How do you search Craigslist for tools?

[reader2580]

How do you guys search Craigslist for tools? On my local Craigslist there are 350 listings in the tools category just so far today. It would take a lot of time to read through all of the tools listings every day.

I suspect the best deals are probably outside of the tools category anyhow since everybody looks there for tools.

 

[n8n]

I usually start putting in brand names, although sellers keyword spam... a-holes will list every truck or industrial brand in their listing for some crappy dollar store socket set...

Also just what I'm looking for e.g. "combination wrench" (I'm still trying to score a good/cheap set for a friend's kid, friends don't let friends give ****** tools as gifts <G>)

 

[beatcad]

i think you have already figured out all the shortcuts already. like different search words to narrow the search or spelling(tool box/toolbox).
set your CL search for images. that way you can scroll thru the junk or stuff you dont need/want.
when im done looking thru the tool section i'll go to the antique section. often cool stuff will turn up there.
if im really bored i might check the barter section. theres stuff there sometimes. rarely, but sometimes.

 

[wild cowboy]

there are NOT 350 *new* listings each day, most are relists of stuff that has been on there before. Just put it in gallery mode and quickly scan the entire tools section once, then each day just scan the new stuff.

 

[Kevin54]

I go to CL, I click on the Gallery so the pics show up, then I look a what I want to look at. There is no reason to go through 350 listings if you are looking for a tile cutter.

So go to the gallery, or put in what you are looking for

 

[Zeke]

You can use Boolean search terms to weed out what you don't want to see. The [-] sign before a word eliminates that word/

 

[Steevo]

I envy those of you that need to think about a search strategy.
My local C/L tool section might be lucky to have one post per three hours.

 

[stikman56]

I type "impact" in the search box.

 

[Strouty]

I use my keyboard and mouse to search.

I usually search variations of words and misspellings too. When I search for cabinets, I look for draws, draw, drawers, drawer. I frequently find a great deal because it was spelled incorrectly.

 

[wyo george]

My CL covers the entire state and has 11 posts total for today, 2 of them the same post repeated and one a post of someone looking for tools. It's not too hard to browse through a half dozen actual listings per day, the hard part is finding something worth buying and even then it could be 500 miles away since Wyoming only has one CL page and it's a big dang state.

Out of all the listing from today, all but one of them are 150+ miles from my house.

 

[Fugio]

I search the towns nearby. It eliminates anything more than 20 miles or so from me.

 

[reader2580]

I never used gallery mode before. That looks like it will really help for quick looks through the list.

 

[Craptain]

Depends on what I am looking for. Often I just scan down the gallery and titles for anything interesting. But if I am really looking for a specific item, then use search on the home page and search all for sale. That includes all the mis-posted items and those that are just part of a larger listing. As others said, use all the variations on the spelling. I even found a listing for Vyce. Go Figure! (But didn't buy it). At the end of the day there is always a bit of work involved in sifting through the listings.

 

[fourjeepin]

I used Google Reader very successfully until they shut it down. Then I used Feedley until they had a falling out with Craig's. Now I rarely search

I used to have about 20 searches going at all times. This was the easiest way to find obscure things as the results would be pushed to be rather than me having to pull them. If there is a new way to do this, someone please enlighten us.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Eliminate listings without images and skim over it in Gallery mode.

 

[CNGsaves]

To get generic pricing all across USA, you can use Google.

Example if you want Proto 1/2 drive set . . . .

Google > > > > Proto 1/2 drive socket site:craigslist.org
. . . or . . .
Google > > > > Proto socket set metric site:craigslist.org

etc, etc, etc

 

[reader2580]

I used Google Reader very successfully until they shut it down. Then I used Feedley until they had a falling out with Craig's. Now I rarely search

Craigslist is very much against third parties running searches against their ads. They have shut down most of the ways these third parties access their system.

I'm not sure why they are so much against third party search engines. I think part of it is because some of them run ads on their sites and another thing is the third parties put a lot of traffic onto the Craigslist servers.

 

[67King]

I browse the tool section several times a day. If I'm looking for something specific, I'll put it in there, e.g. "Snap On Tool box," and try other common spellings "Snapon, Snap-on Toolbox). I've seen SK listed as SK, S K, S-K and S&K. But mostly I browse in case something on my "wish list" pops up.

 

[JonDick13926]

I open the tool section, without searching a keyword. Sort by newest first, with photos only, and scan the images back to about 1 month and stop. And then every once in a while I'll get back on and scan the new stuff.

 

[rednotch]

I type "impact" in the search box.

lol if its like mine, you must see tons of Power tools at or above HD prices. I swear one guy has half of HD tools stock list on there.

I use keyword search for the lesser known tool brands, or search socket, or wrench set ect... If you put in mac, snap on or matco its flooded with wtb adds and over priced boxes. Hand tools are not that common on the local section of mine.

If you list something from mac, snap on or matco ect at a reasonable price. you will be flooded with low ball offers from resellers so if someone wants it they don't last long.

 

[bwringer]

The Indianapolis CrackList for tools (and just about everything else, frankly) is just about useless -- I think every tweaker in the city posts the same batch of beat-up stolen **** (if you're going to steal cordless tools, have the brains to steal the friggin' charger, too...) five or six times a day, and there are several "dealers" flooding every category with dozens of ****** spam listings every day.


Things are a bit calmer on the CrackLists from the surrounding cities, so if I'm going to be passing through for some reason, I'll take a peek.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

there are NOT 350 *new* listings each day, most are relists of stuff that has been on there before. Just put it in gallery mode and quickly scan the entire tools section once, then each day just scan the new stuff.

Maybe not where you are with supermodels, but my CL did 600+ posts today just in tools. Yea, some are renews. But it's like this daily. I'm lucky to have a super active CL.

My advice, check every 20 minutes or whatever. I have that luxury. Do an inspection and check real quick when I get in the truck. Pull up to the next inspection, and check again real quick. Rinse and repeat. On the *******, check CL. Waiting to order a burrito, check CL.

Here's my CL so you can see...http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/search/tla?s=500

 

[Hephaestus29]

I've been using "Search Tempest" that's how I found my Hardinge Lathe in N.C.

Always on Gallery
You can set up Notifications for specific items, like a: Bridgeport Mill or whatever and if there is a new post you will receive an email. Which is what I do.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I use the gallery mode for just looking around local. If I'm really seriously looking and item, I use Search Tempest to hunt all of CL by distance. That way I can get all of CL within the range of miles I want to drive.

 

[BD1]

Well, now you know. We are just a bunch of old farts and has-beens with nothing better to do, filling up empty lives with the cheap hobby of tool collecting. I should have known someone would see through us eventually.

Hey, I resemble that remark almost. Not only collecting but playing with too. Sometimes by being retired you can get a jump on a item listed during the daytime morning by another old fart.

 

[Shipfittin]

I gave up on my local CrackList a long time ago because it's one those where any reasonably priced items sell the minute they post. Generally there are quite a few people on it who want Craftsman prices for Harbor Freight tools. Then there is the usual crowd who wants retail for an item. I don't really have a problem with that but I'm not going to pay retail. I might as well go to Lowes, HD, Sears, etc. so if it doesn't work or breaks I can return it.

As for trying to search it, I do the gallery mode as well. I find it's easier to sort through the junk that way.

 

[MattVette89]

If you want to search for multiple keywords at the same time, you can use the vertical line bar (above the enter key) to separate the words. For example snap|mac|matco will search all three keywords at the same time and return them in the same results.

 

[Lurch67]

Snapon + toolbox Shows only listings with Snapon Toolboxes
Snapon - Toolbox Shows every listing with snapon except toolboxes.

 

[larryq]

I used Google Reader very successfully until they shut it down. Then I used Feedley until they had a falling out with Craig's. Now I rarely search

I used to have about 20 searches going at all times. This was the easiest way to find obscure things as the results would be pushed to be rather than me having to pull them. If there is a new way to do this, someone please enlighten us.

Google reader was the best. RIP to it, helped me find a number of items on CL....

 

[GarageWarrior]

Search for specific items and learn how to build search queries and use operators to target various descriptions and filter out ****:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/help/search

Save your search queries and check on them daily.

All-in-all, I'd say - shopping on CL is a hassle. Most items are grossly overpriced (and relisted endlessly); it often takes several months to find things in good condition and at the right price; plus you have to drive out of the way to pick things up. It really only makes sense for big-ticket items and only if have time and patience and can afford to wait for the right deal.

 

[hangfirew8]

CL sellers have an uncrackable code. No matter what I search for, what I want is listed under a different mispelling.

The only thing that works for me is I tell my buddy what I want. He searches but also reads CL, and forwards the good ones to me.