This may help some in searching for a dish.(Or anything for that matter) :
Searching on CraigsList: Select your city to search and enter the search term.Let's say "satellite dish" for example.You will get a search done on that ONE city listing .But there will be an option on the left side to "Include nearby areas.Put a tic in that and then you an click to add more cities.(Usually 6 at a time) You can often add many nearby cities before it finally reaches the limit.
Probably everyone has already discovered the previous. But what if you want to search more distant locations,or even the entire country? That's where you need something beyond the normal CL site.You need a search engine for CL.
Google "search all of craigslist" will show several different sites. The one I have come to prefer so far is SearchTempest(dot)com.Enter your zip code,miles to search, and the search term.The default category of sale/wanted and all sell/wanted is what I use.Hit search.Once the window opens there is an option to "Show last # days:" I search there often,so I usually do 3 or 5 day searches.No point in wading thru the old listings that I have already seen since I am only looking for new listings to post HERE.When searching for my own needs ... I try to leave no stone unturned.
One side note: Older listings may already be spoken for or even gone...but not always! Don't hesitate to get put on a waiting list... CL buyers are notorious for not showing up.You might be 3rd or 4th in line for the item and still get it. I have found it helps to mention that you will be USING the dish for its original purpose. Many former FTA'ers would prefer their dish go to YOU rather than a scrapper or gazebo builder.
And that is how I find the dishes that I post on the dish thread in this forum.
The process isn't perfect.Sometimes I'm sure that some listings get missed. (Which is why I do a 3 or 5 day search..even though I search almost daily) I search for "satellite dish". Searching for "satellite" will sometimes find a few more...but you'll wind up with tons of unrelated listings as well.I'm too lazy to wade thru hundreds of plymouth satellite parts,satellite kitchen equipment etc,etc.
I have seen members post CL listings here that my search engine never found...so once again,it isn't 100%.
I have had limited success using "parabolic", "paraclipse", "winegard", "channel master" "FTA" and other terms.Any listing that doesn't have "dish" or "satellite" in the description probably gets viewed by fewer fellow dish hunters....and may be THE one you want which hasn't already been snatched up.I'm often seeing dishes that were removed after a few hours...somebody must have gotten them quickly!
Just some tips I have discovered.I'm sure others have even better tips and search sites.Hopefully they will share them here.
Best of luck in all your future searches!
Searching on CraigsList: Select your city to search and enter the search term.Let's say "satellite dish" for example.You will get a search done on that ONE city listing .But there will be an option on the left side to "Include nearby areas.Put a tic in that and then you an click to add more cities.(Usually 6 at a time) You can often add many nearby cities before it finally reaches the limit.
Probably everyone has already discovered the previous. But what if you want to search more distant locations,or even the entire country? That's where you need something beyond the normal CL site.You need a search engine for CL.
Google "search all of craigslist" will show several different sites. The one I have come to prefer so far is SearchTempest(dot)com.Enter your zip code,miles to search, and the search term.The default category of sale/wanted and all sell/wanted is what I use.Hit search.Once the window opens there is an option to "Show last # days:" I search there often,so I usually do 3 or 5 day searches.No point in wading thru the old listings that I have already seen since I am only looking for new listings to post HERE.When searching for my own needs ... I try to leave no stone unturned.
One side note: Older listings may already be spoken for or even gone...but not always! Don't hesitate to get put on a waiting list... CL buyers are notorious for not showing up.You might be 3rd or 4th in line for the item and still get it. I have found it helps to mention that you will be USING the dish for its original purpose. Many former FTA'ers would prefer their dish go to YOU rather than a scrapper or gazebo builder.
And that is how I find the dishes that I post on the dish thread in this forum.
The process isn't perfect.Sometimes I'm sure that some listings get missed. (Which is why I do a 3 or 5 day search..even though I search almost daily) I search for "satellite dish". Searching for "satellite" will sometimes find a few more...but you'll wind up with tons of unrelated listings as well.I'm too lazy to wade thru hundreds of plymouth satellite parts,satellite kitchen equipment etc,etc.I have seen members post CL listings here that my search engine never found...so once again,it isn't 100%.
I have had limited success using "parabolic", "paraclipse", "winegard", "channel master" "FTA" and other terms.Any listing that doesn't have "dish" or "satellite" in the description probably gets viewed by fewer fellow dish hunters....and may be THE one you want which hasn't already been snatched up.I'm often seeing dishes that were removed after a few hours...somebody must have gotten them quickly!
Just some tips I have discovered.I'm sure others have even better tips and search sites.Hopefully they will share them here.
Best of luck in all your future searches!
)
