How to Score Big on Craigslist: Misspellings!

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Ever hear of “chester” drawers? What about an “armwar”? Or, perhaps, an “interainment” center? Sometimes, misspellings are where the real Craigslist bargains are hiding!

Shopping on Craigslist in the south is a bit trickier than I initially thought it would be. Each time I want to find an item, I have to think of the three other ways someone will spell what I’m looking for. Why do I bother? Because bad spellers sell their crap gently used furniture items for cheap. People who typically know the correct way to describe their item, sell it, and can tell you more about the item’s details (such as if it’s made of real wood or composite, or what species, or any stamps/markers of the original maker, etc.) will often have a higher price.

Just so you can see what I mean, I’ll show you a few examples!

By searching for “bench”, I come across this beauty for $40:

In all honesty, I might not have called this just a bench. I probably would have said a lot more about it to help it show up in more search results (words like “mudroom”, “solid wood”, “storage”, etc.). But since it shows up under so few keywords, it probably isn’t selling as high, so the seller will likely be willing to accept a discount (fewer takers = better pricing and more bargaining for you!).

It makes me wish I had the space for a mudroom storage bench. Sadly, it would block our entryway closet (not exactly functional!).

However, if I searched for “mudroom”, I would come up with this for $125:

So, for another $85, I don’t get much added in terms of value (IMO).

I may be making an unfair generalization here — bad spellers and people pressed for time want to get rid of their stuff just as much as everyone else. And I’m no stranger to having fat fingers when typing away at my keyboard. I must say though, this certainly brings a whole new element into bargain hunting on Craigslist. Garage sales don’t require correct spelling for people to stop by; just that the arrow on the neon poster board is pointing in the right direction.

Before too long, I hope I find what I’m looking for. Even if my “chester drawers” don’t match the “armwar”, I’m going to find a good deal!