# Heh. What is up with the way people price things on Craigslist?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heh-what-is-up-with-the-way-people-price-things-on-craigslist/507786>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 26, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heh-what-is-up-with-the-way-people-price-things-on-craigslist/507786 "2009-08-26T17:14:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 19

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**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heh-what-is-up-with-the-way-people-price-things-on-craigslist/507786/19 "2009-08-27T07:49:23Z")

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I really think electronic equipment is the worst for this type of seller. People not only fail to realize that the stuff in their possession has lost value by the simple virtue of being used, they also often don’t keep track of the price of new equipment, and thus fail to realize that the stuff they own can now be purchased brand new for less than what they are asking for.

I had an experience like this a couple of years back when looking for a camera. It wasn’t on Craigslist, but the scenario is pretty much the same. I wrote about it in a previous thread:

> [@Open Letter to Idiot Private Motorcycle Sellers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-letter-to-idiot-private-motorcycle-sellers/471218/17):
>
> Early this year, i was considering getting a decent second-hand digital SLR camera. An ad for such a camera appeared in the classified section of my university’s online newspaper. It gave a price, but was not clear about exactly what equipment was included (how many lenses? batteries? memory cards? etc.).
> 
> I sent an email to the seller, asking what was included in the package, and she sent me back a list of items. I replied, thanking her for her time, and letting her know that i wasn’t interested, because i could buy exactly the same equipment, brand new, with full warranty, from one of America’s most trusted camera dealers (B&H in New York) for about $100 less than the price she was asking for her one-year-old used equipment.
> 
> Look, i know that electronic equipment doesn’t hold its value, and that the price of new stuff drops quickly, especially at the top of the technology curve. But the fact that you paid $1400 a year ago does not mean i’m going to give you $1000 now when the same thing can be purchased brand new for $899. If you find some moron willing to pay that sort of money, then good luck to you; but it won’t be me.

On the other hand, i still really like Craigslist, especially for non-electronic stuff that has a high turnover rate. There are always heaps of desks, chairs, things like that available, so prices tend to be good.

When we arrived in San Diego last year, i needed a new desk, because my old one had been left behind in Baltimore. All i wanted was a fairly plain desk large enough to hold two computer monitors. It didn’t need drawers or anything. It just needed to have decent surface area, and be sturdy. After about two days of looking on Craigslist, i found an Ikea desk that was perfect for my needs. It was in perfect condition, and cost less than half what a new one would have cost at Ikea. Score.

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