Craigslist: How To Wheel And Deal Office Chairs

The Deal Messiah is always on the lookout for a deal. Let's face it, it's second nature to him. So when he saw a Herman Miller Aeron chair selling for $275 on Craigslist, he "snuck it" immediately. These bad boys retail for around $850.



I was already heading that way for another errand, so I did a quick scan of Craigslist, and there she was. In this type of deal situation, you literally have to send an email or call the seller (if there is a phone number listed). If it's really a bargain, I normally send an email to this effect:

Hi, I will buy your chair. I am a cash buyer and come and pick it up today, if that works for you.

I was "first to the scene" and knocked the chair price down to $262, after pointing out a few blemishes. I knew that even if I didn't like it, I could turn around and sell it for a profit, which I ultimately did.

The chair turned out to be a little too small, so I turned around and sold it on Craigslist for $375, cash. I had a few cocky "lowball" buyers on craigslist, but ignored them until the right buyer came along. And by right I mean a guy who called me, and said I will buy your chair, come pick it up today, and pay you full asking price. Shazam.

I rolled the $375 into two chairs that I found at a wholesale office chair place a few towns over (on craigslist), and negotiated down to $400 cash, out the door, from a starting price of $475.

End result, two awesome office chairs that retail for over $1,000 for Mrs. Messiah and I, for $285.