I've Had Good Luck...
...Both buying and selling. For buying, I don't take the seller's word for much of anything; I go and check out the merchandise myself, and buy only if the deal seems good in person. My knowledge of what I'm trying to buy, the condition it appears to be in when I look at it, and my gut feeling about the seller all come into play.
So far as selling, I've had excellent luck, but I've developed a few rules that have served me well. Here goes:
- I post a photo. Always. It helps people visualise what they're reading about, and seems to generate more calls.
- I post a phone number. Again, always. Using the Craigslist email loop means that even if you get the email and respond to it quickly, the person might have turned off their computer in the meantime, not to return to it for another day or two. If people can call, it reinforces the instant gratification loop that most people seem to want nowadays.
- I always include this wording: "Cash only. Sorry, I cannot ship, deliver or hold this item. The first person to come look at it and put folding money in my hand is the one who gets it." This cuts down on email scammers who tell you that they're having UPS deliver a cheque and that they want the item shipped. I always answer those emails with, "I appreciate your response. However, I am selling the item for cash only, not a check. If you would like to call me and make arrangements for that, I will be glad to talk with you." I have never heard back from a scammer after that.
- Never be rude, via email, phone or in person. While Craigslist does not have a feedback system, they do allow users to flag postings. Someone who's mad at you can screw up your postings for a long time, by flagging them.
- When possible, I try to point out the reason for my price, and the advantages buying from me will bring to the buyer. For instance: "I'm asking only two-thirds of what these go for in online auctions, and there's NO shipping charge!" People can then go to eBay, check out my statement for themselves, and hopefully justify their purchase better.
I have sold three window air conditioners, a Vita-Mix blender, and a sewing machine this week alone.