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Posting a wanted ad in the craigslist furniture listings is a waste of time, IMO. Seriously, who goes to Craigslist to see if they might have stuff someone else wants?

I have posted for things I wanted. In the past I have received these items. I have even received really nice things for free. But, lately, it has been a waste of time. I have found that within the last year or so that nobody responds to these ads.

Could someone identify the rug in the top picture?

I did it and got exactly what I wanted. I actually had 3 or 4 people contact me with various options of what I was looking for (a round Danish-modern table that didn't cost an arm and a leg).

i believe the rug is LUSY BLOM from IKEA.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30151709

I actually saw a posting the other day by someone seeking something that I was selling. But I didn't respond. There are so many ads on Craigslist (at least in the Philadelphia area, where I live) that it seems to me that if you really want something, you'll search for it. I don't want to waste my time dealing with potential buyers who aren't really interested, so waiting for them to contact me is a de facto method of screening.

I have actually been thinking of doing this for a while. I sell on craigslist all the time. I know from experience that antique dealers look for cheap finds there. I'd post an ad that I hope would be read by a dealer, who has what I'm looking for -- but does not have it posted already.

I should say that I'd post the ad in the "for sale" section, though that is probably against craigslist terms.

As a private party, I would not answer a "wanted" ad, but as a retail dealer I might.

Sometimes when I am about to post something for sale, I check to see if anyone has a wanted ad for something similar. I've had success with this a couple times. Usually the buyer is committed, which beats sorting through the flakes and no-shows when trying to sell something.

I've also put a wanted ad for free art supplies for the school at which I volunteer. Success again.

I occasionally look at the wanted ads on Craigslist, but never responded. Around here, there's a lot of requests for firewood, large appliances, and odd things. If I have something to give away, I put it on freecycle. It's usually gone within a day or two. I also check freecycle daily, mostly as motivation to get rid of things I have at home but don't use. I've given away quite a few things, especially perennials I had recently divided.

I do a daily search for a furniture store I like and it bugs me to see so many "wanted" ads in the "for sale" section. It also bugs me when people tag their crap with the name of that store as "key words". Sometimes they use white text on white print so you don't see it. I search and highlight to see their huge strings of names that suggest quality and/or vintage when their merchandise clearly is not. Grrrrrr...

I've never posted a Wanted ad on Craigslist, though I've had fair success as a buyer and as a seller on their For Sale ads. It's free to post, so why not? I say go for it. If you don't get any responses, you're no worse off than you were before.

I once posted for a chinese bedside table.Within two days I got one that not only fits the size and all but was also 25 year old thus had nice patina and cost me $20 lower than what I offered on the ad.

I posted on Craigslist that I wanted a husband for my house and I found a fantastic one.

Sometimes you don't know what you want until you see it. I went to a garage sale in a theater last year -- great finds for anyone creative. I just saw that they're hosting another sale. If you're in Chicago, check out: http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/for/1458320401.html.

I actually gave someone a pair of wing back chairs because they had posted a wanted ad. It can work both ways getting and giving away.

I tried to find 2 pairs of doors for the upper section of an Ikea "Billy" bookcase. I already had 1 set, but I had just moved and the new configuation required more. They still made the style, just not in the reddish-rosewoody colour I needed. I went so far as to locate them at an Ikea in Perth, Australia!...(I live in Toronto), and I was ready and willing to pay to ship them here. According to "company policy" (or some such thing) they wouldn't help with that. (They probably just though I was a nut-job and couldn't possibly be serious! LOL)

In frustration, I turned to Craig's list, and included a good photo of the existing doors as a reference. Although I was sure that someone in this city would have what I wanted, I had no responses...Aaaarrghh.

I wound up buying the updated colour from Ikea and to tell the truth, they really aren't that different...especially in the lighting in which they're seen!

I've had several great experiences "buying" from C's List...just not "wanting" from C's List!

I posted an ad looking for a CB2 shower curtain, assuming almost with certainty that I wouldn't get a response. But to my surprise, I did! I now own the shower curtain I've been lusting after for over a year and that very recently sold out on the website!

I posted for an IKEA sofa that would fit perfectly in my tiny in-law. I gave multiple specifications (size, color, price, condition) and still, the next day I was contacted by someone who had exactly what I was looking for at the price I wanted. I'll do it again the next time i need something specific.