By Cathleen McCarthy
Craigslist.org, an online network of urban and suburban communities, is a budget decorator's best friend. Founded in the San Francisco Bay area in 1995, Craigslist's classified ads and forums are full of used (and sometimes new) furniture, bikes, home decor, appliances and more and have grown to 450 cities worldwide. For the decorator or renovator, that means budget gold. For the eco-savvy shopper, it also means scoring used, vintage or antique finds.
Unlike eBay, Craigslist encourages local transactions to minimize shipping and auction hassles. It's also ideal for snatching up — or getting rid of — something fast. "When I use eBay, I have to deal with fees, worry about PayPal, go to the post office?" says Hollie Havens, a Craigslist fan in Philadelphia. "When I put something on Craigslist, people come to my door to pick it up, pay cash and then it's gone."
However, when you're shopping the site, there are few best practices to keep in mind:
1. Don't assume anything.
Ask questions. Sellers expect this. Does the item show wear and tear? Is it solid wood or veneer? For basic building materials, you probably don't need a photo. For everything else, if a photo is not posted, ask for one.
If you respond to ads for vintage furnishings, it helps to know the era. Even if sellers don't lie, they often misrepresent. Jean Thilmany of St. Paul, Minn., found a vintage cooking range described on Craigslist as "cherry red" and presented like an ad from a 1950s issue of Redbook. But she could tell by looking at the photo that the range was closer to 1975 than 1955, so she wasn't surprised when it turned out to be more orange-red than cherry-red. She bought it, in pristine condition, for $70.
After finding an apartment on Craigslist recently, Hollie Havens used the site to get rid of everything that didn't fit in it. Within two weeks, she sold lamps, rugs, framed art, coffee tables and an ottoman to fellow city-dwellers. She prices things to move — $20 for a computer desk, $50 for a country-style birch table and chair set. "I always post a photo and I'm clear and concise in the descriptions," she says. "I don't want people to come to my apartment and then not like the items. That's just a waste of time."
2. Don't be shy about bargaining.
Unlike eBay, where the highest bidder wins — and has to shell out the winning price — Craigslist prices are often negotiable, especially if they've been posted a few days with no sale. Thilmany responded to an ad for a mid-century modern chair and sofa, but the advertiser was selling them as a $500 set that included a starburst clock, magazine racks and side tables. A week later, the ad was still up and Thilmany got her sofa and chair for $300.
3. React quickly.
People often leave giveaway items outside their home, then post a "come and get it" message. Because valuable items go fast, ask the seller if the item you want is still there before picking it up.
Also, if something is priced right, don't blow your chances by haggling. Well-priced items get a lot of responses. Recognize a prize and get your bid in fast. Most sellers will honor the first commitment, but not if they can get full price from someone else.
4. Find the freebies.
Treasures often turn up under the "free" heading in Craigslist classifieds. Sometimes people want to unload something fast. Others simply misjudge the value of their throw-aways. Often these items are left outside after a curb alert posting, but sometimes the owners are willing to open their house to visitors and load up the giveaways.
One caveat to getting something free, of course, is that you can't complain if it falls short of expectations. Ann Logue ended up with free blinds for three large windows in her Chicago home after volunteering to test them for a manufacturer who posted on Craigslist. She gave them a good review at the time, but finds they're not holding up well. "Now I'm annoyed," she says. "If I had actually paid for them, I'd be throwing a fit."
5. Stand by your word.
Craigslist functions on the old-fashioned honor system. If you change your mind on an item, let the seller know ASAP, so they can contact the next interested party. It's in the seller's best interest to seal the deal during the initial buying frenzy, but sellers should stand by their word, too. It saves everyone time and aggravation when both parties honor their agreements.
6. Set a distance limit.
If it sounds too good to be true, don't go to Timbuktu to find out. Sometimes that $35 "like new, bleached pine" bathroom vanity looks great in the photo, but turns out having cheap veneer, peeling at the edges. A limit of 30-40 minutes drive time is a good starter.
7. Have transport ready and mark out your route.
A truck or SUV is handy for larger items, but not always necessary. A simple set of roof racks can hold a lot of treasures. Ann Logue was promised a free file cabinet from a Craigslist poster, provided she could haul it away. "Believe it or not," she says, "you can haul a file cabinet in a Volkswagen Passat."
Some sellers will deliver if you offer a cash incentive. Thilmany was able to get her stove and furniture delivered in St. Paul by offering $20 extra each time. "Around here, people live more scattered around," she says. "Sellers are often 40 minutes away, so they can't always expect people to make the drive."
8. Play it safe.
Using Craigslist requires more personal interaction than eBay, and that involves some risk. But by the time an actual transaction occurs, buyer and seller have exchanged e-mails and phone calls, giving each a chance to assess the other. "As I use Craigslist more, I get more savvy about reading people," says Havens. She always uses "we" instead of "I" in her ads to "give the impression there are two people at home, not just me."
Many female buyers bring someone along when they pick up an item and some refuse to enter her downtown Philadelphia apartment, requesting she bring the goods outside. She has also agreed to meet female buyers on the street or a public place before a transaction. "I totally understand their caution and always cooperate," Havens says.
9. Beware of disassembled furniture.
Some Ikea furniture is challenging to build, even with instructions. Expect a headache if you have to piece it together by intuition — especially if it's missing a cog or two. If the seller no longer has printed instructions for furniture pieces, he or she should be able to explain it to your satisfaction.
10. Post refuse before you dump it.
Don't know what to do with the byproducts of renovation? Instead of renting a dumpster, post your "trash" on Craigslist. Thilmany and her husband, Dan Leary, found takers for their roofing materials and chain link fence. Even dirt, broken concrete and discarded flooring can be picked up curbside by someone who needs them. It's an eco-friendly alternative to a landfill.
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