Mike and I often howl with laughter while surfing Craigslist. For every amazing bargain there are 300 or 400 pieces of junk and another 100 or so crack-smoking sellers who imagine the site is their ticket to highway robbery. Like the delusional stoner who thinks he or she can get $4,500 for the mahogany dining set pictured above. It’s a very nice set and would be a bargain at $1,000 or even $1,500 but $4,500? Put down the pipe!
Or how about the poor-lady Colonial dining set below, priced at $1,000. I’ve heard it said that everything comes back into style eventually but looking at this set, I’m not so sure.
The seller of the suite below is MUCH more ambitious. He or she slapped another zero onto their asking price — that’s right, $10,000 for this Bermanfalk set.
We once stopped in at a contents sale that had been posted on Craigslist. Our 1940s chinoiserie breakfront cabinet was among the items up grabs but the seller wanted $900 for it: “I’ve had it appraised and you’d pay at least $1,200 for it in an antique shop,” he said.
“With all due respect,” I replied, “this is not an antique shop.” I left him my name and number with an offer of $500. “If you don’t get any takers,” I told him, “we’ll come back for it.” He called the next day and we’ve been enjoying the piece ever since.
I firmly believe that everything will sell on Craigslist if priced correctly. If I haven’t had a bite within a week of posting an item, my price is too high. It really doesn’t matter where it came from or how much I paid, the market determines the value of a thing and the only way to ascertain that value is to keep dropping your price until someone finally takes the bait. It can be a hard lesson, apparently.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:29 am
I’m so glad you posted this, Chris. Sometimes I laugh, but sometimes I just feel bewildered at the prices people post. And then stick to, for the next eight months…
October 25th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Some people have definately been passing the pipe around, I actually saw the sets and it definately brought out the lols. You’re right though if it is priced right it almost sells right away.
The worst part is most times they never get a clue and post it every two days for a year !!
October 25th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Great post. Your response to the cabinet seller was genius.
October 25th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Good morning I try to check Craig’s List daily. If you want a sixties flash back go to the Antiques section of this venue. Are you kidding me? While we all hope to do well on items we sell a reality check BEFORE listing your item is essential
October 25th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Oh yes Chris you bring to light a VERY important point that is leave a bid at any estate sale for an item you are interested in. Just last week I left one and scored big time, boy friend said they’d never call for the price (they did and I’m now enjoying my flatscreen Sony television)
October 25th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Way to go, Lois!
October 25th, 2009 at 11:21 am
My favourites are the people that try to sell their ‘already assembled BIG Ikea pieces’ (the kind you’d need a truck to get home) priced at let’s say $90 when you can go to Ikea where said piece is all packaged up, brand new and priced at $100! Hello!
October 25th, 2009 at 11:29 am
yes! these pieces at least are real wood (overpriced real wood though they are)… my huge pet peeve is when craigslist sellers try to ask 80% or 90% of what they paid for ikea or the brick furniture.
rule of thumb, especially for cheap / economical stuff: it loses 50% of its value as soon as you take it home and allen-key it!
October 25th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Infernalmachine, you are so right on the allen-key, just like when you drive a car off the lot.
I also find when negotiating on price, the nicer you are *leave at home the attitude*…Lois of the sweeter the take home price
October 25th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Love this post! My craiglist favourite, which I’ve seen there for six months I think, is the small teak bookcase with the “slight dip” http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/fuo/1428078143.html
October 25th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
You are sooo right… I feel I’ve actually been guilty of this recently.
We are downsizing our office and have a huge reception deks for sale (quickly). While we payed top dollar for the piece, it’s quickly becoming apparent that reception desks are not a hot item. So I think this week it’s going on for bargain basement prices to see if we get a bite. Fingers crossed!
October 25th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Jenn Craigs List rarely disappoints. I have people ask me all the time how to be successful on this venue…Lois of good pictures (oh Chris please do a column on this) and well priced always sells
October 25th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Agree with this post! I don’t get the listers selling at 10% the listed price of the item purchased at Ikea. Save gst?
I take note of this craiglister who has a beautiful bisro table, but is overpriced and I noticed over the last four+ months it has been re-listed, and the price seems to go up. It is currently listed for $195. I bought a marble top table bistro table similar to that for $29. http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/fuo/1435557095.html
October 26th, 2009 at 10:08 am
“rule of thumb, especially for cheap / economical stuff: it loses 50% of its value as soon as you take it home and allen-key it!”
really? as soon as you take it home? low ballers can be just as annoying when you’re trying to sell something.
October 26th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Good post Chris…I have been thinking the exact same thing since I started perusing Craigslist. I also think the words “beautiful” and “stunning” are used FAR to often to describe what amounts to pretty tasteless furniture pieces in most cases.
October 26th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I’m with you Alena. If they’re so beautiful and stunning, why are the sellers unloading them?
October 26th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Meow! Chris, love this post! I will try to apply a similar ’sensible’ bravado to my next purchase!