The Amazing Craigslist!

[somunny]

I posted an ad on craigslist for a free twin bed and fram (cleaning out the garage).  I was flooded with many entertaining e-mails, but this one was my favorite:

" have a son who is now 4 and I would like to change him into a twin bed, please call me 480-XXX-XXXX I am in the area, please call as I am leaving the computer in 5minutes, Thank You ................"

Okay,  Abra-ca-dabra!  You are now a twin bed! 

[pointdablame]

if that's the "funniest" or "worst" email you got from a Craigslist ad, consider yourself lucky.

[somunny]

CL does attract the freaks, especially when you're giving away something for free.

[J_K_M_A_N]

I JUST got screwed on craigslist. A guy was offering an xbox for $60 and I told him I would give him $50 for just the box and he said ok. I was getting the pickup set up and then he emailed me and said someone offered more money and he sold it to them.

Ass hole.

J_K_M_A_N

[ChadTower]

That's not getting screwed.  You lost nothing.

[sphetr2]

I JUST got screwed on craigslist. A guy was offering an xbox for $60 and I told him I would give him $50 for just the box and he said ok. I was getting the pickup set up and then he emailed me and said someone offered more money and he sold it to them.

Ass hole.

J_K_M_A_N

What would you have done in that situation had you been the seller?

Ass hole.

[J_K_M_A_N]

I would have taken the money of course! It still sucks for me though!


J_K_M_A_N

[somunny]

Ten bucks?  Familiar with the saying "you're only as good as your word"?  Essentially, this guy's word is worth a measly ten dollars.

J_K's not out any money, but a deal had been made.  I guarantee if something like that happened on these boards to one of you giving J_K flak, there'd be some bitching going on.

Had it been me (and it has been on occasion), I'd go with the deal that was made first.  It's just good business.

[ChadTower]

I agree that the initial deal should have been honored.  That doesn't mean J_K_M_A_N actually lost anything, though.

Craiglist is mostly scammers and idiots.  I wonder which attracts the other.

[sphetr2]

Well, I must admit I'm not really familiar with the policies and workings of craigslist. Is it just like classified ads? Or more like ebay, where you commit to buying something?

I would have taken the money of course! It still sucks for me though!

I must also admit that i do see where you're coming from... 

[ChadTower]

It's just unverified ad listings.  Heavy scammer activity.  Heavy buyer flaking rate.

[somunny]

Well, I must admit I'm not really familiar with the policies and workings of craigslist. Is it just like classified ads? Or more like ebay, where you commit to buying something?

No, they're classifieds.  Basically, it's just the honor system.  Like Chad said, a lot of scammers and flakes.  

Personally, I like to use it for large items that are too cumbersome and/or expensive to ship like the saw I just got rid of.  And the Crushed velvet love seat that's going up this weekend.  Know any pimps looking for furniture?

edit*  Of course, fast fingers Chad beat me to it. 

[J_K_M_A_N]

What would you have done in that situation had you been the seller?

I would have taken the money of course! It still sucks for me though!

Actually, my parents screwed me up and raised me to honor the first transaction agreed to. It would bug me but I would take it as a live and learn.

I know there are many scammers on there but I would only do a transaction in person and with cash. I was set to see it working before buying. Oh well.

J_K_M_A_N

[leapinlew]

Ten bucks?  Familiar with the saying "you're only as good as your word"?  Essentially, this guy's word is worth a measly ten dollars.

  Thats about what I was thinking. I've been on both sides. I sold a large screen TV on craigslist. I listed it for $400 and not even a single response. 2 weeks later I listed it for $350 and had over 20 responses in the first few hours.

I suppose I could've had everyone interested in the television bid on the item to see if it could go above and beyond the asking price - but for my own conscious, I sold it to the first person who responded.

I notice here in the B/S/T the etiquette seems to be to get in line behind the first person who responded opposed to trying to outbid each other. Thats a nice way to do things.

[ChadTower]

I suppose I could've had everyone interested in the television bid on the item to see if it could go above and beyond the asking price - but for my own conscious, I sold it to the first person who responded.

Seriously.  It's not worth being out cold on the floor.

[fjl]

I used Craigslist to buy my 21 Inch VIewSonic monitor. Graphic series. Pretty good deal and the lady who sold it to me was really nice. Of course that was just my first experience with Craiglist. I'm still kind of iffy on using it further.

[Paladin]

I've bought most of my arcade cabs on craigslist.  I just picked up a converted Defender cocktail for $75 last week.  I just missed out on an Eight Ball Deluxe pinball project for $175, and a couple weeks later there was a deal for a partially working Tempest and a non working Breakout - both cabs together for $100.

Yes, there are flakes and people who will sell things to other people while you're on your way to pick them up - but that doesn't mean there aren't deals to be found!

[ChadTower]

In a lot of places, those deals are only to be found within 90 seconds of the listing.  5 minutes after hitting the server they have 20 emails about it.

[_) (V) (-)]

And of them 20 e-mails, 15 are spam or other bull$hit.

Amazing how many people expect you to give them stuff for nothing just because you are 'getting rid of it'

[ChadTower]

And of them 20 e-mails, 15 are spam or other bull$hit.

Not here.  I've emailed people 3 minutes in and had them say "the first two offered to buy it outright, the next two are on standby, and you are 15th in line".