Free stuff on Craigslist, Craigslist barters, Craigslist trades, trading on Craigslist, Craigslist tips
Craigslist.org is an online classified website that is mostly associated with the buying and selling of merchandise, but you will also find a barter section. This is where you can trade items. Trading sounds nice, but there are some important steps you must take to ensure everything works out as intended.
Inspect expensive barters first. It is not uncommon for individuals to post trade listings for used vehicles. An individual may just need a smaller or larger vehicle or a more fuel efficient car. If you have a similar value vehicle to trade, it may seem like a great offer. You may want to say yes right away, but don’t. Inspect the trade first. If it is a used car, truck, van, or jeep, take it for a test drive first. Don’t unknowingly trade your car for another that doesn’t run.
Ensure you are making a fair trade. Not only inspect the item in question, but use common sense. You may be surprised how far common sense goes. Trading your child’s $500 swing set for a Dora the Explorer bike she always wanted isn’t as good as it sounds. Most of these bikes cost around $50 each, meaning you lose money. Always make sure you get a semi-decent deal with bartering.
Be cautious of trades done through the mail. These are usually a sign of a scam and there are many risks. You may send your item and get nothing in return. Although you don’t lose physical money, you do take a financial hit. Another risk is the possibility of receiving stolen merchandise. There may be a reason the trader doesn’t want you to see their face, know where they live, or what car they drive.
If you post a listing, outright state the item you are willing to trade and what you want in return. When doing so, post the value of the item you are willing to trade. This will eliminate contact from people who basically want something for free and are wasting your time.
If you are responding to a trade ad, be polite. Although this may be hard, especially if contact is made by email, do it. Don’t get mad or upset if someone turns down your offer. You can take steps to increase your chances. If responding to a trade ad for an ATV, offer your snowmobile or dirt bike with similar values. The more choices you offer, the better the response.
Carefully read all used car listings on Craigslist.org. After performing a search, you will see a list of for sale vehicles that had your search phrase in their listing or headline. For example, if you searched for Mustangs, you will see a list of all for sale Ford Mustangs in your area. You want to click on each headline for more information. Don’t just focus on the price, but the quality too. Your goal should be to get a quality car, truck, van, or jeep for an affordable price.