Buying and selling on Craigslist can make many people concerned about safety and privacy issues. When done right, selling on Craigslist is a great way to clear clutter and get some extra cash, but you should always put safety first. No sale is worth getting hurt over. Here's a pro tip to preserve your privacy when selling on Craigslist:
Get a Google Voice number and set up a designated e-mail - Giving out your personal phone number to relative strangers isn't something I really recommend, so go to Google and sign up for Google Voice. When completing the setup, choose the option to get a new Google Voice telephone number. It is free to set up your Google Voice account, and only costs money if you use the service to make calls which is not what we're doing here. When you have your G Voice account opened, go to the settings and select to have all calls forwarded to your personal phone number. Now when you give out your phone number to buyers, give out the Google Voice number. When the buyer calls, it will ring your cell phone, and you will keep your personal phone number private. An added bonus is you can view text transcriptions of the voice mails sent to your Google Voice number so that you don't have to listen to them. Pretty handy if you're in a meeting and can't listen to your voice mail messages.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
The Number One Rule For Sellers
Whether you are selling for profit or just to get rid of your unwanted stuff, you will need to follow the number one rule of selling on Craigslist. Communication is key. Keep this rule in mind, and you should be able to sell nearly any item with successful results.
Communication when selling on CL starts with your ad, and continues all the way through arranging pickup of the item being sold. Follow these tips to ensure you are communicating effectively throughout your sale.
1. Describe your item accurately and completely. If you are selling a camera, don't just write "Camera" on the title and expect people to buy it. That's lame, unhelpful, and will lead to tons of e-mail questions about the basic item info. if you end up with any responses at all. Use the full item name, model number, and condition to describe the item. For the camera, you could put the title as "Kodak Easyshare C330 Digital Camera, like new."
2. Include tons of details in your ad description. The box under the title is mean to be written in. Don't just copy and paste the ad title, and expect good results. A good description includes details about the item specifics (4 megapixel, silver, zoom speed, camera settings, etc.), the item condition (used for a year, new in box, broken- use for parts, etc.), and maybe a brief personal note about the item like why you are getting rid of it, the item's history (if relevant).
3. Respond accurately and timely to buyer's questions. When someone e-mails you about your item, you should write back as quickly and thoroughly as your schedule allows. If you don't respond quickly enough, they may decide to buy from someone else. Even if you did a great job on writing a descriptive title and ad, you may still have buyer's who want more information about the item, it's condition, etc. Write back thoroughly, and if you get a lot of similar questions, you should probably edit your ad to reflect the information so that you can focus more on setting up sales, and not answering questions all day and night.
Speaking of setting up sales, when a buyer e-mails you to purchase the item that you have for sale, it will often go like this, "Hi, I am interested in buying your camera. Is it still available?" Instead of simply replying "Yes" and moving on with life, I suggest that you say something like, "Yes, what day and time would you like to pick it up." Try to get the sale moving as soon as possible to cut down on the b.s. buyers who want to shop around, but don't know for sure if they want to buy anything, ever. Try to schedule the sale for the soonest day and time possible to lessen the problem of buyers changing their mind or deciding to buy from someone else then cancelling at the last minute. If you do end up having to set the sale time for a couple of days from the date you are talking with the buyer, send a follow up e-mail on the day of the sale at least 2 hours prior to meeting saying something like "Hi, it's Heather with the Kodak Easyshare C330 on Craigslist, and I just wanted to follow up with you that we are meeting at such and such place at 3pm today."
When you communicate effectively, you will have more sales, less hassle, and happier buyers. Also, don't forget to use spell check! People can't find your stuff to buy if you list your camera as kamera. Happy selling!
Communication when selling on CL starts with your ad, and continues all the way through arranging pickup of the item being sold. Follow these tips to ensure you are communicating effectively throughout your sale.
1. Describe your item accurately and completely. If you are selling a camera, don't just write "Camera" on the title and expect people to buy it. That's lame, unhelpful, and will lead to tons of e-mail questions about the basic item info. if you end up with any responses at all. Use the full item name, model number, and condition to describe the item. For the camera, you could put the title as "Kodak Easyshare C330 Digital Camera, like new."
2. Include tons of details in your ad description. The box under the title is mean to be written in. Don't just copy and paste the ad title, and expect good results. A good description includes details about the item specifics (4 megapixel, silver, zoom speed, camera settings, etc.), the item condition (used for a year, new in box, broken- use for parts, etc.), and maybe a brief personal note about the item like why you are getting rid of it, the item's history (if relevant).
3. Respond accurately and timely to buyer's questions. When someone e-mails you about your item, you should write back as quickly and thoroughly as your schedule allows. If you don't respond quickly enough, they may decide to buy from someone else. Even if you did a great job on writing a descriptive title and ad, you may still have buyer's who want more information about the item, it's condition, etc. Write back thoroughly, and if you get a lot of similar questions, you should probably edit your ad to reflect the information so that you can focus more on setting up sales, and not answering questions all day and night.
Speaking of setting up sales, when a buyer e-mails you to purchase the item that you have for sale, it will often go like this, "Hi, I am interested in buying your camera. Is it still available?" Instead of simply replying "Yes" and moving on with life, I suggest that you say something like, "Yes, what day and time would you like to pick it up." Try to get the sale moving as soon as possible to cut down on the b.s. buyers who want to shop around, but don't know for sure if they want to buy anything, ever. Try to schedule the sale for the soonest day and time possible to lessen the problem of buyers changing their mind or deciding to buy from someone else then cancelling at the last minute. If you do end up having to set the sale time for a couple of days from the date you are talking with the buyer, send a follow up e-mail on the day of the sale at least 2 hours prior to meeting saying something like "Hi, it's Heather with the Kodak Easyshare C330 on Craigslist, and I just wanted to follow up with you that we are meeting at such and such place at 3pm today."
When you communicate effectively, you will have more sales, less hassle, and happier buyers. Also, don't forget to use spell check! People can't find your stuff to buy if you list your camera as kamera. Happy selling!
What to Sell
Go through your closet, garage, storage unit, living room, other people's houses (just kidding!), and pretty much anywhere that you have stuff that you no longer love or use. You might be thinking you don't have anything of value to sell, but think again. Recently I sold a pair of cable TV remotes that I found in my garage when I moved in for $5. I didn't need them, but obviously someone did. I was happy to get rid of the clutter, and they were happy to get some cheap remotes. Wander around, think like a buyer, and see what you can find. Every item you sell is another dollar in your pocket, and less clutter you have to look at.
The items that I have found to sell the fastest on Craigslist are:
Kid & baby items
Furniture
Electronics
Hobby items
Household stuff like vacuums, appliances, and home decor
The items that I have found to sell a bit slower on Craigslist are:
Clothing
Shoes
Broken household stuff (for parts)
Books
Welcome Post
Welcome to my Selling on Craigslist blog. Throughout my Craigslist sales experiences, I have picked up tons of useful information that I am so excited to share with you all. I have bought and sold everything from aquariums to laundry detergent, and I consider selling things to be a great side job and hobby. I hope you enjoy my tips! Happy selling!
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