I have sold a few things. I would say first come first serve. If the person doesn't show up if goes to the next, don't wait on person, maybe they are no longer interested. I always arrange a time so I am not alone and the item being sold is in the garage.

If you think you have enough interested people I would delete your posting so you don't get too many. You can always post it again.

I always tell them cash only up front, put it in ad also so there is no misunderstanding.

bac717, in my opinion, unless you stated to first person that gets here with cash, I'd presonally wait for that person that shown interest. I've done this before by emailing all that following saying I have someone coming and "such and such time". If they don't purchase it I'll let the next one in line know and so on.....

I know some folks need to get rid of things fast, my guess it they waited until the last minute to list them, so they post "first with cash get it". To me that sounds very rude. Not to mention who would want to drive any distance at all and find the item had already been picked up. Happened to me once and it wasn't very pleasant. I know not everyone that says they want something follows through, but most do. It's only proper, in my opinion, and I'm very old fashioned when it comes to things like this, to give the first interested party a chance to come within a reasonable amount of time. A day or two is fine with me. If it were a week and I need the space it was taking up I'd tell them if I'd not sold it in that time I'd email them back.

Like I said I'm old fashioned and would rather fail on the "kind" side than take any chance at being rude when it comes to selling on CL.

~Becky

One person who seems very interested cannot come out to look at it until tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm still getting emails asking about piece. Do I give the person who says she will come tomorrow a chance first or does it go to the first person who can come and look at it?

It depends whether you have responded to the woman who wants to come tomorrow. If you answered and agreed, then the honorable thing is to wait until she sees it tomorrow. But reply to the others who are interested letting them know you will contact them if it remains available.

If you haven't responded to her yet, then you respond honestly to her and explain that others are interested and you will let her know later today whether it is available for her to view tomorrow.

It is simple - First who pays cash gets it.

So as not to disappoint latecomers, ask them to call before they come to see if the item is still available.

The exception is if someone says (and you believe) that the item should be reserved for them because they are definitely going to buy it.

"The exception is if someone says (and you believe) that the item should be reserved for them because they are definitely going to buy it."

In my experience, this is the person who doesn't show up.

EVERYONE should be told that you CANNOT hold the item for ANYONE. Say it as politely as you can, but say it to everyone who inquires.

The serious buyers will come as fast as they can, with cash in hand.

If someone wants to come see it, make an appointment with them -- but be SURE to get their phone number so you can call them if someone else beats them to it. Tell them this.

Be polite, but get the cash.

Not everyone can drop everything and run to get an item listed on Craigslist. Even I, that is pretty much available at the drop of a hat, understands that. What about being kind to those that work for a living or have small children? This world is getting to be so much about money and "right now" that it's sad. Really sad...
Relax, take a deep breath and put yourself in the others shoes. If you have other emails of interested parties you're going to sell it. Maybe not "right now", but you will. What's the rush? Am I just getting old and laid back?

The problem with waiting is that while YOU may be honorable, the other person is not, and may never show up, respond to e-mails, etc.

I am the person with small children who cannot run over at the drop of the hat-- but I understand that all is fair in the CL game because no one knows me and knows if I will be true to my word to show up, OR even if I do, will buy the item.

This week I had a bedroom set for sale. Someone said she'd come in 2 days to see it. She left no phone #, but I gave her mine, and we made a plan to meet. She did not e-mail me back, no contact. Meanwhile, I had others interested, so I e-mailed her saying I had others looking and it might get sold. No response. I sold it, and finally she called me. BUT, now I am actually helping her look for another set! I found one for her that is actually better than mine for a better price . . .but I don't know if she's jumping on it. You snooze, you lose.

I buy and sell, and when I'm truly interested, I give the seller my phone numbers, set a date to see it, but tell them that if someone shows up with cash and offers them more than the advertised price, "take the money and run".

Most of the time, people who show up try to bargain the seller down (as do I), but soemtimes the seller will reject those offers and wait for me.

I try to make my emails to a seller as personable and friendly as possible, and 9 times out 10, we get on so well that we're already friendly by the time we meet.

Same with when I'm selling. If the potential buyer thinks I'm his/her pal, they're far less likely to not show up or to offer me a much lower price.

The way I see it, my emails are my selling tools, more than the initial ad.

Thank you everyone for all the quick, helpful responses. I want to be fair. At this point now, I've yet to hear back from ANYONE to set up a specific time and date to see the piece. And get this -- the latest response was from a woman asking me to take $50 instead of $60 AND to deliver it to her home which is probably 45 minutes from here! I'll keep you posted on my progress. As I said before, all other sales I've dealt with have been much easier.

Thanks again to everyone who responded with advice.

After a 'warm up' email or two, I give the prospective buyer my phone number and address, and ask them to call me when they are leaving to come my direction. Prior to that point, it's 'fair game' for anyone else.

After they call me to say they're on their way, my standard response to new inquiries is "I have someone coming by to see it who is supposed to be here in an hour. If they show up on time and pay my asking price, it's gone -- otherwise, it'll be available. Would you like me to call you back?"

One thing I HATE is holding something for a no show, so now I'll only hold after they call to say they're on the road.

This is what I did with a classified ad I ran once. I basically "sold" my back deck to whomever would agree to take it down. I set up appointments with people to come out and see it. Serious buyers were willing to do that. The first person who called came out right away and agreed to buy it. So I took the names of other callers and told them I would call them back if he didn't show with the money on the day he agreed to come and dismantle it. But he did. But if he hadn't, I had 50 names and numbers of other interested parties. Yes, I could not believe it! And the ad was tiny and only ran for three days. But I know with the price of treated lumber it was a fantastic deal. It took him 5 hours to dismantle it, working with his nephew and me helping. After all that I didn't even have the heart to charge him. That was back in the days when I was flush. He got a great deal but put in sweat equity to get it.

I think serious buyers will manage to get out to see an item realatively quickly, even if they are busy, depending on the desirability of the item. I would not hold an item for days and days waiting for the first caller, but I might hold it a day. Unless I was desperate to sell it ASAP. A serious buyer understands they need to get out to see the item pronto. Just be up front. If you have a lot of calls you're not going to be able to wait and wait for someone.

And I agree about not being alone when someone comes, and not having the item inside yoru house somewhere that they can case the place while getting to see it.

Here's my update on selling my sofa table. Still no word from the woman who originally wanted to wait until Saturday to buy the table and then said she could maybe come out tomorrow (Thursday) instead. Another gentleman contacted me via email today and gave me a phone number to contact him. I called him and he is hoping to see the table tomorrow. He will call in the morning to let me know for sure. He will be coming a long way. I've emailed the 'Saturday woman' to see if she's changed her mind and to let her know about the gentleman who may come tomorrow. I feel I'm being fair. Am I?

On another note, I also have (had) a rug for sale with a separate listing, listed on the same day as the table. I had one inquiry about it. That person came today and paid my full asking price. I wish all the sales could be that easy.

You are being more than fair. I think all the sales are "that easy" when you have a buyer who actually wants what you have. Anyone who takes more than two days to get out to see it doesn't want it that badly so I wouldn't loose sleep over what happens with them. I wouldn't fuss around with them either. Go with the people who are ready to buy and don't promise anything to people who are not. Then you won't have to feel guilty!
Good luck.

I think you are being more than fair. I had a headboard for sale and put in my ad. She said that she was coming the next day because she would have a truck. OK. The next day came and went. I went to the next person and he came about 2 hours later and bought it. She emailed me 2 weeks later to set up another date. I guess she thought that I would be waiting. I think if they really want it they will make the time. It may be after work and they may not have a truck to take it then but they will come and look at it.

Bac, I doubt that anyone would question your handling of your CL items. You do the best you can do with a situation that can become a little tricky when you have lots of interest but little follow-thru. And I agree.......the scenario where you list your item, get one response, and the person buys right away, is super nice! I listed an old buffet back in April and that's how my sale went. (I did get an email from a scammer, but after I replied to them, it became apparent what they had in mind.) Someone emailed a question, I replied and told her to give me a call if she wanted to come see it. Soon, I got a text from her and she wanted to set up a time. I texted back, we went from there and she showed up--bought it on the spot. No other replies, but, as my husband noted..........you only need one person with money and a truck to haul it off!

To date, I have bought 3 buffets and one dining set off Craigslist, where I have had to really travel. The dining set was 90 minutes away in a storm, the various buffet trips were each about 3 hours. Now, that's where you need to have a committed buyer and seller and work out details very carefully. In each case, after the initial email where I asked more questions, got back answers and phone number from the seller, I told them where I lived and asked if I could come see it (Saturday or whatever day I had in mind) if they still had it at that time. As a buyer who has other obligations, (work, children in school, distance to drive, etc.) you really have to connect with the seller right before you get ready to leave to come see. So, you must face the fact that that seller might have another buyer 5 minutes away that is in the right place at the right time to buy and your item won't be there when you find the time to come. I see that just in the same way as a "Macy's Super Saturday Sale". If I can't get there on Saturday, I don't get the benefit of the sale. No matter how badly you may want to buy their item, if you can't get away to see it before others start banging on their door, you lose out.
Anyway, once I had phone numbers (love people who put them in the ad, saves so much time and hassle!) I called and we talked. I asked about coming on my chosen day and told them to call me if there was a problem. I also told each seller that I would call as I left town and they agreed to that. To me, that guaranteed that I was serious and on my way. Each person was waiting and in expectation of me when I arrived. And I had no fear that they would sell out from under me once I was en route. On the other hand, when I am local and can't get away right away to view the item, I tell the seller that I would like to come see after work, and that I will call to make sure it is still available.

Red

Well, here's the final outcome of my Craigslist adventure. The gentleman who drove a few hours to get here bought the table. As it turns out, the 'Saturday woman' sent me an email reply yesterday morning, before the other gentleman responded to my listing, BUT I never received her email. This morning I heard from here via email and she forwarded the email she thought she had sent. But, really, I never received it. I feel badly for her how this all turned out. I think perhaps I should have explained to the gentleman about the email I didn't receive and give the woman the first chance, but then again I don't know. What I've learned from this situation and all the advice I have received in the responses to my question is to include a phone number once emails start going back and forth on Craigslist. I don't think I'll include my phone number in the initial listing, but once someone has replied and I answer that inquiry, I will include my phone number. The gentleman who ended up buying the table had originally given me his phone number and he's the one who ended up with the table.

I have to share this with you. I've been emailing back and forth with the woman who missed out on the table and she couldn't be any nicer. I thanked her for being so understanding and here was her reply:

"You are so nice. No worries at all. In fact, if someone drove all the way in from Rockford, I think that it did wind up the way that it was supposed to be.

Happy future Craigslisting to us both."

I have met the nicest people thru Craigslist, in person and now on line!

That sure was sweet of her bac717.

That was nice of her for sure. And your item is sold, that's good. And, you learned how important it is to use the telephone to set the appointments. Nothing is more frustrating to me than to see something I really really want and not to get an answer to my emails from the seller. Sometimes they tell me their internet is down, sometimes they just don't check their email again after placing the ad. The young woman who sold me the dining set last week had answered my initial email, but then, never checked her email again during the two or three days I spent thinking about it, because she had no internet, being in the middle of a move. Glad I had her phone number!

I think that people forget that Craigslist is to let folks SEE the item in a photo so they know if it's what they want or not. Contact does not need to be made by email.

And you can't please everyone. Some people want to drop everything and go look the minute the ad goes online. Some want to come after work. Some can't come till the weekend. And some people seem to think that they are the only person in the world wanting to buy your item and you should wait on their convenience. Sometimes, the loveliest person, the one you want to have your item, is so much trouble that you sell it to someone else.

Red

I wouldn't list my phone # on the ad on craigs list. Only list your e-mail. After the initial response from e-mail then give them your phone #. My parents listed a really old riding lawnmower with their phone # and got 50 calls or more during the first 3 days, they had to stop answering their phone. They didn't realize it was going to be such a popular item.

I want to again thank everyone who responded to my request for Craigslist advice. It's all been very helpful. And I've read some interesting stories about other Craigslist adventures. I will wait until someone seems very interested in anything I'm selling before I give out my phone number. Anytime I've responded to a phone number I've been given, I always use my cellphone.