How Can I Pull Up the Item I Posted on Craigslist?

The Craigslist search function helps you locate ads you post.

With millions of users posting and reading ads on Craigslist, your listing may not remain at the top of the search results list for long. Buyers seeking bargains see the most recent ads first when viewing the site. They can also search by keyword for specific ads that interest them. Using these techniques, you can pull up items you posted recently or in the past. By learning to find your ads on Craigslist, you can verify their accuracy and make sure they still exist on the site.

Instructions

Browse through Listings

1. Visit the Craigslist homepage (craigslist.org) and review the ad categories. These categories include "Services," "For Sale," "Gigs," "Jobs," "Personals," "Housing" and "Community." Subcategories appear beneath each category.

2. Click the subcategory you used to post your ad. You may not find your posting unless you choose the correct category. For example, if you posted in "Furniture," which is a subcategory of "For Sale," click that subcategory. A page containing posts in that category appears. Craigslist sorts the items by date. The most recent listings appear at the top of the page.

3. Scroll through the list and look for your ad. The site displays 100 postings per page. If you do not see your ad on the page, click the "Next 100 Postings" link at the bottom of the page to view more posts.

4. Browse through a few more pages to try to find your ad. If you posted the ad recently, press "F5" on each page you view. This refreshes your browser's view of the page and insures that it displays the most recent information. If you do not find your ad, proceed to the next section.

Search through Listings

1. Return to the Craigslist's homepage and locate the drop-down box on the left side of the page.

2. Click the drop-down arrow, and then click the category you used when you placed your ad.

3. Type a word from your ad in the "Search Craigslist" text box. For instance, if your ad contains the word "Mustang," type that word in the search box.

4. Click the search button. This button has no name, but it displays an arrow that points to the right. Search results appear that contain posts with your search term in their titles.

5. Look for your ad on that page. If you do not find it there, click the "Next" button to view additional listings on the next page. Continue to click "Next" to view older listings until you find your ad.

Tips & Warnings

• While viewing ads on a page, you can also search for keywords in the title on that page by pressing "Alt" and "F." This opens your browser's search box. Type a keyword, such as "sofa," and press "Enter." The browser highlights the word's first occurrence on the page. Press "Enter" to find additional results on the page.

• You ad may also expire or disappear if Craigslist deletes it. By signing up for a free Craigslist membership, you can view your current, expired and deleted posts on your account page.

• If you post an ad using a "self-posting" kit, you must complete the ad via a Craigslist email message before the site posts your ad.

References

• Craigslist: About > Help > How To Find Your Post In The Listings
• PCWorld: Three Minutes With Craig Newmark; Tom Spring; Oct. 6, 2004

Resources

• Craigslist: About > Help > User Accounts