Selling a RAZR on Craigslist vs. SecondRotation - the winner is ...

Craigslist beats SecondRotation - handily.

I started our with SecondRotation; I don't like eBay so I didn't bother with them.

This is how the SecondRotation sale went:

1. Go to web site.
2. Create account.
3. Get quote ($50).
4. Clean out phone.
   
5. Find packaging, find drop-off spot, send package.
6. Wait a week.
7. SecondRotation says the phone is "locked" and offers to "dispose of it for free".
8. Request return of the phone.
9. Wait.
10. Again request return of the phone.
11. Wait.
12. Phone is returned, without much packaging. The box is a bit beat up, but otherwise it looks like what I sent them.
13. Sprint support says the phone isn't locked.

Now I try Craigslist. For the sake of comparison I sell it for what SecondRotation offered: $50.

1. Take a picture.
2. Post picture and description. I include a link to a Google Apps page. That page has my contact info and my LinkedIn profile.
   
3. Get six responses within 3 days. I guess $50 was a bit on the low side, but I'm fine with that. I accept the first one and remove the advertisement.
4. [I'd already cleaned out the phone, if I] hadn't I'd have done it at this point.
   
5. Arrange to meet at my office so buyer can switch phone to his number before handing me any money.
6. Phone switched, I get $50.

The Craigslist experience was much better than the SecondRotation experience -- even if I assume SecondRotation really did think the phone was locked. Maybe it was ... transiently.

Recently I used Craigslist to move a child's play structure and a wooden futon frame from our attic. I'd tried to give them away for years without success, a Craigslist ad got rid of them in days. I didn't ask for money, these were high quality goods I'd been unable to find a good home for. Both items ended up with young families who will get years of use from them.

I'm a Craisglist fan.