I used to list my old gear on Craigslist and wait weeks for a sale

About six months ago, I had a mountain bike I needed to sell fast before a move. I posted it on Craigslist for $400 and got lowball offers for a month. Then I tried listing it on Facebook Marketplace in my local town, set the price at $350, and wrote 'cash today' in the title. It sold in under four hours to a guy who met me at the gas station on Main Street. Now I always use that 'cash today' line and pick a public spot to meet. What other quick sale tips work for you guys?

3 comments

3 Comments

piper_burns1mo ago

That 'cash today' line is a total game changer, honestly. Read a tip once about using the phrase "price firm" too, which cuts down on the back-and-forth nonsense. Good pictures in daylight make a huge difference, like showing the bike next to a car for scale. Always name the specific neighborhood you're in, because people hate driving across the whole city.

ben_nguyen1mo ago

Man, you just listed the entire secret playbook. The "price firm" thing is so true, it stops the lowballers before they even start. I learned the hard way about the neighborhood tip after a guy got mad about a twenty minute drive. Good daylight photos are non-negotiable, otherwise people assume you're hiding something. It's all about removing every single excuse for someone to not show up with cash.

kai_park25d ago

37th and Main is actually where I started getting way better responses, so that specific neighborhood tip is solid. But I gotta push back a little on @piper_burns about the "cash today" thing. Idk, maybe it's just me, but I've had people show up with cash and then try to haggle anyway or find something wrong. I'd rather just say "price firm" and leave it at that, keeps the tire kickers away better in my experience. The bike next to a car for scale is a good one though, never thought of that.