Selling Couch on Craigslist Strategy (Phoenix: appliances, home, buying)

[military spouse]

I've bought and sold a fair amount of furniture on craigslist. I think it helps for it to be a well-regarded brand, in great condition, priced at about 25% of new. If it isn't in great condition and it had upholstery, I wouldn't even consider it. I also would eliminate ads that weren't clear or close to what I was willing to pay.

[eastontracks]

Pretty good advice on how to list items on CL. A couch just might be one of those tougher household items to sell. I was on the buying end, but I found a couch someone was selling for $75. It was almost a brand new ikea couch that would go for $400 at the store.

Seller also had a tough time selling it before I came along. I was curious why nobody else bought it, as I know I got a steal.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by eastontracks

Pretty good advice on how to list items on CL. A couch just might be one of those tougher household items to sell. I was on the buying end, but I found a couch someone was selling for $75. It was almost a brand new ikea couch that would go for $400 at the store.

Seller also had a tough time selling it before I came along. I was curious why nobody else bought it, as I know I got a steal.

+1, couches are one of the harder things to sell - lots of people want them, but don't have a truck, or don't have help loading/unloading.. seems like every large item that I post gets questions about if I can drop it off..

[Juram]

Most people overestimate the value of their own stuff which is why you will see the same item relisted for like a month before it takes a 50 or 60% plunge in price. Your unwanted stuff is generally never as valuable as you might think it is.

I am always reminded of the scene in Trading Places with Dan Akroyd as Louis and Bo Diddley as the pawn shop owner with Louis trying to pawn off his Rolex watch."

"It retails for $6,995 retail, it tells the time simultaneously in London, Paris and Stadt...."

"In Philadelphia its worth $50"


Regardless of how much you bought it for, how much you think its worth, the true value is determined by how much the second hand market is willing to bear."

[Solere]

I've reverted back to a fixed price and haven't gotten any emails. What are some keywords or buzzwords I should use in my ad?

[locolobo13]

Originally Posted by Happs

I've reverted back to a fixed price and haven't gotten any emails. What are some keywords or buzzwords I should use in my ad?

IDK. Googling how to sell a couch fast yielded this link:

SUBURBAN Spunk*: How to sell furniture on Craigslist safely, quickly and effectively

[PhureeKeeper]

Use the word "vintage" and put it on Etsy instead. I can't believe the prices some people are asking on that site.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by eastontracks

Pretty good advice on how to list items on CL. A couch just might be one of those tougher household items to sell. I was on the buying end, but I found a couch someone was selling for $75. It was almost a brand new ikea couch that would go for $400 at the store.

Seller also had a tough time selling it before I came along. I was curious why nobody else bought it, as I know I got a steal.

Originally Posted by Happs

I've reverted back to a fixed price and haven't gotten any emails. What are some keywords or buzzwords I should use in my ad?

Offer to deliver. Gets those couches sold MUCH more quickly. You can ask for an extra $25 for the delivery.

Happs: Lower the price. Get better and more photos. That, and possibly delivery, is all you can do.

[stevek64]

If it's in decent condition, you'll sell it.....but the price has to be right. I remember I sold a water fountain for a cheap price and had a flurry of phone calls, emails, and texts in a short period of time.

You're also listing in a big metro area section and there are tons of similiar items for sale.

My other strategy is to "repost" your listing to get your listing to the top. Sometimes I'll delete the listing and relist is right away to get the listing to rise to the top and to fall on a day I think is when lots of people are looking like a Saturday or Sunday morning. Usually when I repost, I will get a new inquiry or 2 more often than not. Want to sell it real quick? Undercut the competition by a decent margin and I bet you'll get more responses.

CL is a great place to sell in the Phoenix metro....I've gotten rid of a lot of clutter in the house as a result of using it.

[Solere]

I have had my couch listed off an on on Craigslist for almost a year now, renewing the ad every 48 hours, sometimes taking it off for a week or two, then renewing it for a month (refreshing every two days) with no responses. I put in true buzz-words, have tried a fixed priced, have tried OBO and have tried FIRM, no responses. I can't provide delivery, otherwise I would offer that too. There's no way it's the price because it's competitive with other ads and the style is neutral. Are few people looking at furniture on Craigslist in Phoenix?