Caution on Craigslist Part #2

I've lately been seeing the need to buy and sell on Craigslist. Why? It can result in a fast sale whether you're buying or selling merchandise. If you have a particular service you can offer or are in need of, you can also find immediate results.

There are additional dos and don'ts when conducting business on Craigslist:

1. If you are selling a product, list specific details about the item you're selling. For instance, if you are selling a computer, list the specifications about the computer: Make, model, operating system, components, etc. This will prevent un-necessary email and phone calls from people who may ask the same question.
2. It's also good to include in the ad if you are willing to negotiate on the price. Generally, people who are looking to purchase something on Craigslist, do NOT have a lot of $ to spend. Be reasonable and open to lowering your asking price. If you decide to keep the price, you may wind up losing a potential buyer who may wind up finding a cheaper and better deal than yours.
3. If you are looking for a quick sale, you may want to include a direct contact number. Doing this will prevent numerous email messages from appearing in your inbox. People who are serious about a purchase will want to contact you to speak to you directly instead of trading email messages.
4. Whether you are buying or selling, never put in your home address in your Craigslist ad. This will prevent an unexpected visit from someone to your home. Doing this is very dangerous!
5. Whether you are buying or selling, the final agreement and exchange should be made in a public setting; local store (7-Eleven, Barnes & Noble, etc) or mall area where other people are always around. It it also a good idea to have someone with you when you meet a potential buyer/seller. This is ideal in cases where the product is too large for a simple exchange, such as furniture.
6. If you are a buyer/seller and you've expressed interest in a product, specific arrangements have been made on pricing and location, it is only fair to keep your word and show up. If you have questions, second thoughts or you've decided not to keep the keep the appointment let the seller know beforehand instead not showing up or communicating with them. Would you like it if the someone did the same thing to you?
7. If you are offering or requesting a service, be HONEST in your ad. It is not good to mislead individuals into thinking they may have a chance at a legitimate job position or another opportunity, such as a auto loan. Steering individuals this way can also lead to serious and legal consequences.

Be specific, be clear, be reasonable, be fair,


These are just some dos and don'ts. There may be of others you can think of. Regardless of how we do business on Craigslist and who we do business with, there's always a need for caution when we choose to do so.