I was just discussing this very thing with a friend tonight. It’s awful really. I sold a TV about a week ago and had the same experience. The first email offered me exactly half of what I was asking.
No appeal for the sake of a cripple in need of transportation to visit their child dying of leukemia. Don’t worry something like that is bound to show up.
So… you’re telling me that you put up a price for your bike on a free listing service that is accessible by anyone with net a connection, and some people are so presumptuous they are offering you substantially less than your stated price? Offers so low as to be insulting.
Good Lord, what is this world coming to that allows these insulting miscreants to roam free?
I’m trying to sell some bedroom furniture on Craigslist. First call I got was a couple that just wanted the headboard - no biggie - that was the piece I really wanted to be rid of, so I sold it to them. Then I resubmitted the ad without the headboard, and I’ve gotten 2 responses so far. The first, sent a few minutes after I posted, read:
*I would like to know if you still have this item for sale,What is the last price and the present condition.
I will wait your response.*The ad clearly stated the price and the fact that the furniture is 14 years old, so it’s got scratches and wear. I flagged this one for Craig.
Second response: *Hi, is the item worth the price and available for pick up ?*Um, no, I’m selling something that is absolutely not worth what I’m asking. But on the chance it was legit (altho “the item” is a tipoff that it’s scammy) I replied. I got an answer back from a different email address:*Thanks for your prompt response.
I will be buying from you so please kindly withdraw the advert from
C…LIST. Please be informed that i will be paying with a certified
check from my Bank as i just moved here from IOWA on
a job transfer…
I will need the following details to mail the
payment as soon as possible…
1.Name to be on the payment__________________2…
Home address_____________ City State_ Zip Code________________3.Cell phone #______________________
I will make arrangements for the pick up as soon as you have your money.
I am completely satisfied with the advert and the payment will be
delivered within 2-3? working days.** I use a hearing impaired phone #
and will receive your calls via email
*Yeah, I’m sure this is legit. I just wrote back and said “Never mind. Cash only.” Then I reported this bozo too.
Craigslist will do that to you. The problem is, there is a real need for Craigslist in this world – or ideally, a perfected Craigslist capable of keeping the tossers, spammers and scammers away, both on the listing side and on the buying side. As far as I can see, Craigslist does NO policing of its own site. They’ve never responded to any complaint I’ve had.
The thing is that some people take the attitude of it does not hurt to ask. Whenever I am selling something I generally inflate the price so that when they haggle I am getting what I want for it even after coming down quite a bit. A lot of times when I am selling something, I just want to get rid of it, for example: I had a 1991 Mazda pickup for sale. I was asking $800.00 OBO. Some young guy showed up and offered me $450.00 and I grabbed the money and ran. The reality of the situation was I was going to get my buddy to come with his tow truck and haul it to the scrapyard for me. I just wanted it gone. Another time when I was selling a custom built motorcycle I was firm on the price and was not going to budge, but it did not stop the ridiculous offers from coming in. I was not insulted because I expected it. When I sold my ATV the couple that bought it were very nice and paid what I was asking so I threw in a snowplow for it. The plow was of no use to me so I said what the hell, take this too. Needless to say they were very surprised and happy. So like I said before…You just never know, so it doesn’t hurt to ask.
I have no problem with them asking. I do have a problem when they ask in barely legible english that lacks grammar and sentence structure. It would be like going up to someone you’re about to do business with and nonchalantly sticking your finger up your nose, dig around a bit, then plop a snot in your mouth and chew it.
Basically, if you intend to do business, then do your best to come across as an intelligent adult and not some uneducated 12 year old playing on your parent’s computer.
That’s funny. I think the reason some of them come across that way is because… they are that way. Unfortunately life is not full of people from the Dope. Generally people who join the Dope and post like that don’t last long, in real life they don’t just go away.
You forgot the worst. They make the deal and then show up with half the money and try to haggle you down on the spot hoping you will take the cash on hand rather then the agreed upon price.
I figure it goes with the ads I see that are like: “1990 video camera, beat to hell, barely works. Cost me like $500 in 1990 including sales tax. Asking $499”.