It's funny, I just asked this exact question on another board I frequent, and the consensus semmed to be first-come first-served. I (and they) would have handled it exactly like you did.

I was in a situation where the first person to email couldn't look at the item until the weekend due to our conflicting work schedules. The second person could come sooner, but I simply explained to him that my personal "CL policy" was that the first guy had "dibs" and since it wasn't an unreasonable amount of time until he could look (it wasn't like 2 weeks or something) I felt I should honor the fact that he was the first to contact me. The second guy, luckily, understood and was very nice about it. But I did wonder if I was doing the right thing. Maybe others would consider first come first served to mean the first person who can actually come LOOK at the item, not the first person who emails/calls you.

I do it the same way and if the first person does'nt show at the said time(without at least calling) move on to the next one.

The one thing I learned about selling on Craigs is the person who arrives first gets the deal. I don't hold stuff for someone who can't come when I want them to come. Made that mistake with a piece I was selling and it cost me a sale 2 days earlier. So I tell them if you can come now and see it, otherwise whomever gets here first gets first dibs.

I use the same approach as HIWTHI and for the same reason - no point waiting days just because the first person to respond can't get there sooner and in the meantime, my potential buyers may buy elsewhere. If the first person to respond can't see the item for days, I explain that I will show and sell it if others can see it sooner and choose to buy.

I hold things for the first person who asks me to do so. Sometimes that causes me some inconvenience but I think it is the nicest way to operate.

I certainly appreciate any seller that works with me so that I don't have to drop everything and race to their house.

I understand that some sellers are under pressure to complete the sale ASAP, so I don't judge them if they push for a faster sale. Buying on CL is what it is!

If the first person to respond can't see the item for days, I explain that I will show and sell it if others can see it sooner and choose to buy.

That's my policy - because I usually REALLY want the stuff out of my house.

I may have bad CL luck but truly about 90% of the people who have wanted to come see things have been no call, no show (NCNS). I used to hold before that trend emerged. I can understand not wanting to drive an hour only to find out the item has sold. The NCNS is annoying once or twice, but once when selling a PB rug I had 8 NCNS over the span of 11 days. That makes it hard to even plan grocery trips.

This is a little different than what you've suggested so far, but I'm tempted next time to say "Items can be viewed on day between hours." First come, first served." That way I don't have to interrupt my family's time/plans for people who aren't going to show up. I will set aside an hour or two - more like a shop or garage sale than on an appointment basis.

My husband sells alot (race car parts) on CL. What he has learned is to sell to the first person who shows up with cash in hand. Accepts no sad stories like, "please hold it till I get paid next week, my girlfriend is pregnant and we don't have any food". Something he hears often.

What he does is posts his cell phone number in the ad. People who want to schedule an appointment have to call to schedule a meeting time. He then has their number. there's something about having the buyer's telephone number that really has stopped the many NO SHOWS that happened when all was done through email.

ML

I don't see why you couldn't say something like, " Accepting appointments for Mondays and Wednesdays" and see what response you get. Many people who are coming from a distance may not be able to make appointments until the weekend (often this is the case for me as I live in a large metro area and my job). The offer I always make to someone is that if they have a buyer show up with cash in hand, then go ahead and make the deal. I only request that they call me and let me know they have sold the item. I always confirm my appointments the day before or day of.

I try to let the first first who responds come to see the item first, but if they can't come within a day or two, you may want to let others come because you may lose a potential buyer waiting for a person who can't come till a later date.

I sell on a first come/serve basis to the person who can get there first, necessarily the first to contact me. If someone calls and can't make it that day or the next, I don't hold it. What I've learned is that if I hold something, sometimes they don't show up or don't want it. I'd rather get rid of items to those who can get there first.

I started out holding things and no longer do that either. It can be one delay after another and your other prospective buyers may find another one and vanish.

I also want a phone call to take place. Normally buyers email me a number and I call them. Otherwise I email my number and ask them to call me. Phone calls usually mean it's the real deal.

If I'm buying and call someone, I will tell them if the people ahead of me don't show, keep me on the list. Back in November I got a nice daybed that way for the guest room. I was the third caller, but the first two didn't show!

If I have to look at something large like that, I give them half the money up front to hold it and the rest when I get back with a truck.

For those of you who are first come, first served -- what would you do if someone says they're on their way to view/pick up the item, but it will take them an hour... and within that hour someone else contacts you and wants to be there in 15 min? Do you sell it 15 mins later, then call 1 hr guy and tell him you just sold it? (which would technically be the first cone, first served practice) Or do you tell 15 min guy he can stop by if 1 hr guy doesn't show up?

I've had this happen to me and I'm torn. In reality I'm probably not a very nice person, but I try to be courteous. :) But at the same time, I remind myself that I don't owe these people anything.

As a seller, if I have a buyer I trust is en-route (and I will know that based on a phone call, not a text or email) I would ask for 15 min. buyer's phone # and tell them I'll call if it does not sell to the buyer en-route.

As a buyer, I once called early in the day on a cabinet that had posted late the night before. Seller told that someone responded by email in the wee hours, he set an appointment time by response email and would allow them to look first even though I could get there sooner. In my gut I KNEW the person would be a no show - it was just fishy they way they responded. Sure enough, the seller called me later in the day, they'd been a no show. I hightailed it over there and bought the cabinet from a really nice young man who trusted a 3am email to be legit.

I often think that being of a 'certain age' where a phone call is a measure of legitimacy is an advantage. By speaking with someone, you can get a lot of information that tells you whether to proceed or pull away. I don't get taken in by emails or texts because they are not my first 'language' although I use them all the time. Younger people rely on those communication forms as a first language - and they often pay a price for it!!!

We always do 'first contact/ come, first served'.

We just sold a ticket on CL (not the same I know!), and we had two back up buyers who knew that someone else was first in line.

I don't talk to them on the phone necessarily, but always ask for a phone number in case of emergencies. We've very rarely had a no show although we have had cancellations.

In response to the question of the en-route buyer, I have a personal story. My husband arranged to buy an enclosed work trailer from a guy 5 hours away. We needed it NOW, because if he didn't get it, he didn't work the next week. We made the arrangements, had the cash, and hit the road. When we got there, everything was ready for us.

He told us that another guy had been looking at the trailer for several weeks, and that morning had offered several hundred dollars more than we were paying, if he could have it that day. Our seller said "sorry" and turned down the extra cash. He knew we were en-route from a long way off, and just felt that it wouldn't be right to sell it to the other guy. Now THAT is a CL seller we felt good about!

Oh and for the question above re the en route 1 hr buyer vs the new 15 minute buyer, I would 110% keep my agreement with the en route buyer and ask the 15 minute buyer to wait a couple of hours for a final answer.

What I do that has always worked well is say that in general, the first person to show up with the cash gets it, but that if they call to tell me they're on their way, I'll hold the item for an hour or two so it won't go out from under them.

The only exception I make is for freebies -- If it's free, it goes to the curb and the first taker gets it. Would you believe I had three no shows for a free item? (Never had that much trouble getting rid of something I was selling...)

I just start with the first person and go down the list. I will attempt to make arrangements to meet because I always meet at a public place. We exchange information and set up a time/date. If that falls through, which doesn't usually if we get to that point, then I move down the line.