10 tips and tricks to make money on Craigslist

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Whether you’re a novice or a pro, there’s a lot of money to be made selling items on Craigslist.

Glen Zubia recently told us how he paid off $50,000 in debt by reselling stuff on eBay and Amazon, but he also used Craigslist to flip a quick profit.

And unlike the other sites, there are no fees and no returns to deal with.

Read more: 4 ways to stay safe when using Craigslist

How to make the most money selling on Craigslist

Glen told Clark.com that he and a friend once bought a garage full of retro games for $1,000 and made $3,500 selling them on Craigslist.

Besides games, Glen primarily sold electronics, jerseys and shoes.10 tips and tricks to make money on Craigslist

On his Hustler Hacks YouTube channel, Glen shared these 10 tips and tricks for selling on Craigslist!

1. Bundle similar items in the same listing

Creating separate Craigslist posts for every item isn’t just time consuming, it can affect your bottom line.

So if you’re holding a moving sale, include descriptions and pictures of multiple items in the posting to attract the most potential buyers.

Spend time creating an informative headline, avoiding the use of ALL CAPS.

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2. Great photos and descriptions

If you rush through the body of the post or don’t include a good picture, you’re going to pay for it later.

You can avoid receiving annoying follow-up questions by including all necessary details, such as the product name, size, price and condition.

Do this:

10 tips and tricks to make money on Craigslist

Don’t do this:

10 tips and tricks to make money on Craigslist

3. Be honest about the condition

If the item you’re selling works great, let the buyer know in the post.

And if you’re selling electronics, Glen suggests taking a picture of the item while it’s turned on to prove that it works like you say it does.

10 tips and tricks to make money on Craigslist

4. Take a photo of the serial number

This is about protecting yourself from being ripped off.

Let’s say you sell someone a game system, but they call you back and tell you it doesn’t work. If you have a copy of the serial number, you can make sure their story checks out.

5. Price your items correctly

Glen says you can expect to receive offers if you price your items slightly cheaper than eBay, because that’s what people are probably comparing your listing to anyway.

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You can also write ‘serious offers only’ to reduce the number of low offers.

Read more: How to make extra money on eBay

6. Accept text messages

Don’t rely just on email if you’re looking to sell your items quickly.

Glen says he used to have a phone just for Craigslist to keep his business and personal text messages separate, but he only recommends this for people who plan to sell a lot.

For everyone else, you could always download a free texting app to avoid using your real number.

7. Don’t fall for scams

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. According to Craigslist, if you deal locally and meet people face-to-face, you will avoid 99% of scam attempts.

Here are some other key reminders:

  • Do not extend payment to anyone you have not met in person
  • Never wire funds (e.g. Western Union)
  • Don’t accept cashier/certified checks or money orders
  • Never give out financial info
  • Do not rent or purchase sight-unseen

8. Work out the details before meeting

Before you meet anyone from Craigslist, use text or email to clarify the price of the item — plus where and when you’ll meet them. If you get this information in writing, there’s a better chance of a successful sale.

9. Meet in a safe place

If you’ve heard any of the horror stories on the news, you might be hesitant to buy or sell on Craigslist in the first place. But the key is to use some common sense.

Instead of arranging for a meeting at your house, conduct Craigslist business in a public setting, like at a police precinct.

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10. Carry items with you at all times

This might not be for everyone, but Glen says he used to bring his items to work with him! He kept them in his office (not car) to make sales during his lunch break.

I guess if you’re really serious about making money, you have to be available at a moment’s notice!

Read more: This man paid off $50,000 in debt by reselling stuff online

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