Make Money On Craiglist - Arbitrage Hustle
Many of you already know what Craigslist is. Craigslist is a free online classified site, where people can exchange ideas, sell products, look for jobs, date weirdos, etc. How craigslist blew up and got popular, who knows? There are many people making using Craigslist and a few other things. I am one of those people.
Here are some of the ways I made money, and continue to make money on Craigslist.
Craigslist is such a powerful tool because it is free. You have tons and tons of traffic coming from targeted areas in your city. Just like Ebay, people go on Craigslist to shop and search for things they need. That’s where you come in. Products are being sold constantly, people are getting networked constantly, so it’s only a matter of time you can find a product that will sell well on Craigslist. Sometimes you don’t even have to find one product to sell. Just like real estate, you can flip an item quickly. People selling items on Craigslist, for the most part, you can haggle with them to lower the price and then flip it a day later. Why? People need cash and are desperate.
Here are some tips to get you to start making $500 a week solely using Craigslist only.
Arbitrage Hustle
Arbitrage is one of the oldest methods of making money. You find something cheap, and you just sell it for much higher. Some of my friends find a lot of deals on Technics 1200 Turntables or DJ Equipment in Craiglist. Usually these schmucks selling the turntables thought they would be cool and become a superstart DJ, but only to find out it was a fad to them. They usually want to jump on the next big thing so you can offer them $100 lower than what they are asking on their Craigslist listing. Last week I just made a deal on a Sprint Treo 700wx cell phone and flipped it the next day.
Internet Buyers Do Their Research
Whatever you are passionate about, whatever you like buying, then research it on Craigslist. If you like cellphones (I just flipped a Spring Treao 700wx. Asking Price: $150. I offered: $110. Then flipped it for $200. Profit = $90. Some sellers on Craigslist post just to get rid of their item and they want cold hard cash. What you have to do and realize is that a lot of people on the internet who purchase things do research on what the market value is on an item. They usually go on Ebay to check what the market value is for an item is. So even if you list your item on Craigslist as the same as Ebay, you can tell the Buyer that they will save on shipping and time of arrival. That’s the beauty of Craigslist, your buyers are in your city.
There are times where I went to drive to pick up some turntables I purchased for dirt cheap. On my way back, I texted my entire contact list and found a buyer 10 minutes later. I drove to the guys house and sold him the turntables 20 minutes after I picked them up. I made $300. $300 in 30 minutes. Not bad.
5 Basic Steps on How to Make a Low Ball Offer
What you have to do is make sure you make it easy to do business with them. If you come off like a cheapskate, or someone that’s trying to flip their product to make more money, or someone that won’t pick it up, or someone who isn’t passionate about the product, then the seller will go to the other person.
1) Sound passionate, offer to pick it up tonight. This usually will make them know you are a serious buyer. Sellers hate when they are about to sell something and a buyer never shows up.
2) Tell them you have cash. Cash is king. You need to know that. If you don’t, you’re not a hustler.
3) Sound friendly and tell them you have been looking for this product everywhere and will do anything to get it. They usually will relate, and will put you higher on their potential buyers list.
4) Tell them, you have been saving up for quite awhile just to have the product, and then tell them all you have is (subtract $50 or $100 from the price they are asking). Usually they will renegotiate or they will give it to you because you sound so passionate.
5) Make sure to respond via email fast, or if they leave phone number, call ASAP. If you’re afraid of calling people - you’re wack.
How to Beat out Other People doing the Same Thing
I have come across at least 3 people that have been dabbing into my niche, purchasing items I usually purchase and flipping them. I found a tool that helped me win most of my market back. There are thousands of products being listed daily, and sometimes you don’t feel like going on Craigslist everytime and doing the same search over and over.
What we want to do is scrape products based on what we want to see, what categories, and what niche, and just focus on those listings. I use this: http://cscrape.sourceforge.net/ . It’s a Craigslist Monitor that will only pop up the latest items in real time - products you choose, keywords you choose. So for instance you wanted to focus on the Turntable market. You just tell the Monitor to look up Turntables and it will keep pulling up the latest Turntable listings every single minute.
This will save time and will definitely help you have the upper hand on your competition.
Master Your Niche and then Master Another One
Sure you can make $500 a week selling DJ Equipment. Soon you will have a feeling of what is a good deal, and what questions to ask to determine what buying price you will offer to the seller. Once you get a feel of it and you pretty much own the market, why not try a new one. Why not study a new one. All it takes is learning how to research and finding a fair market value price on Ebay and just use the same descriptions and ask all the same questions other buyers would ask. I recently got into the cell phone market and flipped my first Sprint Treo 700wx for $90. $90 for 30 minutes of work, not bad if you ask me.
Start off small. You can start with selling things around your house on Craigslist, just to see what questions people ask, how to interact with people, how to answer emails effectively, how to post effective listings, and how to take enticing pictures. Pictures can be the selling point of your product. People want to engage and feel like they own it - so learn how to take good pictures.
Good Luck! You can easily make $500 - $1000 a week just on Craigslist. It will take some time and some gas money, but once you get the swing of it, there are treasures to be flipped on Craigslist.
There are many other ways to make money on Craigslist which can double your income, but I will explain that in a future blog post. So keep coming back my young hustler.
Keep Hustlin!
Hello, I got here from the DP forums and am sending you this same message on DP. I love the idea of this technique. I think alot like you. I have been constantly thinking up new ways to make money. I have failed alot (the worst one was the custom halfpipe builder) but have had some successes too. I would like to hear more about this technique. It is not clear to me where you resell the phones/other items… back on craigslist? the pawn shop? I would love to hear from you via email or in a pm on digital point
Hi, good info on your site ! Keep up your good work
Jeff,
I flip it directly on Craigslist. It’s a quick flip. Ebay is cool too, but I don’t like the fact that I have to wait 7 days for the auction to end. If you wait 3 days or do Buy It Now, you may never sell your item. So flip it directly on Craigslist or if you have a lot of friends - text, AIM, and email all of the ones that you think might be interested. Feel me?
What do you think of buying it off of Craigslist and then reselling it for profit?
Okay cool that makes sense. I am throwing together spreadsheets now of data I am grabbing about cell phone prices off ebay, and then im doing another one of furniture I can easily restore. Should be a good quick way to make money. Once I have my research done I am going to be ready to try my first one. Its not like I can lose money trying this. Any other tips I should keep in mind. Are cell phones an okay market to start in. I have sold a bunch of stuff on craigslist before so I know how it works. thanks a ton. -jeff
Hey
Cool site…this is my second visit.
What about notifying the wanted ads section on craigslist and showing them items on ebay?? affiliate income. Does anyone else do this and if so how much do you make?
Thanks
I did this to with Xbox 360 I need to try other things to sell. I really enjoyed your blog thank for sharing.
do you recomend using multiple accounts on craigslist, if you are going to flip it back on craigslist, to keep the buyers from seeing that you are reselling it?
Ps. Great blog
great blog. you should advertise on my site.
Excellent idea! I have been a Craigslist junkie for about 3-4 years now. I started out buying and selling cars. I was selling cars at a dealership and then I was introduced to Craig. My best deal was a ‘77 Buick LeSabre I bought from a guy out of work for $420 bucks! It wasn’t a beauty, but I saw dollar signs when I first laid eyes on it! I ended up selling the car 2 weeks later for $1475. No lie! I wasn’t really advertising it like that because at the time I had 30 other major hustles. I just happened to stumble upon Craigslist and the outcome has been stupid for me! It’s the easiest hustle like the man says! Just pay attention to your market. I have several success stories from flipping to straight out selling. It’s a cool game! The money will come!
Honestly craigslist is the easiest way to make money quick because the website don’t charge… just be careful of what your buying when ur buying dirt cheap make sure no one your buying from the the hustler himself.. Plus honestly alot of people i bought off from craigslist are easy to target at someone who stole something like when they say they don’t have a charger or they dont have a sim card or some other bullshit usually the phone psp computer or w.ee is stolen but honestly just watch your back when making deals with people
What kind of items are good for making money? Any suggestions/tips please send to danyo1332@gmail.com thanks!
hi how can i file for taxes when i have no proof of how much i make off of craigslist?
Your blog is very interresting for me, i will come back here..
Dude, this is solid info. I sell nformation for a living and this will sell - guaranteed. Have you ever thought about turning this into a $19, $39, or $47 e-book? Just an idea. Thanks for the info, keep hustlin’ player! Peace!
How long did it take you to write this blog.
Great advice, I really see how this can work. Thanks for sharing this info. it is very useful.
I net $1500.00 cash per week flipping items on CL and will never work for a company again. I have freedom and constant cash flowing. Welcome to the Craigslist economy.
Snoop or any other people reading this..what are the best items to dlip?i wouldnt mind netting $1500 a week lol
wow, great blog and thanks for the info, im thinking about doing this and it really helps!
Help!!!! Anybody advised of of a well-thought-of lender that YOU alone obtain occupied in the past? Essential recommendations fast.
what if you buy craigslist
Im looking in to getting one, has anyone got experience of one of these:
http://s821.photobucket.com/albums/zz134/mandigress/?action=view¤t=PetiteStarZia.flv
Great articles & Nice a site….
hahahhaa i bought 3 old ipods for $20 on monday, flipped that for $30 and a phone, which i traded for a blackberry, which i sold for only $20 but whatever, it was old and really beat up, and with my newly earned money, i bought some jordan 5 green beans for $40! hustlin son. shit is easy. and i dont even have a car, if i had a car and more cash id be makin mad stacks