I know sometimes money can be tight and you might not be able to afford the online tools you know you need to start making money online so you might need to sell some stuff and a place like Craigslist might be just thing to save the day, but a lot of people are not really digging that platform as much.
Well guess what, we found 5 places you just might like better than Craigslist.
1. Facebook
You might think of Facebook as a place to read the latest status updates for your friends or watch viral videos.
What you might not realize is that Facebook allows you to buy or sell locally. Surprise!
Since nearly everyone has a Facebook account, Facebook “for sale” listings can be quite numerous.
In fact, you might be surprised at the large number of items you see listed for sale on Facebook.
If you are having issues or a difficult time selling something on Craigslist quickly, then you might want to consider listing your item on Facebook.
Simply type in the name of your local city and online yard sale to find your local selling groups. Or click on the “Buy and Sell Groups” button in the Explore menu.
Or, click on the Marketplace tab on the left sidebar of your Facebook page.
You can search for specific keywords within the group if you are looking for a certain product to buy.
If you do not submit any search criteria, the results will look like your regular Facebook news feed. They will be displayed in the order of posting.
Be sure to read the group’s rules before listing a product to sell. Some groups are more restrictive than others.
Similar to Craigslist, you cannot sell firearms with any of the Facebook Yard Sale groups. Selling on Facebook is free.
2. Letgo
You may have seen the literal “cliffhanger” TV commercials for Letgo (the actual site’s spelling) a year or two ago. In addition to Facebook, Letgo is probably the most popular Craigslist alternative.
Letgo does a little better job than Facebook at grouping product listings. You can search for specific keywords or general categories like Fashion and Accessories. This makes Letgo easier to search for items in some ways.
Also, the Letgo site is a bit more attractive. As soon as you get to the site’s home page, you’ll see photos of recent items listed for sale. You can also easily view additional items for sale from the same seller when you click on a product listing.
Letgo can be a little safer than Craigslist. You have to verify your Google or Facebook account to create a Letgo profile. While Craigslist has a very simple and clean platform, Letgo allows sellers to get a bit more detailed. For example, you can also post videos with Letgo in addition to pictures.
Finally, Letgo is also convenient. You communicate through their app when interacting with a potential buyer or seller. As a result, you don’t need to list your phone number or e-mail address.
This feature helps some buyers and sellers feel more comfortable about conducting a transaction with a stranger.
3. Recycler
If you live in a large U.S. city, Recycler is another good option. Recycler started as a local classified newspaper in Southern California. It became a national marketplace in 2010 and now boasts 18 million monthly users.
You can use Recycler to buy or sell pets, find houses to rent, sell used cars and just about anything else that Craigslist offers.
When you sell on Recycler, you can quickly post your listings to Facebook and Twitter. To boost your exposure on Recycler, it’s also possible to use paid ads to target specific buyers or markets.
4. Offerup
As far as Craigslist alternatives go, Offerup is relatively small. But, it still has a lot of product listings and has become more popular recently with 23 million app downloads. It was also awarded App of the Year by Geekwire. Sellers and visitors can broadcast their listing on Facebook as well.
Both buyers and sellers can receive ratings too. This can help make the sales process feel more secure and keep scammers to a minimum.
To live up to its namesake, Offerup allows you to accept the seller’s listed price or make your own offer. You can also add listings to your watch list if you are not ready to buy at once.
5. Oodle
Oodle has a slightly different take on helping you buy or sell locally. With other sites, you only see listings that sellers physically posted on that marketplace. With Oodle, some listings are posted directly to Oodle, but they also comb other Craigslist alternatives to expand their listings.
As an example, you might see vehicles listed from Cars.com in addition to vehicles sold by actual Oodle members. Oodle can also be a good way to buy or sell antiques as they will also list products from eBay for local pickup.
Oodle also allows sellers to advertise listings via Facebook as well.
Oodle has a wide array of categories including pets, personals and services
Conclusion
Craigslist is a longstanding site that’s helped millions of people sell items they no longer need or want. The simplicity of the site makes it attractive to use. The fact that it’s free to list and sell also helps to make Craigslist popular. (even tho they are starting to charge for some posts)
If you’re willing to sort through the not-so-good deals, you can find some gems on the site. And possibly just when you need them. For example – it’s where I found my laptop for a super reasonable price….$300 to be exact.
Just Know That You Got Options
The fact of the matter, for many reasons, Craigslist isn’t right for everyone. It could be a non-option due to security concerns, or simply because your item isn’t selling there.
Luckily, you have alternatives to Craigslist that can help you sell your items and make some cash. Good Luck!