The Art of Craigslist Negotiation

Perfecting your Pitch.

Negotiating, is a crucial aspect to a successful Craigslist business. A well placed pitch can save you tons of money when you buy; leading to more profits when you sell. People typically have a misconstrued perception about negotiating though: some view it as a mystic art; complex and arcane, while others perceive haggling as: a waste of time.
Well let me tell you, negotiating the best deal is never a waste of time! And it is certainly not a complex art that only a gifted few can master. No, you can master deal making.

Negotiation is all about understanding your wants (a cheaper price) and the seller’s wants (money, space, etc). Don’t assume sellers are just listing their items for extra cash! That is almost never the case. Many times when people sell electronics, it is because they have a newer model or don’t need it anymore, or it is taking up too much space , the same goes for furniture, appliances, and pretty much every other category.

Your first mission before you make a counter offer, or even
mention price is to find these other reasons for the sale and cater to them. If the seller needs space, emphasize how you can easily, and quickly meet that need. The key with great negotiation is meeting their needs, this builds trust which results in their willingness to sell to you.

Once you establish rapport by showing the ability to meet the person’s need, name your price. Whether it is 50% of what they’re asking, 25%, or 10% never ask full price, and always name your price with confidence. Confidence in what you’re offering will convey that (at least in your opinion) the price you’re offering is fair. Typically, sellers will counteroffer at the median of your and their price, other times they’ll accept your offer, yet still there are times when they’ll stay firm at their asking price. If they accept your offer, find a time and a place to meet. If they don’t accept, thank them for their time, give them a way to contact you if they change their mind, and hang up.

One of the best deals I made during my Craigslist Crusade came from an originally dismissed counteroffer. I saw an ad for a green microfiber couch and loveseat set for $250. Interested, I clicked on the ad and read one of my favorite
Craigslist phrases, “We’re moving.” I immediately called the listed and number and spoke to a middle-aged woman with a raspy voice. The conversation was brief. I ran through my furniture checklist, to ensure everything was in good condition, and she asked when I was available to pick it up. I assured her that I could meet her furniture removal need and do it at her earliest convenience; then I named my price, $120. She then informed me that the offer was too low and she could not accept. I thanked her for her time, and told her she could reach me at this number if she changed her mind.

Sure enough, a couple hours later she called back and decided to accept my offer. We scheduled a pick up time the next day, and I took the couch and love seat from her house where I paid $120 for them, right to a buyer’s house where they paid me $220. My negotiation, ability to meet their needs, and good timing yielded me a quick $100 profit.