Who else has some crap to get rid of?
August 16th, 2010 | by TJ |
illustration courtesy of the fabulous Bellwether
You guys, I am basically – pretty much entirely, really – the King of Craigslist.
I love Craigslist. I have met people via Craigslist, I have found apartments and roommates via Craigslist, I have gotten rid of apartments and filled in roommates via Craigslist. I’ve sold a clock radio via Craigslist by insisting that there was nothing wrong with it, but that it was certain to lead to my eventual death. I’ve used Craigslist to get advice on a terroristic stray cat who was ruining our dog’s life. And, while it may be in poor taste to mention it, I have not yet been killed via Craigslist, so I am pretty sure I am doing it right.
That was all only confirmed this weekend. In addition to spending many hours painstakingly cutting, sticker-ing, stamping and applying labels to envelopes that will be tossed in the trash nearly immediately following their receipt, I also sold our stupid extra fridge-we-don’t-even-need in less than 24 hours – sold it to someone who SHOWED UP and actually PAID for it, no less. Paid the ridiculous asking price, as well.
(click for biggened full text)
In fact, I am so confident in my Craigslist dominance that I am sure that if I had had Bellwether’s perfect depiction of what the fridge looks like [in my mind] when I originally posted the ad, instead of this picture that I did use in the initial posting, I am certain that my refrigerator would have sold in 15 seconds or less. Unfortunately, art is not my forte, so it was several hours before I had a confirmed buyer.
With our powers combined, Bell & I could probably empty out entire modestly sized 2 bedroom home within a week. We pretty much rule.
So, who has some crap they’re dying to get rid of? Send me some pictures and let me write you a ridiculous Craigslist ad for a grand fee of $0, because I’ve got nothing else going on right now and I doubt Phil wants me to start selling stuff out from under him for my own amusement. Bellwether services not inlcuded in grand $0 fee.
By Bryan on Aug 16, 2010
How do you deal with multiple potential buyers that all express interest in said object? I hate it when I’ve gone to purchase an item at the asking price only to have it sold before i get there (driving en-route even). Is it too bold to offer up the item such that if anyone is willing to offer more than I’m asking, I’d reserve it for them until we can find a mutually agreeable meeting time? Or is that gauche on Craigslist?
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
You know, I think that really depends on who is selling it. With some people, they’re going to give it to the first person who can get there with cash, too bad for anyone else. For me, via email and text message, I kept up with the responders in order. For those making a lower offer or those interested after the first serious replies came in, I said I’ve got someone interested at the asking price, I will let you know if it falls through.
I am pretty sure just about everyone operates on a first come, first served basis, though the definitions might be different for each person. For one, it’s whoever is there in person first. For me, it’s whoever, I hear from first, whoever commits with the words, “I’ll take it” first. For the guy who bought it, we said he’d come for it in the morning, when I didn’t hear from him right away in the morning, I told him I’d hold it til noon and move on. He came.
As for too bold, just as there is no crying in baseball, there are no rules in Craigslist.
Well, there are RULES, such as, you know, obeying the laws and all, but in terms of what you can or can’t do when selling your own property – no rules.
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By Charlotte on Aug 16, 2010
Craigslist hates me. Hates. It told me so. Most of my postings go a little something like, “So, um, would one of ya’ll like to come over and buy this trinket for, say, $25? It’s nice. I mean, not nice enough for me to want to keep it but I would think that the term decent would be underselling it. Passable? No. Nifty, that’s what it is! It is nifty. Now come buy it.” Then a) no one buys it and b) people buy the same thing from someone charging way more than I would think is reasonable. I do wonder if sometimes people think that logically if something is being sold for five times the price of another, almost identical thing, that it must be better. That, or my listings really do suck. So now I just give things away out of laziness.
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Like everything else in my life, I will throw my fridge (or myself, as applicable) into your face, as loudly and obnoxiously as I can, until I have convinced you that my fridge (or me, as the case may be) is the one that you MUST HAVE (or befriend. Which you should, by the way. Me, not the fridge).
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By Adlib on Aug 16, 2010
I do have something to sell, but I must retrieve it from my parent’s house first! Also, your listing was hilarious!! I would’ve bought the fridge if I lived in AZ & needed a fridge. :D
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By Erica on Aug 16, 2010
I totally fell in love with you because of this Craigslist ad.
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I wish you had declared your love just a few hours ago, as I dropped my wedding invitations into the mail this morning.
Ah, well. I suppose we will go down in history as tragic romantic heroes, and I could get used to that idea.
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Erica Reply:
August 17th, 2010 at 11:16 am
I’ve always wanted to be a tragic romantic hero, but alas, I’ve never found anyone who wanted a doomed romance with me. Look at that! Craigslist not only sold your fridge, but helped me realize a life-long dream.
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By Swistle on Aug 16, 2010
I would totally buy that fridge, and I don’t even need a fridge.
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
We forgot to give the guy the flying* ice cube trays, so you can totally have those.
*I think you know what I’m going to say here.
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By Alorina on Aug 16, 2010
Hmm… I’m sure I must have something at home that I could dig out that I didn’t realize I never needed. Something that has been secretly begging to be sold on Craigslist.
That add was pure creative genius!
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Thank you!
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By Natalie on Aug 16, 2010
I love this ad so, so very much. Thank you, TJ. I think every ad on Craigslist should have a “wit” button, with which this particular brand of humor would be injected into every. single. ad. Because come on, things would be getting sold at breakneck pace. I think it would turn our economy right around.
TJ in 2012!
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
I’m going to use my new sticker maker to make TJ in 2012 stickers and put them on the bumper of Phil’s car when he’s not looking, more because bumper stickers make him insane than anything else.
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By Kailen on Aug 16, 2010
Well, uh, I do have a stereo that I’ve been trying to give away. The thing is freakin’ huge but since it still works, it seems ridiculous to just throw it away.But Craigslist scares me.
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
There’s a certain kind of risk in using Craigslist, I guess, considering you have to meet the person and all to make the sale/exchange. I have Phil, though, and I live on a military base, so I was pretty secure about this one.
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By Dr. Maureen on Aug 16, 2010
I’m with Erica up there, and she and I will have to fight Phil, and then each other, to the death. Or something. Would you please please please write me some ads? I have a bunch of Coach leather items that I can’t seem to get rid of. Also, 10 Lenox water goblets. And a golf bag caddy. It’s a lot of stuff.
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
If you have pictures of your items, I will write you a couple of ads. It’s kind of fun.
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By Meredith on Aug 16, 2010
Hands down, the very best Craig’s List ad ever written. I love it.
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Hey, the fridge is gone, and for the original asking price (which I was being silly with and not expecting) so I’d say that it is, indeed, a pretty good ad, if I can toot my own e-horn, which I can, since I’m the King of Craigslist.
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By Nancy P on Aug 16, 2010
Oh dear. Oh my. Well that was just about the best Craigslist ad EVER. I think that you should be my new bff. Thank you forconsidering. (Which I assume you will as really there is no harm in considering)
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
I don’t find any harm in accepting, either. I should warn you, I’m a pretty needy friend, but you already offered, so it’s too late for you now.
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By LizP on Aug 16, 2010
I love that ad, so funny, especially the PS part. I have a treadmill sitting in the garage for a while (a couple of years :) that I like to sell, can I send you a picture?
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By angelofrawr on Aug 16, 2010
Can you sell …. people? Or rather, my friends who have been single for too long?
No one can find them a date. Not a single one :(
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
My personal ads skills are equally as astounding. I could collect some testimonials for you, but I’m engaged right now and that feels somewhat improper.
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angelofrawr Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Yeah, I don’t think that would be right.
Then again, being engaged is a testimonial in and of itself.
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By Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] on Aug 16, 2010
Selling my crap on Craigslist makes me happy in my pants.
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TJ Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Whenever I sell one thing, I need to restrain myself from listing every single thing in the house. It’s so liberating to have someone take away crap I don’t need AND pay me for it.
Oh, Internet, I love you so hard.
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By Kelly on Aug 17, 2010
Oh, oh, oh!! I know! I have the Spousal Unit’s extensive collection of Warhammer 40K miniatures to sell off. Do you need pictures? I’m thinking these things are so AWESOME (in the SU’s head) that I should post them on eBay.
(Disclaimer: SU has given his permission for this collection to be sold off.)
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TJ Reply:
August 17th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Have him scroll through what they’re selling for on eBay so he gets an idea of what they’re really worth (in the world) as compared to what they’re really worth (in his head) to see if he actually finds it to be worth selling them.
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Kelly Reply:
August 17th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Oh, why hurt his brain like that? I’m sure he thinks they’re worth way more than they’ve sold for since he painstakingly hand-painted each and every one of them with great attention to detail and all the love his geeky little heart could pour out. However, if I can pick up some cash for them and get them out of the utility room at the same time, I’ll count it a win. It’s sell them for whatever we can get… or donate them to Goodwill… or give them away on FreeCycle… or toss them in the trash. Keeping them is not an option, and he does understand that. And is even ok with it.
I’m got sure how many he’s got, but it could very well be hundreds.
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By Melissa on Aug 17, 2010
That was beyond excellent.
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By Nej on Aug 17, 2010
Your flying* fridge buyer was truly lucky to be looking for a fridge, and come upon that ad!!!
I have a couple ads on Craigs List right now, that have gone no where. Although, after reading yours, I now know why. My creative genius = zilch! :-)
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TJ Reply:
August 17th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
You’ve got to be VERY IN YOUR FACE ABOUT IT.
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By Mary Lou on Aug 18, 2010
Oh! Are you still bored? That add was pure genius and I have my husband’s bachelor couch to sell. Will you write me an add pretty please?
P.S. I found you on Amalah’s site and I am so happy! I will definitely be ‘following’ you. : ) in a non creepy way of course!
p.p.s my husband’s in the military too!
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