Civic if you are planning on buying a piano.  🙂
#10: Always Be Polite
Even if it is the ugliest sofa you have ever seen in your entire life, you don’t need to tell the seller. A simple no thank-you or I’m not interested will suffice. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Toni is a military wife and homeschooling mom to her seven beautiful children. She loves to read, sew, bake, recycle, and bargain hunt. Visit The Happy Housewife and take some time to poke around her site ~ you’ll be glad you did!
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So have you tried any of these Craigslist Tips?
Or do you have any favorite tips for using Craigslist?
Leave a comment and share…
Dreaming of Deals says
As someone who sells on Craigslist quite a bit, I'd like to comment regarding "negotiating" prices.
I ask a fair price for my items and they are always in excellent condition, or I wouldn't sell them.
I listed a set of really nice Farberware pots and pans a few months ago at $45. It was a large set and I priced it at about 25% of retail. I contacted the first person who asked about them and he said he wanted them. I told him $45 firm, gave him the address of my shop (I never want people to come to my home and I don't go to theirs unless I bring my big, scary brother with me) and he showed up, finally, about three days later. I had emailed him to ask if he still wanted them because I had a bunch of interested parties asking about them but I gave him first shot.
WHen he finally showed for them, he told me he was willing to pay $30 for them. I was pretty ticked but kept my cool.
I just said, "The price is $45, firm, as we discussed in the emails we sent, and if you don't want them for that I have others that do." He ended up paying the $45 but handed me a hundred dollar bill to pay. JERK! I told him to go next door to the Rite Aid for change…LOL…I owned a consignment shop but I wasn't willing to give up all my change for such a pain in the butt customer!
If you are going to try to negotiate, please do so by email BEFORE you go to pick up the item. It's not fair to the seller to ask them to take less in person, especially if they had a bunch of others showing interest.
Kitchen Stewardship says
We're actually listing our HOUSE on Craigslist in 2 weeks, as soon as we can get it "set" to sell. I'm so nervous! Any tips on how to sell stuff on CL? Thanks!
Katie
Netta says
Thx for the helpful info.
I've been checking Craigslist lately…
this was perfect timing.
Stephanie L says
I love Craig's list too! Also great to make some money.
Along the lines of the bed bug post… my SIL bought a desk from Salvation Army store once that was infested with roaches. You could not tell and it looked clean. Immediately the entire house got infested with these German roaches. The pest control company said with aggresive treatment it would take about 8 months to get rid of them. It's been over a year and they are still battling them in her super clean home. The hastle, ick factor, and hundreds spent on pest control have not made it worth the deal she got on the desk. The pest control company said they see it all the time with people buying second hand furniture.
I only buy stuff that can be washed in hot water.
Just something to think about.
mattkendrick.com says
Excellent tips for Craig's list.
The Happy Housewife says
Jolene-
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Definitely something to consider. We have never had any problems thank goodness!
Toni
Jolene says
Just a word of caution though, I know everyone knows to be careful because you are going to strangers homes. But another thing to be careful of is bed bugs! We had a year long struggle to get rid of bed bugs because of taking some used furniture from a friend that ended up having bed bugs in it. I am a big penny pincher, but after that experience will never again bring second hand furniture into my home. It was not only frustrating to deal with, it was very expensive to deal with(we went through all sorts of ways to try and get rid of them before finding an inexpensive yet messy way that finally worked), and it was horrible to see my kids wake up every morning with clusters of itchy bites :(.
Bed bugs are on the rise in North America and unfortunately it's not something you can easily see when picking up a product(even the cleanest of homes can have them), we had them for a few months before we realized what it was, we thought they were mosquito bites but couldn't figure out how they were getting them when we didn't see any mosquitoes.
Sorry LOL, don't mean to be the downer comment, I just hate to see anyone else go through what we did, you lose sleep over it because you think every little tingle on your body is a bug :(.
jrmiss86 says
Another good one to check out is freecycle, everything is free. Sometimes the quality is not as good as on craigslist, but it is worth checking out.
Cheryl says
I love craigs list! most of our apartment was furnished that way 1. because I'm frugal and 2. because I had just graduated college! I have never had a bad experience!
Brooke - in Oregon says
Good Tips, Craigs List is rather new idea for me (I know I am behind the times)! lol
cobird2 says
got several invitations for bogus money-making scams the last time I posted on Craig's List so be sure to be aware of that.
Sherry says
Great tips! It pays to be safe! Found some great items on Craigs List, too!