Getting more scrap from Craigslist

I've picked up a few tips for craigslist that hopefully helps others.

Free Stuff Ads Everyone knows people give away good stuff on CL but why? Maybe they're moving and don't want to haul it or they're cleaning out their house and getting rid of the clutter (good leads for a junk removal service). These people often have lots of scrap they would love to see gone but don't post it on CL because they don't think anyone wants it. Most scrappers probably ignore the day-old Free TV ad because they think surely it's gone. I'll respond to the ad saying something like "Still got the TV or anything else you need hauled off"? Sometimes I'll get a response like "Got a BBQ grill if you want that" or "Got an old fridge, don't run too good but you can have it." When you pick stuff up it helps to be polite and appreciative. Smiles, handshakes and thank you goes a long way. If they're older, ma'am and sir should become part of your vocabulary. Talk about what you do with enthusiasm but remember to call yourself a recycler not a scrapper. To some people that word brings up images of a wheeler-dealer type who's going to squeeze out every nickle from the free stuff they gave you. That's not necessarily a bad thing but some people will see it that way. When you recycle, you're doing something that benefits everyone and some of those same people will bend over backwards to help you. Thank them again and give them a business card. Next time they think about throwing something away, they'll think of you.

Wanted Ads Most people who sell stuff on CL don't check the wanted ads. They do check the the categories they post in to see if anyone else is selling the same item. Or maybe they haven't received any calls and look for their own ad that's been buried by hundreds of others. If you're extremely specific in what you want, you can usually post in the for sale category without getting flagged. For example I might post "Brass Bed Wanted" in the furniture section and if it gets through, maybe I'll get some cheap brass.

1 more tip If you spend a lot of time checking craigslist or doing other repetitive tasks online, you need iMacros. It's a free add-on for Firefox and Internet Explorer that automates your browser. Spend a little time learning how to use it (it's super easy) and it will save tons of time in the long run.