WAS Free - 40 toy crane machines in San Jose, CA - Craigslist

[Dervacumen]

So I saw this ad posted for "40 toy crane machines", FREE, in San Jose last week and sent a message about them.  There was a picture and the looked a lot like the Sugarloaf toy cranes.
Anyway, yesterday I got this email back:

Hi, due to the interest of way too many people in these toy machines, to be fair to all, there will be an opening bid on the vending machines. Starting $1/machine, still, if you want it, you HAVE TO take all 40, if you do not have a large warehouse or storage place, i highly encourage you to think twice before you bid to save both our time, there will be NO RETURN.
In your subject of email, please state the price you are willing to pay, i will have follow-up emails.

Thanks,
Michelle

Any thoughts?  I don't want 40 crane machines, I only want one.
Are there enough people around the Bay Area that would want to pitch in to buy a lot of 40 machines?

Or is this a scam?

[shardian]

Probably a scam. I have noticed alot of scammers on CL lately that are surprisingly good. I saw a boat on the local craigslist that I would swear was a real ad. Extremely nice boat, probably a 30k boat. They were asking 2900 for it. Since I thought it was real, I contacted the seller and let them know they were missing a 0 on their price. I got a response back in a timely, but not too timely manner saying that 2900 was the real price and they were willing to ship it anywhere.
The point I am trying to make is this: on CL, if it sounds too good to be true, even if the person seems real, it probably is too good to be true.

[ChadTower]

A scam for $1 opening bid?  That involves too many people, and one of the first rules of a con is to keep the circle tight.

I'd just stay away from it.  You can't buy just one. 

[unclet]

I am assuming you asked for an overall picture of all 40 machines in the same photo?   Tell him you will drive down to see them before bidding since this is a big "lot" of machines you need to know the shape they are al in before committing.   It still is going to cost you money getting 40 machnies somewhere, not to mention the time and effort cost as well.  If he tells you where he is located, then bring 4 of your friends to go with you and DO NOT bring any money or credit cards with you in case something fishy goes on.   This way you can check out the machines and know for yourself.

People sometimes want to get rid of "crap" since they are spending monthly rent on warehouse costs which they might want to stop doing ....

[shardian]

The red alarm for me is that he could list these on ebay individually at $50 a pop and they would ALL be gone after a few days of bidding. I mean what vendor do you know that would just "give away" 40 fairly new crane machines?

[ChadTower]

Could be someone other than the vendor... perhaps inherited by surprise, abandoned storage, etc...

[mwatson]

I live a few hundred yards from San Jose, if you can get further details perhaps I could check them out? Shoot me a PM if you want me to look into it 

edit: and I'd be willing to take one if it was cheap (<$10?)

[alexred]

This may be legitimate.  They could not give away the cranes at the most recent Atlanta Superauction.

[ahofle]

I was able to get a picture from the seller.  I don't know...something smells fishy about it.

[BobA]

 

Why is the background in the wrong city?   

[ahofle]

It is??  Damn google images!!! Err, I mean...ummm....nevermind. 

[Dervacumen]

They look to be in good condition.
I asked for pic but haven't gotten one yet.
Maybe I'll get one with the pic in a different parking lot.

[ChadTower]

Use the crane technique.  If do right, no can defend.

[Havok]

Use the crane technique.  If do right, no can defend.

[shardian]

Use the crane technique.  If do right, no can defend.

Nah, the ---smurfette--- slap drum technique in part 2 was WAY cooler. I loved how the guy just took it over and over. I'd want to die too if I just got ---smurfette--- slapped 30 or so times by a skinny white boy in front of the entire town.

[ChadTower]

I refuse to acknowledge that the sequels exist.  Especially part III. 

There was no part III.

[shardian]

I refuse to acknowledge that the sequels exist.  Especially part III. 

There was no part III.

Agreed on part III and Next Karate Kid.
Would someone please tell me why the school karate expert/bully would want to beat the snot out of a hottie girl???

[Dervacumen]

All I remember about Part II is that John Lubin was the best boy / grip.

[Havok]

All I remember about Part II is that John Lubin was the best boy / grip.