Your experience selling on Craigslist

[Jason Stanfield]

I learned these three rules about selling on CL the hard way:

 

1. Never let anyone into your home. Anyone.

 

I did this a few times, and one guy (who appeared trustworthy at first) eyeballed my studio and home entertainment system in a manner that made me very uncomfortable. Mercifully, I didn't get broken into, but I attribute that to having two cops living in the neighborhood within visual range of both entrances to my house.

 

Meet them in public - Walmart, mall, McDonald's parking lot, and in an area of town the police don't avoid - and at a time where there are lots of people around. Position yourself so everyone can see what's happening, and that there's no opportunity for someone to threaten you with a weapon.

 

2. Accept cash only - no checks (obviously), but no PayPal, either.

 

I made a PayPal deal once, and the guy transferred the money to me via an app on his phone. I even checked that my correct email address was spelled properly, and watched him press "send". Evidently, though, he wasn't using his own phone/PayPal account, and the money was swiftly taken back.

 

Always insist on cash, and insist that they count it out in front of you before making the exchange.

 

3. Be prepared for the buyer to show up with less money than you agreed on, and to walk away from the deal.

 

I made the mistake of making my ad sound desperate (I was, having been laid off and needing get-out-of-town money), and 3 different times buyers showed up with 50-75% of the agreed-upon selling price. The first one I relented to, but the next two I refused (and they both were pissed their little scam didn't work).

 

Sandbag your asking and negotiating prices to ensure you'll get what you really wanted for what you're selling. Have in your mind absolute minimum and ideal asking prices, then add 20-25% to the top, just in case. Or, lower your expectations.

[Synthoid]

Excellent advice, Jason. Thanks.

 

I'm in the process of selling my Alesis ION, and considered CL so this definitely helps.

[Brettymike]

I learned these three rules about selling on CL the hard way:

 

1. Never let anyone into your home. Anyone.

 

I did this a few times, and one guy (who appeared trustworthy at first) eyeballed my studio and home entertainment system in a manner that made me very uncomfortable. Mercifully, I didn't get broken into, but I attribute that to having two cops living in the neighborhood within visual range of both entrances to my house.

 

Meet them in public - Walmart, mall, McDonald's parking lot, and in an area of town the police don't avoid - and at a time where there are lots of people around. Position yourself so everyone can see what's happening, and that there's no opportunity for someone to threaten you with a weapon.

 

2. Accept cash only - no checks (obviously), but no PayPal, either.

 

I made a PayPal deal once, and the guy transferred the money to me via an app on his phone. I even checked that my correct email address was spelled properly, and watched him press "send". Evidently, though, he wasn't using his own phone/PayPal account, and the money was swiftly taken back.

 

Always insist on cash, and insist that they count it out in front of you before making the exchange.

 

3. Be prepared for the buyer to show up with less money than you agreed on, and to walk away from the deal.

 

I made the mistake of making my ad sound desperate (I was, having been laid off and needing get-out-of-town money), and 3 different times buyers showed up with 50-75% of the agreed-upon selling price. The first one I relented to, but the next two I refused (and they both were pissed their little scam didn't work).

 

Sandbagged your asking and negotiating prices to ensure you'll get what you really wanted for what you're selling. Have in your mind absolute minimum and ideal asking prices, then add 20-25% to the top, just in case. Or, lower your expectations.

 

Very Wise and sound advice right here.

 

Brett

[dama]

Yes thanks Jason.

[dama]

Yes thanks Jason. Someone mentioned patience also.

[Jason Stanfield]

Very Wise and sound advice right here.

 

Brett

 

[HAMEGZ]

 

 

 

I made the mistake of making my ad sound desperate (I was, having been laid off and needing get-out-of-town money), and 3 different times buyers showed up with 50-75% of the agreed-upon selling price. The first one I relented to, but the next two I refused (and they both were pissed their little scam didn't work).

 

Sa

 

I have a MOX8 on CL that Im listing for $900

one guy emails me that he has $350 cash he will give me...

 

like dangling cash would make me jump at the chance..

 

I really had to refrain from sending a snarky reply back

[blong5150]

I've had great luck on CL. As DanL said, determine that the buyer is serious. Also, I don't reply to ads without a phone number. When I post, I use my Google Voice phone number. They are great about filtering out the SPAM calls. On a side note, I have had friends get jumped and beaten in parking lots over iPads on Craigslist. Know your surroundings, be alert, and being licensed for concealed carry doesn't hurt either.

[Fusker]

Plenty of luck selling all kinds of things...just sold a dollhouse (of all things) the other day, though I must say, the entire time that post was up, I was getting spammed pretty hard with offers of Russian porn.

 

I will say, if I was still in the Boston area, I would be a lot more leary.

[dama]

Last week was an interesting one regarding my selling and purchasing music gear. I had a few inquiries with my Juno di through Craigslist. Many text and voice messages back and forth. The issue of how to testing it out in a public area came up also (batteries would work though).

 

It was really a hassle setting up appointments and having them cancelled. I finally walked into GC and got a descent trade in price (IMO) for the di and got 15% Black Fri discount on a PX-5s. There are a lot of the di's for sale on ebay and I had to offer it for less there to stay competitive. Glad that's done.

 

I few nights ago I met someone in a store parking lot and sold my Carvin LM15A speaker. He didn't ask to try it out and it wasn't too much of a hassle to sell it to him. Although we went back and forth working out a price. I sold it for half I paid for it a few years ago, but I didn't even think I would get someone interested in buying just one cabinet and not a pair. Another feeling of ... glad that's done.

 

Now I've got the Craiglist/Ebay selling fever and I'm trying get rid of as much stuff as possible. Gig bags, camera lens, etc.

 

My wife warned me not to sell the cat. https://forums.musicplayer.com/images/icons/default/wink.gif

 

[Synthoid]

My wife warned me not to sell the cat.

 

http://www.catster.com/files/funny-face-cats-7.jpg

 

[dama]

Ain't that the truth. Domesticated? Hah!

[KeyPlaya]

I use CL a lot and just learned today why you shouldn't put your phone number in the ads - robo-callers!

 

Apparently a number of unscrupulous companies have bots that crawl craigslist looking for numbers in the standard formats (555-555-5555 or (555)555-5555 etc) and add those numbers to their robo-calling lists.

 

So if you do put your number, it might be better to obfuscate it by spelling out some of the numbers. On the other hand, it wouldn't be hard to program a bot to look for "two" in place of 2, so a better option might be to put the number in an image, or just don't post a number at all.

[Joe Muscara]

Check out some other ads. I've seen a mix of things like "oh" for zero and stuff. I wonder if anyone has tried using the old abbreviations, like "KLondike 5 - 5432"

[KeyPlaya]

I wonder if anyone has tried using the old abbreviations, like "KLondike 5 - 5432"

 

LOL most people wouldn't have a clue how to dial that though (I would say that I do, but that would mean I'm old LOL)

[zaj58]

I love craigslist. I figured recently I Have tendered over 50k thru craigslist buying and selling, including cars, motorcycles, power equipment, and plenty of music gear.. My last purchase was a basically brand new in the box Nord stage 2 76 w/ nord soft case and pedals for 3k..couple of years ago I scored a korg Cx3 version 2 for 600 bucks in perfect condition.. Sold it on CL for 800 recently..CL has been a win win for me and i never paid a dime of commision. No brainer. I always include my ph. # in my ads and dont respond to e mails.. If someone is serious they will call, at that time you can feel them out and determine if they are someone you want to deal with. I have been lucky enough to have dealt with all nice normal people in my experience.

[simajanpa]

I just sold my Kronos on Craigslist a couple of weeks ago.

I always put my phone number in the ad, because I have found that the buyers are not real/serious unless they call me directly. I have turned off the email portion because I would just get jammed with spam from all over the world, with all kinds of BS Scam type requests.

I sell out of my detached garage and never let them into my house, period! Always deal in cash. Never had a problem with anything sold on CL. Just stay smart and safe during the transaction and you should be fine.

 

Paul

[KenElevenShadows]

Craigslist is great for getting rid of something quickly. People seem to regard it as a garage sale, and no matter the value and availability of what you're selling, it seems that people are always expecting you to drop the price more.

 

You do have to deal with a certain flake factor, with people not showing up when they say they are going to and that kind of thing as well.

 

If selling gear, such as a keyboard or recording gear, that is worth more than a few hundred dollars, I would go with eBay.

 

OTOH, I have found really great people when I need work done around the house, and one person I've made friends with because he's such a great guy.

[AlanV]

I've bought and sold lots of stuff on CL. The last sale was for an EMU VK6 (Vintage Keys keyboard). Guy was in Brooklyn and I was heading into the city anyway so I delivered it to his apartment.

 

Made sure to leave his address and phone number with my brother before I headed out and said I would text him when the deal had been completed.

 

When I had my PC3LE7 up for sale (before I decided to keep it), the number of scammers was astounding. Most of them revolved around them being in the military doing training that prevented them from getting to a phone or email on a regular basis so they'd send me a check and then...no, just no.

[allan_evett]

A slight bump - into the new year.

 

I've been trying to sell myself on CL - that is, as a music teacher. Amusing that my first response here in NW IN/Chicagoland was this:

 

Hello, I need a tutor for my son. If you available let me know.

Do please send me your private email address as you will reply will be coming

 

from that of craigslist.

 

Thanks

Dxxx

 

Looks like the Nigerian Bank Scam, and various mutations, are still alive and kicking

[Michael Wright]

A slight bump - into the new year.

 

I've been trying to sell myself on CL - that is, as a music teacher. Amusing that my first response here in NW IN/Chicagoland was this:

 

Hello, I need a tutor for my son. If you available let me know.

Do please send me your private email address as you will reply will be coming

 

from that of craigslist.

 

Thanks

Dxxx

 

Looks like the Nigerian Bank Scam, and various mutations, are still alive and kicking

ey donut sea a problem wit dis dew u?

[SVG]

I honestly thank my lucky stars that I ended up in a city as warm and gentle as Seattle. I've conducted numerous CL transactions and had people over to my house and have gone to other peoples houses all the time. I do make sure to speak with them on the phone first. Like as has been said before, it's not to hard to suss out fellow musos.

 

It has only been the parking lot deals where I felt that shifty stuff was being sold. I tend to avoid anyone who must meet up in a parking lot. But then again, I don't live in a dangerous city...

 

Stephen

 

 

 

 

.

[Brettymike]

I wouldn't be overly nervous if I were you - Asians (bonafide ones) often write like that.

 

Those Nigerian scams only net and ripoff the braindead.

I had a lot of fun some years ago (online only) with one (was a group operating from Lagos I think) , at one point - before the $6000,000 would be released and wired to me , there was a terrible calamity at their end where he suddenly needed money sent to bury his suddenly dead Mother .

 

Brett

[Joe Muscara]

It has only been the parking lot deals where I felt that shifty stuff was being sold. I tend to avoid anyone who must meet up in a parking lot. But then again, I don't live in a dangerous city....

I did a "parking lot" deal once, but I was the seller, the guy buying was a fatherly dude buying for his son, and the parking lot was his bank where he was going to withdraw the cash if he decided he wanted the board. He did.

[Melodious Thunk]

I've had great luck selling on Craigslist. The police are cool with letting you do Craigslist transactions inside police stations.

[Joe Muscara]

I've had great luck selling on Craigslist. The police are cool with letting you do Craigslist transactions inside police stations.

!

[HAMEGZ]

My latest CL adventure

 

Him: I saw your craiglist ad and am interested in one of the keyboards.

Is the strapon keytar by roland a Lucina Ax-09? What condition is it in?

 

ME: Yes thats the model, its white. Like new has stayed in the case , for most of its life.

 

Running around on stage is not for me, and I don't have the prerequisite cape that goes along with playing a keytar

 

I mentioned ni-cads in the ad, but when I checked them they are not holding a charge so they are no good. Since thats the case, I am reducing the price by $25 to $ 225.

 

HIM:I'd be coming from New Orleans to get it, so if you came down to 200, I could take it off your hands this week.

 

I guess gas is expensive these days, but the Big Easy is less than an hours drive on the interstate to me.

 

Maybe he didn't like my cape humour??