Introduction

to Craigslist

Brought to you by

Sharper Training Solutions

www.stsico.com

What is Craigslist?

• An American classified advertisements website with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, items, services, community and discussion forums

• Craig Newmark began the service as an email distribution from San Francisco Bay. It expanded in 1996 to a web based service spread across many US cities. Today, Craigslist is in 70 countries

Why You Might Choose to Sell on

Craigslist

• No posting fees or final sale fees

• Ebay forbids certain items

• Sell in person to local audience

• Sell anonymously

• AS IS sale with no risk of reversal

• Cash in hand immediately

Why You Might Choose to Buy on

Craigslist

• Inspect goods before you pay for them

• No waiting for items to be shipped

• You want to buy anonymously

• Can negotiate price directly with Seller

• Ebay can seem too complex

Differences between eBay & Craigslist• eBay is national/international - Craigslist usually local

• eBay is a marketplace - Craigslist a forum / bulletin board

• eBay traders rate each other - Craigslist traders do not

• eBay has some of your personal data - Craigslist is largely anonymous

• eBay mediates sales disputes - Craigslist does not

• eBay stickily controls content - Craigslist does not

• eBay takes a cut - Craigslist does not

• eBay’s selection is limitless - Craigslist is limited

• eBay is complex - Craigslist in simple

Craigslist – The Pros

• Great for Purchasing Large Items-Furniture

• Consumers get to actually see items in person

• Craigslist ads go beyond items for sale and include personal, as well as employment listing, all-in-one website.

• Straight up purchase method rather than auction

• Craigslist is free for all services except job postings, and specific items - see next slide**

** Exceptions to Free listings

Craigslist – The Cons

• Craigslist requires a larger degree of personal interaction between buyers and sellers. This may be uncomfortable for some people, as well as dangerous.

• There is no system for punishing bad behavior, as listings are anonymous

• Craigslist isn’t available everywhere, while anyone all over the world can use eBay

Beware of ScamsThe most common Craigslist scams are:

- Listings that don’t require a credit check from you for homes, cars, or other used vehicles (a way to get your personal information

- Requesting a wire transfer – can steal your money without giving you anything, or get your bank information

- Spamming Craigslist with dozens (or hundreds) of postings for the same item

- Requesting you use PayPal, but send you a link to sign up - it’s a phishing scam, so don’t click that link!

When you see one of these common scams, proceed with extreme caution, or better yet, abandon them – you’ll find something better soon

Not worth the risk

More Tips here:https://dolly.com/blog/craigslist-scams-safety-tips/

How to use Craigslist

• www.craigslist.org

Or

• Craigslist App for Apple or Android devices (CPLUS for CraigsList)

www.craigslist.org

Click on Link to your Country/City

To Create an Account

Click My Account

CREATE ACCOUNT

Follow Email Prompts

Read &Accept Terms of Use

Log in

SEARCHING CRAIGSLIST

Specific Searches

** Search Results are based on the information that was entered in the Ad by Seller. You may find many mistakes in Search Results

Refine you Search

Contacting Seller:

Please use the appropriate Contact option on the listing

Buying the Item

• Ask detailed questions about the item you want to buy over multiple emails or calls

• Check if the price is right –Research

• Meet in a public location, such as a bank or coffee shop or police station

• Bring a friend

How to Post an Ad

Post an Ad *• Specify your ad type, click continue

• Craigslist will walk you through a series of screens: What are you selling, What area are you selling item etc

*Best to create AD in MS Word Then Copy and Paste to Craigslist

Complete Ad Posting

TIPS:- Post Title very important- Recommend

no phone info on listing-First Name only-May not want to add street

address

Confirm Area on Map

Add Images

Images should be clear and exact item you are selling

Confirm listing before Publishing Ad

Safety Tips – Buyer Beware

• Dealing with Strangers – be cautious• Never put exact address on your AD(remove

location info from photos)• Recommend contact only through email via

Craigslist• Once you establish contact and conversation,

then determine if OK to give address to complete sale

• Never use Western Union and NEVER give your Bank account information

Craigslist Safety - continued

- Cash is recommended for in person transactions

- If you decide to ship an item - Paypal is a good alternative. *D0 not Ship till you receive money from PayPal.

- Make sure Seller confirms via email that you are the only buyer for that item before you send them money via Paypal

- Money Orders are an option but seldom used and Cashiers checks are easy to forge

- Meet in Public:Walmart/Target is great location – a lot of foot traffic and cameras in parking lot

Police Stations

Let’s go live