How do you sell stuff online?
November 21, 2018 10:14 AM Subscribe
I've put ads up for some used items. There's a lot of interest in a few of them. How do I manage replies?
At what point should I take the ads down?
Should I reply to everyone who's interested and let them know arrangements have already been made (and that if those people flake out, they can have it), or just the few who are likely to get the items (the first ones who reply)?
Anything else I should do/plan for?
At what point should I take the ads down?
Should I reply to everyone who's interested and let them know arrangements have already been made (and that if those people flake out, they can have it), or just the few who are likely to get the items (the first ones who reply)?
Anything else I should do/plan for?
In my experience, lot of people who are interested flake on you. Even the ones who sound the most serious. I would be honest with everyone. "Glad you're interested, I've had a lot of emails and am selling this first come, first served." If someone can get in sooner than your time frame and comes with cash, they get the item and you message the people who are waiting. If a late-messager wants to meet you earlier than your first already-arranged time, let the first person know the window moved earlier and give them a shot to commit to buy if they're serious. Once it's sold you can tell people it's not available, or just stop answering new emails (rude, but that seems to be what people do nowadays).
Just aim for kind but fair.
posted by Mchelly at 11:00 AM on November 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Just aim for kind but fair.
posted by Mchelly at 11:00 AM on November 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Demand is good! I've sold a few things on Craigslist (and will probably be selling a few more before too long) and here is what I usually do:
I respond to the first person and let them know the full situation re: when/how/where(ish) they can pick it up, total cost, etc. and ask if that'll work for them. If they seem like they're on board and willing to pick it up, they get first dibs. If they seem kind of flaky or on the fence about it, I might double check and ask for more specific confirmation before awarding the dibs.
The second or third responders, I'll send them an email that's something like "Hey, someone reached out to me first, but if anything changes between now and [DATE], I'll let you know right away, and if you're still interested, it's all yours."
Everyone else, I might send something like "Sorry, someone's already claimed it—good luck!" I don't delete the listing until after it has been claimed, although if all three potential buyers fell through, I might take it down anyway and just repost it a few days later to keep it fresh.
Good luck!
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:00 AM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I respond to the first person and let them know the full situation re: when/how/where(ish) they can pick it up, total cost, etc. and ask if that'll work for them. If they seem like they're on board and willing to pick it up, they get first dibs. If they seem kind of flaky or on the fence about it, I might double check and ask for more specific confirmation before awarding the dibs.
The second or third responders, I'll send them an email that's something like "Hey, someone reached out to me first, but if anything changes between now and [DATE], I'll let you know right away, and if you're still interested, it's all yours."
Everyone else, I might send something like "Sorry, someone's already claimed it—good luck!" I don't delete the listing until after it has been claimed, although if all three potential buyers fell through, I might take it down anyway and just repost it a few days later to keep it fresh.
Good luck!
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:00 AM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I respond to the first person who seems like a real person who can use full words correctly and not abbreviations like U. If that person responds to my email coherently, I may give them the address. I don’t respond to one-word emails. If the first person can come by in the next day with cash, I tell all other coherent human responders that they are x on the waiting list. I take the ad down once I’ve gotten five or so coherent responses.
posted by oxisos at 11:14 AM on November 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by oxisos at 11:14 AM on November 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
What the other posters said, but I update ads with a lot of replies with "(SOLD PPU)" in the title to signal to interested parties not to expect a reply. If I sell the item and there are replies in my inbox I take the ad down and don't reply, they will figure it out.
posted by lafemma at 1:37 PM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by lafemma at 1:37 PM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
In my posting, I ask them to tell me in their message when they can pick it up. I hold it for the first person who gets back to me with an answer I like, and if they flake out I go in to the next one. Whether I tell the folks in the queue it's being held depends on how much time I have on my hands.
I have found that most people who read the ad carefully enough to give me a time in their first message are less likely to flake. (Most responses don't. I still save them in case I can't find any other buyers, but they're not my first choice.)
posted by metasarah at 5:42 AM on November 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have found that most people who read the ad carefully enough to give me a time in their first message are less likely to flake. (Most responses don't. I still save them in case I can't find any other buyers, but they're not my first choice.)
posted by metasarah at 5:42 AM on November 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:17 AM on November 21, 2018