Selling protocol on 'For Sale' ads?

[wdfifteen]

"I'll take it," is no commitment and you have no responsibility to this person unless you say, "OK, it's yours." Then you've screwed yourself.

I sold some things on Craig's list last winter. I got 20 or so responses and started telling people I would hold it until a specific time that day - the times were usually an hour apart in the order in which the responses were received. I told everyone the first person who showed up on time with the money got it, and I would immediately email everyone else telling them it was gone. It worked out great.

I gave away a big item (a sunroom) that had to be taken down and taken away. I gave them a deadline and requested a $100 deposit, which would be refunded if the item was gone and my property was not damaged by the deadline.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Each posting should include, "Money talks BS walks"

She needs to make it clear that she will sell to serious parties first, those being the ones who come by with cash.

No tire kickers.

Originally Posted by crustychief

All good advice. First cash carries.

Exactly, you can't please everyone. To sort out the BS, I will often be willing to meet "halfway" right now. Can't do that? Well, if someone else does, it's a done deal.

How do the buyers get back in seconds? RSS feed?

[VINMAN]

Ive had a gas range for sale on craigslist /newspaper the past 2 months. 8 y/o 30" kenmore. excellent condition. asking $125 Free delivery if fairly local.

After about 40 phones calls,
Around 20 " will you take $50 for it?s "

30 "I'll be there in a little while/tommorow to look at it"s
30 no shows.

It is going to the scrap yard this weekend. I'm done trying to sell stuff.

[dentist90]

Originally Posted by Zeke

How do the buyers get back in seconds? RSS feed?

My guess is no life. Time to sit there with the BBB site opened watching each new item pop up.

We've been reinstated and the little emperor apologized for being so hasty. Actually she says she has been inundated with complaints and poopyheads and tried too hard to accomodate them. She is sick of the bickering and is quitting as admin/moderator.

Uneasy rests the head that wears the crown (Right Z-man, Todd )

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Ive had a gas range for sale on craigslist /newspaper the past 2 months. 8 y/o 30" kenmore. excellent condition. asking $125 Free delivery if fairly local.

After about 40 phones calls,
Around 20 " will you take $50 for it?s "

30 "I'll be there in a little while/tommorow to look at it"s
30 no shows.

It is going to the scrap yard this weekend. I'm done trying to sell stuff.

I know the feeling Vin. I was trying to sell a motorcycle a few weeks back and was about ready to just go find a hole for it in the barn.... Several offers to trade junk for it.. One, I've got about a $1000, my response was that the 1500 was firm...

Finally a guy called, showed up and saw us riding it out of the barn, produced cash and he was on his way....

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by billybek

I was selling off some of the strollers we had accumulated on Kijiji and was amazed at how many people would email an offer lower than the asking price without seeing the item.
I started replying that traditionally you would look at the item before making an offer on it. It weeded out the lowballers quickly.
Come see it, bring cash. Buy it or don't. It is really pretty simple.
As stated above the first person with the cash gets it.

I try to price things reasonably and always put FIRM after the price. That really cuts down on the lowball offers. If something doesn't sell, I'll keep dropping the price until it does.

[Zeke]

"Firm" means nothing to me except the possibility that I may have to pay that price. Otherwise I know at least 20% is coming off the asking price. That's why I offer 60% for openers.

Don't blame me for the practice. It's all the immigrants that brought their customs with them.

[artplumber]

So, judging by the replies, there are no rules. "Firm", no offer anyway. "Take it" doesn't mean a sale, etc.

[LeeH]

"Firm" doesn't keep people from offering less, but it drastically cuts down on those offering 50% of the asking price.

[artplumber]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

"I'll take it," is no commitment and you have no responsibility to this person ....

BTW this hearkens back to the thread: Was I an ass?? or how much does someone's word mean...

[Zeke]

"I'll take it" is a firm commitment on Pelican or your favorite BBS.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Zeke

"I'll take it" is a firm commitment on Pelican or your favorite BBS.

+1, but not for a Craigslist (or other) ad imo. I've only sold a few items, but I've seen enough to know I'd rather just give something away or put it on the street for free. I swear, I could put ANYTHING on the street in front of my dad's house, and it'll be gone in no time.

[dentist90]

Originally Posted by Zeke

"I'll take it" is a firm commitment on Pelican or your favorite BBS.

I agree. Don't say I'll take it unless you'll really take it, at the asking price.

We found out that for some "I'll take it" means IF it is in better condition than advertised, IF it has the original box, IF you'll deliver it and IF you'll take less than asking price I'll take it. But don't sell it to the next guy because "I'll take it".

For something small like this, the first one to plop down the cash gets it unless other arrangements have been agreed upon.