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5 Tips for Finding Great Deals on Craigslist

Craigslist is one of the last great frontiers for finding real deals. No algorithms pushing promoted listings, no bidding wars — just private sellers and a search box. Here's how to work it.

1. Search Specific, Not General

Instead of searching "truck," try "1998 Toyota Tacoma." The more specific your search, the less competition you have from casual browsers. Serious sellers often write detailed titles — and they're exactly who you want to buy from.

2. Use Quotes for Exact Phrases

Craigslist supports quoted searches. Searching "morgan silver dollar" returns only listings with that exact phrase, cutting through noise dramatically. LurkMor supports this too — just wrap your search term in quotes.

3. Respond Within Minutes

Good listings on Craigslist go fast — sometimes within an hour of posting. That's why alerts matter. If you're checking manually twice a day, you're seeing someone else's leftovers. Set up a LurkMor alert and get notified the moment something new appears.

4. Know Your Market Value

Before you respond to a listing, know what the item is worth. Check completed eBay sales for sold prices — that's the real market, not asking prices. If a Craigslist listing is 30% below that, move fast.

5. Search Nearby Cities Too

Craigslist is local by default, but deals in a neighboring city are often worth the drive. Set up multiple LurkMor alerts — one for your city, one for nearby metros — and cast a wider net.

The best deals reward preparation and speed. Set up a free alert on LurkMor and let us do the watching for you.