When selling an item
 

Do you hold things for people, or is it first come sold ?
I just checked my market place ratings,. I got one 5 star, and one 1 star.
The 1 star said he was planning on coming at 4 , and I sold it to someone sooner.
I am sure I messaged and let him know, so he did not waste his time .
So.. my policy is :
If I am selling a big ticket item, I may make special arrangements and hold the item, but if I am selling a lawnmower, or dining room table, I more or less sell it to the first person who shows up with money in hand . I will let as many people come see it till it is sold .
I answer all the messages and make myself available, and if someone is planning on coming, and I happen to sell it before they come , I message them to let them know .
I cant tell you how many times I have made arrangements and waited only to have the person become a ghost.
Sometimes, like what I am selling today , I am just looking to get rid of something, and not trying to maximize the dollar amount . I list it cheap in hopes it will disappear quick and I can take down the ad
I like to be a courteous person, but marketplace seems like the wild wild west at times.
What's your policy ?

Depends on whats being sold, how listed, etc

I generally will hold things for people, but only after we’ve established a firm price and a time for them to pick it up.

Occasionally, a Facebook buyer will flake out. I don’t generally have that problem with craigslist sales, the flakes usually weed themselves out long before a deal is made.

I also still sell some things on eBay, lately it’s just been listing them up there and waiting an eternity for someone to buy it. Making offers to people watching the listings is generally pointless.

I'm an old man with old fashioned ethics. I have made deals in my own neighborhood to pick up an item the next day with a truck and no haggling only to wake up to a message oh I sold that last night at 8. I have less than a zero opinion of that kind of person.

Buying and selling has become such a negative experience that I have cancelled all notifications for estate sales, etc. I'll go to a garage sale if I can walk to it mostly for the walk.

I find that person to person sales like a swap meet to be more of the better kind.

I have been had on Pelican as far back as 2005 buying a fake. However, I used to buy and sell a lot here in that day. Things have changed, I don't trust anyone I'm not standing in front of and they have a 50/50 chance.

I have found the following works well:
If I am selling, I put in the facebook listing - no phone numbers, no codes, cash only, and if you see the ad don't ask, it's still available. First message should include when you want to pick up this item. Then I lookup their info, and if they are new or have no posts or are not nearby, I don't waste my time replying. I also rarely put up items worth less than $50, they get donated.

If I am buying, my first message includes my offer, state it's cash, and when I am available to pick up. When I do that, most people are willing to hold or won't sell out from under me for more money.

I'm kind of with Milt on this one. It used to be enthusiasts helping enthusiasts...and I'm sure it still happens. Alas, this is more and more rare. I attribute it to the cost of buying & maintaining the old air cooled cars having escalated beyond the means of the average guy. Milt mentioned 2005...but the writing on the wall was before then...

Both parties have an obligation to communicate adequately.

If one of the other doesn't.....for me it's a red flag and I won't pursue it any longer.

In every transaction I have ever made both buying or selling, you can tell when someone is serious and can be trusted.

Likewise you can (sense) tell when it's just not going to be smooth sailing.

The rest are only the details - but the dialog is what matters the most, for me.

I’ve sold some things and held it for the buyer. Other times, it’s first come first serve. Just depends on the item, price, and what mood I’m in.

What’s the most annoying is you post “if the ad is up it’s still for sale” or “do not ask if it’s still for sale”. I had one idiot recently ask if it was still for sale, then had follow-up questions with everything that was answered in the ad. I replied with it’s “in the ad” to everything he asked. No, he did not buy it.

I'll hold an item for sale...but I will always ask for a time that they will pick-up and tell them "if not here by then" it goes to the next one.
If someone wants it before he arrives, I just tell them I'll call them next.

I sold my van last Saturday. Too cheap, I guess. I had someone that wanted to come at 4 and someone wanted to come at 6. It sold at 3. I had made no promises to 4 and 6. I contacted them both as soon as it sold. I can not wait around for a might buy when someone is here with cash. I sold my Cayman to someone from out of state. I made the mistake of holding for them. A local guy offered my $2k more than it was listed for but I had told the first guy I would hold it. I wont do that again. First one with cash buys it here.

I'm a holder. Doing that now for some rare beautiful MK2 GTI seats and even having higher offers than what I will sell for to the first guy who showed serious interest. He asked a question about them that I have to look at and answer tomorrow. If they'll work for him, he gets them.

Like Shaun,

I will hold an item for someone who seems genuine for a day or so depending, but will usually not budge on price for them if there are others in line and I tell them that as well as let the interested parties know where in line they are. I feel like this keeps everyone happy and doesn’t waste people’s time or mine too much.

My policy is that I take the inquiries in order. When I get 4 or 5 I take down the ad. I get a time certain for the exchange from the first respondent and send an email to the other's letting them know where they stand in line and when/if the 1st respondent closes the deal.
With the internet, communication is easy, why not use it.

I guess you could say I hold it for the first guy, but if the first guy won't give me a time that he will close the deal I assume he isn't interested and move on.

I've sold quite a bit of smallish (under $1k) stuff on Craig's list in the last few years and only had a couple of hiccups. Once the first guy missed the deadline and I sold it to the next guy in line. The first guy whined and moaned and gave me his excuses for not making the deadline. I told him the excuses might have done some good if he had let me know BEFORE the deadline. With texts, emails, and phone communication available there is no excuse for not communicating.
The other problem buyer kept extending the deadline to close the deal - like 3 or 4 times. I finally gave him a final deadline and he said he'd have to pass. By then buyer #2 was no longer interested.

I will hold, but it's something big or in high demand I ask for Venmo to hold. Either full price or a deposit.

You know what holds an item? Our friendship or a deposit.

Dude, I've got the record for holding p-car parts..... 2+ years...... SmileWavy

hahahaha! I know! I'll be down this fall. It's a shame Watkins Glen is so far north, I'll heading that way next weekend.

Bet I've had his transmission longer. :p

My math is 3+ years.

I get $25/month storage. What's your charge? ;)

Online selling has bred a new class of flakes. Show me the money. First come buys it. I am courteous and may not respond to people once I have someone coming. But no favors.