Selling tools on Craigslist is a great way to make money to buy better tools and reduce clutter. I have always loved tools and have many different kinds, from metal to woodworking. Over the years I have sold many thousands of dollars worth of old tools. These are tools I didn’t need anymore due to upgrades, did not use or didn’t like. This frees up space for something better.

In the olden days, before the internet, I used  Pennysaver or The Recycler. These have been replaced by Craigslist. Craigslist is free to use and all you need to set up an account is an email address. Your email address is not seen by anyone else, so you do not get spam by using it. You can set up ads directly on www.craigslist.com or if you have a smartphone, you can use an application on it. I like CPlus for Craigslist. There is an advantage to using a phone. You can write your ad and take a picture with your phone at the same time. Pictures are very important. They grab the attention of a potential buyer getting them to look at your ad. If place and ad from your computer, you will have to get a picture onto it. You can email it to yourself or export it from the program used to look at pictures.

I have used Facebook Selling groups and and www.nextdoor.com but these groups do not cover as wide of an area as Craigslist. Some of the tools I sell are specialized, so I need to cast a wide net.

Coming up with a price is hard. I usually do a search on Craigslist to see what others are selling similar items for. You can even go on www.ebay.com to come up with a price. I usually shoot a little high and lower the price over time. You can renew the ad as often as you want. Never think about what you paid for a tool. No one cares, but you. The only thing that matters is what someone will pay for it now.

I have had it take more than a month to sell some things.  Popular items for a good price can sell the same day. The right person has to come along and find your ad.  Beware the person that gets back to you fast with a lowball price. These are often resellers and I just ignore them. When someone says they are interested and want to look, tell them to call when they are leaving and ask when will they arrive. I hate waiting around for no-shows. Have change on hand. Say you are selling an item for $50, some guys play the game of “I only have twentys, will you take $40” Have a ten in hand. Don’t take it personal, it is just a game.

If you live in a big city, there are often more than one area to post in. I live on the border of two areas. Posting in one area and then the other gives me a bigger audience.  If I just want to get rid of something I post under For Sale- Free. Freebies can often be gone in hours. I gave away a broken string trimmer recently. The guy that got it repaired them. I know a guy that  sells wood he has left over after making bowls as firewood. He sells a trash can full for $15.

In 40 years of selling stuff through classifieds, I have not had a bad experience and have met interesting people. I just sold a fertilizer spreader to a guy who lives 100 yards from me on the next street over. He has lived there 20 years and I didn’t know him. Now I do.

So sell some tools and make room for something new.