CL scam or is guy just a ---meecrob---?

[DeLuSioNal29]

Contacted this guy and he seems to string along everyone else who also contacted him (had a couple of buddies try to buy from him too). He answers in cryptic one word answers. Maybe it's fake?

I wonder if he's just a ---meecrob--- or if he's just trolling?  Either way, I flagged it. Seems scammy.  I told the guy I'd flag him and post to the forums:  So here we are. :-)

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brx/vgm/5772308235.html

[Nephasth]

Need more info to decide if he's a meecrob. What questions were asked? And what were his answers?

[pbj]

So... He's not actually hurting anyone but you're still threatening him with nerd retaliation because?

At least it's not one of those "revolution x that sat out in the rain for four years" ads.

[BadMouth]

Why would it be a scam?  Is this some super rare cab that collectors cream their pants over?

I've thrown sellable stuff in the landfill lately because I don't want to deal with people.
They'll waste more of my time than it's worth to me.
Even with the curb alerts, I get a half dozen emails asking questions that have already been answered or asking me to hold items for them.
The guy at the garbage transfer station is much nicer to deal with and the clutter is gone in 10 minutes.

[RayB]

Only violations I see are bad spelling and poor assessment of condition.

[DeLuSioNal29]

I have a pretty good idea who the guy is based his pics and a lead from another member here.  He only has 11 posts over at KLOV and most of the post were to ask for help with stuff he had no idea about.

Definitely not a serious collector.  Most of his stuff he has is outside covered in tarps and he's expecting a ton of money for them and really has no idea what they are worth.  Taking this into consideration, I made the guy and offer of $50 (expecting a counter offer) and asked him a few other questions (mainly if it was still available) and he simply said, "No" in an e-mail reply.  I responded with, "Sorry to hear that it's not available.  Thanks anyway!".  He wrote back, "Game  available not for 50 don't call back".  Typical NY attitude (and I'm from NY by the way), so I called him on it and I responded with "No need to be rude".  Never heard back.

I called it like I saw it.  I took a look at the pic of the cabaret.  It looked pretty beat up and rusted (probably because it was stored in the elements, snow, rain, etc).  It was untested (probably meant not working because if it was he'd say it was working).  Made an offer of what I thought it was worth.

D

[Nephasth]

You lowballed the piss out of that guy. Offering 25% of asking price is a pretty meecrobby move. If his asking price is "way too high", keep moving.

[pbj]

Yeah, delusional, you're not coming off too well here.... It's only old video games.

 

[jtslade]

I'm with Delusional.. These are the people (non collectors) who are destroying and have killed countless classic games... When they decide to sell the games that they left outside to just rot in general they get attitude about the value. They are a plague on the hobby and need to be dealt with..

[Nephasth]

You can't say those types of people are a plague on the hobby. So what if they're not into arcade games as much as you, and aren't serious collectors. Those types of people are still valuable to those of us who are more serious. They're the equivalent of the old farmer with classic trucks and cars rusting away out in his fields. People who are into restoring classic vehicles would have a lot less if it wasn't for the old farmers that didn't throw ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- away. Don't like the way the guy conducts business? Find someone else. Is his CL price way too high? Don't lowball the guy right out the gates. Let it sit listed for a month or more, then he'd be more willing to budge. You can't expect a non-collector to know the true value of his junk. And to threaten slandering the dude on a forum is a total ---smurfette--- move... From a moderator no less!

[Mike A]

The guy has an interesting definition of "good condition". It is his property. He can try to sell it for what he likes. If you don't want it. Don't try to buy it. The only thing that seems "scammy" here is wasting someone's time on a disingenuous offer.

[pbj]

Cash in hand offer + "and I'll pick it up Saturday morning" should really be the only communication needed....

[BadMouth]

It annoys me when I'm giving something away for free and people expect some type of salesmanship on my part.
It's friggin free.  It's out there on the curb.  Take it or don't.
I generally give very thorough descriptions.
If you need to be talked into it, just stay the hell away