Selling stuff on Craigslist

[SteveT]

I primarily live in NYC but I also have a house in Atlanta.   For most of the last year I've been living and working in Beijing.   I came back to the USA a couple months ago, but I'm going back.

I decided to rent my house in Atlanta out (more on that hell story later) but first I needed to put stuff in storage, clean up and make it rent ready.

Storage is expensive, so I decided to sell some of my larger items.   I'd never used CL a lot, but it's the standard place right?

Most of my stuff here is pretty new.   I bought it new, it's older but it's mostly sat lonely in my house by itself.   I pulled my receipts and went with 30%-40% of what I paid.   Bear in mind this is average furniture.  Not IKEA, not pressboard crap.   Just good solid furniture.

Little did I know.  First, the questions.  Some are reasonable.  Pictures, dimensions.   After that it gets crazy who's the manufacturer, what type of stain on the wood, what type of wood?  Would I be willing to repaint and re photograph so she can "see what it looks like with cherry stain?!!!"  I kid you not.

2/3rd of the responses are also scams, but that's CL I guess.

Today, an Indian man and his sister came by to purchase some barstools.   3 for $50 (I paid $150) and even after I told him the price was firm on the phone he insisted that I come down to $40.   Why?   Get this!!!!   He drove a long way AND GAS IS EXPENSIVE.

I guess I'm lucky he didn't come from California, or I'd be on the hook for 2 or 3 nights of hotel rooms as well.

[Declaration Day]

Indians are cheap.  That's not a racist comment; that's an observation from being in the lawn service and landscaping business for 14 years.  They want everything for much less than the going rate.  Has a lot to do with so many poor people back in their homeland willing to work for peanuts.

[White Horseradish]

There are a few types that just crack me up. Guys who offer me $100 for a $300 car. The guy who wanted me to knock off $2 off of a $10 power brick AND have me deliver it to him in a part of town that is not on any of my regular routes.

Why, just the other day, in response to an ad for my MIL's wrecked car I am selling for parts where I say that I have a standing offer of $300 from a junkyard, and please don't bother with offered less than that someone offered $275.

[Brad Johnson]

You can curb most of the insanity by taking all the questions, at least the ones you know will probably be asked, and address them up front.

For furniture you could put something like this in the  ad:

Look, folks, some of the questions I've been getting are downright silly, and some seem to be an effort to do nothing more than waste my time.  But, since some people insist on keeping up the insanity, I shall clarify...

No, I will not repaint, restain, or re-cover the cushions for you.  You can, if you like.

No, I will not move it for you.  I will, however, be happy to let your movers do it.

No, I will not accept anything other than cash.  The kind that has "United States of America" printed on it.

No, I will not ship it.

No, you can't take it to see what it looks like in your house before paying.

No, I will not consider a trade.

No, I will not lower the price to compensate for your gas.

If you're not serious then don't bother contacting me.  If you don't have cash then don't bother contacting me.  If you don't have a way to move it then don't bother contacting me.  In short, it is decent furniture for a decent price, cash only, as-is, and you arrange for your own move.

You'll still get some insanity, but that will filter some of it as well as and keeping the casually curious at bay.  Serious buyers won't be offended at all.  In fact, most will be nodding in agreement.

Also, don't reply with justifications.  Anything you say can and will be twisted, misinterpreted, or just plain ignored.  If someone makes a rediculous offer for something don't reply with something about how it's worth what it's worth because of whatever.  Simply say, "Thanks for the offer but the price is $xx."

Brad

[Azrael256]

Dallas is on the way to Beijing from Atlanta, so can you stop by and deliver it?

[White Horseradish]

Aaaaand...

My current ad for a parts car states "Do not bother with lowballs. I have an offer form a junkyard for $300 and I can always take them up on it. "

What do I have in my mailbox?  One offer for $250, one for $275.

An ad with the headline of "94 Chevy van" got me three questions "what year is it?".

So, yeah. Trying to head off dumbasses doesn't work, either.

[Scout26]

Does the furniture come with Crimson Trace grips or moccasins?

[French G.]

I did great selling my dually on CL. First, I was upfront about everything, how long it had sat, detailed pics of rust, etc. Then I built some space into my price. Then I got it to real e-mail or phone ASAP so I could judge the stupid. First guy that came and looked agreed to a price $200 less than I listed, but exactly what I wanted to get. I told him to wait because he was the first looker but the 2nd looker to schedule. The first guy came the next day, wanted the truck, drove it, etc, but made me a low offer that was probably close to scrap price for a 7K lb truck. I told him straight up what the other offer was,he finally agreed to that same price.

When I moved I put stuff in our local trading post newspaper. Stuff moved fast, because I priced it that way. Gave some stuff away to neighbors too, like an entertainment center that was $900 new and in good shape. Easiest move I ever made.

[AJ Dual]

Craigslist is the absolute EASIEST way to mess with people and freak them out I've ever found.

- Show up on time.
- Pay the agreed upon amount with no further negotiations.
- Do not give off any creepy serial killer/I'm casing your house/I need this to furnish my basement incest dungeon... vibes.

And the people are just absolutely shocked. 

[Perd Hapley]

Craigslist is the absolute EASIEST way to mess with people and freak them out I've ever found.

- Show up on time.
- Pay the agreed upon amount with no further negotiations.
- Do not give off any creepy serial killer/I'm casing your house/I need this to furnish my basement incest dungeon... vibes.

And the people are just absolutely shocked. 

I think we'd all like to know how you manage the third one. 

[AJ Dual]

I think we'd all like to know how you manage the third one. 

NEVER mention APS for starters... 

[SteveT]

I love you guys!   

Thanks for all the good advice and laughs.  It really brightened my day.

ST