Craigslist Trash or Treasure?

The picture on the left is a crib and dresser I purchased off of Craigslist last week. This is the photo they had posted and the cost for both the crib and dresser was $150.00. Although it had some scratches and wear, it was probably the best thing I have ever purchased on Craigslist. The crib is solid, safe and well made. It was priced right and posted just in the nick of time. I bought a new crib for Simmi when we moved out here, but it was falling apart a few weeks after use and it had gotten to the point where it was very unsafe for Simmi to sleep in. I plan on writing about that whole experience at a later time…for now, I want to rant a little about some of the people that list their stuff on Craigslist.

OK, the crib and dresser was a GREAT deal and I have absolutely no complaints about what we purchased, BUT as I look daily on Craigslist for furniture and other household items, I find myself getting really ticked off by the amount of fruit cakes on there trying to sell their crap as though they had some sort of rare treasure!

I have seen some things listed that I thought were accurately priced and from the pictures they post, I could see them getting away with the amount they were asking, but there are other posts that just piss me off. I’ll give you a few examples and you can tell me if you agree with their pricing:

Brown Leather Couch $250.00

“Brown leather couch with recliners on each end. Middle section folds down to expose cup holders, phone and controls for the built in massage. Call to come see this great couch. Cash only and must be able to haul it yourself.”

They want $250.00 for this thing! I don’t care how much they originally spent on this couch, would you purchase it for $250.00?

OK, this one is “nice” but look at the original price and what they are asking:

“Sofa Sectional Leather Tema Ekornes, sand color with walnut finish, reclining backs, double ottoman with storage and table. Paid $12,305.00 will sell for $4.100.00 cash FIRM.”

Why does this person think you are getting a deal if you buy his $12,305.00 sectional? Just because he was an idiot to purchase such an expensive couch to grace that “lovely” green carpet (not!), doesn’t mean that someone else who, for $4,100.00 could purchase a brand new leather sectional, coffee tables, lamps and a flat screen TV, should buy his crap. Yes, I said crap! Those seats look like the leather seats in “First Class” on an airplane that should not even be taking flights anymore!

How about this one:

“GE large capacity washer, Maytag large capacity Electric dryer $230 Firm for both, Individual sale $160 each”

How old are these units? They look like they are old as dirt! And where the hell is the handle to open the dryer? The washer looks like it’s “newer” than the dryer…they don’t even match. (Not that it’s all that important for them to match as long as they work well). Is this person kidding? Would you spend $230.00 on something that may or may not work? I don’t have a washer or dryer at the moment, but I could call them and tell them I want to test the units, bring over my dirty clothes, do my laundry and leave saying that I’m not interested. (That wouldn’t be a lie, that’s for sure!)

This one was just plain ridiculous:

Bedroom Suite $4,000.00

“This heirloom quality, circa 1950s bedroom set was manufactured by Kling Industries (which company, to my understanding, was subsequently absorbed by Ethan Allen). This substantial, solidly constructed furniture is in very good condition and shows very minimal wear. Made entirely from solid hard rock maple (no plywood, no veneer, no particle board - even the drawers are solid, dovetailed wood), this set consists of two twin beds (headboard, footboard, siderails, and slats), a large dresser (approx. 21.5″D x 54″W x 35″H) with height-adjustable (or completely detachable) wood-framed mirror (approx. 42″x32″), and a large chest (approx. 21.5″D x 37″W x 50″H). The dresser and chest each have a glass top protecting the solid wood surface. Today, a set of comparably made furniture such as this would cost in excess of $10,000. If you are tired of throwing your money away on junk that falls apart in a few years, this is your opportunity to purchase quality for a fraction of its value. I am selling only because we have too much furniture for our present home. The beds are presently not being used; the picture is of the headboard, with the footboard being stylistically similar.”

So let me get this straight, this person is selling circa 1950’s furniture that is solid construction for $4,000.00? Now, I’m not an auctioneer like my friend John Savo, but come on! Are these people really serious?

I can appreciate nice furniture, I really can. But isn’t it a little absurd to list things with a crazy price tag? It’s not new folks! It’s someones old used stuff. Some things are newer and in really good condition, but does that mean that they should inflate the price? How do these people come up with the price in the first place? Do they say to themselves “I bought this couch 30 years ago, and it was worth $500.00 back then…that was a lot of money, so I think I will ask for half of that. Yeah, that’s a good deal $250.00.” Try $50.00 bucks! There are a lot of college students looking for a deal especially if it is still in decent shape. Granted it would be a dated piece of furniture, but far more reasonable than $250.00. Maybe the circa 1950’s set is really worth $4,000.00 being that it’s an antique, but there are better venues for selling these types of items. I love antiques, they have a beautiful craftsmanship not seen in the furniture of today, and I have seen some gorgeous pieces listed on Craigslist that I would never criticize. They are just too lovely, but to me the above listing is just nuts!

Here is an another one:

Comfy, Comfy, Comfy $290.00

“Royal Blue Love Seat. In great condition. Reupolstered within last 6 months. Like new!! Come check it out!”

Here is one more:

This person originally had this retro couch listed for over $200.00 and now it’s free…I wonder why? He can’t even get someone to come and take it for free and re-posted after a “no show.”

I have to admit that there is something intriguing about this crappy piece of furniture, but to attempt to sell it for over $200.00 is pure insanity!

In closing, I know that times are tight for everyone, but lets be realistic about how we price our things! There are people out there that are buying used furniture because they can’t afford new stuff. If you purchased an item that was over priced and not even well made (like most furniture these days) try to be reasonable.

The couple that sold me the crib and dresser did something beyond making a few bucks back on their furniture…they helped to provide a very needy family with a safe crib and beautiful dresser for one very precious little girl. For that, I will be forever grateful!