Further proof are the goodies I have scored on craiglist including the ornate frame I used around the bedroom tv, the console in the hub's man cave and the dresser I turned into an ode to an octupus.
So what am I scared of? SELLING via craigslist. Its perfectly illogical that I dont mind buying but I think selling is going to get me murdered by some furniture seeking psychopath, right?
Whenever Ive needed to part with a piece of furniture up until now I've either given it away, or left it on the curb to be taken by whoever happens to walk past it first.
But now I have at least 3 pieces of furniture that could be sold: our dining room table (yes, I finally broke down and ordered the one Ive been lusting for!), the sofa table in the man room and the desk in the guestroom (which I begrudgingly say goodbye to since there isn't any room for it now that im moving the card catalog in there). Assuming I could sell each of these things for a little $, it seems waste not to try to sell it. So what is stopping me? The boogeyman!
Anyone else afraid of Craigslist?
I share your fear, but I have forced myself to list a few things here and there and have had nothing but good interactions. In fact, most times the person buying my items pulls up in a VERY expensive car and I have to laugh to myself. Good luck if you decide to take the plunge.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I'm terrified of Craig's List stalkers and killers though I know it's probably totally irrational. But I have sold a few things that way. Usually I have them pick up the item at my office (I sold some wedding reception decor that way), but that won't work with furniture. I would just advise that you always have your husband there when you arrange to meet someone at your home. Scary!
ReplyDeleteI've sold lots of stuff on Craig's List (mostly to make room for all the stuff I BUY on there!) and I promise it's only scary the first time! I never have people come look at stuff at the house when I'm here alone and I even go so far as to text a friend to say "someone is coming over to look at X. If you don't hear from me by X time, I'm probably being held hostage". I know it's insane but whatever, it makes me feel safer! I've only met very nice, resourceful people thru these transactions though. It kinda reaffirms your belief that humans are mostly good! GO FOR IT!
ReplyDeleteI'm in Tampa, so my Craigslist experiences are probably different than living in one of the largest cities in the world... but I've always had very positive experiences selling tons and tons of things. I've actually never had someone come look at an item and NOT buy it. (Though I attribute that mostly to not mis-representing the item in my descritpion or pictures). The key thing to feeling comfortable is to have someone at home with you when your prospective buyer comes by. I like to post on Fridays so that I can arrange daytime Saturday and Sunday pickups. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWe sell a bunch of stuff on Craigslist, I think you just have to get over that fear (I had it when we started). We actually had a person ask my husband for his occupation and address once, so they could do a pseudo background check. I thought it was a ridiculous request, but I guess if it made them more comfortable. Always have someone with you if you are uncomfortable. Good luck with the sales :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you! I've tried to sell our old Pottery Barn bedframe on Craigslist and was not successful. I only ended up with one real hit, but the measurements didn't work for her. Everyone else that contacted me was some sort of scammer wanting to pay with check or just other weird stuff. On the other hand, I've bought a few things and had great experiences on that end. We're getting ready to try the bed frame again as well as our washer and dryer we have to replace because of the layout in laundry room at our new house will force us to stack and we don't have front loaders.
ReplyDeletethere is no reason to be afraid!! You can screen them over email first (create a craigslist-specific account). when i've dealt w/people it has always been extremely obvious who is a creeper and who is a person like me just looking for a good deal.
ReplyDeleteI share your fear, too, so I do the only logical thing... make my husband list whatever it is and communicate with inquirers! We have only had one less than great experience, and it was when we listed something in the "free" section. Otherwise, we've been able to sell a few things (and people didn't even try to bargain with us, which was a shock to us).
ReplyDeleteI'm such a worst case scenario girl, but I've managed to put my big-girl pants on and sell a few things via CL. I'm here to say that the crazies haven't found me, but I've had a few strange instances. What I find funny about CL, is that I cannot browse the site while I'm eating. I immediately get that thrift store stank in my nose...you know the one? Yeah, I can't even sip a water bottle in a thrift store. Funny.
ReplyDeleteI was a little afraid at first, but haven't had any freaks show up yet...just nice people. I actually made a really good friend through CL. I was selling some of my twins' baby gear and she came to buy. Her twins are 6 months younger and we sort of bonded over that. I always make sure my husband is home to be on the safe side though. Just get yourself one of those "BEWARE OF DOG" signs and pop it on your window before they show up. :) Good luck!
ReplyDeletelol, Julie, an expensive car does not mean the person is not crazy. i think crazy comes in all shades of rich, poor and even middle class. just be aware and listen to your instincts. having someone else at home can also help.
ReplyDeleteGo to furnishly.com. It may be an alternative for you. I just read about it on a blog (forget which one) and my daughter already has a table on it. Couldn't hurt!
ReplyDeleteWe have sold furniture and other things on CL. I am scared of the boogeyman too so I'm never home alone and no one comes into our house. Having a garage makes that part easy. Give it a try, good luck!
ReplyDeleteHa - nutjobs come in all forms to be sure but ultimately by the time someone has my address, its too late anyway. :)
ReplyDeletemy issue with CL is the number of no shows and/or people who respond saying they are interested and never follow through! for things I am selling I ask to meet the buyer at a public place because I do not like the idea of a random person knowing where I live but we generally pick things up at people's residences. I haven't had a shady transaction yet on the buying side but I get creeped out going to people's houses too!
ReplyDeleteI know this is crazy but I kind of like the smell of a good thrift store. I probably wouldn't want to eat in one but the smell doesn't gross me out. I never thought about that being weird but clearly it is :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe my paranoia is a bit more extreme than average because Id be just as concerned for my husband. So maybe its just not for me.
ReplyDeleteIf these items were small, Id be all about meeting in a public place but I can't exactly put the dining room table in my purse. You would think I would have no issue considering I blog all about the inner workings of my life but actually having a stranger cross my threshold just gives me the heebie jeebies.
ReplyDeleteJust realized that it was "My Sweet Savannah". It's a new sponsor of hers.
ReplyDeleteI have Craigslist phobia, too. I have only purchased once and I met the lady at a bank to get the item (a painting). IF I were to take the plunge and sell on CL, I would make sure my husband is here AND would not allow anyone into the house part - only the garage. I would fear that they were casing the house for a later robbery! :( I hate feeling that way, but long gone are the days when you could generally trust everyone until they proved you wrong. Today, trust no-one until they earn it. Having 3 medium sized, very vocal if anyone approaches the house dogs definitely helps as a deterent, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThat site looks like something for furniture shops, not private sellers. Ive never heard of it so I dont think its popular enough in NYC to get any real buyers anywho.
ReplyDeleteWe've sold plenty of stuff on CL. I always make sure my hubby is around & in uniform (he's a Captain in the Army). That makes me feel safer & it makes the buyer more hesitant to try to negotiate for a lower price. ;)
ReplyDeleteNo garages here. Not that it would make me feel much better honestly.
ReplyDeleteI would just view it as someone out there (exactly like you) looking for a treasure. Your pieces of furniture are only going to attract people with like tastes.
ReplyDeleteI do always make sure my boyfriend is around if someone is going to come by my house. For one, then I don't have to help carry the item out. :) And 2, it just puts me at ease.
I also talk to these people on the phone. Everyone tries to bypass this and text.. but I believe you can get a pretty good vibe from the person if you speak with them on the phone.
Yup, it's a bit scary. Just make sure you always have someone else home, and never give out your address in the first email. I find there are lots of people who inquire and it goes nowhere, then at least my address ins't hanging out there. You'll feel better about it once there is cash burning a hole in your pocket :)
ReplyDeleteOk, so I live in OH and I'm sure it is a different situation but I buy and sell quite a bit. Some of my weirdest situations were hoarding filth and someone who managed to get himself drunk in between the time I set the appointment and showed up to buy. I left. Given that, I make people e-mail me about the item when inquiring. I can ask stuff like where they will be driving from? Are they familiar with my area? Be chatty. Often I can glean their full name/location and google them or do a reverse phone lookup. Once you exchange phone numbers you can continue to get a feel for the person through conversation. I have garages so I can have the item outside and the garage door up and I always meet up in the daytime. Always have your sell phone in your pocket or hand and someone else there with you if possible. Even a neighbor if you have any doubts. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIt's for private sellers/buyers as well. As far as the popularity, I'm sure it's not as big as Craig's List, but since it doesn't cost anything to list, it couldn't hurt!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, absolutely. We have an old desk and a WASHER just sitting in our garage which we need to sell and we've been avoiding Craigslist for fear of home invaders. You're not alone!
ReplyDeleteI have the same fear - love to buy good things but also totally afraid to sell. However, I did take the leap last Winter and sold my car, of all things. I did it in the parking lot of work with my husband as there were security cameras and in daylight! I was more paranoid that I had a wad of cash that a total stranger knew I had!! So after returning to work, and the guy drove away with the car... We headed for the bank! It was definitely a test for me, and would like to say it went really well and I would do it again in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteSelling makes me a bit nervous too. We actually sold my husband's car on Craigslist and made double the money that we would have gotten as a trade-in at the dealership. But when I did it I had the guy meet me at the car dealership and I had my co-worker come with me. I worry about letting the people on Craig's List know where I live.
ReplyDeleteI probably won't sell anything on Craigslist for awhile. I'm still scarred from 2003 when a woman came by to look at a piece of furniture and walked around our house saying, "what about this? what will you sell it for?" for almost everything. It was quite uncomfortable getting her out of our house.
ReplyDeleteI'm cool with selling stuff on Craigslist. The serial killers don't worry me. It's the people that email you 15 times about minute details of the item that drive me batty. When we do sell something, I lug it out into the garage so the people can't see what we have on the inside of our house. I also manage to throw in that we're members of the NRA during the initial email exchange. Just kidding. Kinda.
ReplyDeleteWe've sold a bunch of stuff and if we are ever unsure of a person based on talking to them on the phone, we set up a neutral location (like the Walgreen's parking lot) and we both go so that we don't have to tell them where we live (some buyer's actually have suggested this as an options to us and we thought it was a great idea)
ReplyDeleteMeeting in a parking lot would be great but its not practical since I cant really carry the furniture around to show it.
ReplyDeleteWe sold a car via Craigslist as well and it was super easy and great. But thats because I didnt have to have anyone in my house. Id feel totally differently if it was something I could sell on the street.
ReplyDeleteIf I were still living in Brooklyn I would come by and sell for you :)
ReplyDeleteBut alas, I am back in sunny FL. I sold a ton of stuff in NYC during my seven year stint there and never ever had a problem. I was one of those crazy sneaker collectors and sold shoes to people from the internet on the corner of any random street I would be near at that time of the day, sometimes for over $1000. You will be fine! Plus you can use the $$ to go toward that fancy schmancy table you bought :)
I have had all good Craigslist experiences, both buying and selling. I have a C-list only email address to keep track of things. If someone emails me and it looks suspicious (fake name) I don't answer it. I try to show things when my DH is home but if that doesn't work I call him and give him the person's info so he knows who is coming over.
ReplyDeleteI suggest you try it with one item and see if you feel comfortable replying to people, whether it be by email or phone. If you don't feel comfortable, don't reply to any emails. Most people are like you and me, just looking for a certain item at a fair price.
I rent my home via cl (while out of state for grad school).. so far so good. It seems that I have fewer turnovers than the one down the street managed by professionals! I think you have to trust your gut when interacting with people and remember that even crazy people have good days! You're not living with them, just meeting up for an exchange of goods. Ummm, safety tips: make sure the contact info for the person you're meeting is available in a shared location (like a shared google calendar), check in before/after the meeting with a safety buddy, don't leave personal id around (e.g. credit card slips, old tax forms), and ideally do the exchange in the garage - if you do let 'em in the home, don't get into a situation where your exits are blocked. Keep your phone handy, and be suspicious of someone who is really excited without specifics (ideally yr customer will be gushing about why the item is fab or how fab it will be in their life/home). good luck!
ReplyDeleteFind a friend with a very scary mean-looking dog - a Rottweiler or German Shepherd. Ask your friend to bring their dog by your house when the furniture is being picked up. be sure your friend has the dog on a leash & is showing control.
ReplyDeleteEven a crazy person will think pretty hard about coming back to a house with a big dog.
We live on a lake & we have people drive down our driveway all the time trying to find public access to the water. (Even with clearly marked signs) I was working in my yard one morning & a pick-up full of rough looking men pulled up. My black mutt of a 'baby' dog, barked, growled & raised the fur on her neck looking so mean. The driver looked at the dog, looked at me & asked if the dog would bite. I said, as long as I'm standing here she won't. He didn't get out, just got his directions & left.
She could be very unwelcoming to guests & I think she would bite if she through we were threatened.
I would suggest that if you can get one of those counterfeit pens to check the cash you get. My friend sold a laptop on the money looked good but then she tried to use it st the grocery store and was told it wasn't real money so she was out $200 and a laptop.
ReplyDeleteTake the plunge!! You will be SO glad you did. I've sold tons of stuff on CL- an air conditioner, vacuum cleaner, dog airplane crates, A CAR!! And let me tell you, I got $3000 more for that used car by selling it myself than on the trade it. You can do it!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally afraid too -- have a basement FULL of stuff I need to sell and keep hoping a 'sell your stuff on craiglist' store might pop up near us like those ebay stores a while back :)
ReplyDeleteI was scared but we had some big rocks to get rid of so we did a free pick up thing and i only gave my address to one person after he emailed and left his number, i made sure my husband was home too. Anyways he ended up paying us. If the person seems iffy dont go with them. How much are you selling the sofa table for?
ReplyDeleteI'm in Stamford CT & am freaked out about selling my Saks 5th ave Steamer Trunk bc all the weirdness out there. I heard you should only communicate via cell bc scammers can get into your email & wreak havoc. So annoying.
ReplyDeleteI was never really afraid of Craigslist until a friend of mine was shot last year in a Craigslist deal gone awry.
ReplyDeleteNot to scare you more!
I figure as long as you aren't home by yourself its probably fine. (And honestly, buying scares me more than selling...)
Wow, I am so bummed that soooo many people are afraid of selling this way. To me, it's like living in intense fear of the people that literally surround you (I live in Brooklyn, too). I have sold many, many things online over the years, and have never had a scary or even very weird experience.
ReplyDeleteThere really are very few bona fide weirdos out there. And, they (and the scammers) stand out and make themselves pretty apparent, so they are easy to avoid.
If you still just don't want to deal with it, though, contact one of the antique stores on Atlantic in Boerum Hill, or on Court in Cobble Hill. I bet they would buy these pieces as a lot. You'll get less than if you sold privately, but you avoid the weirdo-risk and get it all done in one fell swoop. Good luck.
Oh, one other option, you could donate the furniture to HousingWorks. They pick up furniture, you take a tax deduction for the "full market value" and everyone wins. :)
ReplyDeleteI've had a lot of luck selling on Craigslist and have had a few of those people email to see if I have any other finds lately. It probably won't work for you in the city but I always drag out what I'm selling onto my driveway so no one ever comes in my house. I also set up the mtg when my husband is home or a friend can drop by. But, I figure that if some killer really wanted to get at me, he/she could easily follow me home from driving around doing errands or just look up my address. I know that's totally morbid but it's true...so I don't worry that much.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I wish I were closer, I'd come pick up your CL listings and I'm not a furniture seeking psycho, just furniture seeking! Good luck Mrs. L!
I had a lot of luck selling things on Craigslist after I bought my current house and wanted to sell some of my old furniture. I was nervous too, at first, but here are some of the things I did that helped:
ReplyDelete(1) posted a serious, detailed ad with lots of pics. That seemed to help to (mostly) limit the respondees to those who were really interested. I also referred to "we" and occasionally "my husband and I" in the ad and in interactions with prospective buyers, even though I am single and live alone.
(2) set up a new, separate gmail account that did not contain my full name. I did not give prospective buyers my phone number or address until we'd exchanged several emails.
(3) ran google searches on prospective buyers, basically to try and confirm they were who they said they were.
(4) scheduled meetings to see/pickup the furniture on weekends during the day, whenever possible. Every time I answered the door I had the panic button for my alarm system in my hand, just in case.
(5) only accepted cash, and was very clear about that in the ad - cash and carry only.
(5) trusted my intuition. I found that I could tell pretty easily from the tenor of the emails who was actually interested in the piece I was selling, and who was perhaps interested in something else, scamming me, etc.
For the pieces I sold (dining room set, rugs, entertainment center, sideboard and a few smaller items), almost all of the buyers turned out to be young (twentysomething) couples or families. The items were all Restoration Hardware or similar and in great condition, and I priced them reasonably - I was really surprised and pleased at how quickly most of them sold and how much money I got (in some cases, 70-80% of the original purchase price for items I'd had 5-7 years). The only problems I had were the annoyances of people not showing up when promised or who hadn't bothered to look at the detailed dimensions in the ad and then were surprised that the item was too big/too small for their space.
Weird thing is I have only sold things on Craigslist never bought anything on it. The people who came were all very nice and not scary at all.
ReplyDeleteSo in regards to The Crazies- definitely safety was/is a huge factor. Just like when buying and selling on eBay, I found I could easily identify the "off" CL buyers and just didn't respond to them. Only once did I have someone to my home (for the air conditioner) so I did two things: had a few friends over and (if able) I didn't have the buyer in my house but transacted the deal on the front porch (two of my male friends actually). My advise would be, write up solid ads revealing zero personal information, heavily filter any inquiries, if you can get the furniture out of the house great if not, have a few extra folks over when the buyers stop by to transact (out numbered, extra hands, extra phones, etc.). I would even go as far as not revealing to the buyer who actually lives in the house but that's me (cop's kid). Be smart, follow your instincts, plan ahead. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteWe call craigslist our "4th job" I LOVE to change up what we have and once even sold everything out of our living room in one morning before my hubs even knew I was thinking about it! Everything we've sold are only items that we've been using and dont need anymore, but we've sold tons of large furniture pieces, a deep freezer, mini fridge...down to ceiling fans and bathroom medicine cabinets. All of our old kitchen appliances when we upgraded...everything. We even gave away a piano free on craigslist and met the nicest people in the world who were exactly the type of person I wanted to have my piano.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to put my number out there. I like to get everything out of the way in one quick phone call rather than several emails that could span hours or days. In one phone call I know if I like them, when they can pick it up and then if I decide the deal should go on, I can give them my address & Directions. boom. It's a done deal.
Sometimes we do meet people at places away from our house, and that works out really well.
On medium sized items, we position the item near the from of the house or on the door step so the person doesn't get to walk all through our house (and "case" the joint if you want to be really morbid)
I too have a fear of Craigslist. I have a huge china cabinet that I have no room for. The best option would be to sell it but I haven't talked myself into listing it yet. After reading everyone's comments, my fear looks to be a little irrational. I need to just find the courage to list it so I can get my money. :)
ReplyDeleteTotally afraid of Craigslist, but I watch it obsessively for furniture and raw materials!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to add that I agree with the posts about making your ad very detailed with measurments, good pictures, etc. It weeds out a lot of people asking questions about the item. I've never had a fear of selling on CL and I sell EVERYTHING on there. Seriously - furniture, decorations, even half a package of diapers that my son grew out of before the box was empty - sold on CL! The one thing I like to do is be on the phone with a friend or family member during the transaction. It might seem a little rude, but I'll be on the phone when the person comes to the house and then tell them where the buyer can hear "I have a woman/man here to look at the table I was selling, hold on a second while I help them." It makes me feel safer to let someone know where I am and what is happening while it is going on. I hope you find a senario that works for you!
ReplyDeletei'm with you on this ... i dont think it's irrational to be afraid to let complete strangers into your home!! i wouldnt do it either .... no way
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Manhattan, I sold a lot on Craigslist. For anything small (even small pieces of furniture), when the person came to see/buy the item, I didn't even let them in the building. Just said I'd be right down, and brought the item(s) outside to meet them. Always in broad daylight. A thought if you decide you want to sell smaller stuff. (And obviously if they sound at all weird over the intercom, just say you're sorry but there was a mixup and it's already been sold. Don't even go out. Although I never had to do that.) Oh and agree on a price beforehand, and make sure the person is coming to "buy" the item. If they say they want to come "look" at the item, find someone else. You want people who aren't going to waste your time.
ReplyDeleteFor the bigger stuff, I'd have every door to all the other rooms closed, and wherever the person had to walk to go to see the piece of furniture, I'd make sure there was nothing small that they could steal (call me paranoid). Honestly, I think almost every person that bought from me was a college or grad student happy to save some money. I also tried to make every exchange as quick as possible. Although once I had a college student pay me in gold dollars, which was equally hilarious and annoying as he tried to find each one in his backpack.
Good luck! I actually met some pretty cool people buying & selling on Craigslist. You just have to be cautious :)
my husband is afraid of selling on craigslist! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI like to check out Craigslist for cool furnishings but i am not happy that there are so many dealers there now :( boo!
I've never sold anything through craigslist before and I too have the same fear! You never know who comes up to your front door!
ReplyDeleteI have had great buying expieriences on Craigslist, most recently a beautiful dining room set with a hutch and sideboard for 250.00. When we saw it I loved it even more. I was fully prepared for them to tell us it should have been 500.00 (and I would have paid it!) I also wanted to take the family home, they were so kind. Have you ever thought of posting the stuff on your blog, I am sure you could sell it with some local readers.
ReplyDeleteI see the hesitation, but you can generally tell over email how a person is going to be. I mean obviously it is not fool proof for picking out a psycho, but I don't think the the furniture-by owner section with some cute looking pieces draws too many creepers. There are plenty of other sections where that goes on.
ReplyDeleteI bought and sold many things (in a city) and have always had great experiences. Plus, I think of the selling as paying it forward. If kind people did not take the chance on me, I would not have some of the awesome things I have today.
Congrats on buying the dining table! I know you were literally dreaming about it, and the purchase will ease your mind!
ReplyDeleteHow much are you selling the desk for? I live in BK as well.
It's not irrational or crazy. My sister is a DNA analyst/CSI and she is completely anti Craigslist. Just sees too many scary things. HOWEVER, there are safer ways to do it. I never ever go in someone's house when I'm buying. Bring the furniture in your garage or on your porch and only let someone come over when you are not alone. I bought a dollhouse on Craigslist near my sisters and the person dropped it off for me at her apartment complex office, and I left a check there for them. Totally safe. Or you could arrange drop off/pick up at a place of business or public park. Furniture does get tricky, but if you have a van or whatever that could be in a public place too. If all else fails have your cell phone with you with the digits 911 typed in and your finger on the send button :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Angela.
ReplyDeleteObviously I dont have a porch or garage so while that suggestion is a good one, it doesn't really work for me.
I have this same irrational fear, plus a garage full of 'someday-I-will-sell-this' crap. :(
ReplyDeleteI've sold several 100 items on CL, also bought quite a few things. I stopped using email, becuz I didn't have time for the spammers and those asking questions (info already in the listing) and not serious. I finally just put my phone # and transactions went much faster and easier. I have met people in public places and I have had them to my home and never had one weird situation. In a recent move across town to a smaller place, I sold about $3500 worth of some larger items as well as tons of little stuff (about $900 was more expensive items, most were $20 or less!). I ended up setting up a "blog sale" so they could see what else I had for sale and it was amazing what people would call about. I love your desk and sofa table and would probably buy them if I wasn't on the other side of the country! I guess it depends on how much you need/want the money, but I say try it. They are nice pieces and the $$ can help pay for your new table or something else on your wishlist! Take some of the tips from other comments if that helps, but it is really a great resource. Not much different from putting an ad in the newspaper, but free and faster!
ReplyDelete