I got a chuckle out of this Craigslist Ad (2024)

FAQs

How do you reply to a Craigslist ad? ›

Many of the scams start with a generic inquiry asking if the item is still available or if you are the original owner. The reason for this is to quickly test to see if the seller is responsive. There's generally no mention of the item you're selling or any questions specific to the item.

Phishing scams on Craigslist are insidious attempts to steal personal information, such as passwords, account details, and financial data. Scammers often create fake listings or respond to your listings only to lead you toward providing sensitive information.

To respond to a job ad at CraigsList.org, follow the instructions in the post—usually this involves e-mailing the employer directly via a cloaked CraigsList.org e-mail address with an inquiry of interest, a resume, and 1-2 relevant writing samples.

Unfortunately, no such protection exists for those replying to posts. When you reply directly from Craigslist, your email address will be visible to the recipient. To reply anonymously, you need to create a free Web-based email address, which does not contain identifiable information.

Craigslist's traffic is also falling steadily. In 2019, it was as high as 437 million monthly visits, according to Similarweb; in January this year it was just 173 million. Still impressive, but down more than 60%.

When posting items for sale on Craigslist, you should always: Avoid adding any personal information in the posting, including your name, real phone number or real email address. Always use the generated email address on your Craigslist posts.

To avoid Craigslist ads getting flagged, make sure that your content is unique and original while complying with the website's Terms of Use. For example, in many cases, using images or logos owned by other companies or persons may cause your listing to be removed from the website due to copyright infringement.

“Ghosted” listings are listings that appear to have been successfully posted to Craigslist without errors, and can even be found under your account page and accessed directly by its posting ID, but cannot be found by browsing the site or searching for them.

Should you give your email address on Craigslist? ›

When you use Craigslist to sell or purchase something, you communicate by sending an email to the other person in the transaction. To protect buyer and seller privacy, Craigslist keeps email addresses hidden.

Do People Still Use Craigslist? Absolutely. You can search your local area on Craigslist and find used furniture, cars, rentals, and even jobs.

It remains the leading classified service in any medium. In terms of job postings, there are 2 million listings per month, making it a great option for many job seekers.

Secure online payments are another safe, reliable way to accept or make payments for a range of transaction types. These services allow you to send and receive money without sharing your credit card or bank account details. PayPal, Venmo and Zelle are all good options.

Make sure the post you are responding to is still active by refreshing the page. If the recipient has opted out of the conversation, you will no longer be able to email that address. Try sending your message again with less content, fewer or no attachments, and reduced file sizes.

Respond to the email you receive with your dedicated Craigslist email address. Limit personal information, such your address or phone number, in an email response. You can handily deal with an interested party or even a confirmed buyer without initially divulging this information.

My reply is usually something like "sorry, that's just too low, my lowest is $xxx - let me know if you want it". If they fire off another low-ball, I'll say "sorry, $xxx was definitely the lowest I'll take, if you want it, great, if not, no problem.