Craigslist: a Guide... for the Rest of Us!

I)        Craigslist is a great site for buying products, and saving a lot of money along the way. But in order to do it efficiently, and avoid scams, you have to know what your doing. Read on for more info about:
                                      A)     BUYING
                                      B)     COMPARE+RESEARCH
                                      C)     RESPONDING
                                      D)     ASKING QUESTIONS
                                      E)      HAGGLE
                                      F)      PICK-UP/DELIVERY
                                      G)     OTHER NOTES

A)     BUYING

1)      When you think of Craigslist, you should think of it as the virtual yard sale. There's a pretty good chance that if you need something, you'll be able to find it on Craigslist. Simply search within the appropriate categories and browse through the posted ads. The easiest way to keep things straight when using CL is with common sense. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. A 42-inch Samsung Plasma HDTV for $200 is either fake or has a catch the size of Jaws attached. Stay away.

B)     COMPARE+RESEARCH

1)      Compare prices, items, quality before you make an offer on something. Searching for items within your budget really helps narrow down the choices and shows you were your best bargain is. You should do your homework. For example, if you’re buying a cellphone, you should use Google to check the phone’s stats and make sure it works with your carrier. Once you’ve figured out the basics, make sure it’s a good price. You can search eBay for the same item to get a feel for what the current average used price is for the item, from iPods to cars. This is a great way to see if you’re getting a deal or getting hosed.

C)     RESPONDING

1)      At the top of every ad, you'll find a blue link with a special CL email address. You can copy and paste that into your email account OR the seller might have included a phone number.
For emails, also copy the posting title (i.e., Used Water Bed--$50) into the subject line. Keep your response short. Ask if the item is still available and any other questions you have (include your phone number if you want them to call you).

D)     ASKING QUESTIONS

1)      If something is unclear, or if you have questions, don't be afraid to ask the seller. A good, reliable seller should get back to you in 24 hours. Don't wait around for a response for too long, though. When you’ve found your item, ask detailed questions about its condition and any accessories it might have or need. For example, asking “Does it come with everything?” isn’t as precise as “What accessories are included?” The first question is fairly objective, the second is subjective, which is in your favor. Also, feel free to be skeptical. Everything on Craigslist is something someone else doesn’t want. Why not? Make sure to ask why the seller’s selling it. Have they ever had any problems with it? And so forth.

E)     HAGGLE

1)      CL is just… well… a yard sale. Most sellers are willing to haggle. Plus, it's less intimidating if you do it through email. So if you think they might lower their price, just ask (but be reasonable).

F)     PICK-UP/DELIVERY

1)      When you’ve found what you’re looking for, meet someplace in public. This means shopping locally. While certain areas have better deals on certain items, it’s much safer to have a face-to-face deal. Besides insuring you’re not ripped off by a mail scam, it gives you a chance to inspect the merchandise before giving up any cash. Some sellers are willing to deliver for free or an extra fee. Just ask. If you plan to pick the item up, arrange it with the seller. Take someone along with you and ONLY pay in cash (unless we're talking about huge sums of money).
Be sure to inspect the item BEFORE you pay for it. It's a virtual yard sale, afterall--99% of sellers will probably be unwilling to offer refunds. That’s brings about another point worth mentioning: you don’t have to say yes. If you plan to meet someone to buy something, be clear that you’d like to inspect the item or items, and that if they’re in bad shape, or not as advertised, you’ll be walking away. This is your right, and if a seller has a problem with it, you probably don’t want to be dealing with them, anyway. If the person’s good and the item’s as described, then by all means make the purchase. But use cash. It’s the best way to keep things honest, easy, and equitable. If you’re selling, don’t accept any checks, even cashier’s checks or money orders, as these are easy to fake. Your bank will hold you accountable if you deposit a false check. Also, stay away from wire services, as there are a number of scams that utilize these services to rob you blind. Also, don’t ship your product to someone in Europe, ok? You’ll be surprised by how many emails that you can get with requests like that.

G)     OTHER NOTES:

1)      Now that we know what to do, let’s talk about what not to do. Don’t show up late without calling. Don’t stand your buyer or seller up, that’s just awful. Don’t give your seller grief if they make a mistake, they’re not pros. It happens. Don’t worry about getting down on someone who’s ripping you off, though. There’s nothing wrong with that.