Craiglist selling - Can you sell nationally?

I have a bunch of things I'd like to sell on Craigslist, but it seems like you are restricted to one area of the country when posting an ad? Is this correct. The language reads as follows: there is no need to cross-post to more than one area - doing so may get you flagged and/or blocked - thanks!

This seems odd in the era of Paypal and, well, the U.S. Postal Service.

 

That's what Craiglist wants: to create a sense that you are part of the local community through them.

 

Yeah... if you want to sell nationally why don't you use Ebay? No chance of getting burned.

 

I think they mean more than one area per city.

I buy used espresso machines, rebuild them, and then sell them. I often find them on Craigslist.

Some people do list in multiple cities. I would just make it clear that you're not local in the ad, because the buyer might want/expect to come right over to pick up his/her purchase.

To search nationally, use google and type "site:craigslist.org".

You'll get a lot of dead links, but if you're looking for something that you're willing to pay for shipping, you can find something.

 

The obvious reason to prefer CL is that you don't have to give them a cut of your sales. But you're obviously not protected from a scam, either.

 

If you sell, you just make sure you have payment in hand BEFORE you ship it.

 

If you post in multiple cities, it sets off alarms at CL HQ.

 

You might be able to post in two closely-related areas, say Southeast Kansas and Joplin, but more than that is frowned upon.

Multiple postings of the same item in one area is also a no-no. There's a guy with a Ford Expedition who's trying to sell it quickly for $6K. He's been listing it twice a day and in 3 or 4 areas. I'm surprised he hasn't been flagged yet*.

* - That and when people realize how desperate to sell it he is, are probably going to realize that all they have to do is wait a few days and low-ball him.

 

Unless they go to paypal and say they didn't receive the item. Buyer protection is better than the seller protection on that site. I had to fight to the death over a $45 payment someone tried to stiff me on this year.

I sold a phone and a bunch of accessories. The person said it wasn't what they ordered (it really was). They sent an empty box back. Sent the return shipping info to paypal as evidence. Pay pal gave them their payment back. And so I was out the item, and the money. It took me a month and four phone calls, they finally refunded the value of the phone and accessories ($45) because I was a valued customer with no complaints in 7 years. It was still a hassle though.

 

Bought a DVD from someone in England on eBay.

Wouldn't trust CL for anything.