Craigslist / Sell Your Used or Unwanted Items to Locals

Craigslist review quick take: The platform offers a flexible and accessible opportunity for you to start a profitable side hustle by selling items to locals.

What is Craigslist?

Craigslist is an online classifieds platform to buy, sell, and trade a wide variety of goods and services within your local area. Founded in 1995, Craigslist is a go-to destination for people seeking to buy and sell everything from furniture and electronics to vehicles and real estate. Read a Craigslist experience here.

How Craigslist Works

Craigslist offers a simple and straightforward interface, allowing sellers to reach a large audience of potential buyers within their local area. There are over 100 categories to list many different types of items.

• Sellers can create listings for their items or services with descriptions, photos, and contact information.
• Transactions typically take place in person, with buyers and sellers arranging meetups to exchange goods and payments.

What can be sold?

Almost anything can be sold on Craigslist, making it a versatile platform for sellers. Common items include furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, collectibles, vehicles, and even freelance services such as tutoring, housekeeping, and event planning.

Side Hustle Potential

You can start by decluttering your home and selling unwanted items, then gradually expanding offerings to include products sourced from wholesalers, thrift stores, or handcrafted creations. Requirements: To become a seller on Craigslist, you must create an account and adhere to the platform’s guidelines. Average Earnings: This can vary widely depending on factors such as the types of items sold, pricing strategy, and frequency of listings. While some sellers may earn a few hundred dollars per month, others have reported earning thousands of dollars.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Local Focus: Craigslist connects buyers and sellers in the local area, facilitating easy and convenient transactions.
• Free to Use: Most listings are free for most categories, allowing you to maximize profits without incurring additional fees.

Cons

• Scams and Fraud: Due to its open nature, Craigslist is susceptible to scams and fraudulent activities, requiring sellers to exercise caution and vigilance.
• Limited Support: Craigslist provides minimal customer support, leaving sellers to handle disputes and issues independently.

Who is Craigslist Best For

Craigslist is best suited for anyone who is looking to sell unwanted or used items. It’s particularly ideal for those who prefer face-to-face transactions and value the convenience of local buying and selling.

How to Sell on Craigslist

With Craigslist, some items sell faster than others, like power tools (saws and drills), music equipment of any kind, furniture (especially dressers can go for a pretty penny), and computers and mobile devices (laptops, iPads, iPods, and smartphones—Apple products go for a premium).

1. Open a Craigslist account

I suggest having a separate email account and using that to create an account on Craigslist. Use this email to speak to your buyers. Craigslist will also require a phone number, so be prepared to enter it for verification purposes.

2. Do your research and price to sell

Do a Google search to determine the value of the item you’re selling. Don’t undercut your potential for bigger profits. You may not find the same product elsewhere but base the pricing on what similar items are going for. Search Craigslist for similar items and prices accordingly.

3. Have a descriptive title

Use titles that help buyers know what you’re selling. You don’t need to be fancy and clever. You could simply write, “2018 Apple MacBook Air 128GB – Great Condition includes power chord and box.”

4. Details are important

Be descriptive with the item you’re selling. Search online to find specs or descriptions to add to the body of the listing. This helps buyers determine if your product is what they need. Include the brand, make, model, serial numbers, years used, and the condition (physically, mechanically, and operationally). Be upfront so you don’t waste your time. Include all the accessories that come with the item. I’ve found having original boxes helped make tech gadgets sell quicker.

5. Take really great pictures

Save yourself time going back and forth on email by taking great photos of the items. Photos should include close-ups and different angles. Show scratches if they are substantial.

6. Set your location

With Craigslist, you’re already selling locally, but make sure it’s correct. I prefer not to place my address on the fields but will use the local coffee shop address. This is usually where I’ll meet the buyer inside if it’s not a large piece of furniture. The benefit of doing so is attracting the right buyers.

7. Set your preferences

My sale preferences are cash and local only. “Cash Only. Local Only.” If you entertain offers, you can add OBO, which stands for “Or Best Offer,” after your price. Additionally, you might get people who want to trade you. You can add “No Trades” in the listing.

8. Submit, review, and revise

You’ll get notifications in your email when someone queries about your Craigslist listing. If your Craigslist listing doesn’t get any queries, you might want to change the ad, lower the price, and resubmit. After some time has passed and the item is still available, you’ll need to renew the listing.

Our Craigslist Review

Craigslist review: From garage sale finds to handmade crafts, you can list a wide range of products and services on Craigslist. It offers a legitimate and accessible platform to start and grow a profitable side hustle.

Avoid scammers

A scam artist is one who offers you more than what you’re asking for and requires you to send the item to them. Other scammers will try to ask you for Paypal information, address, full name, and telephone numbers. Never give out personal identifying information to a buyer. The buyers I’ve sold items to don’t want your address until they are ready to pick up the item.Transactions are very quick. Craigslist shoppers are looking to buy, not browse.Never meet buyers alone in an unknown area. Have the shopper meet you at a place you’ve chosen. I typically do my transactions at a coffee shop. I get coffee and wait for the buyer to arrive. Still feel uncomfortable? Get their email address and phone number and do a quick Google search.Selling bigger items may require them to meet you at your home. Have someone with you when you meet a Craigslist buyer.

Avoid the browsers

I’ve sold many things on Craigslist and learned the traits of serious buyers. A Craigslist buyer will not go back and forth to haggle for lower prices. They reached out to you because your price meets their criteria. They may want to save a few dollars by asking for a slightly lower price, but lowballers are just wasting your time.If the email exceeds 3 exchanges, the buyer is not serious. If they begin telling you similar products are cheaper, ignore them. They are not interested in buying your product.Craiglist shoppers know the products can be gone quickly. They’ll agree to a price and ask to pick up the item. Asking for an item to be held for a day or more means a lost opportunity to sell to someone more serious.

Avoid more pics request

If you have 3-4 pictures of an item already posted (sometimes one can suffice), that’s more than enough for a person to decide they want your item. Remember, they are looking for specific items and most likely already know what they look like. In my experience, I have never sold an item to a Craigslist shopper who asked for more pictures.I used to send additional pictures, which led to more picture requests, more questions, and 40 emails later—nothing.

Avoid the lowballers

Those who lowball you aren’t worth a response. I just deleted lowball offers. I was selling a couch for $150, and someone offered me $20. No thanks. These buyers are sending mass emails in hopes a seller is desperate. I’ve learned there are some who lowball other sellers so they can relist the item at a higher price.

Your safety is important when selling on Craigslist

Stay safe; if you feel uncomfortable with the exchange, don’t do it.Don’t place your email, address, or phone number on the Craigslist listing to avoid being emailed by trolls. Unfortunately, I shared my email in one listing and found my inbox spammed by offers and scammers.Share your phone number and talk with the buyer if you’re unsure about the sale. I will ask for the buyer’s cell number and email and then do a quick Google search. A serious buyer will give you their information and not harass you for yours.

Craigslist Alternatives

Craigslist alternatives include Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. You can also find more online marketplaces to sell your stuff.