Craigs List: tips for the novice?

[CathMac]

So I finally got around to listing one item, just to get started. And it didn't post.

Not only that but it isn't showing in "My Account". And having read the FAQs and two different "Help" forums (including the one on flagged items) I'm super paranoid about aggravating my "Community"; and I'm anxious to avoid inadvertently posting it twice.

So I post a question in one of the forums and I may have gotten a glimpse of a reply as I was headed out the door but now I can't even find my post or that possible reply. If it was in response to my question it seems that I may have posted in the wrong category.

Aaaaarrrrggghh.

So, my first question was going to be where would you post a Dog Bed? I put it in "Household" but the other options are "General" or possibly "Furniture".

But, having done a little more hunting around, I think I need to "verify" or "authenticate" my account with a phone number. Which I started to do but that comes with an alarming warning about phishing and the importance of typing Craigs Lists' URL address and then clicking my account. Which was more complicated than I could have guessed. It seems like you have to input SfBay as a prefix.

So I guess my first question is what is the correct Craigs List URL address?

My next question is whether you would recommend setting up a dedicated email address (such as Yahoo) to keep it separate from my usual email address (because there is no way to anonymize your email address when replying to any responses you get).

Now I know why I put this off for so long. Does it have to be this complicated?

~Cath

[luv-my-boys]

Ok Im no Craigslist pro but some of the things I have done to sell/buy off of it have been.


1. YES, set up a seperate dedicated email (yahoo,hotmail,etc) just for craigstlist. you will most likely get LOTS of scams/junk/spam mail.

2. I almost NEVER put my real phone # in the ad. Again scams/junk/spam. I have them reply via email and then I respond with my # or ask for theirs.

3. NEVER NEVER mail or ship an item. there is a link off of craigslits with some of the top craigslist scams out there. Teh most common involveds western union and cashing checks over the asking price. I only sell local

4. craigslist started the authenticate with phone # awhile back as part of the whole scam/spam prevention methods. Never automatically use a link given to you to, always type it in or go thru a reputable search engine. For instance you get a email responding to the add dont automatically use the CL link they may have inserted with it.

5. as for a dog bed personally I see it under the "Pet" section. Locallly I see lots of pet items (kennels, leashes,training aids) under that

[CathMac]

...

Originally Posted by luv-my-boys

1. YES, set up a seperate dedicated email (yahoo,hotmail,etc) just for craigstlist. you will most likely get LOTS of scams/junk/spam mail.

I already have a Yahoo account but it is linked to my regular email (through my internet service provider). Should I get a third account?

Maybe I should send a test message from my Yahoo account, to my Yahoo account and see if it winds up in my usual email.

Originally Posted by luv-my-boys

2. I almost NEVER put my real phone # in the ad. Again scams/junk/spam. I have them reply via email and then I respond with my # or ask for theirs.

Yeah, I wasn't planning on using my phone number. At least not in the posting itself.

Originally Posted by luv-my-boys

3. NEVER NEVER mail or ship an item. there is a link off of craigslits with some of the top craigslist scams out there. Teh most common involveds western union and cashing checks over the asking price. I only sell local

I plan to sell locally only.

Originally Posted by luv-my-boys

4. craigslist started the authenticate with phone # awhile back as part of the whole scam/spam prevention methods. Never automatically use a link given to you to, always type it in or go thru a reputable search engine. For instance you get a email responding to the add dont automatically use the CL link they may have inserted with it.

How do I find out what the correct URL address is?

Originally Posted by luv-my-boys

5. as for a dog bed personally I see it under the "Pet" section. Locallly I see lots of pet items (kennels, leashes,training aids) under that

I looked and looked but I couldn't find a pet category. I saw a Pet chat forum, but not a "For Sale" category. I'll try looking again.

Thanks,
~Cath

[crunchy_mommy]

Just go to craigslist.com & it should redirect you to you 'local' craigslist otherwise choose a location.

I've never 'chatted' on CL. I only post ads and have people email responses. Ours has a Pets section (not the pets chat, the sale section is up under Community though maybe it's different on your local one).

I don't know what you're referring to as far as your yahoo account being linked up to your other account, do you mean the emails are forwarded from there? It might just be easier to open a new yahoo or google or whatever email account. I have a 'spam' account which I also use for freecycle, signing up for offers, etc.

[OkiMom]

I would definetly sign up for a third account that you will only use for Craigslist. We have something like a craigslist here (named something different) and whenever I post anything I get at least 20-30 spam e-mails. If it was going to my main account it would drive me nuts. Also, I only respond to e-mails in response to the classifieds during certain times of the day so having them seperate keeps me from seeing one and responding to it out of habit when I should be doing something else.

[HappyMommy2]

Also - there are two ways to post. You can set up your account if you want to post often. It includes a few more features. But if you just want to do one or two posts, you can just do that.

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by OkiMom

I would definetly sign up for a third account that you will only use for Craigslist. We have something like a craigslist here (named something different) and whenever I post anything I get at least 20-30 spam e-mails. ...

Thanks for the input.

I just set up a Gmail account.

~Cath

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by HappyMommy2

Also - there are two ways to post. You can set up your account if you want to post often. It includes a few more features. But if you just want to do one or two posts, you can just do that.

I set up a new Craig's List account. I have a lot of stuff to list and I think I will need the edit function.

Thanks,
~Cath

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

...

Ours has a Pets section (not the pets chat, the sale section is up under Community though maybe it's different on your local one).

I looked and looked again. I don't see a section for listing Pet items, only the Pet chat.

I see a lot of Pet items under "Household" and "General". I now have my item listed under "General".

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

I don't know what you're referring to as far as your yahoo account being linked up to your other account, do you mean the emails are forwarded from there? It might just be easier to open a new yahoo or google or whatever email account. I have a 'spam' account which I also use for freecycle, signing up for offers, etc.

Yes, For some reason Verizon has some sort of arrangement with Yahoo and I can access my Verizon emails through Yahoo. I've never understood the benefit.

In any case, I have now set up a Gmail account.

Now I need to get cracking on listing stuff.

Thanks,
~Cath