Craigslist karma

[rvieceli]

Well, I hope I have been building up some Craigslist karma because it has been a rough weekend.

Like most folks I've got a short list of stuff in my head that I'd like to get and I hate to pay retail. I've done the research and decided on the models I want etc and I cruise Craigslist and the classifieds here looking for a good deal.

So this weekend, two of the wish list things pop up one about 30 minutes away and one about 45. Both look to be in good shape and the prices are right BUT here's the kicker both are one model down from the one that I had decided on. It took a LOT of strength not to pull the trigger.

One was a TS55 when I really need a TS75 and the other was a MIG welder that was the 110 model when I had decided that the 220 one was the way to go for what I want to do.

Oh well......

 

[Harvey]

Craigslist is a tough slog. I answered an ad 3 hours away for a bandsaw I really wanted. He replied it was still available, so I asked the guy's address. He then decided he wants a deposit before giving me his address ???

 

[Slappy]

CL is like the Wild West these days , above all use caution  [blink]
a guy got shot trying to sell his game platform , the guy gave it up & still the dude shot him in the head

 

[mouppe]

I've been on the other side as a craigslist seller of some Festools. Time-wasters, ridiculously low offers, broken promises, etc. Some people seem to think that you are a forced seller if you post an ad, and if you don't meet their offer they have the right to be rude.

In the end I sold some, kept the rest and deleted the ads.

I can sympathize a little with Harvey's bandsaw seller- it's just his way of weeding out the time-wasters.

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

In the NYC craigslist...everytime that I ever put in an ad I would receive countless low ball offers and emails that started with something like..." You look like an interesting person to get to know" ...jeez!

 

[Samo]

Yeah,

Craigslist gets old fast.  I want to meet in public and not at my place.  That can be hard with big equipment.

I like posting here even on non Festool items.  Most people communicate  "Yes I want it, how do I pay?", and send payment.

Others stop communicating when it's time to put up the money.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

With the 2-way re-mailing system Craig's List is now using, the email phishing messages have all but vanished. When you find someone trying to circumvent the remailer by telling you to reply directly to their email address, then report their message as a scam and they get knocked out of the system.

The biggest problem both buyers and sellers have is that they don't take the time to write. It doesn't have to be a book, but if you are serious about buying/selling something, take the time to sound like you are actually interested in dealing with the person.

Take the bandsaw example from an earlier post. Instead of just saying, "I'd like to see it. what's your address?" Say a little more. "I live a couple hours away from you. Would it be possible to see any other pictures before I take such a long drive? If not, can we schedule a time to take a look at it?"

As for ridiculously low offers, unless you stayed home from some activity, it is really a waste of their time not yours. Most buyers already know that, so they tend to make these ridiculous offers in an email. I did have some guy try this on my pickup truck, and he did get a little bent out of shape when I rejected it and wouldn't budge from the price. However, I listed it as "firm", so he walked and it was his fault.

 

[ScotF]

I have had nothing but great success with CL -- both buying and selling.  I always meet in person, provide plenty of descriptions and indicate that I will not reply to crazy offers or people asking to ship.  It seems to work fine.  I have sold lots of stuff with little issue.

Scot