Phoenix Craigslist Buying and Selling Review

When it Works, It's Great and Free

I like to save money whenever possible, and Craigslist has made it possible for me to save a few thousand dollars, and sell some un-needed things too. Some Craigslist items have round-tripped: I bought them and resold them after the need was gone.

Excuse me while I brag about the money I didn't spend. I bought a stair-stepper machine, Ebay price about $1500 plus shipping, local retail about $1700 delivered, for $250 from Craigslist. Yes, I'll use it. I'm a member of a ski patrol, and these thighs need to keep in shape for next season.

When a local appliance dealer's rudeness and appalling service annoyed me enough to cancel the purchase of a new freezer, I checked Craigslist. Cool! Some guy is selling a freezer for $75, he's only 3 miles away, and he will help me load it into my truck. After moving the contents from old freezer to new freezer, I had one too many freezers. Craigslist to the rescue again, but this time as a seller. The freezer sold in a day for $50. Total expense for an almost-new freezer twice the size of the one I started with = $25. Loss to the appliance dealer = $400 short term, and much more long-term because I'll never set foot in his store again, nor will I recommend it to anyone.

Speaking of the truck that hauled the freezer and stair machine, I bought it from Craigslist from a private party for 30% less than what a dealer was asking. I sold it last fall for 30% more than a dealer would have paid. I bought it after the seller had it inspected by the mechanic of my choice (I paid). When I sold it, the buyer brought his mechanic with him, checked out the engine and handed me a lovely wad of $100 bills. It's nice to avoid car salesmen.

I have been unsuccessful selling some things: exercise equipment (Total Gym), miscellaneous used furniture, office equipment, and computer parts. Looking back, none of it was anything I would have looked for on Craigslist, so I shouldn't have expected to sell it there. Unlike selling on eBay or the newspaper's classifieds, failure to sell cost nothing.

Tips for Craigslist buyers: