Craigslist - Do You Hold Items for People?

If i were in that situation, i would probably sell to the person who comes for it first. However, you could call the first guy and tell him you have another buyer who can come right away and give him the opportunity to come earlier..? He might even offer a higher price if you agree to hold it until he can pick it up!

Call the first guy and ask him to pay for it using Paypal (easy to set up) and then you will gladly hold it until Tuesday by X:00. If he doesn't call or show, you will sell it to the next person.

If he doesn't have the money to pay for it today, then you need to tell him you are sorry, but you have to sell it while you can.

Life is always a learning lesson! I had to learn the hard way. And just because caller #2 wants it now doesn't mean she'll want it next week.

If I am buying something on CL and cannot pick it up for several days, I always say that the seller does not have to wait, but if they can wait, then I can pick it up on ____ day. Usually, they say ok, and wait for me, but I totally understand if they send me an email saying they sold it to someone that could get it quicker. So, I guess the bottom line is, you need to sell it to the first person that can come!

I do not hold items.

I agree with your husband, but done is done in this case.

I would either do as you are thinking (call #2 and tell her you will call her if #1 is a now show). OR - you can call #1 back, tell him that you had another call and really need to get the item out of the house and ask if he "wants" to come get it sooner...

I don't hold items anymore (unless they leave a deposit) because I've been burned in the past - the person doesn't show or answer their phone when I call, and by that time my other potential buyers have moved on to something else.

Ha! I was selling appliances a few weeks ago and I was astounded how many people asked me to hold things. I told them I only hold "Paid for items". You come and pay me cash, and I will hold it. I had to remind people, "I am not an appliance store."

Another guy wanted me to hold a freezer, then said he had no way to move it so he was going to have to hire someone and then asked me to lower the price by $100. so he could hire someone. I told him "Sorry, not my problem. You pay what I am asking and you figure out how to move it."
Can you imagine?

He had the gall to tell me "it was not fair that he would have to pay to get to his home". I told him, "this discussion is over. Go home and think about why it is NOT my responsibility to give you a discount to have this moved.

Usually I have no problems selling anything on craigslist, but with the appliances, it brought out all sorts of clueless people.

I would call the first person and talk to him, maybe that will make him find a way to come sooner. In the future, since you did not specify, state that in your ad. I use CraigsList somewhat regularly and will ask people if they can wait until I'm able to come by, but tell them I understand if someone else can come sooner. If I write an ad, I indicate I will reply to emails in order and go from there, but stating that you will not hold it is perfectly fine. If someone calls and can't come until the next day and then later someone else offers that day, I would personally hold it, but holding for almost a week is a long time.

No way. First come, first cash. Cash and carry. No exceptions.

Ha - I asked a lady to hold something for me last night. She called me this morning and said she just had to sell it b/c her husband said "What if she shows up and doesn't buy it? You will have rejected all those other callers. You just can't do that if you want to get rid of the item."

As the buyer, I totally understand. I wish I'd had made the drive to see the item and pay her, even if I couldn't pick it up until the next day. So yes, You should have a 'first come first serve' attitude. It's your item you're selling. You can sell to whomever you want. If the first caller backed out, you'd have noone to sell to perhaps.

I sell stuff on CL all the time. I've learned not to hold, too! First come, first served. Call #1, explain that someone wants it right now. I agree w/ Jill F.; he can use PayPal if he really wants it. Or he could PayPal a deposit to hold it further. Personally, I've had soooo many flakes respond from CL ads; so many people string you along that I don't put up w/ it anymore. :)

Yes, I will hold an item but keep a list of the others who wanted it. Then I call the first person on the list to tell them it is theirs if they first person does not come get it.

You give a time limit.
He did not pay you yet.
But you already told the guy what you told him.

Yes, call the guy. Tell him what transpired.
He did ask for it first.

In the future, tell people what your husband said.

Since you already told caller one you would hold it, I think you should keep your word. Since you have caller 2 number I would call them and say to call you back on Tuesday, you may still have it.
Now for future, I would not tell anyone you will hold it, but they can try back if it hasn't sold.
Good Luck!

Since you already said yes to the first caller, I'd hold it for them until Tuesday. If they don't show or can't pay that day, then offer it to your 2nd caller.

Then, decide if you will hold future items like this. And if so, how long will you be willing to hold it? Pick your own "policy" and then always stick to that in the future. Then you will be prepared for calls like this and know exactly what you want to tell them.

Good luck selling your items - and be careful! :)

In this case, I'd "live and learn". Where craigslist is concerned, generally "a bird in the hand IS worth more than 2 in the bush'! Next time you'll be ready.
I held a wagon for people from ANOTHER state and it was a NIGHTMARE. I could have sold that thing twenty times before we found a location/date/time that worked for them. :(

I have been on both sides of this fence. I have had someone call and want a baby item that I was selling and asked me to hold it for her. I said no problem and the day after she was supposed to call to come and pick it up, I called her to see what the deal was and I never got an answer or call back. With that being said, I was burned. On the other hand, when I find something that I want to buy, I am the person who usually asks the person if they can hold the item for me. I'm a single mother who works and goes to school full time, so sometimes it's just not feasible to pick it up at that exact moment. Every person I have dealt with has been understanding and worked with me.

It's up to you to decide what policy you will have. I don't use Craigslist much but use Freecycle sometimes. It is common to tell the second person they are the backup and contact that person if the first person is a no show or doesn't work out. I've gotten a few items as the backup person.

No, first to pick up gets it. Either email/call and tell him you changed your mind, or make an exception this once hold it and learn from your mistake next time.

i would call the first guy and OFFER back to him NOW. I HATE it when i make arrangements with someone to pick up their item to find out that day or the next that it was sold. if you told them that you would keep for them, then yoou should honor that.

for me if it was something i REALLY wanted, i would make other arrangements, but then most of the time, i am asking them at a 4 or 5 one night to hold until just the next morning for me.

Im with your hubby, buyers are liars, and while he meant well he probably wont call and then you'll really be out! Call the original person and tell them they need to come today or else you have someone else interested.

Don't hold UNLESS you have a down payment!!! First come, first serve... Craigslist is not like ebay, not as professional...

nope, more often than not, they don't show up and you've lost a sale.

Holding things for people never (or rarely, but not in my experience) works out. I agree with your hubby. There's no point in holding out for some random stranger if someone else wants it. First come first serve.

Hold as long as no one else calls. We've held for people who never show up, so I wouldn't turn an actual buyer away.

Best wishes!

Just tell the first person that unless he gives you a sizeable deposit, then you can't hold it for him, as someone else is interested.
Or if you don't like confrontation, then hold it for him and if he doesn't turn up, wait the 45 mandatory craigslist days to relist it

I usually agree to hold items for a day or two (sometimes it's difficult to get a meeting time lined up), but never a week. I have been burned too many times by people changing their minds or not showing up. I love CL, but the biggest issue is dealing with unreliable people. If someone asks me to hold an item long term I usually tell them I will call them if someone else buys it before they can come get it so they know, but I sell first come first serve. If it were me, I would probably hold it for the guy like promised and just take it as a lesson learned. If he flakes out, more than likely someone else will want it.