When you're selling stuff on Craigslist...

[Adam8281]

Two questions:

When you sell stuff on Craigslist, do you normally have the buyer come to some place near you, or do you drive to meet him halfway?

Also, say you're selling something on Craigslist that you could easily sell on eBay, a new video game, say. Do you sell it for LESS than you would on eBay since you're avoiding eBay and PayPal fees, or do you sell it for MORE as a kind of "convenience" premium, since the buyer gets it immediately without waiting for it to be shipped (similar to how people are often willing to pay the higher prices of a B&M store as a trade-off for getting their fix immediately)?

 

[Turin39789]

usually they come to my house and get it.

i sell it for what I think it will sell for.

 

[OpenThirdEye]

I usually meet people somewhere public - usually within 10 miles of my house.

I try and sell stuff at a reasonable price - I'll get some ideas from eBay and other CL ads and average them out.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Just don't sell stunt lessons

 

[BKLounger]

typically I meet people in a public place. Unless it's something expensive that I want to show them powered on before selling. As for price for stuff like games I usually sell for what amazon asks as a used price.

 

[se7en]

I will normally agree to meet them somewhere haflway depending on the price. If I am cutting them a deal they come closer to me or if they are paying what I asked I will go to them.

As for price I normally sell for what I would on ebay minus say $10 for the shipping hassle. I'll go lower than that as the transaction is final no disputes to be had or comments to leave so its worth it. Not to mention you get cash in hand on the spot!

 

[edro]

I like to meet them in a public, well lit parking lot, in case they are insane.
Also, deal with CASH only.
I sell it for a few dollars cheaper, because it is cash and more convenient than shipping and dealing with Paypal / eBay fees, etc.

 

[Adam8281]

Thanks for the responses. Do you usually give them your cell # to call you in case they're running late?

 

[randomlinh]

meet people in a public place.

sell for whatever price I think will sell. usually list higher because of low ballers.

exchange cell numbers.

 

[ScottFern]

I am in this exact predicament. I am selling my Vizio 50" Plasma TV and I have had the usual lowballers try to offer $400 cash and I am not biting. However, I have had 3 people now ask for me to call them immediately. Another guy seems to want to pay what I am asking and has asked very little about the set outside of how old it is and when he can pick it up.

Scares me that they want to get into my apartment so they can rob me. I can't meet them up in a public place with a 50" plasma..........

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: ScottFern
I am in this exact predicament. I am selling my Vizio 50" Plasma TV and I have had the usual lowballers try to offer $400 cash and I am not biting. However, I have had 3 people now ask for me to call them immediately. Another guy seems to want to pay what I am asking and has asked very little about the set outside of how old it is and when he can pick it up.

Scares me that they want to get into my apartment so they can rob me. I can't meet them up in a public place with a 50" plasma..........

for a TV that you can get for $800 now, what would you think a fair price then?

I usually will not have anyone come to my home unless it's a high end item (my Definitive Technology setup) or huge (my olympic weight set)...I sold a pair of roller blades for a $100 or so 5-6 years ago from ebay locally and met at a bank parking lot (cameras).

There have been some things on even ebay that have been disasters. I sold a leather pager cover back in 1990 to some retarded dude that would call me everyday to let me know how he enjoyed it.

 

[lokiju]

Good question really.

I'm trying to sell a RP 47" HDTV but am not to crazy about having nutty Craigs List weirdos coming to my house.

 

[Zedtom]

I have had generally good results with people I've dealt with on craigslist. When i am the seller, I like to dictate when and where to meet. If the buyer tries to take over, I get suspicious and usually blow off the deal. If I am the buyer or trader, I try to work out an arrangement where we meet halfway at a public place.

The person's e-mail name and the way they inquire to your ad gives you a good clue as to whether they are worth the effort of responding back.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: ScottFern
I am in this exact predicament. I am selling my Vizio 50" Plasma TV and I have had the usual lowballers try to offer $400 cash and I am not biting. However, I have had 3 people now ask for me to call them immediately. Another guy seems to want to pay what I am asking and has asked very little about the set outside of how old it is and when he can pick it up.

Scares me that they want to get into my apartment so they can rob me. I can't meet them up in a public place with a 50" plasma..........

I live in an apt and had a guy come over on Sunday. I had my 9mm with Hollow Points stuffed down in my couch though, in general public is better but if you have renter's insurance I would have no problems with letting someone pick something up at my place (even if I didn't have the gun).

 

[erub]

I always have people come over to my house as the seller. I'm lazy, let them drive (especially when I was mainly selling last summer when gas was $4.50/gal..one guy wanted me to drive 40 miles roundtrip for a $20 item, yeah right!).

I recently sold a laptop that I had already sold on ebay (but the buyer didn't pay). It sold on ebay for $470 including shipping, minus all of the ebay/paypal/actual shipping costs - probably would have netted around $420. I put it up on CL for $600, no bites, so I lowered it to $500 where it sold for pure cash...glorious!

Start high and then lower it..unless you really need the cash/want the item gone ASAP. You'll usually be able to figure it out pretty quick where the proper price is.

 

[Adam8281]

Yeah, I experienced some lowballing BS'ing today. I'm selling a video game on Craigslist for $30. A buyer e-mailed me and asked if I would sell it for $20, quote, "because I can buy it from Circuit City right now for $25." I told him that I wouldn't do $20, but I would do $25. He said OK, and is now driving 25 miles to my town to pick up the game. Now if he could REALLY buy the game from Circuit City for $25, why the heck would he drive 50 miles round trip to buy the game, used, from me for the same price? Obviously a lowball scheme.

 

[CrazyLazy]

Originally posted by: Adam8281
Yeah, I experienced some lowballing BS'ing today. I'm selling a video game on Craigslist for $30. A buyer e-mailed me and asked if I would sell it for $20, quote, "because I can buy it from Circuit City right now for $25." I told him that I wouldn't do $20, but I would do $25. He said OK, and is now driving 25 miles to my town to pick up the game. Now if he could REALLY buy the game from Circuit City for $25, why the heck would he drive 50 miles round trip to buy the game, used, from me for the same price? Obviously a lowball scheme.

Well it looks like it worked for him.

 

[Adam8281]

Hah, I guess it kind of does. But $30 was what I thought I could fetch on eBay, before subtracting shipping, etc. So when I listed for $30 I knew I'd be willing to come down a bit, and $25 seems fair. But the buyer used the $25 "Circuit City price" to say that I should sell for $20 since my copy is used. I refused the $20 and said I wouldn't sell for less than $25, then the buyer responded with a $22 offer, and again I told him I wouldn't do less than $25, and then he said OK. So I did come down a bit, but I'd like to preserve a bit of dignity and think that I didn't totally play into his hands with the fake Circuit City quote

 

[syee]

Like everyone else has mentioned, if it's too big to move, or requires power to verify it's operation they're coming over. Otherwise, I meet them in a public place. (usually at a mall or somewhere well lit and with plenty of people around)

I'll always give a cell number and ask for theirs so I can identify who they are.

As for price, just do a search for similar items and see what people ask for. Generally, you'll get more on eBay for your item. However, it's usually a pain to ship and I usually only eBay if I can't find anyone willing to buy locally on CL.

 

[Kelemvor]

I usually just sell random crap and they come and get it. If I was selling a larger ticket item, I'd meet at a public place near where I live so as to not have to worry about being robbed or anything..

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Adam8281
Yeah, I experienced some lowballing BS'ing today. I'm selling a video game on Craigslist for $30. A buyer e-mailed me and asked if I would sell it for $20, quote, "because I can buy it from Circuit City right now for $25." I told him that I wouldn't do $20, but I would do $25. He said OK, and is now driving 25 miles to my town to pick up the game. Now if he could REALLY buy the game from Circuit City for $25, why the heck would he drive 50 miles round trip to buy the game, used, from me for the same price? Obviously a lowball scheme.

not necessarily....people do strange things when they think they are getting a deal though.

I sold a pair of PSB 300's with high end wall brackets to someone from orlando (I think $175 back in 1999 or so)...they drove about 190 miles then tried to ask for gas money off the price.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: Adam8281
Thanks for the responses. Do you usually give them your cell # to call you in case they're running late?

YOU get their cell number in case they don't show up. Verify the number before the appointment time too, just in case they give you a bogus one.

Generally speaking, I make buyers come to me, or to a place near me, but it depends on the item and the buyer. For example, I can't expect someone in Nigeria to come and pick up my laptop.

 

[dmw16]

As a previous poster stated (albeit in Mall-Ninja way), when I have people to my place to buy stuff I am selling on Craigslist I keep my handgun concealed by easily accessible should I need it.

 

[MotionMan]

I sell it for what I think I can get for it. I use AT, Amazon and eBay to help me set the price.

I meet them at the grocery store parking lot near my house (unless they express some reason why I should travel further).

I will never have someone from CL come to my house, but, for some strange reason, I love having garage (actually driveway) sales (I gotta think that one over a little).

I usually use my dummy gmail account until we strike a deal and set a meeting. Then, in the last e-mail, I will give them my mobile phone number and ask for theirs in case we need to get ahold of each other.

(BTW, I am pretty close to listing the Shuttles in my sig on CL because they are not selling here .)

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Adam8281
Hah, I guess it kind of does. But $30 was what I thought I could fetch on eBay, before subtracting shipping, etc. So when I listed for $30 I knew I'd be willing to come down a bit, and $25 seems fair. But the buyer used the $25 "Circuit City price" to say that I should sell for $20 since my copy is used. I refused the $20 and said I wouldn't sell for less than $25, then the buyer responded with a $22 offer, and again I told him I wouldn't do less than $25, and then he said OK. So I did come down a bit, but I'd like to preserve a bit of dignity and think that I didn't totally play into his hands with the fake Circuit City quote

Isn't Circuit City closed?

MotionMan