Over the years, we have found amazing deals and saved lots of money by shopping Craigslist instead of retail. Here are a few examples...
Last Christmas, my husband gave me a black Kitchen Aid mixer that he found on Craigslist for $75. I have always wanted a Kitchen Aid mixer, but at $250 retail, it never seemed practical. Now I have one that is in great condition, and guilt-free!
This Christmas, I asked for a Panini Grill, and my husband found such a good deal on Craigslist, that he went ahead and gave it to me. It was brand new, still in the box from Macy's. Retail $60. He paid $20!
A few years ago, I purchased a Bernina sewing machine and serger off of Craigslist for $100. I ended up not using the serger much, so I turned around and sold it for $75. So now I have a really nice sewing machine that I only paid $25 for!
My latest and greatest Craigslist deal was my camera. I had a Canon Rebel XS, and wanted to upgrade. But I had no money to do so. I watched Craigslist for a couple of weeks and found a great deal. I was able to sell my camera and accessories for $400, and drove straight from that transaction to purchase a Canon T1i with a battery grip, extra battery and external flash for $400! So I completely upgraded and gained some new accessories, and it didn't cost me a dime.
So this Christmas, before you run to the mall to pay full price for something on your Christmas list, I'd encourage you to check your local Craigslist first.
Here are a few of my Craigslist shopping tips...
- Be specific in your search. If you just browse categories, you are going to have to look at a lot of junk before you find anything interesting. Use keywords like store names or brand names (IKEA, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Pottery Barn, Canon, Nikon, Kitchen Aid, etc.) to narrow down your search to find quality items.
- Email the seller to ask questions about the product. Ask about scratches, dents, stains, working condition, etc. If pictures aren't posted, ask them to email you pictures. Just be specific in your questions, or they might think you are spamming them. For example, if someone emails me something generic like "Is this still available?", I delete their email. If they mention the product I am selling, and ask specific questions, I will answer them back.
- If I decided to purchase the item, I like to talk to the seller on the phone first to make personal contact. You can tell a lot about a person from a phone conversation. If they sound creepy, don't buy it.
- Have a friend or co-worker ride with you to meet the seller, and meet in a public place like Starbucks. You can never be too safe!
- Check out the item thoroughly before handing them the money. I can't stress this enough! Open it, look at it, plug it in, try it out. Make sure it is in good condition before you purchase it. There are no returns on Craigslist!
- Bring exact cash to pay the seller. There is nothing more frustrating than someone showing up with their checkbook, not enough money, or large bills that need change.
- Don't make a low-ball offer at the meeting, unless the item is in worse condition than you expected. If you want to try to make a deal, ask early on, not after they have rearranged their schedule to meet you. Be fair.
- If you have any hesitation, don't buy it. Like I said, there are no returns on Craigslist. I have walked away from some items, and some I didn't, but later wished I had. You are under no obligation to purchase something that is not in the condition that you expected.
Those are just some of my Craigslist tips. I wrote a tutorial a while back that has step-by-step instructions on how to actually search the Craigslist website. You can check that out here.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me anytime at naturallychicmama (at) gmail (dot) com.
Always,
Amanda
