Background, not an ad: I make Adirondack chairs and picnic tables and sell them on Craigslist for a little extra cash. They’re not especially cheap, but I think they’re priced fairly for handmade redwood furniture. My price for a picnic table and two benches is $850. They’re made to last, using two by lumber, joinery and bolts. They weigh a ton and you could dance on them with no problem. Not wimpy.
So, I re-post my ad this morning and a reply instantly pops up. “$850? I COULD MAKE IT FOR $250. STUPID!” Yes, all caps.
I immediately deleted it, but boy, would I like to respond, so I’ll do it here.
Dear Sir or Madam, thank you for your response, but I have a couple points. First, the materials for my tables cost more than $250, and I doubt you can find them for less. Second, there’s no need to shout, my reading comprehension is fine. Third, I suggest you find a better hobby than trolling on Craigslist. Say Hi to your Mom for me.
But wait! There’s more! Apparently, my friend the troll doesn’t realize that Craigslist replies aren’t anonymous! His name is right there in the address line! I did a Google search on his name and found a site called Spokeo. Spokeo has details on people which is a bit disturbing. Where they live, work, etc. I’m not talking about doxxing him, just sending a link to the search of his name there. Might shut him up.
I’m not gonna do it. Not worth it. What an asshole.
I wouldn’t have bothered to respond. Even if you could buy the wood and hardware needed for 50 bucks, l still think your price is fair enough. Labor costs money.
Sounds like a fortuitous post. You can use your response to it in your ad.
‘Handcrafted Adirondack Chairs and tables. I know some people may be put off by the price. Some have said that they could make them themselves for less than the cost of materials alone. My table and chairs set use the finest quality materials, and are veritable paragons of Old World craftsmanship…’
We had a day bed in our spare bedroom that my wife wanted to sell on CL so we could buy an actual full-size bed for that room. I was the one who got to post the item and field all the emails. All it did was remind me how much I hate CL and the stupid people on there. “Does the mattress come with it?” Um, yeah it wouldn’t be much of a bed if it didn’t. :rolleyes:
In all fairness, the first couple that came by to look at were very nice and friendly and bought it on the spot, which saved me from days of having to respond to idiots and try to set up appointments in the evenings after work for people to come by and look at it. Plus they did almost all the work of taking it apart and loading it in their truck, even though I repeatedly offered to help.
I once posted something - I can’t recall what - for $40 OBO (or best offer). The first person said “Would you take $25?” and then the next said “I’ll pay $35!”.
When I answered the second person to message me for details, the first one posted “But…you said OBO?!”
I replied “I know, and yours was NOT the best offer…?” I am not sure why some people find it complicated. If you offer below asking, you always run the risk that someone will snipe it - and someone did!
This weekend, my husband posted an ad to sell his small lathe. He was asking less than half of what a similar machine with similar tooling would cost new. One of the responses was “Message me when you drop your price - I’ve got cash.” Yeah, dude, whatever.
It sold today for the asking price to a man who drove over an hour to come see it. He’ll be back tomorrow to get it, after leaving a substantial deposit to hold it for him. THAT’S how it’s supposed to work.
I saw a sign at a craft fair once that said, “Sure you can make it yourself, but will you?”
I actually can’t complain too loudly. I’ve had pretty good luck over the years on CL. Since I build on order, the way I work is to get a 50% deposit before I start. Weeds out the flakes. I’ve never had to eat an order.
My art is made using really common materials (think doodling with a Sharpie in a school notebook…).
So technically, anyone could do it. But they haven’t been doodling since the late fifties. Got my 10,000 hours in decades ago. Hmmm, that’s what I should say when they ask “HOW can you DO that?” (Or a comment I got just today, “But you bought that and just colored it in.” Okay, you caught me, I’m displaying coloring books at an art gallery…)
I had something similar happen when I was trying to sell off my component stereo system. I priced everything fairly, and while it wasn’t top of the line, it was decent stuff. Along comes trolly mctrollface and trashes every bit of it as cheap crap that I should be ashamed to even own. I didn’t respond, as I assumed he was trolling for my email info.
heh I had to deal with dumb asses at the swap meet… see the lady I worked for was the first person in our area that fixed the games and systems …she had to make her own tools to do it and all sorts of things you don’t have to do now …
eventually she set up a permanent at the swap meet… I worked there weekends for almost 5 years
I learned people are ignorant cheap and just straight out bastards … Not to mention I learned about so many credit/check scams… some of them from other sellers who ripped people off … I could be here for days …
