Craigslist 101: How to buy and sell safely (2024)

Anna Marie Ronning of Minneapolis couldn't even give away an entertainment center on Craigslist. A little creative marketing was needed. As she and her kids were baking peanut butter cookies, they decided to change the subject line to "Free: Plate of melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter cookies with furniture."

Not only did someone arrive quickly to pick up the cookies and entertainment center, but her ad was chosen as the "best of Craigslist." More than a few responders said they didn't need the furniture but asked for her cookie recipe.

Most Craigslist transactions like Ronning's take place without incident. She also has bought more than 75 items through the popular classified-ad website with no problems.

But Craigslist (minneapolis.craigslist .org) also has become synonymous with scams and tragedy, based on news reports of crimes committed using the site's free classified ads. It's enough to scare novices away from using the world's seventh most popular English-language website, which attracts 50 million visitors monthly.

So, for those who have yet to dive in, I asked readers to share their tips and experiences as buyers and sellers on Craigslist. Many wrote that once you ignore the fake, generic responses from people who ask, "Is your item still available?" and the scammers who want to pay you with a money order or wire transfer, the buying and selling experience can be relatively painless.

Safety tips

• Bring another person along when buying or selling to minimize the chance of robbery.

• Meet the buyer at his or her bank for large purchases such as a car. The buyer withdraws the cash and hands it to the seller -- or the seller can get a bank check instead -- and the buyer takes the car.

• Meet in a public place for smaller items. Bring a cell phone, and tell a family member where you're going.

• Stick with local buyers and sellers. Anyone who is "out of the country" or "out of the state" is a red flag.

• Avoid anyone who asks for a wire transfer.

• Provide a cell phone number or other number that can't be searched online for a home address.

• Don't give your home address to a buyer until you've had a chance to talk by phone and the buyer provides a number.

• Don't include personal information in your ad, such as a home address, e-mail address (use Craigslist's anonymous e-mail address instead) or landline phone.

Buyer tips

• Deal only with sellers who accept cash. Wiring funds via Western Union, Money Gram, PayPal or other services for a transaction is not a good idea.

• Ask if items, especially furniture, come from a smoke-free or animal-free house to avoid odors.

• Negotiate in front of the seller when you're standing there with the cash.

• Be cautious when buying tickets sold by people who won them from local radio stations. In some such cases, tickets are not issued and must be claimed on the day of the event at the venue by showing an ID, which won't match up when resold. It's always best to buy physical tickets only.

• Bring exact change.

Seller tips

• Know spam when you see it. If a potential buyer sends an e-mail asking, "Is your item still available?" instead of mentioning anything specific about it, it's probably spam.

• Write a specific title. "Must sell" or "Want to sell" are useless. Try "Brown leather sofa in pristine condition for $500" instead.

• Include photos, size, dimensions, color and other pertinent details, even the original purchase price.

• Try a small price instead of "free." One seller had more luck selling an old sofa for $20 than when it was posted as "free."

• Tell buyers that the first person to show up with cash gets it. No holds. Many sellers report frustration with buyers who don't show when they say they will.

• Tell buyers that the price is non-negotiable for the first day or two (unless you are willing to negotiate).

• Accept cash only. Have directions to the nearest cash machine handy if the buyer shows up with a check.

• Remove sold items from Craigslist immediately to avoid more calls and e-mails.

• Know that most buyers are looking for garage sale pricing. It's easy to go back into your ad and lower the price.

• If giving stuff away, put "curb alert" in the title before the name of the item. One seller said that nine times of out 10, her items are gone within an hour when she puts freebies outside.

Tips are from Anna Marie Ronning, John Quast, Matt Jung, Ronald King, Pat Watson, Chris Trinh, Laura Bahr, Patrice Lott, Robb Hignite, Steven Rothberg, Alicia Vap, Scott Gurrola, Joe Gangelhoff, Dylan Corbett, Julie Warner and Gregg Quam.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/blogs/dealspotter.

Craigslist 101: How to buy and sell safely (2024)

FAQs

How to purchase from Craigslist safely? ›

If you're offered purchase protection at a price, you're looking at a scam.
  1. Deal locally. ...
  2. Examine the product before finalizing a sale. ...
  3. Don't accept or send a cashier's check, certified check or money order as payment. ...
  4. Use cash — safely. ...
  5. Don't share your personal information.

What is the safest way to pay for Craigslist? ›

In almost all cases, you are best off accepting cash for a Craigslist sale.

How do you sell effectively on Craigslist? ›

6 Pro Tips for Selling Items on Craigslist
  1. Create a new email address specifically for selling on Craigslist. ...
  2. Group items with a unique “keyword.” ...
  3. Keep buyer inquiry emails organized. ...
  4. Save your backup buyers' email addresses. ...
  5. Check out potential buyers before agreeing to meet. ...
  6. Delete and repost items after 48 hours.
Feb 19, 2024

What sells the fastest on Craigslist? ›

12 Items That Currently Sell the Most Money On Craigslist
  • Home Appliances. Gently used or well-maintained appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers are always in demand. ...
  • Furniture. ...
  • Electronics. ...
  • Cars and Motorcycles. ...
  • Power Tools. ...
  • Sporting Goods. ...
  • Garden Equipment. ...
  • Tech Accessories.
Jan 24, 2024

What should I be careful of on Craigslist? ›

In this guide, we'll cover some of the most common scams on Craigslist sites and tips for keeping your money and identity safer.
  • Craigslist rental scams. ...
  • Craigslist verification code scams. ...
  • Ticket scams. ...
  • Pet scams. ...
  • Cashier check scams. ...
  • Overpayment scams. ...
  • Craigslist guarantee scams. ...
  • Car sales scams.
Jan 22, 2024

What is the best payment method to not get scammed? ›

By and large, credit cards are easily the most secure and safe payment method to use when you shop online. Credit cards use online security features like encryption and fraud monitoring to keep your accounts and personal information safe.

How to sell on Craigslist without getting scammed? ›

How Can I Avoid Getting Screwed When Selling on Craigslist?
  1. When You Can't Meet in Public, Take the Necessary Precautions. ...
  2. Get a Google Voice Number. ...
  3. Detect and Delete Scam Emails. ...
  4. Only Accept Cash. ...
  5. Price Your Item High. ...
  6. Don't Write a Long Ad.
Jun 5, 2012

How to spot a Craigslist scammer? ›

Scammers often use fake sites to lure buyers into paying for items that don't exist. Always check the URL before finalizing a purchase. Craigslist does not back any transaction on its site. If you receive an email or text trying to sell you purchase protection, you're looking at a scam.

How do I verify a buyer on Craigslist? ›

  1. Talk to the person on the phone, if possible, about the deal. If you have to email them first to make the initial contact, ask them for their phone number so you can talk more about the item. ...
  2. Meet the person you're doing business with in a public place, such as a coffee shop. ...
  3. Complete your transaction in cash.

How do I protect myself when selling on Craigslist? ›

Don't share personal details. Never disclose your personal or financial information to strangers online. There is no need for your Craigslist contact to know your bank account number, home address, or date of birth. You might share your cell phone number with someone you are meeting in person, but not more.

How do you price something to sell on Craigslist? ›

People on Craigslist are not afraid to make low-ball offers. You want to price your stuff 10-30% above the price you won't go below. This way, when a buyer makes a low-ball offer, you have room to negotiate. You can say “final price” or “firm” but c'mon, it's Craigslist.

What percentage does Craigslist take? ›

There are no fees for selling on Craigslist. The UX (user experience) is great, uploading and publishing an item takes less than 15 minutes. You can decide if you'd like to accept cryptocurrency, if there's delivery available, and if you want to show more Ads by you as a link.

What is the most bought used item? ›

One possibility to be more sustainable when it comes to consumption, is to buy products pre-owned. U.S. consumers most commonly buy Clothing second-hand followed by Shoes, while they are least likely to buy Stationery & hobby supplies second-hand.

How to safely buy on Craigslist? ›

For more Craigslist online safety tips, visit the service's Avoiding Scams page.
  1. Never Use Your Real Email Address.
  2. Shop Locally When Possible.
  3. Meet in a Public Place and Don't Go Alone.
  4. Never Give Out Personal or Financial Information.
  5. Avoid Using Money-Wiring Services.
  6. Never Buy Something Without Seeing It in Person First.
Apr 24, 2022

What site is better than Craigslist? ›

The best alternative to Craigslist, in our opinion, is Offer Up. The app offers a robust array of listings, is easy to use, includes a verified account feature, and includes buyer ratings. Other worthy alternatives to Craigslist include Facebook Marketplace, Locanto, Mercari, and Recycler.

How to identify a Craigslist scammer buyer? ›

Similarly, buyers who ask for personal or financial information or offer to pay more than the asking price for an item are often scams. If something seems suspicious, it's best to walk away and look for a different opportunity.

Why do Craigslist buyers ask for a phone number? ›

Scammers are now responding to ads but tricking sellers into thinking they are busy at work and can't talk until later. Instead of leaving you with a contact number, they request you enter your phone number into a website that “stores information” for them. Don't fall for it!

What is the safest way to buy something from someone online? ›

Use safer payment methods

Buy from a seller or site that accepts safer payment methods like credit cards, which have legal protections if something goes wrong with the transaction or delivery, or a secure online payment system that protects buyers in case there is a problem.

Is Venmo safe for Craigslist? ›

Venmo is safe for sellers looking to do legitimate business, as the buyer can't just cancel a payment once it's sent.

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