craigslist is full of idiots

[AlanS17]

Has anyone here ever tried to buy or sell something on craigslist? Has anyone noticed that more often than not you get emails responses that don't even form complete sentences or even complete thoughts? I'm trying to sell several machines on there, but with this is what I have to put up with 5 or 6 times a day:

Buyer: "street fighter is there anything wrong with"

Me: "I have an original Street Fighter 2 Turbo that's seen better days, and I've got the newer Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo that looks really good. Are you looking for a budget machine or something nice?"

Buyer: "cheap but working good"

I think I might poop my pants in excitement if I even get a response in proper English! 

[shardian]

I've listed a few things, and most of the time I just get spammer responses. I did sell a living room set once, and had one or two real inquiries on a car.

[boykster]

i've made out ok with craigslist, but i set the expectations bar pretty low.  I've sold a few things, but none with hard price expectations, and I've given a lot of stuff away for free.

and yes, craigslist is full of idiots.

[ChadTower]

I've sold some stuff there... I pretty much only reply to the people who do use complete sentences or something worth proceeding with.  Everyone else is wasting your time.

[AlanS17]

Yeah, when people don't use complete sentences I assume one of two things. Either they're just not interested enough or they can't possibly afford it (sad but true). Either way, it's hardly worth a reply. That's why I just editted a disclaimer into my craigslist post telling people to actually write clearly.

[shmokes]

Those sentences sound like they are from someone who actually just doesn't speak English very well (as in, it is a second language) more than some kid who refused to pay attention in grade school.  My first inclination would be to cut him slack.

[TOK]

Those sentences sound like they are from someone who actually just doesn't speak English very well (as in, it is a second language) more than some kid who refused to pay attention in grade school.  My first inclination would be to cut him slack.

The likely hood of getting paid by either is about the same... Not very! 

[ChadTower]

Damn those likely hoods... so likely to hood it up.

[Raleigh]

Those sentences sound like they are from someone who actually just doesn't speak English very well (as in, it is a second language) more than some kid who refused to pay attention in grade school.  My first inclination would be to cut him slack.

Yea, I just sold a couple bikes on there and the incoming emails from the buyer were similar in fashion.  After a dozen emails and him negotiating a higher price than what I had listed  , he and his buddy made the hour drive down and picked them up.  After meeting them I assume that Spanish is their prominent language.

I used to do really good selling on there when I was living in the suburbs of Columbus due to the decent population yet the ease to get from one side of town to the other.  Now that I moved I am clumped in with Chicago which is than broken out in regions and unfortunately I'm still a good drive from the region I'm closest to.

I make sure I post all the relevant information about the items and I host my own photos so you can get a good look at the items and am not limited to the 4 they will host so I can take pics at all angles and such.  Then incoming emails are pretty much down to questioning if it is still available and negotiating from the listed price.  If I'm not in a hurry to sell something I just keep re-listing it when it expires and eventually someone will come across it and buy it or make an acceptable offer.   I have done much better at selling pick-up only items on there then on ebay and there are no fees to worry about.

[billf]

I've gotten rid of quite a bit of stuff on Craigslist.  I have found that the more expensive items ($400 or $500+ items) tend to bring out the true idiots and spammers.  I tried to sell a patio/deck set and I would, without fail, get at least one spam email per day regarding the listing.  I mainly do what Raleigh mentioned: host your own pics and keep relisting.

Craigslist is still the easiest and cheapest way to get rid of the larger items (chairs, couches, tv's, tables, etc) and old computer junk.  And I too have gotten rid of items free as well - could not believe how fast the end of my driveway was cleared out of that free crap.

[koolmoecraig]

There are a lot of bottom dwellers on there for sure.

I was selling a gutted Mad Planets cabinet on there for $20.  A guy was interested but then backed out at the last minute.  He said it was "too expensive".  I jokingly said that I would slash the price to $10.  He said he would be right over.

Upon seeing him I told him to keep the $10.

Some people should get their priorities straight and shouldn't be buying arcade games.

[AlanS17]

There are a lot of bottom dwellers on there for sure.

I was selling a gutted Mad Planets cabinet on there for $20.  A guy was interested but then backed out at the last minute.  He said it was "too expensive".  I jokingly said that I would slash the price to $10.  He said he would be right over.

Upon seeing him I told him to keep the $10.

Some people should get their priorities straight and shouldn't be buying arcade games.

You're nicer than I am. I'd probably invite him over and then send him home empty-handed.

[ChadTower]

Odds are he wanted to live in it anyway.

[AlanS17]

I just don't have patience for people like that.

A dude came over 2 nights ago. On every single item, he would ask "Are you going to give me a break since i drove sooooo far?" Yeah, whatever...

I finally got tired of hearing it, reminded him to pay me what we'd previously agreed on, and sent him on his way.

He took away 3 empty cabinets and a busted 25" monitor. We didn't cut him any slack, either. We would have been more inclined to if he hadn't said that stuff. It just ticked me off.

Instead of offering him fair prices on the other items I had for sale, I stopped the entire transaction short of what we'd previously discussed on the phone. I didn't even let him try to buy anything else.

[psik0tik]

It's in our nature to bargain...we are humans. I sell quite a bit of stuff on craigslist since Ebay turned out to be such a fraud and I'm pretty happy with it. If they don't like the price just don't sell it to them. As far as the incomplete sentences you just have to watch out for the ones that want you to ship it to them I only deal locally from the pure fact of all the international and shipping scams. And if they drive far just say "hey you drove either you want it or you can get back in your car and drive far again"

[tommy]

I just don't have patience for people like that.

A dude came over 2 nights ago. On every single item, he would ask "Are you going to give me a break since i drove sooooo far?" Yeah, whatever...

I finally got tired of hearing it, reminded him to pay me what we'd previously agreed on, and sent him on his way.

He took away 3 empty cabinets and a busted 25" monitor. We didn't cut him any slack, either. We would have been more inclined to if he hadn't said that stuff. It just ticked me off.

Instead of offering him fair prices on the other items I had for sale, I stopped the entire transaction short of what we'd previously discussed on the phone. I didn't even let him try to buy anything else.

Like you would have lowered the price if he didn't mention it.   

[shardian]

I had a guy inquiring about a kitchen table I had in there that was an hour away. I had already had two no shows, and I could almost guarantee this guy would be another so I just told the guy "trust me, it ain't worth an hour drive." I just don't understand why people don't have the common courtesy to call back and say "I changed my mind". What the hell is wrong with some people.

[shardian]

Like you would have lowered the price if he didn't mention it.   

I think he was alluding to the fact the guy was being a ---meecrob--- about it and brought it up with every item.
I've dealt with people like that at rummage sales, and most of the time they are the flea market resellers. I don't deal with people like that either.

If the guy would have come over and then said "what kind of deal will you give me if I take all three?", then he would have gotten a better deal.

[ChadTower]

In my experience, people who write with crappy effort don't show up.  Practically never.  I also eventually learned to never set up an appt to show something unless I'm going to be around the house anyway.  Don't waste time I would have better used elsewhere because the noshow rate is way too high.

[AlanS17]

If the guy would have come over and then said "what kind of deal will you give me if I take all three?", then he would have gotten a better deal.

That's exactly the point I was trying to make. I've cut people slack on package deals before, and I'll do it again. Just don't come in with that nickel-and-dime business and the "poor me" attitude and expect me to be happy about it. You know?

Heck, I'm trading a perfectly good arcade machine with a guy who's going to mod my Wii for me. That's $20 worth of parts and $30 worth of labor in exchange for a machine that I paid $150 for. So i won't pull that business on someone else if they don't pull it on me.

Ok, I've got to slow down... Just thinking about it is getting me worked up again! 

[Wir3d]

Funny story. A guys is selling around 12 arcades on craigslist to make room for something, not sure. He has a punchout that works that he's selling for $100. I email him saying im interested in it, do you have an address so i can come see it. He replies "I dont give out my address to my warehouse, ill be going down there on saturday, if you give me $50 ill give you a recipt and ill hold it for you until saturday and you can pay the rest and pick it up". Ok, so i reply back "Alright, whats your address so i can come by and pay it". Lol, he replies back "Just email me Friday night and see if its still available, I dont have time to play games with you anymore". So I decided to pass on this arcade, the guy sounds like a moron.

[shmokes]

It's funny . . . I'm in the unfortunate position of looking for a new place to live after only moving in four months ago, cos my landlord decided he wants to sell the place and offered us a few thousand dollars to let him out of his lease.

So I posted an ad on Craig's List saying that I was looking for a place and listed some basic parameters like price range and minimum number of bedrooms and general location, etc. 

Here's one of the best scams I've ever seen.  I got such a kick out of it:

Hello,
My name is Rev.Maria James, I have an apartment that strictly fit what you are looking for in all ways.I
 actually reside in the house with my family before but presently we had moved out owing to my missionary work to uk which could last for 1 year.When I mean my family,I mean I,my 2 wonderfull children and my pets[major my dog and anna my cat].Presently my previous house is available for rent including utilities but excluding electricity at $1300 per month.
 It is a spacious 2 bedroom with 2 bath,kitchen and firewood burning place, New paint, carpeting and window covering.car garage,small patio and pets friendly.Only 15min Walking distance to
shopping and transportation.Also ,the following are the amenities you will enjoy when the place is yours.
 
In-Home Washers & Dryers
Heated Parking Garage
fenced dog park
internet facility.
     I left the keys of the apartment and the document with a cousine of my in NY.   Please, i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest person and
 i have spent energe,time and resourses alot on that apartment,so i will
 solicit for your absolute mentenance of the apartment and want you to
 manage it as your own if eventually you will be the occupant because I looked for a tenant that could take good care of the apartment before i travel but what i got was not satistfying at all that is why I left the keys and document with a cousine of my in NY,hoping that one day someone responsible will still come for the apartment.
    so,I want you to promise me that you will not disappoint me at the long run.is that taken?it is not all for money sake but I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad
to see it neat and ok whenever i came back from my missionary work.
     Inaddition,also want you to let me trust you as i always stand on my word.I dont know how urgent you need this house but i will like us to get a deal down so that the keys and the necessary document will be send to you and your payment start counting whenever you move in because has i had said earlier i need someone to move in to take good care of the house.Get back to me if you are intrested.
 
Thanks
Regards.
Rev.Maria James

[AlanS17]

I've had enough of craigslist for a while. I'm going to let my posts expire and lay of of it for a while. It's been effective in getting rid of these machines, but there's just so much bad that comes with the good.

[ChadTower]

You get what you pay for with craigslist.

[Nannuu]

You get what you pay for with craigslist.

Well that's not always true.

[SNAAKE]

yeah but its cool to deal with idiots sometime. I bought a slim ps2 with 5 games,extra controller,a memory card for $100..all new(some even sealed). apparently he is too dumb for video games or something. (his wife was hot though lol)

[boykster]

I'm done with it to except for giving away ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- for free.

I was in the market for a spare set of OEM wheels for my car (for snow tires) and found some on ebay, but figured I'd check CL first for some local options.  A guy had a set that he claimed were spare because he bought new rims, but one of them had some slight scuffing in the middle, but it's straight (not bent) and it was mis-handled.  No biggie, these are for snow tires.  I tell him I'll take them, and that I'll call him the next day to setup a time to make the exchange.  He says he'll put them in his van tonight.

I call the next day; turns out the wheels are still on the car, and the car is at an autobody shop waiting to be declared 'totalled'.  I tell him "not interested" and order the set off of ebay.