new user for craigslist-lesson learned

[Chefguy]

@Gatopescado

When selling, I only use email. You can weed out 99% of the bullshit right off the bat.

Also, make the ads real clear you will only respond to certain words in the subject line. Anybody who is serious and can read can get ahold of you.

My favorite? Emails that simply say, “Do you still have it?”. :rolleyes:

When I still used email, I always got a good laugh from the question “Is it still in working order?” for things like books or other static objects.

[Shoeless]

As much as I hate using CL, especially the having to watch for and respond to emails part, I’ve actually had pretty good luck with it. I sold a motorcycle a few years ago, and last year we unloaded a day bed that my wife wanted to replace in our guest BR with a real bed. No weirdos, and the people we sold to showed up on time with cash in hand.

[Cat_Whisperer]

@pohjonen

Better than buyers who want you to hold it for them until next week. As a seller, I say do not contact me until you are ready at that very moment to come over and buy it. Otherwise you sit home waiting for no-shows.

Very agreed. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve sat and waited for people who either didn’t show up at all, or showed up hours late. My least favourite buyers are the, “Can I pick it up Thursday? I’ll give you a call before I come to get it” people. Sure - I’ll stay home and wait for you ALL DAY THURSDAY, so you can flake out on me and maybe come pick it up some time next week. Assholes.

@Joey_P

The one time I used Freecycle (same idea) to get rid of an TV, I very clearly specified that you have to pick it up today. Over the next few hours I probably got two dozen emails asking if they could pick it up tomorrow, next week, after they move to their new house etc, all complete with sob storys. I even got a handful of emails days after I took the post down.
At first I responding to people telling them it needed to be today, but then as one buyer committed to picking it up in an hour or so, I stopped replying. I figured if this fell through, I could pick the next person.<snip>

I’m planning on changing my listings to, “No holds. Preference will be given to quick pick-up.” If you want it, come get it. No dicking around.

@Ruken

A coworker wanted to meet to sell his car in the police department parking lot. For some reason a lot of people lost interest after hearing that.

Here in Lethbridge, the local police have a couple of spots in front of the station, with security cameras prominently pointed at them, specifically reserved for online buying and selling. I would be surprised if this wasn’t the case in a lot of other places.

[Cat_Whisperer]

@Cat_Whisperer

<snip>
I’m planning on changing my listings to, “No holds. Preference will be given to quick pick-up.” If you want it, come get it. No dicking around.<snip>

Update: it worked like a charm! Sold and picked up in hours!

[Hampshire]

While I don’t hold items for anyone I am still pleasant to them and tell them “No, I won’t hold it for more than an hour, but give me a call/text when you’re ready to come get it and I’ll let you know if it’s still available.”
Some people’s requests are so outrageous they actually make me laugh instead of angering me.
Working lawnmower asking $100. “Will you take $20 and can you bring it to me?”
Free working tradmill. “Will you deliver it across town to me?”

[Cat_Whisperer]

@Hampshire

While I don’t hold items for anyone I am still pleasant to them and tell them “No, I won’t hold it for more than an hour, but give me a call/text when you’re ready to come get it and I’ll let you know if it’s still available.”
Some people’s requests are so outrageous they actually make me laugh instead of angering me.
Working lawnmower asking $100. “Will you take $20 and can you bring it to me?”
Free working tradmill. “Will you deliver it across town to me?”

Yeah, there are always the people who figure they might as well ask for the moon (or are just really, really clueless). For example, my last sale was a really hot commodity, so there was a ton of activity on the listing with multiple people saying they will take it. One person sent me a pm asking if they could come look at it - well, no, you can’t, because it’s already been sold and picked up.