Craigslist Classified Ads

There's another great alternative to paying retail price - free online classifieds! The most popular online classifieds website is Craigslist. The site has classifieds for all sorts of things such as sales, advertisements for garage sales, personals, and discussion forums. For the purpose of this post I'll be discussing the "for sale" classifieds.

Craigslist is very similar to newspaper classifieds, except the website is updated constantly. Individuals post advertisements for items they would like to sell and some people even make posts requesting items they need. It is important to pay attention to certain aspects of each post. Each heading typically contains three pieces of information: a basic description of the item, an asking price, and a location. Sometimes the poster will deliberately provide false information, such as a price of only $1 for something clearly more valuable than a dollar in an effort to get a wider range of viewers. Keep this in mind when viewing search results. Users can also limit search results by these aspects. Guidelines for search keywords on Craigslist is the same as those for using eBay.

There are some social rules or etiquette that people often follow with regard to transactions through craigslist. Posters provide some sort of contact information in their ad, and when contacting a poster a "requester" should also provide contact information. Both parties should resolve all questions and concerns before either party makes the trip to pick up the item. Try to barter over the purchase price before going to pick up or deliver the item. It's rude to back out of a transaction at the last moment. Additionally, the purchaser usually makes the trip to the seller, unless the distance is great (then both parties will generally meet in the middle). Sellers usually prefer to deal in cash, because it is the safest way to make sure they get paid.

Typically Craigslist is a better option for selling or purchasing large items such as furniture or large lots of items. Sometimes it's worthwhile to find smaller items on Craigslist if you need something in a short period of time, or you happen to come across something nearby. Because of the smaller audience (local city only generally), items also typically sell for less than they would on eBay or other retail websites. Just think of Craigslist as an ever changing, updating garage sale! Really that's all it is! Except, instead of wandering neighborhood streets hoping to randomly come across the perfect item, you have the convenience and the freedom to shop around and compare from your home or office.

It is very important that you consider the context of Craigslist and keep safety in mind. If you are not comfortable visiting the seller's home, then request that they meet you in a well populated, public location. This is not an unreasonable request. Also, as a seller, if you are uncomfortable with a person based on communication, it is not unreasonable to refuse to sell your item to that person. Remember, with private transactions there's no protection against fraud, so protect yourself and your things!

I hope that's helpful for those of you wishing you could save a little money here and there without having to wait on shipping. I've found some truly great deals on Craigslist that I wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise.

Edit 11/1/07: I came across a very important article that points out the critical issue of safety in dealing with online classified ads. A young woman used Craigslist to locate a nanny position. When she went to interview with the family, she didn't return. She was later found dead in the trunk of her car. Even though online classifieds are a great way to get a great deal, please keep your safety in mind!