Okay, I admit it. I am a tech junkie. Whenever my office receive a huge package, co-workers turn to me and ask “What did you buy this time?” I have a bunch of gadgets at home that are not doing anything, but diminishing my returns…. what do you do?
Here comes Craigslist, a free-listing website for a tons of things: anywhere from finding a roommate, an apartment, to free things that people just want to give away to tech gadgets to even cars… I found it on Craigslist. If you haven’t heard of Craigslist, welcome to 2007.
I have sold the following things from Craigslist with much success (like getting 95% or more back from my initial investment):
- A variety of mobile and smartphones: Motorola Qs, Razrs, Nokia N75… etc
- Game systems like: Sony PSP, Nintendo DS’, PS3′
- Tech gadgets: like iPods, Minidisc players,
- Laptops ranging from iBooks, to Powerbooks to Macbooks
- Random other things like bikes, bed frames and mattress, tvs, books, car parts
- And…my Scion xB..
That’s right.., a car! Fully functional and ready to drive home.
Learn my secrets after the jump
I’ll focus this post on my car since it is a large ticket item and explain what I did in terms of the initial craigslist posting to attract potential buyers. Okay, lets go..
Here is part #1 of the series on how to sell things on craigslist honestly
1) Make the ad simple and easy to look at and read
It’s common sense, but worth mentioning as rule #1. If your ad contains fancy colors or animated gifs, and does not have any purpose on selling the product, why is in there in the first place? Think McFly Think!
What should be done is to make it easy for the buyers to see what your item is about. What does it have that others of similar kind does not? Whether there are any problems with it? What/if any warranty/certification left?
Those three questions are the most commonly asked ones for any kind of item being sold. People want to know what they are getting into. If you don’t be upfront about it, (and they find out later that you weren’t) you can kiss your karma points goodbye!
For a iPhone a descriptions like “used for 2 months, got tired of it” will not attract your potential buyer.
A more useful description like “used for 2 months. It didn’t suit my taste. I do have everything with it, including, USB cable, power charger, manuals, box and receipt” gives a clear sense of what you have.
If there is a nik or scratch, tell them where it is at on the ad. That means, bust out your elementary school ruler and measure in millimeters. For example: “There is a slight 5mm scratch on the upper right hand corner of the screen next to the chrome”. Try to use a measurement that is standard, like a ruler, or quarter. You know, something that’s available to everyone. In Rule #2, you will be able to take a picture of the scratch with your macro capable digi-cam
Here is my ad for the xB
”
Selling a 2006 blue (blue onyx pearl) Scion Xb. ~20,500 miles. Equipped as follows:
* 4cylinder engine
* 5 sp manual trans
* AC
* power mirrors
* power doors
* power windows
* Pioneer Premium Am/FM/MP3/WMA Streo with 7 different colors and Ipod Integration (hook up your iPod to this car with full dash controllers)
* Factory Integrated Fog Lights
* Factory Cargo Cover
* Floor Mats
* Scion VIP Security System
* Upgraded Monroe shocks so the car does not bounce as much
* Saddleman Trim Rings instead of hubs
* Black dash pads to store things in and make the dash useful (so things don’t slide around)
* Car takes 87 octane gas.. gets 33mpg.. great college student car around the city
Car is in excellent condition. I do not need a car working and living in the city
“
2) Get a digital camera with Macro capabilities
Its one thing for buyer to say “Can you take a picture of the item” but it’s another thing if you can’t even do it… My advice is to get a digital camera (less than $200) that has Macro capabilities. It does not need to be a huge DSLR with 500mm lens, but something small like a Canon SD or Nikon CoolPix series. If you have small items to shoot, like anything smaller than a bottle of Tylenol, then you will want a Macro capability to showcase any flaws with the product or even take a nice picture. See below picture of Macro’s flower.
What’s great about smaller digital cameras nowadays is that they take pretty damn good pictures for selling stuff and also make a easy way to take photos on your vacation, and other functions.
And, ads that I posted without a picture gets about 75% less email replies than those with.. I tried it and believe me; pictures are worth a thousand… replies of the same request.
#3) Take a lot of pictures with your digital camera
You have your digital camera now. Great! Now take pictures of your item. First, make sure you clean your item. Polish it up without any fingerprints, dirt, etc. If a car, bring it to the car wash or wash it yourself. Don’t forget to vacuum and clear out whatever is inside your interior as well. Nothing is as ugly as seeing a dirty car on the pictures. Can you say “instant turnoff”?
Speaking of cars, for example, you will want to take 8 pictures from the front, front-passenger, passenger, back-passenger, back, back-driver, driver, front-driver side. See, that’s all 8 sides of the car, and that only includes the exterior. You will have to do the same with all 4 tires, each seat in the interior, the dashboard, cupholders, side door panels, the actual millage from the Odometer, the trunk, the spare tire(if any) and of course the engine bay. That’s 28 pictures right off the bat! Bare minimum if you want to sell your car for a good price
As you can see, you want to be as clear as possible with your pictures. Sellers will see your car as an asset to them if you give them all the information you need.
You can see the pictures I took for my Scion xB here: http://www.kitkit201.dreamhosters.com/for-sale-test/ScionXb
This concludes part 1 of the how to sell your things on Craigslist honestly. The next post will discuss how to set your price, how they contact you, where to meet, and what to do after the sale.
Thanks for reading!
Wilson >__<
