# Selling a car using Craigslist **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668 "2014-09-16T17:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/21 "2014-09-17T00:07:57Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > [li]Add a paragraph at the end specifying no paypal, no cashiers checks, no nothing except, as Randy Moss made famous “straight cash, homie”"[/li] Why no PayPal? ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/22 "2014-09-17T00:13:31Z")
I’ve sold one vehicle on Craigslist, and the only advice I can offer beyond just ignoring the scammers: Offer to meet the potential buyer at the local police department parking lot. Seriously. When we were selling my van, if my husband was home, we let people come to the house - he’s a deputy, there was a brown Crown in the driveway, the narcotics dog was in his kennel barking his fool head off. If Tony wasn’t home when someone wanted to see the vehicle, I’d offer to meet them at the PD parking lot, the Sheriff’s department parking lot, or the State Patrol barracks. (I called the non-emergency number first, to let them know what I was doing, and why. No one had a problem with it.) Two people decided they didn’t need to meet me, after all. I can only assume that their intentions weren’t pure or noble! ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/23 "2014-09-17T00:15:40Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > My guess is the ad _included_ pictures. The weird thing - as far as I’ve seen - is that when you point out the item is pictured you never hear from them again. That would be my assumption as well. All listings I have made on Craigslist have included pictures, and I still get those responses. I just send them links to the Craigslist photos. What do the scammees send them? ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/24 "2014-09-17T00:21:04Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Why no PayPal? > **[Craigslist Pay Pal Scam](https://craigslistpostingsecrets.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/craigslist-pay-pal-scam/)** > > Pay Pal Scams on Craigslist . I have recently come across many people asking questions on other blogs and postings about using Pay Pal (the real one) for completing transactions through Craigslist.… ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/25 "2014-09-17T01:59:49Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > [Craigslist Pay Pal Scam | Craigslist's Dirty Little Secrets Revealed](http://craigslistpostingsecrets.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/craigslist-pay-pal-scam/) Thank you. It sounded like a scam as I mentioned, but couldn’t figure out why ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/26 "2014-09-17T02:03:36Z")
I’ll pay your price if you deliver it to the Dominican Republic for me. ANd pay all the taxes. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/27 "2014-09-17T02:09:05Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > After 48 hours you can repost your ad and you can edit it anytime to remove your phone #, just follow the email link CL, it will show you the options. Reposting takes you back to the top, IMHO do this every 48 hours. > > There are tons of cranks, idiots and assorted other types on CL, they must be drawn there because if they are representative, we are all in serious trouble. The process of selling my motorcycle was, at moments, special. > > That said, fairly quickly you should be able to sort through them and spot real buyers, and most of the scammers seem too dumb to write a Nigerian Email. > > Good luck > > **Capt** > > ETA, I always use just email to start, sort the probably legit and then give them my number in the response email, to let them know I am a real seller or buyer. But how about their “Moderation” scheme. Anyone can “report” anyone’s ad and it gets removed, automatically without recourse. I cannot find any way at all to contact CL and ask if they can nail my ad in place when my competitor knocks it out again. Any body know what i can do about that? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/28 "2014-09-17T03:57:41Z")
I put at the bottom of my CL ads: _Still available if still listed. No, I won’t accept a fake money order or ship the item to Belarus._ ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/29 "2014-09-17T16:28:25Z")
I often sell stuff for less than I could probably get on Craigslist because I don’t want to deal with all this crap. But sometimes it’s the way to go. Some tips: 1. Put $XXXX FIRM everywhere. Some people will still dick with you on pricing, but it will help. 2. Use the “Put ‘HONDA’ in the subject line of your email or I will delete it” trick. Weeds out the scammers AND people too dumb to read and follow directions. 3. Don’t give anyone your phone number. Maybe if they are on the way over and seem like a normal human. Getting texts at 3am is annoying. 4. If this ad is still up, the item is still available. I like to tell people “it’s $3500 firm…if you want me to pretend I was asking $4000, that’s cool – offer me $3500 and I’ll take it.” Some people just have to get a deal, though, so you could alternately consider the plan of asking a couple hundred more than you really want. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/30 "2014-09-17T17:11:57Z")
I always give my phone number, and don’t allow email contact. It’s my land line, so texts are not possible. If people are too lazy to call, then they’re not serious about buying, IMO. I’ve sold two cars on CL for cash (one for $18K and one for $22K) without a problem. I used to allow email, but the spam was just too tiresome, and the people who sent it too stupid to live (ad for a piece of furniture resulted in “does the unit still operate?” :smack: ). One ad for stereo components resulted in an email diatribe about how shitty my equipment was and how stupid I was to be asking that much for it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/31 "2014-09-17T17:39:52Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > [li]only use the craigslist anonymous e-mail reply function. never list a real phone number or e-mail address.[/li] FWIW - If you use this tactic, you will miss buyers like me. I have bought my last 5-6 cars through Craigslist. When I am ready to look, I’m ready to look. My schedule usually doesn’t allow me to plan “car looking” time in advance. Often as not I am looking at your CL ad over my phone. If you don’t list a phone number, I’m not going to respond. By the time you get my email and reply, then I look at your email and reply, it’s too late - my looking time is done for the day and I may not have a spare couple of hours for days, at which point we’d have to start all over. I have sold cars via CL as well, I know what a pain it can be. I still list my cell number, because that seems to be the way to hook up with “real” buyers. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/32 "2014-09-17T20:29:10Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > You did overprice it: > [http://clearbook.truecar.com/used-honda-prices/civic-coupe-pricing/2001#show/9vq/90401/151000/good/9tj/9u4/o/t\_curve](http://clearbook.truecar.com/used-honda-prices/civic-coupe-pricing/2001#show/9vq/90401/151000/good/9tj/9u4/o/t_curve) > (put in the correct location to get correct numbers. List it at a few percent above what you want so you can come down a little) I don’t believe these sites. I just sold my 2005 Outback (150,000 miles) in here in Denver last month via CL. I checked a couple of sites like this and they all told me to sell it for 2500-4000. I looked around on Craigslist and autotrader and the going rate seemed to be about $8000. My outback had a bad transmission and needed head gaskets (I mentioned this in the ad) so I listed it at 4500. It sold on the first day for 4750 after a bidding war. So why did truecar, kbb, etc… Give me such bad feedback on the price? ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/33 "2014-09-17T21:37:51Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > FWIW - If you use this tactic, you will miss buyers like me. I have bought my last 5-6 cars through Craigslist. When I am ready to look, I’m ready to look. My schedule usually doesn’t allow me to plan “car looking” time in advance. Often as not I am looking at your CL ad over my phone. If you don’t list a phone number, I’m not going to respond. By the time you get my email and reply, then I look at your email and reply, it’s too late - my looking time is done for the day and I may not have a spare couple of hours for days, at which point we’d have to start all over. > > I have sold cars via CL as well, I know what a pain it can be. I still list my cell number, because that seems to be the way to hook up with “real” buyers. Eh. Truly a case of “your mileage may vary”. I’ve sold probably 7 or 8 cars on CL, and 2 or 3 on eBay. Never had any issues with not listing a phone number. I’m a bit of a car nut, and almost without exception they are in better shape when I sell them than when I bought them. I price them fairly, and write really good ads. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/34 "2014-09-18T13:40:41Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > I don’t believe these sites. I just sold my 2005 Outback (150,000 miles) in here in Denver last month via CL. I checked a couple of sites like this and they all told me to sell it for 2500-4000. I looked around on Craigslist and autotrader and the going rate seemed to be about $8000. My outback had a bad transmission and needed head gaskets (I mentioned this in the ad) so I listed it at 4500. It sold on the first day for 4750 after a bidding war. > > So why did truecar, kbb, etc… Give me such bad feedback on the price? Just a guess, but Denver is a place where Subarus are VERY well-liked, and that likely drives prices up in the used car market, assuming demand outpaces the supply of used Subarus. The fact that you point out a bidding war for a car with bad head gaskets pretty much proves this point. If you sold the car here in the midwest, you might have had to settle for a lot less. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668/35 "2014-09-18T19:25:35Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Eh. Truly a case of “your mileage may vary”. I’ve sold probably 7 or 8 cars on CL, and 2 or 3 on eBay. Never had any issues with not listing a phone number. I’m a bit of a car nut, and almost without exception they are in better shape when I sell them than when I bought them. I price them fairly, and write really good ads. Not doubting you at all, just pointing out that there is a segment of “real time” buyers out there that you exclude by not including a contact number. OTOH, it does open the seller up to more frogs in the search for a prince. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-a-car-using-craigslist/698668.md?page=1)