craigslist | about | help | faqs (2024)

FAQs

How do I contact a seller on Craigslist? ›

Contacting Someone on Craigslist

To reply to a Craigslist post, just click the reply button. To use your device's default email app, select the first link. Otherwise, select the web-based email you use (like Gmail or Yahoo) or copy and paste the email address at the bottom of the window into a new email manually.

Make sure the post you are responding to is still active by refreshing the page. If the recipient has opted out of the conversation, you will no longer be able to email that address. Try sending your message again with less content, fewer or no attachments, and reduced file sizes.

CL Mail Relay

craigslist creates a randomized custom email address for each posting. Use your email program as you normally would. Please note: The “real name” field (e.g. Jane Doe) in your email program is visible to the recipient.

Always use a proxy email address or phone number

If you're the one browsing, send questions to sellers through an email address you solely use for Craigslist.

Craigslist uses email obfuscation to protect your actual email address from exposure. When you click on the response button in the Craigslist ad, the site generates for you a Craigslist email address. When the other user responds to your message using this address, you receive the message into your real email address.

Craigslist provides a "cover" email address that is forwarded to the recipient's actual email address. Only Craigslist knows the real email addresses of both parties. This way, if one of the people involved turns out to be untrustworthy, they don't have the other person's email address.

When you reply directly from Craigslist, your email address will be visible to the recipient. To reply anonymously, you need to create a free Web-based email address, which does not contain identifiable information.

How do you post effectively on Craigslist? ›

You can reply to any post on Craigslist — just click the "reply" button at the top left of a post, and complete the Captcha puzzle if you're asked to. Some Craigslist listings will offer a phone contact to call or text, though most listings will only offer an email contact.

If you are using a free email account (like Hotmail and Yahoo), make sure you have not exceeded your mailbox storage limit, and check your bulk/junk/spam mail folder(s).

Whatever name appears on your emails to other people will be what shows in your response to a Craigslist ad. Your email address will not.

You can reply to any post on Craigslist — just click the "reply" button at the top left of a post, and complete the Captcha puzzle if you're asked to. Some Craigslist listings will offer a phone contact to call or text, though most listings will only offer an email contact.

If a seller encourages you to send a down payment or any form of money before receiving your item, this is a strong indication that they are trying to scam buyers. Some Craigslist scammers may ask you to send money to a foreign address because they “have suddenly been stationed overseas,” or something similar.

If you've created your posting through a Craigslist account, log in to your account and check the "Messages" or "Inbox" section to see if there are any responses there. Just checking in.