The Thrill of the Hunt: Buying on Craigslist
Ever since I was little, I have always enjoyed going to second hand shops and junk-tique malls to sift through the piles of old trinkets and weird baby dolls to find the hidden gems. Now, as the world has gotten smaller and I have gotten lazier, my obsession with finding a good deal has spread to the internet's version of a thrift store: Craigslist.
Yes Craigslist began as a site for people to post creepy personal ads, but now it has a become a mecca for buying furniture and other items. I have been buying pieces on Craigslist for the past few years and am astounded by the items I discover on a daily basis. The process can be a bit challenging, but if you follow these guidelines you can find any needle hidden in the digital haystack.
1. SEARCH TERMS
One of the most important things in your search is the words that you choose to find pieces. When searching I phrase the terms in tens of different ways to find all relevant posts. For example, if you are searching for a pair of dining room chairs the search terms could be "pair of dining chairs" or "2 dining chairs." Going further you can search using "set of chairs" or similar search terms like "side chairs" or "accent chairs." More often than not, Craigslist posters don't know exactly what kind of item they have and tag pieces with the wrong categorical name. Be creative with your phrasing and you will find what you're looking for.
2. KNOW YOUR SELLER
Most people who sell on craigslist have a simple reason for getting rid of the item they have listed. They might not have room in their new apartment or they need something bigger to fill their space or maybe they are broke and need to pay their electric bill. In any case, knowing how to differentiate the inexperienced seller from a professional seller is an important skill for this process. Looking to see if the seller has other items listed will tell you if they sell items on Craigslist as a business. If they do, this person will be respectable but more difficult to bargain with. Another indicator of a professional Craigslister is the quality of the photos of the item. If they have a photoshop level white background, you're dealing with a professional. If you're trying to get a deal (which you obviously are) avoid dealing with people who have created a mock antique store via the website. They are usually stubborn and think their items should qualify for Antiques Roadshow. Stick to the inexperienced posters: that is where your bargain lies.
3. KNOWING WHAT TO OFFER
Once you find the perfect piece it is time to make an offer. My rule of thumb is to look at the original posting date. If the post is over 4 days old then you are free to offer anywhere under the asking price. If the post is over a week old, feel free to offer a more aggressive bid. This tactic allowed me to purchase great items for far under their value due to a desperate seller. This has also brought me some backlash from sellers who become personally offended when you low ball them for their beat up old furniture. The point is, be aggressive with your offers. This is Craigslist not Sotheby's; people are willing to haggle and you can talk them down if you are respectful yet firm.
4. THE BACK AND FORTH
My buying processes on Craigslist ranged from as short as a few hours to as long as a few weeks. As stated earlier, beginning with an aggressive bid can work to your advantage. But, if the seller is not as receptive to an offer under the asking price, the next step is to wait. On multiple occasions I have given an excessively low offer and been rejected by the seller, only to have them come back and accept my offer weeks later. Remember: they want to sell the piece rather than not sell it at all. If you have to haggle, pick a price ceiling for yourself and don't go above it. If you stay firm on your end, convincing the seller to meet your limit will be a matter of persistence and patience.
5. CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE
Although you might be ridiculously excited about the deal you have struck, remember to reserve the right to not buy the item(s) until after viewing them in person. Photos can be deceiving and blindly buying a piece without inspecting it in person can leave you with a fake or illegitimate piece. When you go to meet up with the seller remember to NEVER go alone and pay your total in cash. Do not agree to pay with a money order or PayPal unless you want to end up $200 poorer and sans vintage Saarinen table. When its all said and done, you will have an item that you've been longing for and you won't have broken the bank.
P.S. here is one my recent craigslist responses. I try to find the humor in these situations...
And then he sold them to me 3 days later
Happy hunting y'all!
Cheers,
Hugh