Trying to sell stuff on Craigslist is driving me insane.

[dobatseatcats]

I've heard that Craigslist in my city is full of flaky people, and I experienced that twice this weekend. I'm trying to sell stuff to make money to put toward my hair-on-fire debt but wow, is this a PITA so far.

Exhibit A: Buyer says she will come at 3 p.m. Saturday. I agree to this. Boyfriend and I head out on an errand; we're home by 1 p.m. We bump into our neighbor, who tells me that my buyer mistakenly rang her buzzer looking for me. At 12:30. There's a snotty email waiting for me too, bitching me out for not being home 2 1/2 hours before the agreed-upon time. So, I guess that sale is lost.

Exhibit B: Different item, dude emails me at 9 p.m. Saturday night wanting to pick it up that night. Again, we were not home. I got the email at around 11 when we got home. I apologized for not being home and told him that I was working Sunday but would be home by 6:30 p.m. if that worked for him. He emails me yesterday at around 1 while I am at work: "So, I can pick it up sometime this afternoon, then? I can head over right now." Gee, I don't know, is 6:30 p.m. in the afternoon?!

I responded as politely as I could that I was sorry, but again, I would not be home until 6:30. He said he'd be by in the evening. I cancelled my plans with Boyfriend (he was THRILLED. :P) and sat home waiting for this guy. Who, of course, never showed.

I guess this is how it works, but it's driving me nuts. How do you all deal with this? Do you take off work to make yourself available for buyers? People seem really pissed that I have a day job and can only do these transactions in the evening (these are just the examples from this weekend; this sort of thing happens often).

I do not have a smartphone or any other way to access email when I am not home - maybe that is the problem? Do Craigslist sellers all have iphones and then rush home from wherever they are if someone emails and wants the item right then?

Boyfriend says I'm bending over backwards too much trying to accommodate people - but, like I said, hair-on-fire debt. This is all stuff that's too big to ship or else I'd just throw it on eBay and not deal with people coming to my place.

[daverobev]

Yeah people are crazy. Don't worry about it. Sell on your schedule. Just tell them when you're home, leave it at that.

[aclarridge]

I feel for you, my experiences with people around here have been pretty terrible as well. The only advice I can give is to meet them on YOUR terms, when it's convenient for you. Also, I got to the point where if they had spelling or grammar mistakes in their email or text, I'd just tell them it's not available. That actually filters out most of the flakes. If you really need the sale though, yeah, you're going to have to put up with some shit.

There obviously are good people out there, people that are no-bullshit and show up when they're supposed to with cash in hand. Best of luck finding one of those.

[Trirod]

After a while using C'list you'll learn to filter out the flakes and the likely no shows.  Speaking to them on the phone helps as well - rather than using email.  I think people are less likely to just not show up if they've actually talked to you .

[KulshanGirl]

My CL ads are always the same.  I always say that the first one to be able to come for it gets it, and it's at my convenience.  I have most of whatever I'm selling in my car and usually meet in my work parking lot.  I don't hold anything for anyone.  I also reaffirm the price before they come, and tell them to bring cash in the exact amount.  I also price things low enough that people are usually tripping over themselves to comply with all of that. 

I usually just want things gone though, I'm not trying to get top dollar.

[tigerty]

I go into the habit of meeting them at a neutral location so that each person had to coordinate and therefor actually meet at a specific time. My wife also started to get creeped out by my craigslist people coming by our house. A little more of a pain but sometimes it works better.

[Russ]

How do you all deal with this?

Don't rearrange your life for anybody when you're selling. People always meet me at my apartment when I know I'll be home anyway so I don't have to go (or not go) anywhere. similarly, when I'm buying I expect to go wherever the seller requests, at a time suggested by them.

-If they really want the item they'll make their schedule work around yours
-If they're an asshole and don't show, you don't want to sell your stuff to them anyway
-If they don't listen to you and waste their own time, that's not your problem

It's hard to just ignore people like that if you're usually an accommodating person, but people will take serious advantage of you if you don't.

[dobatseatcats]

I did have one person actually show up when she said she would yesterday to buy this hideous Halloween lawn ornament my mother gave me. So I know there are good ones out there. It was an $8 sale, but hey, that's 8 bucks I didn't have before.

Wondering if it makes sense to put in my ads that pickup must be in the evenings, to filter out people who only want to come by when I'm at work. That implies that people actually read, but maybe it is worth a try.

And, these were all people who wrote clear English!

[SavingMon(k)ey]

Sell on YOUR terms, at YOUR convenience. Don't cancel anything.

I've sold several items on CL, and the only item that caused a whole lot of no-shows was a TV. It actually got pretty ridiculous, but I eventually sold it.

If I can at all avoid it, I do not let people in my house, and I try to make sure my partner is at home at that time, too. I will have the item ready to grab and step outside on the porch, or I'll have it in the garage and just pull it out. The guy who bought the TV wanted to plug it in to test it, so I let him plug it in in the garage.

[dobatseatcats]

Russ, I might not have been as accommodating of this guy if there wasn't an emotional component involved. I've been trying to sell my father's walker since he died 4 1/2 years ago. He was, shall we say, not a very nice person and my mother couldn't stand to have it in the house, so I took it.... and I don't want it in my house either, really. This was the first interest in it that I've had in a year. ugh. Really thought it might be leaving the house this time.

I usually try and sell the stuff out of my building's basement so that they don't actually see my place, or I drag larger items into the building's hall/stairwell so they don't have to come in. I get creeped out easily too. I'm not really sure what to do about the Wii... I don't want to drag our TV (which isn't for sale) down to the basement or out into the hall and re-hook the whole thing up there to prove it works. blah.

[Mr.Macinstache]

Ditch the email on CL. Use your phone/text, meet at a public place close to your house. Never go out of your way. If they want the item they'll come to you on your terms.

[Greenbeard]

Here are my tips for Craigslist that have helped me.  Not foolproof, but they help greatly:

1. Don't give out your address right away.  Schedule a time for the person to show up and tell them to call you before they leave and you will give them your address.  This insures they can't come early and gives you a heads up when they are ACTUALLY leaving.

2. If you want to give something away, simply put an "Item on curb" posting and give the street name, or a vague address.  Mention you will not respond to emails.  Put your item out front.  Delete ad when the item is gone.

3. Get a Google Voice phone number.  They are free and you can have them forwarded to your cell phone.  You can even call out from the Google voice number.  That way you're not giving out your real phone number.  It can even receive text messages for free.

4. When someone emails you about an item, respond with your Google voice phone number (see tip #3) and ask them to call you for more information.  This weeds out people who aren't serious.  People will email you for ever but for some reason taking the next step to make a phone call filters out the real buyers.

5. Take good photos, write a thorough description and make sure to list the town where the item is located.

6. If you are frequently in a second location, like the town where you work, list the item in that location too.  you can always meet someone at lunch to sell your item.

[PurposelyVague]

How much is the walker worth? It might just be better to donate it and take the tax write off if you've been trying to sell it for so long without much luck.

[dobatseatcats]

Thanks for the tips, everyone!

Purposelyvague, I agree with you, but my mother is adamant that she wants cash for it.

Update: another potential buyer for the walker emailed me this afternoon, gave a phone number, and asked me to call him about it. Nice older gentleman. He's supposedly meeting me at my work (which is near his home) over lunch tomorrow to pick it up -- so we shall see whether or not the theory that willingness to talk by phone = showing up with cash is true!

[Paul der Krake]

I take the thing even further by having a completely new email identity with fake name that's only used for that purpose, along with a Google Voice number. It prevents crazy people from harassing me should a transaction go badly (it happens).

[drg]

"I'll be available from XPM to YPM, give me a call when you're on your way over."

[Jamesqf]

After a while using C'list you'll learn to filter out the flakes and the likely no shows.  Speaking to them on the phone helps as well - rather than using email.

I dunno.  I've always found that pretty annoying, myself.  I use Craigslist because I want to do stuff on-line, by email.  I find it much more pleasant to write rather than try to hold a phone conversation, and I can send and answer emails at my convenience, instead of having to interrupt whatever I'm doing to phone.  So people who say "no emails" or "phone only" in their ads aren't going to sell to me.

[m8547]

I've had great success giving things away on Freecycle. If there's an active Freecycle group in your area and you don't need the money or the items aren't that valuable, it's perfect. I hate throwing things away, and I gave away like 10 items last year. Things like an old electric kettle, a basic set of computer speakers, half a bag of charcoal, most of a pack of photo paper, etc. It doesn't sound like much, but it significantly reduced the bulk and weight of stuff I had to move out of my old apartment. Everyone I met was really appreciative of getting free stuff, and I was happy to get rid of it.  I try to only list items that have enough value to be worth it for someone to drive to me to pick up.

I used to try to hold things for Craigslist people, but I quickly realized that doesn't work. First person to come and pay gets it.  I also like to filter by people that give their name in an email, or better yet use a legitimate looking work email. I'll put a lot more effort into contacting those people since the chances of a sale are much higher. Oddly enough I've had much better luck selling unique things where there are relatively few buyers, rather than things where there are tons of people interested.

[PantsOnFire]

There is definitely a correlation between what you are selling and what kinds of morons will respond and then dick you around.  I will never again sell a bike, bike parts, or a car on Craigslist.  While there were some honest, intelligent people who showed up, most were either scammers, drug addicts, or just idiots. 

Homebrewing equipment and supplies was a totally different experience.  It restored my faith in humanity. 

Furniture and electronics are somewhere in between. 

[CommonCents]

My craigslist tips:

• Post good pictures and a clear description including any flaws.  If you don’t, the sellers will point that out upon seeing it and request a discount. I’ve never had a person show up and decide not to buy.
• Use craigslist anon email.  If an email bothers you don’t reply to it or reply from a different account.  (FWIW, I’ve never had an issue of stalkers, etc.)  You can usually tell from the emails if the person is flaky.
• In the posting, give a general area.  Give the actual address only after settling on the price/time etc.
• I’ve not had a problem transacting solely by email, but when I give out the address, I’ve given out my cell too then.  I don’t like to play phone tag though and I like to respond in my time.
• Only post when you are relatively available and around home the next few days.  Don’t post when you are busy and can’t be flexible, but it’s ok to have a small commitment or two and ask the person to meet you around those.  I'm not fussed at the few people who do not show up or come late because I don't let them dictate my schedule.  Similarly, I think it may be a challenge if you post during the day but then can’t monitor your email.  If that’s the case, mention it in the posting.  E.g “will respond to emails and arrange pickups outside of normal business hours.”  But, most people will understand pickups are evenings/weekends and be ok with it. Don’t forget to state no delivery - pickup is by buyer for heavier items if that’s the case. 
• Post on Thursdays rather than Monday.  Most people want to pick up on the weekend.  Most people don’t tend to look early in the week.
• Price to sell.  Check out other listing and provide a reasonable price that is at the mid or lower end of asking.  Be more generous if you really want something to go.  Had a heavy couch I wanted gone and I didn’t want to haul it, and I put that one at the lowest of the prices I saw online.
• Agree on price beforehand.  Hold firm if they tell you they only have X.  I’ve had one person tell me they didn’t have change, and just had two $20s for a $30 or $35 item.  I said I didn’t have change either, but I could repost, take the $40 or wait if they want to run to the ATM quickly.  He gave me the $40.  An ex was conned into selling an item for less than agreed and threw in extra wires, and I’m determined never to let it happen.  It really bothers me that someone would show up without the agreed upon money, enough that I’m willing to risk making no sale rather than reward someone who won’t keep their word and wants to scam me.
• Respond rapidly to posts and be clear of the status.  I go with first person who responds, who can see it in a reasonable time frame (that day or the next).  I tell the next person I have someone looking at it at X time, but if they don’t take it, I will let them know.  If the first tries to reschedule I let them know I have other interested buyers.  I’ve tried to negotiate it higher based on multiple interested parties but it’s never been successful so I don’t anymore.
• I state in my posts I’ll remove the posting if not available to cut down on the “is it still available” questions.

Off the top of my head, I’ve sold: 2 futons, 1 couch, a lamp for more than I paid, another lamp, a bookcase, a desk, a casual wedding dress (tags on) for more than I paid, an urban shopping cart thing…

[dobatseatcats]

Well, you guys were right about speaking by phone working better. The walker is sold!

However... I am totally not a phone person. Hate it. If I could conduct all transactions in life via email, I would be so very happy. I agree completely with Jamesqf..... but, if that's what gets the job done, I'll do it.

CommonCents, I do most of that already. I started adding the "if you are reading this ad, the item is still available" line recently and that's cut down on the "is it available" emails that never respond again after I tell them yes. It's not a bad idea for me to mention in the ad that I work and pickup needs to be evening/weekend, though. I will try that!