Craigslisting is one of our favorite hobbies, and is one of the best money saving tools you can have in your toolbox. Since Dan and I live far away from each other, we do not get to hang out in person a lot. When we have no other plans, we like to spend a nice Friday night having a few beers and browsing Craigslist. Tools today are not built as well as tools from yesteryear. You can see this by going to your local Lowe’s or Home Depot and looking at modern power tools. The tools are made of plastic, made in China, and generally junk. Older tools were built with cast iron, made in America, and built to last. Craigslist is our store for older, better tools.
The Process
Make a shopping list of tools you need or want and then search for them on Craigslist. You should go on once a week or so to see the prices of those tools and you will better understand the market. When a really good deal pops up, you will know, and be ready to pounce. NEVER OFFER FULL PRICE!
For example, if someone is selling something for $120, they will most likely accept $100. The longer something is posted, the more likely the seller will be willing to accept a lower price. Being a patient shopper, I will offer people closer to 50% of their asking price. They generally counter, otherwise I will wait for that tool to be posted at a better price. I am able to be patient because I look ahead at tools I will need for future projects and do not lock myself into needed a specific tool immediately. Sometimes you need something quickly and you pay the emergency premium, otherwise known as the asking price.
Don’t Be Bashful
I understand some people are bashful and don’t like to offer less than asking. My wife yells at me because I have a tendency to really low-ball people, but it works 40% of the time. I read the ads for clues of desperation to sell or if an item has been posted a long time. If people are selling many items under one post and only have 1 crappy picture of each item, they are probably not informed about the tools and are selling to clear out space. This is a great time to buy multiple tools, or “bundle” your purchase. If they are looking to clear out space I offer a low number (50-60% of asking) for many tools and will say I can come “immediately.”
There are a ton of blogs or chat rooms reviewing older tools. If the seller doesn’t post the model number in their ad ask, them for it. You can Google the model number and read about the tool. You will generally find out from other people how much better an older tool is than a new one.
“My guys are savages in the box!” – Aaron Boone
You don’t need to be a New York Yankee to be a savage. When I want to test the waters on price for a tool I desperately want, I have friends or family members low-ball the seller. I am able to see how flexible the seller is without them getting mad at me. Sometimes, I have multiple friends and family members offer really low prices spread out over days to get the seller to thinking their price is too high. I then can swoop in at a slightly higher price and look like a hero.
Conclusion
Craigslist is a great store to utilize for tools, furniture, anything you need. You will get a good discount and higher quality tools compared to the big box stores. I can’t recommend older tools enough since they were built to perform and last. To be successful, go on Craigslist often and get a good feel for the market for what item you are searching for so you can find the right deal and make an informed offer. When all else fails, submit a low offer and see what happens. The worst thing that can happen is they say “No.”
