On Craigslist etiquette
April 15, 2010emily 1 Comment »So I’m trying to sell a drafting table and chair on Craigslist (gently used! like new! erm… cheap!) and so far it’s been an interesting experience. I didn’t post my phone number, only my email address, because I didn’t want to leave the door open for crazy phone calls. As it is, I’ve opened myself up to a whole host of other Craigslist problems, which is to say: spam. Some of it is rather easy to distinguish as spam; those people who offer naked photos of celebrities, for example, are probably not legitimately interested. At least, not legitimately interested in buying a drafting table and chair. Other spam is less obvious to identify; they write to tell me that they really like my posting of a drafting table and chair, as if to congratulate me on my taste in furniture. Yet they go no further. Then there’s the one potentially real nibble I’ve gotten: “Was wondering if this is still available?” Yes, I responded, it is. “Would be willing to take $45?” At this point, I confess, I’ve not responded yet. I’m fuzzy on Craigslist etiquette. Assuming this person is legitimate, are they trying to engage in some kind of slow-motion (as it’s via email) haggling? Am I supposed to come back and say that I won’t take a penny less than $47.50? Or if I do come back and say that $45 is fine, dear God, just take it, are they then going to counter with $40? Because I pretty much don’t have the patience for that. Certainly, though, if they start talking about me helping them move money around from the Central Bank of Nigeria, I’m all ears. (No, of course not.)
Posted on April 15th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
I admit that I am afraid of Craigslist. I have some things I want to get rid of and people tell me to just use Craigslist but I’m afaid of the crazies – I don’t want the spam email and I definitely don’t want weirdos showing up at my apartment. Luckily a real life person I know mentioned on facebook she needs a new couch so she is coming to take mine away. We both skip the minefield of craigslist – win win!