venting on craigslist B.S

[tav]

well i'm trying to sell a boat on creigs list , I got my description down pretty good and pics ....I tell then only to call
...no e mails or texting along with no PayPal or checks. and what do I get, a bunch of B.S Emails asking me to use pay pal cus they want to buy this for a family member while there out of the state or something like that....aahhhh!!! pisses me off and stop wasting my time . obviously they didn't read the post....what a scam. I wish creigs list would be able filter this B.S cus some of want a good buyer ..... sorry all just need to vent.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Key word is "scam" they are rather easy to pick off. It's part of the picture if you chose to use. I still have a very good track record of selling what I have, just need to ignore all that "spam". Some folks actually get caught up in that, if they didn't, the cheaters wouldn't keep doing it. Don't be that guy!!

 

[Pony]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Same issue here.....most of the responses to the ad always have some kind of story about why they can't see the boat pay in person, and the reason is always something like they are out of the country for a mission trip, or helping people, or something like that. A lot of them like to claim that the craigslist email system doesn't work right and you should email them personally etc.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

That's why you create a Yahoo or some other free email account and use that for the contact. Just go in and empty the inbox periodically - don't even bother reading any of them.

 

[eavega]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Part of the cost of using Craigslist is to deal with the scammers. I've bought and sold tens of thousands of dollars of stuff on CL including boats, cars, and electronics. The best formula I have found is to require anyone responding to reply with a local telephone number. Any response I receive without a local telephone number is ignored. If its obviously a scam I flag the response. I know its tough because we all want to have the first guy who responds to our ad be the one to buy the item, and at full asking price. The reality is that it does take some work on the seller's side to get it sold.

As to accepting PayPal, I have not had a problem accepting paypal, but when I get someone who wants to pay with PayPal, I stipulate to them that I will accept PP, but will not deliver goods until funds are cleared and moved into my non-paypal bank account, plus there will be a processing charge of 15% to cover banking transaction to move the money to my personal account. That usually causes people to re-think how they want to pay, or it shakes out any scammers.

For the record I have purchased a couple of larger ticket items via paypal. Once because I left the cash at home before driving over two hours away to look at a motor, and once because I purchased additional items from the seller for which I didn't have the cash. In either case the PayPal purchase was agreed to during a face-to-face meeting.

Rgds

Eric

 

[roscoe]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

well i'm trying to sell a boat on creigs list , I got my description down pretty good and pics ....I tell then only to call
...no e mails or texting along with no PayPal or checks. and what do I get, a bunch of B.S Emails asking me to use pay pal cus they want to buy this for a family member while there out of the state or something like that....aahhhh!!! pisses me off and stop wasting my time . obviously they didn't read the post....what a scam. I wish creigs list would be able filter this B.S cus some of want a good buyer ..... sorry all just need to vent.

And that would be your fault, as you left the email response link in your CL listing.

If you don't want emails, don't supply the link.


Also, I have bought $1000 items, and sold a $4000 item on CL, using PayPal. No scam, no problems.
And a whole lot safer than walking into someones turf with thousands in cash in your pocket.

 

[canyonken]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

When you get response to add like 2 hours after you posted it and they use "general terms" describing what you are selling - just delete it. I have always gotten a few spam emails right away after posting things. Expect it. As far as CL use - I have always been able to find a legit buyer sooner or later. Don't be in a hurry and refresh the add after a couple weeks. List it in surrounding CL towns that are not too far away to drive and look.

 

[tav]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

thanks I'll twik up my post and see what that brings.

 

[britisher]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Check out the CL ad in Boom Pregnant. It will help de-stress you about CL and bring on a smile.

 

[avenger79]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Part of the cost of using Craigslist is to deal with the scammers. I've bought and sold tens of thousands of dollars of stuff on CL including boats, cars, and electronics. The best formula I have found is to require anyone responding to reply with a local telephone number. Any response I receive without a local telephone number is ignored. If its obviously a scam I flag the response. I know its tough because we all want to have the first guy who responds to our ad be the one to buy the item, and at full asking price. The reality is that it does take some work on the seller's side to get it sold.

Eric

agree with this to a point. when I see ads requiring a ph number I either answer them and explain I'm not the one selling anything so I won't give my number but will call them if they supply theirs, or I just move along to the next ad.

I have sold many things on CL and often it is the first guy that comes that buys it. I try to price stuff very fairly though and it's usually well kept items.

just sold a trailer last week. took 6 hours, first guy came and had the money out before he even looked at it.

 

[agallant80]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Did you get the messages from the people that will sell it for you for only a small fee?

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

I add a line that says cash only and local pick up.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

I sold my boat last year on CL and bought my current boat from a CL add.

Those scam responses are easy to spot, so you don't even have to waste your time reading the full extent of them or replying . . . just let them go.

I had a few tire kicking responses and a few looking for the deal of the century . . . but after not too long I had a guy show up . . . loved the boat, offered me a decent price, left me with a deposit, brought a check the next day. Done.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

craigslist is like a public trash can. Every person can use it and put trash into it for free 24/7.If craigslist had an odor the smell would be like a public outhouse when they run out of toilet tissue.

 

[aspeck]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Sold my Kawasaki KZ1000 with no prob via CL, also found a buyer for the In-Laws house via CL ... Only 2 ads I ever placed there ... Can't complain.

 

[JoLin]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

And that would be your fault, as you left the email response link in your CL listing.

If you don't want emails, don't supply the link.

Yup- it's simple to specify anonymity when you post the ad. It's the only way I ever do it, and the only phone number I post is my cell- not the home phone.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Quit crying and do not post your email for public use. I learned a long time ago, spammers and bargainers seldom call. When I place an ad with my phone number only, almost every call is a serious potential buyer. If someone should ask if I would take less. I hang up on them. They haven't even seen the merchandise and they are trying to bargain. But they are few. Most people make arrangements to come over and look.

If they make an offer after seeing the merchandise, I consider it. If my phone does not ring, the price is too high.

Also, I never agree to hold an item until their 'spouse gets off of work'. I tell them when they are ready to head out, call me. If the item is still available, I will hold it for XX minutes until they can get here. If they do not show up by that deadline I would sell it to the next person or invite the next caller to come and see it.

Selling successfully and painlessly on CL is not rocket science. It is simple common sense.

Make them call.
Do not agree to hold the item
and price it right until the phone starts to ring with interested buyers.

 

[avenger79]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

exactly ^^^

 

[bruceb58]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

I use CL all the time for selling stuff and renting properties.

I can't believe there are whiners that can't deal with the few small issues that come with using it. Bet life in general is tough for them too.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

Re: venting on creigslist B.S

craigslist is like a public trash can. Every person can use it and put trash into it for free 24/7.If craigslist had an odor the smell would be like a public outhouse when they run out of toilet tissue.

Actually I make a ton of cash using what you consider a smelly outhouse. If you use common sense the tool works as advertised, I've never received a spam call had a bad encounter or dealt with a bad buyer. One mans trash is another mans treasure. Any specific reason you have such a horrible view of a simple website?