Wheel Horse Craigslist Blues

[waltsuz 12]

Worked out a deal with a Craigslist seller on a parts D250 on Thursday. Made arrangements with the seller to pick it up on Saturday morning, deal was locked down and the tractor was mine. Friday night I texted the seller and told him I would be at his home at 9am in the morning. Drove 120 miles and the tractor had been sold the previous evening, Friday when I sent the last text. Ted of course wasn’t there but his buddy thought the situation was hilarious. To make family arrangements, lose a weekend day off, drive 240 miles round trip and lay out 100.00 in fuel makes one feel kicked in the junk. If you happen to be in Crawfordsville In, please call Ted at xxx-xxx-xxxx or stop by at xxxx xxxxxxx Road, Crawfordville In, 47933 and tell him Walt mentioned him. In the end all we really have is our word.. Regards, Walt.

If this is unappropriate being a supporting member, I apologize, just sayin'

Edited October 20, 2014 by CasualObserver
phone and address removed.

[pfrederi 17,643]

That really s***cks!!!  

[ericj 1,578]

the other friday i spotted a 520-H @ 6:30 am on craigslist for $350.00, waited till 7 am to call and asked when could i come see it he said he would be home from work about 5 i said i would take it. i told him he will get some calls on it.  he called me about 9 something and told me somebody was on his way to get it i was more than a little upset after telling him i would take and was waiting for him to come home from work. oh well thats the way it goes some times, at least he call me and i didn't have to drive 2 hr and all those mile i would have been REALLY UPSET then

 

 

 

eric j

[squonk 41,016]

I have been lucky as this hasn't happened to me. I try to avoid texts. Sometimes you can tell a lot about the seller by the sound of their voice.I can tell a shady dealer a mile away.I wouldn't have driven anywhere until I talked to the guy right before leaving.

[Molon_Labe 731]

All you can do in a case like that is to suck it up and move on. There are some reputable sellers out there.

[waltsuz 12]

All you can do in a case like that is to suck it up and move on. There are some reputable sellers out there.

Your absolutely right. Just kinda in shock over this deal....I guess I am due for a situation like this. I've had many deals over classifieds and I guess I've been lucky thus far..thanks everyone, a little outside support does seem to help..walt

[Irv 115]

On the other side of that coin, I've had people call about things I had for sale, including tractors, and say they wanted it but never show up. I agree with Squonk about talking rather than texting. Sorry you were dealing with a bonehead.

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

I haven't attempted to use CL for selling because there was a situation in the local area where a seller advertised an item and two perpetrators killed him two years ago! No, it wasn't a tractor. I prefer the forums, or eBay for selling.

 

But I have bought a few things off of it. So far my luck has been good. It does vary by seller though. The hardest to contact are the email-only sellers.  I did ask the seller I bought my "Mercy Case" from and he said the fact that I left a phone number made me legitimate in his eyes. Then there is the most recent one which I have only spoken to but not gone to see the tractor yet. He took a week and a half to finally contact me! Must not be in a rush to sell his "half tractor" so I am not in a rush to buy. He is only 15 miles away.

[Forest Road 594]

That's BS!!! Send him a bunch of COD magazine subscriptions

[thehorse 221]

Yep......I had a 310-8 NICE, with new style single stage,plow,chains and deck......5 min away

Yep....he sold it b4 I could get off work even though I was first call, had cash in hand and only

Lived 5 min away.

[546cowboy 301]

I really don't think there is anyone who has been doing these tractors who hasn't had the same thing happen. There are many people out there who have absolutely no honor or concience.

 

As far as CL, I've always bought and sold quite a few tractors on there.

 

As far as being robbed is concerned, that's why I started carrying every time I leave the house. I did sell a tractor to some guys from over by Detroit and when they got here the first thing I thought of was that a gun could come in handy. There were three really big guys and didn't seem all that friendly. Won't happen again!

Edited October 18, 2014 by 546cowboy

[thehorse 221]

Never hurts to meet in a well lit public place or carry my Glock 23!

[jackhammer 546]

Ethics or a mans word... neither mean anything to most of the general public..  All anyone seems to think about is me me me me .

[boovuc 1,090]

I don't think your post was inappropriate but the idiot you were dealing with was.

And Horse.........I have a 357 I carry in hunting season but there is a greater than 50% chance of collateral mortality if I had to pull it self defense. A well lit public place and a good friend of mine that stands 6'6" always helps. I was told that they don't make barn doors large enough for me to hit consistently. 

[Eck 6]

Im sorry to hear you went through all this.  A while back I was interested it TWO mini bikes on Craigs List. I called, talked with the owner, and told him I would buy them, and would pick them up the next day at his house, which I found out is only 15 miles from me. I was getting ready to leave and decided to call him to let him know I was on my way as we agreed the night before on what time I would get there.

He said sorry, I sold the mini bikes last night..................................I said wow, you gave me your word... He said well another guy said he would pick them up last night so I sold them to him. I told the guy that I would be ashamed to hang my word on my name if I ever pulled a stunt like that and hung up...

 

I (not like you) did not drive the distance, but I too still felt kicked in the package......

[km3h 543]

I have sold a few things on Craigslist in the past. Have had folks call me and tell me they will buy and promise to be here tomorrow. Many times they do not show. Now I tell them to make sure they call before they come as I will sell it to the first person who shows up with the money.

 

Most times a buyer who said he will buy it comes and then says it is not worth the asking price and wants me to lower it. That's his excuse to get out of the deal. Puts you in a bad position. Sort of like bargaining against yourself.

 

Remember the longer you have an add up there, folks think you are desperate to sell and then you get the calls from the guys who want to buy at a steal price.

 

So my advice is if the deal is really a bargain, find a way to get there immediately, or call before you leave if you must delay. If you are selling, make sure you tell the prospective purchaser that the first guy there with the money gets it.  

[km3h 543]

As an after thought, what would you do if you promised to buy the tractor, arrive and then decide it is not worth the money being asked? Remember, you promised to buy it unseen. Yes the pictures weren't as clear as they could have been, but you did promise.  

[sluggo 40]

 Always Always Always call right before you make the drive. 

[CasualObserver 3,408]

Happens every day.  Bummer you were slighted, but listing the guys address and phone number is not acceptable.  (Seems we just went though this a week ago.)

 

It's craigslist.  It happens.  Most of the time people sell to people who show up with cash immediately. Don't misinterpret that I think it's good and right with the world.... its just one of those sucky things that happen and you move on.... because on the other side of those deals is often a guy who's held it for a guy who says he's coming five or ten times and never shows up.  Again... it's craigslist. 

[squonk 41,016]

Found a short frame with chains and weights . 8 HP Kohler. Says needs work and to call. Cheap enough. No phone # listed. E mailed 2 days ago. No response!!!!!!!