I am selling a fairly big ticket item on Craigslist. It is very important that I sell this item, I need to pay a storage bill before they auction off pretty much everything I own. I have gotten a number of inquiries, “Do you still have it for sale? Very interested!” “Yes, let me know when you would like to come check out the item!” Silence. What are you doing, taking a fucking survey? Why are you wasting my time! I have had it with these guys. It’s like they are just fantasizing about buying something. If you aren’t fucking serious, don’t fucking e-mail me.
You aren’t by any chance selling a four-wheeled hellcat from Planet Kickass, are you?
Whatever you do, please don’t turn your posting into some weird ranting listing of what’s socially unacceptable in Craigslist transactions. I tend to steer clear of those posts even if I’m interested in whatever is being sold.
In the meantime, enjoy some other listings on this blog.
I think there’s a secret cult of people who randomly respond to craigslist ads.
On the weekend, I posted a “free” ad for >40 size 2 diapers which are suddenly too small to be used by my daughter. Ad includes location to within one block, and is clear that these are available for pick-up.
I posted the ad and took a shower. When I got out of the shower, there were a dozen responses, so I deleted the ad.
I’m going through the responses, first to last. How do you go from responding “NEED THESE BAD” within five minutes of the ad appearing to completely ignoring the “This is our address, call me on my cell” message that comes back fifteen minutes later?
And no, I will not take three hours out of my day to deliver them out to the sub-sub-suburbs, even if you are on a limited income and think that they might be just the thing for your incontinent cat. Nor will they be mailed.
[obligatory] GET REAL!! [/obligatory]
Well, I can see why users would get fed up with all the flakes that respond to these things and want to post some qualifiers. Between this and the comments on YouTube, it is pretty obvious that the average internet user is beyond stupid.
And this isn’t even counting the scammers that are interested in your “item”! People seriously need to get a life. The item I am selling is going for $7000, so if you are interested, you should be pretty darn interested. This isn’t a goddamn beanie baby!
Tell me about it. I’ve just finished giving away a bunch of stuff. Countless emails: “have you still got it?” “I’m going to come and get it this afternoon” “I really want it - save it for me”
Frequently, I would get an email 20 minutes after I posted it from someone “really interested”. After I promptly reply, I would never hear from them again. This for items that are FREE.
Ah Craigslist,ye hive of scum and villainy.
My favorite local scam (it may not be local, but I’ve only seen it here): a guy who tries to use CL as if it were Ebay. He posts a listing, you bid, and after two weeks, the winning bid takes it (with, of course, only this guy’s word on it, and with him constantly contacting you to ask you if you want to bid more $$$.)
Uh huh. Sure, buddy. :rolleyes:
There should be some kind of feedback mechanism. To view ads you gotta register with CL, and if you flake on the seller a certain number of times…
I guess it is all the personals and erotic “services” on there attracts a low form of life. Let’s see, should I buy this guys item? Yeah I’m interested! Oh wait, this girl is offering blowjobs!
I seriously seriously seriously avoid Craigslist like the plague. Back in the heyday of eBay I used to buy and sell with very few problems, but I won’t touch CL with a 10 foot pole.
I’ve heard of bad things associated with Ebay as well-so what’s a good site for auctioning off old crap? [In my case getting rid of some CDs which-fingers crossed-I hope I can get more for than I would at the local used CD shoppe]
Nothing wrong with eBay. A number of disgruntled sellers got all whiney whenever eBay changed a policy or raised it’s fees. It’s fine.
For some reason I can no longer see the (very entertaining, even if I would never call any) adult services ads. When I click on them it just sez 'done" and a blank screen.
So what’s the superior alternative you have found? I’m curious because I don’t exactly love CL, but at times it’s the best option I know.
I have had—knock wood—only good experiences with Craigslist so far, although i admit the sample size isn’t huge. I’ve probably used it about a half-dozen times, almost always as a buyer.
I think you can often get a pretty good sense, from the way the ad is written, whether the seller is an idiot or a nutjob or a scammer. I also tend to weed out, without even making contact, the type of sellers who fail to give essential information about the item they’re selling. If you’re selling a bodyboard or a bicycle, and you can’t even bother to say anything about its size, you’re not worth the 20 seconds it would take to send you an email. If you’re selling a camera, and don’t specify the focal length of the lenses that come with it, you’re off my list.
Yes, it probably works better as a buyer. But as a seller, you are exposing yourself to every nutbar out there. And these days, with the economy the way it is, it is a buyer’s market. Lots of people are trying to sell stuff to make ends meet, chasing diminishing numbers of people who have money to spend.
Here’s the deal: you NEVER allow an email response on Craigslist. Phone only. Spammers cruise CL and respond to every ad with an email contact. The response goes through the CL server. YOUR response back, however, goes directly to the spammer and includes your return email address. Get the picture? Now the bastard has your email to sell to people who sell those penis extenders.
I only post my phone number and have never gotten a crackpot caller. Talking on the phone to someone also gives you an idea of the person, and allows you to set up a meeting in a public place, if you’re not comfortable giving your home address.
Some people have posted with problems giving stuff away. My experience on CL or even IRL is that you never offer to give something away for free. It attracts a ton of people that are casually interested; they’d like your item because it is free, but they don’t feel like going to the trouble of picking it up.
Always charge a nominal price. When the person shows up to get it, you can tell them to keep the money.
Please explain this reference to me. I find it amusing.
Behold. The greatest craigslist ad ever.