Why Can’t I Reply to Craigslist Ads? | Techwalla
Failure to reply to a Craigslist ad is usually the result of Windows being set to recognize the correct email program as default. Other problems may include a listing not configured with the means to email inquiries, or that the ad in question has been removed.
Default Mail Program Error
Errors with the default mail client are some of the most common causes for reply errors on Craigslist. Usually, this is because while you may use one email program, Windows is set to look to another one as the default. When the default program isn’t configured with your email, you can’t send messages as replies. There are a few ways to deal with this problem: Resetting the default email client, using an alternate option or copying the email address directly into your preferred client.
Set a New Default
Step 1
Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft.
Press Windows-X and select Control Panel.
Step 2
Click Programs.
Step 3
Click Set your default programs.
Step 4
Select your preferred email program and click Set this program as default.
Step 5
Click OK.
Use an Alternate Option
The Reply button also has several alternative options accepted by the ad’s poster. Gmail, Yahoo Mail and are all possible alternatives that the poster can suggest. Clicking any of these options launches the mail services in question, with the listing’s subject and the Craigslist email address already entered in the appropriate fields.
Copy and Paste the Address
The Reply button also offers a link to Craigslist email address associated with the post, which can be copied. If all else fails, you can copy this address and paste it directly into your preferred email some cases, the person posting the ad on Craigslist may have responding via email disabled. In these cases, the only way to contact him is using one of the alternate contact methods provided in the ad — usually a phone number or some other means of contact. If there aren’t any alternate methods offered, there may have been an error in posting the ad.
Expired or Deleted Postings
If the posting has expired or been deleted since you first saw it, you may not be able to contact the advertiser using the reply email address. Craigslist makes interactions between an advertiser and applicant anonymous using temporary “go-between” email addresses, in order to prevent spamming and the harvesting of personal emails. When the listing or ad is remove, the temporary email address is broken and no longer works. If you suspect this is the case, use any alternative contact methods that the ad originally offered instead.
How to reply to a post on Craigslist in several different ways
You can reply to a posting on Craigslist in a few ways.
recep-bg/Getty Images
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.
You can click an email link to open your email app automatically or copy and paste the link into an email program later.
Visit Business Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.
Loading
Something is loading.
Craigslist is a modern-day bulletin board, filled with countless classified ads that you can post and reply to for free. While using Craigslist to respond to a post isn’t difficult, the site’s unrefined interface can sometimes feel imposing. Here is how to reply to any post on Craigslist.
How to reply to a post on Craigslist1. Open the Craigslist website in your browser and find a post you want to reply to. 2. Click “reply” in the upper left corner of the page.
Click “reply” to respond to a Craigslist post.
Dave Johnson/Business Insider
3. Craigslist might require you to complete a Captcha test to make sure you are human. If so, answer the question, such as finding all the squares that contain a certain kind of object. 4. In the pop-up menu, choose how you want to reply. There may be an option to show a phone number or email address; if you see “show phone number, ” you can click it to call or text the poster directly.
Some Craigslist users post their phone number in addition to their email.
5. Most postings, though, will only display “show email. ” Click it to see your email options:If you use an email client on your desktop, like Microsoft Outlook, you can click the link under “reply by email. ” That should open your email app with the email address automatically inserted. If you use webmail like Gmail or Yahoo Mail, click the appropriate link in the “webmail links” section. This should open your webmail in a browser, with the address you want to reply another way, you can click the email address at the bottom of the window and copy it by pressing Ctrl+C on your PC keyboard or Command+C on a Mac. Then you can paste the address into any email program or webmail service you prefer. Once you’ve done that, you can write and send your email as usual. If you’re concerned about your privacy, you may want to use a “disposable” email account such as a webmail service you use infrequently and not for any important personal mail.
Choose the kind of email response that’s most convenient.
Related coverage from Tech Reference:How to search for a seller on eBay in 2 different waysHow to contact a third-party seller on AmazonHow to sell items on eBay by creating an item listing, and start your own marketplace’How long does a buyer have to pay on eBay? ‘: A buyer has 2 days in most cases — here’s what you need to knowHow to list and sell items on Facebook Marketplace, Facebook’s version of Craigslist
Dave Johnson
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he’s also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
Read more
Read less
Receive a selection of our best stories daily based on your reading preferences.
More:
Tech How To
Craigslist
Sellers
Selling
Chevron icon
It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Deal icon
An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.
For you
How Do I Reply to Craigslist Emails Anonymously? – Small …
Craigslist offers an anonymous email to advertisers on the site, so they do not have to reveal their real email address. All replies sent to this anonymous email is forwarded to their actual email. This extra steps prevents others from having access to a poster’s real address. Unfortunately, no such protection exists for those replying to posts. 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. Go to a free Web-based email service, such as Gmail, Yahoo! Mail or Hotmail. Choose to create a new account and follow the service’s instructions. When creating your username, which is usually the first part of the email address, avoid using any identifiable information, especially your real name. Go to and locate the ad you want. Click and drag your mouse over the email address to highlight the entire address. Hold the “Ctrl” key and press “C” to copy the address. Return to your new Web-based email account, choose to compose a new email and click in the “To” field. Hold the “Ctrl” key and press “V” to paste the address in the field. Compose your email and click “Send” to send your email anonymously. References Tips When posting an ad, you should also use an anonymous email account. That way, if someone replies to you, you can respond without revealing your real email address. You may also copy the email directly from a received email and paste it into your Web-based account, just as described here. Writer Bio C. Taylor embarked on a professional writing career in 2009 and frequently writes about technology, science, business, finance, martial arts and the great outdoors. He writes for both online and offline publications, including the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Samsung, Radio Shack, Motley Fool, Chron, Synonym and more. He received a Master of Science degree in wildlife biology from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences at College of Charleston. He also holds minors in statistics, physics and visual arts.
Frequently Asked Questions about can’t reply on craigslist
How do you reply 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.Nov 9, 2020
How do I respond to a buyer anonymously on Craigslist?
Unfortunately, no such protection exists for those replying to posts. 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.