Do you have a link to it?

How do I do a link?

Take it off for a week or 2 then put it back on.

http://nwct.craigslist.org/fuo/824141528.html

denali...you think that would help?

Is it a known name brand? or did you buy it from a locally recognized store? If so, list that info as well. If they can look up the original value or know the quality of the store, you might have more interest.

The Table was not purchased locally..actually in FL while I was there for a yr. The chairs were custom ordered from the Carrington Court Chair Co. on line. they still show them and the vale of them are $189 ea..So you think it would help if I mention the chair company's name? I'm selling the set for less than what I paid for JUST the table. I figure someone will offer less for the set..and I'm willing to go lower...but not too low. If I were living back in NY..this would have sold fast...I'm afraid here, people are more 'thrifty'.

Your upholstery on the chairs is beautiful, but not very neutral. I would think you would need to find a buyer who wants that specific color/design. If it were cheaper, a buyer might be more willing to turn around and pay to have the chairs reupholstered. Just a thought.

cambro...good point. I really don't want to 'give it away'..but I'll have to consider that it does narrow down the buyers, because of the color. :(

Cambro said exactly what I was thinking. The fabric is very taste specific.

It could be your area...my local CL is the pits. I cannot stand it. I cannot sell anything off it, no matter how inexpensive it is. Even things I offer for free are questioned and scrutinzed.

I had my old sofa & loveseat listed for $150...I just needed them gone. I'd paid considerably more for just the loveseat slipcover than I was asking for this set. I got one person over to look at it and she backed out when she realized it wouldn't fit in her tiny home. Every other response I got was offers for less than $75! I finally placed an ad with our local newspaper and sold the set for what I was asking.

And the thing that REALLY fries me is that our CL is a haven for fugly and/or overpriced garbage. 2nd hand dealers flourish in the home furnishing section, and every other section is shysters or junk.

LOL...I hear ya pesky...and I agree. I just felt that placing it on CL, saved me from having to explain the fabric..They see it first hand, and, if it were someone interested in that color and style...then - BINGO!! But..at this point...I wonder if anyone, at all, is checking out CL in this area - or not!

Oh THAT set. I love your chairs! I think I told you one time that I have some similar to the ones with the rolled back. But I love your upholstery.

I wish craigslist had a completed search engine so you could tell what sells well. But I think brand names are important to making a good sale from what I've seen on the craigslist here, so would put that in the title. If that works on ebay, it should work on craigslist.

I can't tell a lot about your table, I think there is a photo that didn't load for me though.

I would also say that the chairs are custom made. Maybe people are bypassing your ad because they think it is a dinette instead of a formal set.

Do as denali suggested. When stuff doesn't sell after two weeks I let the post expire and a few weeks later listed it again. Last time I did this everything sold within a week!

You don't have to pull the listing if you don't want to.......just keep relisting it. Buyers come and go on craigslist and you have to wait for the right buyer looking for a DR set.

I think if a serious buyer is concerned about the color of the chairs they'll contact you and ask if you'll lower the price.
I would take a photo of the table itself showing the legs and feet.
I usually make a link to photobucket so the buyer can see any number of large photos.

I'm not sure anything I'm going to say is going to help you. It depends on your timetable and how badly you want to move the set out of your home.
First, I think it's priced too high. While the chairs in the red floral really narrow your field of buyers quite a lot, I think that for $1200, most people either want antiques or will be more likely to shop in a store where they can use their charge cards. And even a consignment store wouldn't really help you there because they would have to charge enough for you to get your money after their 40% or so.......
Second thing is timing. This is not Dining Set Season. That comes a little later into the Fall. When people are thinking about a larger, nicer, set for their holiday dinners and family visiting, that's the time to list a dining set. People will buy most anything at anytime if it's very attractively priced, but that means just a couple of hundred dollars. To get into your general price range, I think you need to wait for the crowd that wants to set a nice November table. Wait till the weather chills and October is well along. Lower your price, add more details, add better closeups, and try it again.

Red

I might also change my title description. Be a little more descriptive--Dining Set-Cherry Table, 8 Upholtered Chairs or Queen Anne Dining set w/ Fabric chairs. I've been searching for a buffet/sideboard and get so frustrated when that is the only title, you click and the pic is of a sofa console table.

If you need it gone soon, I think I'd also drop the price--people on CL are looking for a bargain (or that "certain" piece) most of them don't care how much you paid for it

It is really very pretty! However, CL shoppers are looking for bargins and many people don't have or want to drop $1,200 in cash. I am not saying there is not someone out there who would buy the set but it is going to be hit or miss.

Your audience is really pretty small on local CL. You are looking for that 1 person who is looking on CLs for a dining table, in that size, in that style, with those types of chairs, and with $1,200 in cash.

When I look on CLs I look for stuff that I can paint or change to suit my needs.

Wow, it's a lovely set! And while it's probably worth your asking price, I do have to agree with others who have said that most people don't "shop" Craig's List with an eye towards spending that much money. Like Redbazel said, those who are going to spend that kind of money are more likely to want to buy new from a store, and might prefer to use a credit card instead of paying cash. I don't know a lot of people (including myself!) who have $1,200 cash lying around! ;-) Is there a consignment store in your area that you'd consider taking it to? Of course, you'd have to pay a commission, but you might be hitting more of the right market if you actually had your set in a store setting.

As someone who has both bought and sold on craigslist, I agree with everything Redbazel said (and also the suggestion to list brand names and styles whenever possible). That being said, I did sell a car on craigslist for $7500 but it took a few months time of persistant listing, test drives, etc.

I've bought and sold on CL as well, and here is my 2 cents:

If you want your price, you'll have to "sell" the set better. The higher end stuff on our local CL is always worded so that the buyer knows they're getting designer items for less.

I have to admit, based upon the title, I did NOT expect to see your set, which I think is absolutely gorgeous. What would have made me click on the link?

"Designer French Country dining set w/upholstered rolled back chairs"

I happen to think the set lends itself to several different styles, but I think you have to set it apart as a quality, designer-type set, and not just a "dining table".

I'm one that will absolutely spend more $$ on CL if I can get a nice designer piece that's both affordable and unique. That said, I do think you should re-list closer to the holidays, etc. If you want to sell it sooner, list it for under $1000. If I were in your area, I'd buy it today, even if it's not perfect, even if it's not a well known brand for $750. To get more, I think you'll have to wait and re-word the ad.

All the suggestions about "Selling it" are so good. You really have to raise your ad to out of the ordinary to appeal to the buyer who is looking for just what you have. I would do some really nice close shots of the legs, the side of the table, the chairs..........and put them on Picturetrail, Photobucket, or wherever you have your other photos. Then, put a link in your ad, along with your 4 allowed pictures, and say.........Click here to view more pictures.

Also........and I realize that everyone is different......I would need to see a phone number listed so I could call RIGHT NOW TO ASK QUESTIONS! Email is so dependant on whether the seller checks regularly and whether I am able to check regularly. Plus, if I read your ad on Friday morning and have some time right then to go look, I don't want to hang around my computer all day. I call, talk to you, and arrange to come over. (Hopefully, you use a number where someone can usually get you...) Or, I call, leave a msg., and you (who are checking your msgs all day) call me back really soon.
So many people who use CL believe it's all about the email. Well, it's not. It's all about finding what you want and going to get it before someone else steals it away from you.

Red

I had another thought last night too. Have you thought of listing your chairs and table separately? Were they bought as one set or separately? You could have a lower price that way, or you could list it both ways - at least I've seen it done that way on my craigslist.

I agree with what others have said about looking for bargains on craigslist, but willing to pay more if it says designer.

namobafo, I've been looking for a buffet too & what annoys me is that it will say buffet in the title but inside it is buffet & hutch together.

I am really appreciating all the great advice on this post as I too have a dining room set to sell on CL.....not nearly as nice as yours, slinkey, but the tips here will be useful!

You could also check with paypal if you have an account with them and see what the charge would be to accept a credit card for payment. You might get more lookers at that price point if they had the option of charging. I know paypal charges a percent of the sales price (I don't remember how much). You could always offer to sell at a set price and then list the percentage extra they would need to pay if they want to use their credit card.

Great advise on the Paypal!!

I would list it at best offer over 1000.00

It's a beautiful set--I loved it when you first shared your home photos. I agree with others that you need a better title--I like renofan's suggestion. I think to get the price this set deserves, you need to use search terms that those looking for higher end pieces use--french, designer, custom, etc.)

My other suggestion is that you consider listing in the Fairfield section. That expands your audience to include NY. I think you'll need to use a slightly different title to list it in two areas, however. You might even try Hartford, because a lot of MA people (myself included) check out those listings and would drive further for something great.

You could also consider Ebay with "local pick up only".

I agree that waiting closer to the holidays would help. Many people are really crazy busy this time of year as families get settled back in the school routine. They may also have stretched the "extras" budget with summer vacation and back-to-school expenses.

I'm really taking into consideration ALL of your great advice. I agree on your points about > lowering the price, and coming up with a better title.
I know you are All right that the timing would be better around the holidays..I've been thinking that too.

reno... I like the idea of "Designer French Country dining set w/upholstered rolled back chairs".. That does set it apart.

redbazel.. I was wondering about using my phone # .. I'm always leary of that...but I might reconsider.

auntjen... A Consignment store would prob do 60/40..That really leaves very little wiggle room with the price.

marti...selling them separately..would be a prob...I would hate to be stuck with one or the other...much harder to get rid of, but thanks anyway for the sugg.

dktrahan...I've got PayPal..but I don't think I want to do that.

teeda...Good suggestion..Fairfield is not that far, and there's more money there!! LOL.. I'm thinking that I will place it there as well. Thanks for the sugg.

Everyone else..I really apprecaite your advice, and helpful suggestions. Thanks again. I will pull the add, and wait a couple of more weeks.. Then Submit it again under a 'New Title'..w/new description and new price.

I like a lot of the suggestions already given: list any name brands, designer fabric used and use a very descriptive title making sure to advertize that it has 8 chairs. Some people on CL are so sneaky. I've been looking for chairs lately and come across titles like "Pottery Barn Manhattan Look Chair" or "Ethan Allan Like Sofa" when it's not made by those companies but still comes up if anyone is doing a keyword search.

In addition, I would add more pics (up to the four you can post)plus say you can email more pics. Pictures can really sell a set. Include a close up of the chair and closeup of the fabric and then a closeup of the table itself. I just bought a chair and it was a one hour drive away. Before committing to make the drive I wante to see pictures from different angles and closeups of the fabric to see if it went with my decor. The quality and condition of your fabric will not lend itself to customer's looking to reupholster something and price point. Be sure to include all dimenions.

Why don't you delete it now and relist it on a Friday so it appears on top when many people look around. Don't lower your price just yet as you need to leave some wiggle room to haggle--but be prepared to go down to $1,000. Another thought is to sell the table and chairs separately. In fact, I'm wondering if you may get more that way. So create two ads, one for the chairs (make sure to advertize 8 chairs as that is a common complaint that there are not enough chairs) and list it at say $900 and another for the table and list it at say $400. In each ad say you are selling the other item and provide a link to it. Then say you will sell as a set for the $1,200.

People always want to feel like they are getting a "deal" when they shop CL. They may be prepared to spend a good sum of money, but it needs to be a deal relative to what you can buy for new. So, if the set cost you say $2,400; say that as they are getting it for 50%.

val..you're a sweetie...I remember you were looking for 8 chairs..and said I would sell you my set!! LOL.. great suggestions. I definitely will take it off and repost the ad..and try to do as much 'finessing' as possible.. Good idea about saying I will email more pics if necess.
Thanks for your imput.

jane

val..you're a sweetie...I remember you were looking for 8 chairs..and said I would sell you my set!! LOL.. great suggestions. I definitely will take it off and repost the ad..and try to do as much 'finessing' as possible.. Good idea about saying I will email more pics if necess.
Thanks for your imput.

jane

valinsv...sorry for the confusion over the TWO posts above with (lou13)...I was using my DH laptop, and didn't realize I was signed on thru his account when I sent it thru..

jane