What's the most efficient way to show something you've posted on Craig's List?
Asked by
figbash (
7483
)
May 29th, 2009
I’m selling a few things on Craig’s List right now, and I’m finding that flaky people are wasting my time. We’ll speak, they’ll tell me they’re coming by, I give them an address and time, and then they never call or show. I know you sorta buy the ticket, you take the ride with CL, but this keeps happening over and over and I don’t have the time for it. How should I change my approach, going forward? Only show it between specific hours on specific dates? What’s the best way you’ve done it so that it doesn’t wind up being a big time suck?
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4 Answers
Welcome to the world of sales. It sucks.
You need to realize that these flakes are your customers… so they’re gonna vacillate on ya. If you can, try to re-confirm the appointment with them < 24 hours in advance.
Else you might consider a different sales channel where you need not have direct interaction until after they’ve purchased. How about eBay?
It happens. It really is part and parcel of dealing wth Craigslist.
It works both ways- there are lots of sellers who never bother re-contacting people who contact them, too.
Thanks! I definitely get that this is how Craig’s List can be – I guess I’m just looking for suggestions on the most efficient way, organizationally, to organize the time – so if people flake, it’s minimal impact.
That’s why I was thinking of posting specific times so that I’m mitigating downtime, or not changing plans and rushing home for someone who never shows.
@robmandu: I sell smaller items, accessories, etc. on Ebay which works, but for the much larger items (furniture) or when I need fast cash, I need to keep it local.
I’d try for only showing it between specific hours on specific dates.
I’m actually pleased about the flakiness of people on CL—I’ve gotten a couple good deals when I wasn’t the first person to contact the seller because the people who contacted the seller first never bothered to show up.
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