Craigslist Classifieds Scraper with Category Attributes: MCP config, n8n workflow and API

{
  "mode": "search",
  "region": "sfbay",
  "category": "sss",
  "searchQueries": [
    "bike"
  ],
  "postedToday": false,
  "hasImage": false,
  "titlesOnly": false,
  "sellerType": "all",
  "sortBy": "newest",
  "condition": "any",
  "hideDuplicates": false,
  "deliveryAvailable": false,
  "cryptoOk": false,
  "maxItems": 3,
  "includeDetails": true
}

---
name: craigslist-classifieds-scraper-with-category
description: "Craigslist listings with prices, descriptions, photos, coordinates, category attributes, repost status, and region/subarea records. Runs the Apify Actor vexaloom-labs/craigslist-classifieds-scraper-with-category. Use when the user needs Craigslist data and an Apify token is available."
compatibility: "Needs network access, curl, and an APIFY_TOKEN environment variable. Runs are billed to the token owner's Apify account."
metadata:
  actor: "vexaloom-labs/craigslist-classifieds-scraper-with-category"
  store-url: "https://apify.com/vexaloom-labs/craigslist-classifieds-scraper-with-category"
---

# Craigslist Classifieds Scraper with Category Attributes

Use this skill to fetch Craigslist data with the Apify Actor `vexaloom-labs/craigslist-classifieds-scraper-with-category` and work with the returned rows.

## Before running

1. Check that `APIFY_TOKEN` is set in the environment. Never print it or write it to a file.
2. Build `input.json` from the user's request using the fields below. Keep limits small for a first run.
3. Confirm the search terms or URLs with the user if the request is ambiguous.

## Input fields

| Field | Type | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `mode` | one of `search`, `category`, `byUrl`, `areas`, required | What to collect: keyword search, a category browse, specific Craigslist URLs, or the region/subarea reference list. |
| `region` | string | Craigslist city/region to search (mode=search/category). Pick a common region, or use Custom region for any of the 707 Craigslist sites. |
| `category` | string | Craigslist category to search or browse. The default is all for-sale listings. |
| `searchQueries` | array | One or more keywords. Each query is searched separately; results are de-duplicated. Leave empty for a category browse. (mode=search) |
| `postedToday` | boolean | Only listings posted in the last 24 hours (Craigslist's posted-today filter). |
| `hasImage` | boolean | Only listings with at least one photo. |
| `titlesOnly` | boolean | Match the keywords against titles only instead of titles and descriptions. |
| `sellerType` | one of `all`, `owner`, `dealer` | Filter by owner, dealer, or either. |
| `sortBy` | one of `newest`, `oldest`, `relevance`, `priceAsc`, `priceDesc`, `distance` | Order of results within each query. |
| `condition` | one of `any`, `new`, `like-new`, `excellent`, `good`, `fair`, `salvage` | For for-sale and auto categories: only items in this condition. |
| `hideDuplicates` | boolean | Ask Craigslist to group duplicate/reposted listings together. |
| `deliveryAvailable` | boolean | For-sale and auto categories: only listings offering delivery. |
| `cryptoOk` | boolean | For-sale and auto categories: only listings that accept crypto. |
| `maxItems` | integer | Hard cap across all queries and URLs. Craigslist returns at most 10,000 results per search. |

Example `input.json` (the Actor's published prefill):

```json
{
  "mode": "search",
  "region": "sfbay",
  "category": "sss",
  "searchQueries": [
    "bike"
  ],
  "postedToday": false,
  "hasImage": false,
  "titlesOnly": false,
  "sellerType": "all",
  "sortBy": "newest",
  "condition": "any",
  "hideDuplicates": false,
  "deliveryAvailable": false,
  "cryptoOk": false,
  "maxItems": 3,
  "includeDetails": true
}
```

## Run

```bash
curl -sS -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/vexaloom-labs~craigslist-classifieds-scraper-with-category/run-sync-get-dataset-items" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @input.json > results.json
```

The call waits for the run to finish and returns the dataset items as a JSON array. If the run needs more than 300 seconds the API answers with HTTP 408; then start the run with `POST /v2/acts/vexaloom-labs~craigslist-classifieds-scraper-with-category/runs`, poll `GET /v2/actor-runs/{runId}` until `SUCCEEDED`, and read `GET /v2/datasets/{defaultDatasetId}/items`.

## Output

Each item is one record. The Actor does not publish an output schema, so inspect the first item before mapping fields.

Summarise what was found, cite the record URLs when present, and say how many items came back. Do not invent values for empty fields.