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Anyone have experience bartering on Craigslist?

AustinInDallas

AustinInDallas

Golden Member
What are some high volume items that would be easy to get/sell fast and make a little money on?

I have two laptops I have just lying around.

new hp envy with a10,
older dell studio 15 with c2d and video card.

I figure since school is starting up, people are gonna want computers
 
Hmm... maybe you'll have better luck in DFW.

I've had terrible luck with Craigslist lately - not even getting replies for my items, and they are priced about 30-50% of new value in excellent condition...
 
I've never enacted a successful barter on Craigslist. But I qualify that by saying I've only attempted to trade really cheap stuff, and that's not popular. I believe most people use the Barter section for man toys. So you can expect laptops, guitars, guns, motorcycles, and stuff like that. I usually just sell for cash rather than waiting for a really specific item.
 
2timer said:
I've never enacted a successful barter on Craigslist. But I qualify that by saying I've only attempted to trade really cheap stuff, and that's not popular. I believe most people use the Barter section for man toys. So you can expect laptops, guitars, guns, motorcycles, and stuff like that. I usually just sell for cash rather than waiting for a really specific item.
Click to expand...

Fixed it for you. You have to go to Armslist for that one.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/prohibited.items
 
Haven't tried it, but I suspect it's like this:

Regular Craigslist is a nasty girl you slept with and feel very guilty about it afterward and don't want your friends to find out. Also, you have to lie to the doctor about how you got Herpes.

Barter Craigslist is like the above except that girl is pregnant, and no she's not giving it up for adoption.

--

CL has just the most random shit, like "Selling my salt water aquarium. Will take $900 or consider trading for ATV.", going for that huge market of people who own ATVs but don't want them and yet do want an aquarium.
 
What is so frustrating about craigslist is that it is technically an unbelievable piece of shit. Any half ass developer could build a better site in no time whatsoever, but it has the fame behind it. I hate using it, it's one of the few products in life I use from time to time that I am positive I could make a better version of.
 
I've had great luck in selling, buying and trading on CL.
You have to know how to post, who to avoid based on their responses, and don't be desperate. Let your expectations be known upfront and stick to them.
It's a very basic website, and it's easy to use. It doesn't need to be more than it is.
 
Soundmanred said:
I've had great luck in selling, buying and trading on CL.
You have to know how to post, who to avoid based on their responses, and don't be desperate. Let your expectations be known upfront and stick to them.
It's a very basic website, and it's easy to use. It doesn't need to be more than it is.
Click to expand...
Until recently it didn't even have a proxy system to communicate with people! That is representative of how little CL cares about making its system better (and it was a real problem). It has never addressed spam, it also has no buyer/seller rating system, which it could have as a feature (yet not a mandatory one). I am not one of the type to meet CL people only at parking lots after getting my buddy with a rifle 50 yards away to spot the whole transaction, but some people are, and CL could attract these people with a rating system of person.
 
You'd almost have better luck going to the local college university centers and posting ads on the physical bulletin boards. People who are in the market for old laptops typically aren't on teh intranets yet!

But I was more successful with those kinds of ads than ones on CL because they stand out more. CL these days has so much junk on it that most people aren't willing to search or filter results to even see your ad.
 
Doppel said:
Until recently it didn't even have a proxy system to communicate with people! That is representative of how little CL cares about making its system better (and it was a real problem). It has never addressed spam, it also has no buyer/seller rating system, which it could have as a feature (yet not a mandatory one). I am not one of the type to meet CL people only at parking lots after getting my buddy with a rifle 50 yards away to spot the whole transaction, but some people are, and CL could attract these people with a rating system of person.
Click to expand...

i eagerly await your kickstarter campaign.
 
Doppel said:
Until recently it didn't even have a proxy system to communicate with people! That is representative of how little CL cares about making its system better (and it was a real problem). It has never addressed spam, it also has no buyer/seller rating system, which it could have as a feature (yet not a mandatory one). I am not one of the type to meet CL people only at parking lots after getting my buddy with a rifle 50 yards away to spot the whole transaction, but some people are, and CL could attract these people with a rating system of person.
Click to expand...

Spam is easily ignored, a lot of CL is people selling something one time (a rating system on CL isn't worth doing, basically). It doesn't need to be any more complicated. People would like it to be something greater, and if they did everything people suggested, guess what it would be? eBay. We already have eBay.
Rules: daylight, busy area with cameras, phone numbers and if it seems shady don't do it.
Using these simple rules, CL has been a great resource for buying, selling, and trading for me.
I don't go to the ghetto, I don't meet after dark behind buildings, and I hold the cash (cash only of course) if you want to hold the item.
It's not as complicated as people make it out to be, and so much better than eBay.
 
1. always offer less than half the asking price
2. if they dont accept call them names and redicule them for asking "so much for a peice of junk"
3. if they still have it a week later, tell them you want it
4. show up with less than half of the asking price in cash
5. relist item at double original asking price
 
Only do business with people that will exchange phone numbers, meet in person (at a public spot) and deal in cash only. It's also good to communicate with the person multiple times prior to the exchange so u can get a "feel" for that person
 
I've never used it. I have absolutely no interest in meeting anyone anywhere to sell them something or buy something from them. In most instances if I don't want something you can get it for free when I leave it by the road for the garbage man.
 
AustinInDallas said:
address?
Click to expand...

Sorry, the terms are that you have to happen to be driving by on your way somewhere else. Who knows, the next time you see some lightly used piece of outdated property sitting next to the road in a neighborhood somewhere in the south, that might just be my house.
 
SlitheryDee said:
Sorry, the terms are that you have to happen to be driving by on your way somewhere else. Who knows, the next time you see some lightly used piece of outdated property sitting next to the road in a neighborhood somewhere in the south, that might just be my house.
Click to expand...

unless its on the way to shreveport or NOLA, i doubt that will happen
 
You can tell the paranoid, anti-social types here...

I've saved some money and made some money off CL. Nothing to fear so long as you're not an idiot.
 
crownjules said:
You can tell the paranoid, anti-social types here...

I've saved some money and made some money off CL. Nothing to fear so long as you're not an idiot.
Click to expand...

me too. im not looking for tips on how to be safe, im not an idiot. Im looking for advice on what products to go after
 
AustinInDallas said:
me too. im not looking for tips on how to be safe, im not an idiot. Im looking for advice on what products to go after
Click to expand...

This.

CL is fine for what it is. Sure, there is garbage on there, there can be false ads, but they're generally easy to spot.

I've used CL to sell a car for $11k, and another car for about $4k. I've also used it to buy a weight rack and set of weights, and a bunch of other misc. things.

Basically speaking, you establish communications with a stranger, and use your judgement to determine whether meeting that person is necessary. Also, it's free, and people know about it.
 
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