Selling It

I always try to be a good citizen when I’m selling stuff on Craigs List. I price my items reasonably, always provide a photo, keep up with the email from interested parties, and remove my ads as soon as the items sell. Ironically, the bad form I exhibited recently, which caused my ad to removed, led to a quick sale.

I probably won’t ever get offered a job in advertising, but I thought my ad, listed under “Cars & Trucks — By Owner,” was pretty good:

Toyota Tacoma rear bumper – $50
Used chrome rear bumper. Fits 1995 through 2004 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. One minor ding, otherwise excellent condition.
Includes mounting brackets, bolts, and instructions.

OK, maybe “excellent condition” was a stretch, but the price was right (a new one lists for $250). However, after a week on Craigs List, my ad attracted only one slightly interested party who requested more pictures and then decided I lived too far away. Another reader though apparently didn’t like my ad, leading to an email from the Craigs List web site that stated unequivocally in red type: “Your posting has been flagged for removal.” The email advised me to look over the posting guidelines and terms of use and also provided the URL to a flag help forum where I could seek additional assistance.

I browsed through all of the posting rules I could find, including an FAQ, but didn’t see anything I had done to warrant the death penalty. I skipped the forum, figuring it was for people who feel truly wronged and are seeking sympathy from the trolls who monitor it. To use my favorite texting abbreviation, these are people who cannot GOI (get over it).

Finally, I went through the categories under “All For Sale/Wanted” again and noted one I missed the first time: “Auto Parts.” That has to be it I figured. My item was under the wrong category, annoying someone enough to flag it. Then I remembered seeing an FAQ titled “In what category did you post?” In part the answer states: “Posting an ad in the wrong category is a major reason ads get flagged.” While a miscategorized item wouldn’t bother me, apparently there are zealots out there who consider one a capital crime.

Yesterday I relisted the bumper, this time under “Auto Parts” with everything else the same. Last night, a local guy responded to my ad. This morning he and a couple of friends stopped by to pick up the bumper. There was a brief period of uncertainty while they discussed whether it would fit a 1995 4WD Tacoma. A quick phone call confirmed that it will. After the buyer handed me a U.S. Grant (my favorite president), off they went, minus the installation instructions of course. I guess it’s unmanly to need instructions when you have four-wheel drive.