Craigslist Club

[MalMac 1,331]

Well I now belong to the club of members that have gotten the big screw job from someone selling on Craigslist. I call on a item, struck a price. I had trouble setting a pick up time. Which by the way was my fault. I did tell the seller that If he had a buyer before I got back to him to go ahead and sell it. I did not think it was right for someone to loose a sale waiting on me. Now with that said the seller said don't worry about it and If I wanted it, it was mine he would wait till after the upcoming holiday. We left it at that. Well I had a chance to pick it up early this week. I left him a message (text) that I would be able to get first part of the week. Well after jumbling my schedule around to pick it up I get a message saying he sold it. Maybe some of this is my fault but my big mistake was taking someone at their word. Glad I just did not jump in the truck and head over 1 1/2 hour away. So now I consider myself the newest member of getting the screw job using Craigslist. Maybe I just have sour grapes over loosing this Item, maybe the saying snooze you loose plays a big part in what happened, still ticks me off though. Ok I'll feel better now.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,300]

Unfortunately there are no rules on Craigslist unlike E-Bay (which is far from perfect by the way).

Better luck next time.

Mike...........

[Kelly 1,029]

I hear you, but from the other side of the coin, I sell on CL and get lots of calls saying I want it, but it will be 2 days or after fri. and never get back with me, heck I get the ones that call and say I'm on my way, and they never show up, BUT I never say I will hold a item, for more than a day, and tell the buyer call before you head out to make sure I still have the item, I will never sell a item if someone says they are on there way, but like I said I don't hold things with all the no shows I get.

[rydogg 186]

I was contacted about a wheel horse and agreed to meet the seller at the half way point so I only had to drive a little over an hour we were all set up with a meeting time and place I got there on time and waited and tried to contact the seller and couldn't get an answer so I left a nasty voicemail and headed back for home, about 2 hours later I get a text that he had vehicle problems and felt bad about not making it so he agreed to bring it to me so today he dropped of my tractor so I was pretty happy compared to yesterday when I spent 2.5 hours of my day on the road for nothing. Funny thing is today when he dropped off the tractor he apologized for falling asleep yesterday and missing our meeting time he was a good kid though and is going to be contacting me about some others he thinks his friend may have for sale.

[truckin88 104]

sorry I believe first with cash gets it, to many people have stiffed me or could not come up with the $$$$. I had one over a guitar I was selling screw me, I cancelled plans and everything, waited, an hour past the appointment time, and he would not return calls, then I get a stupid txt msg, sorry stuck replacing a tranny....then never a call back. If you want it you have to go and get it, if you can't go don't bother asking someone to hold it....you really can't blame the seller, to him you are just a voice or a txt msg in this case.

[brybrychrismer 17]

Here is the thing i hate. Someone post on craigs list what tractors the are selling no asking price or any other details. Then puts Email for more info. When you try to email to get more info and include your email address and phone number and never get a reply. and go through the whole thing multiple times. :soapbox:

[AMC RULES 37,125]

Humm, I've alway had pretty good luck with CL...

really do wish they could come up with another name for it though.

[Ken B 3,164]

The only bad C/L experience I had was a few yrs. ago. I replied to an ad from a guy that had an 18 hp 1958 Evinrude that he wanted to trade for a smaller outboard because the 18 was too big for his boat. I had a real nice 1957 Johnson 10 hp to offer in the trade. I sent him pics of mine and he assured me his was as nice as mine if not nicer. He couldn't send pics. I took him at his word and loaded my outboard into the Jeep and made the hr. long ride to meet him. We met in the parking lot of a dealership that was closed for the day His ride was about 20 minutes. Well, this clown shows up and walks over to take a look at my motor, he falls in love with it, as he well should, it was very nice. I then walk over to look at his 58 Evinrude 18. What I see blows me away! It is crusty as all hell, a salt water motor no doubt and it looks like total crapola with a busted tiller arm. I look up at the guy and tell him, this trade ain't gonna happen. He tells me yes it is and that he took time off from work to meet me and I should be good for my word. I tell him sorry, ain't happenin. I even offered him 20 bucks for gas. Well, this dude goes TOTALLY mental yelling and screamin at me in my face that he's gonna kick my azz over and over for wasting his time. I don't take to well to threats and I finally had enough. I told him to quit telling me he's gonna do it and to just do it. To be honest, at that point I was looking forward to taking 20 yrs. of frustration out on his sorry lookin face. He was totally normal on the phone and thru emails but this dude had some issues. I learned its not a good idea to meet in a secluded spot and if possible try not to go alone. Even though someone may seem and sound totally normal over the phone, chances are they may not be normal!

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

Good advise on the location Ken. Malmac- I am wilh kelly and truckin88 over the other side of the coin thing. IMO if you told me to sell it before you could get to me that would tell me as a seller that you are not a true buyer. I understand why you did that and it was the RIGHT thing to do. I think to get a deal on craigslist you need to be able to be the first in line and be there with cash right away.

[AMC RULES 37,125]

...not a good idea to meet in a secluded spot and if possible try not to go alone. Even though someone may seem and sound totally normal over the phone, chances are they may not be normal!

That is really good advice Ken.

I too like to meet in a public place to do all my CL business, as the wife doesn't like strangers coming to our house either.

I gotta admit she's right, you can never be too safe.

Edited November 19, 2012 by 16HORSE THUMPER

[MalMac 1,331]

Well from what the consensus is showing the seller was right what he did. Well maybe so in todays world. I was up front and told him to sell it if someone offered him money before I could get it to him. On the other hand and the way I see it, I was told no problem that the item would be there for me when I would meet with him a few days later after the deal was struck. Well all it shows me is his word was as good as his actions. That unfortunately is todays biasness world. I don't do business like that and don't plan to. I have been burnt before. I have sold on Craigslist and have people not show up after I made arrangements and took time out of my day for them. Because of that I have set time periods for would be buyers and everything is up front. I give them so many days or hours what ever the situations calls for. I can say I truly have not sold something out from under somebody. I fully understand the safety and security that one has to worry about when having strangers over to look at something or when you go out your self. I myself believe in the second amendment. If the other person exercises their second amendment right, wells there will be a helluva shootout. It's just ashame that it is like it is.

[Jake Kuhn 1,554]

Sorry to hear that happened to you. Craigslist is not the best place to deal with. I've had what you just had happen numerous times.

[squonk 41,013]

I had my Cub Original on CL. It was on for like 3 weeks and finally on a Sunday morning I get a call. Turns out the guy is in PA on Rt 80 and can't make up his mind if he wants to drive 4 + hours to get here. 15 min later he calls back and asks for the best route to get here. Another 30 min goes by and his buddy calls and starts asking specific questions about the tractor, ser no. ect. Another 15 min goes by and they call again and say they are coming and will I hold it for them. I say I will. 30 min goes by another call from another guy. He wants it. I tell him I got someone coming but give me your no. and if they don't take it I will call. Hour or so later the first group calls. They have crossed the border. They call 3 more times before they get here. They show up and just about turn the Cub upside down. Finally one guy says to the other,"If you don't buy it, I will" We get it loaded. NOW THEY ASK FOR DIRECTIONS TO GET HOME!!! Turn out they live south of Biglerville so I gave them a copy pf the route I use to go to the show. :)

[AMC RULES 37,125]

They should've just waited until next June...that delivery service you provide to the big show is the bomb.

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.....At least you didn't loose any money.

I seem to trust people on this forum (and others that I frequent) even if I don't know them. If someone on here rips someone off, the rest of us will know it, and the "ripper-offer" won't have another sale for he rest of his life!

[truckin88 104]

The big thing is at least you didn't waste time and gas. My father in law went over an hour to buy an IR air compressor when he got there another guy was loading it.....man was he pissed this jerk seller scheduled 2 guys at the same time....then they asked him to help load it hahahahahaha

[baerpath 517]

Most all of us have been there. I thought I bought a Didler sicklebar mower agreed to the asking price no haggling. Called to set the time and got I have another offer for more money. If you beat the other offer it's yours. Didn't offer anymore. told him what I thought of his dealings and hung up. At least he didn't ask for more money

[squonk 41,013]

They should've just waited until next June...that delivery service you provide to the big show is the bomb.

Hmmm, I could have charged storage fees on the Cub. I would havehad to leave it outside the Fairgrounds though,(wrong color) :)

[312Hydro 474]

I've dealt on CL and Ebay and they both can be problems at times. Actually did two things that I don't recommend. I bought a snowcab based on the pictures from a fella in Iowa and payed with paypal and he shipped it. That deal turned out ok but you can see where I put alot of trust in it. The other was traveling over 5 hrs to get that 520h. That also was a good experience. I talked to the guy quite awhile to make sure he wasn't going to sell it out from under me once I committed . I'm glad I did but I think that sometimes the thrill of the deal will get in the way and cause you to do things that you normally wouldn't. In my early days on Ebay I bought a motherboard for my son's computer for Christmas. Payed for it but never got it. So I called the Police Dept. in this guys town and they knew him as a con guy. I ended up buying another motherboard for my son but the missing motherboard appeared the day before Christmas. Not sure what happened but I still think the Peoria Police Dept had something to do with it.

[Rollerman 290]

I've had pretty good luck with Craigslist.

There have been some no shows & I have chased after a few only to find the seller sold them before I arrived.

On the flip side I've had to back out of buying things at times, but always try to communicate with the other party.

Honestly if its C list, Epay, or another classified...if I find I got a bad deal it's mostly on my shoulders for not following my gut instinct at first.

Sometimes my "tractor eyes" can be bigger than my common sense.

[Forest Road 594]

I've had a member here fail to show on two occasions. Infact he's chimed in on this topic. Stuff happens. I understand. Be a little more respectful of people's time!

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

So far Craigs list has done me no wrong. But I'm sure there's always that chance of getting burned by somebody. I've actually had more problems on Ebay than than anything else ....But I'm learning the ropes as far as what to ask and look for because it sucks getting disappointed.