eBay/Craigslist wow- ****** out there

[billfires]

I have had a couple of great purchases on CL. The first was a blue 8' long fiberglass cap (topper) for my 04 F350 dually. I called because the price was $100 and the seller asked me what year my truck was. He had had 4 people look at it but the had the old (pre 1999) Fords that had the rectangular bodies. I drove approx 75 miles to pick it up and when I got there he not only had the clamps but jumped in the bed to tighten them. I paid the asking price and found out that he had removed the cap from his tenant's truck that was a voluntary repo (tenant was convicted of third OUI). The other item was dually wheels for my truck with worn out snow tires for $120 that had 1/2" of tread and were for 6 tires and rims. Got there and looked at them and went to pay, and asked if a $100 bill and a $20 bill was okay or did he want smaller. Said I have to give you a firefighter's discount just the $100 bill. Talked to him and found out he and the wife were going to RV full time and he found the tires upstairs in the garage. He had traded his F350 in on an 08 F450 that had 19.5' wheels. Bill C

 

[MasseyWV]

There are a-hole buyers and a-hole sellers, and they are not just on CL. I had a very sour recent experience with what I thought was a very nice "gentleman" that listed a $16000 JD 4500 on CL. I called him up and we arranged a time to meet and look over the tractor. I showed up on time and brought a friend of mine to look too. Turns out my friend and the seller have a few common acquaintances and we all had a very pleasant conversation. The seller and I negotiated for a few minutes, and we settled on $15000 and he would deliver the tractor the next day to me. WE SHOOK HANDS ON THE DEAL. I offered a $500 cash deposit until full payment by bank check the next day. No he says, you seem very honest and I think I can trust you, that is not necessary, etc.
The next day he doesn't show up at the agreed time, so I call him. He says: Well I need more money I want 15500 by check or 15000 cash, I'm gonna lose money on the deal, I'll take 15000 plus your old tractor, etc. totally changes the deal and reneges his hand shake. I asked him " does this mean you are not a man of your word, and that your handshake means nothing?". I guess it did because he hung up on me.
A couple of weeks ago he lists the same tractor on CL for 16800. God bless, I hope you get every penny, AHOLE.

And yet despite all this, I still trust people! Two weeks ago, I listed my old tractor on CL and sold it to a guy over the phone. He kept his word, picked up the tractor when he said he would, paid what we agreed on, and was pleasant to deal with.

Takes all kinds, doesn't it?

A handshake is worth the paper it's written on.

I used to be the trusting type too, until people taught me to be otherwise. Now, I assume that everyone is a liar, until proven otherwise. Times have changed, and most people simply cannot be tusted, so it's not worth the risk.

 

[Looking4new]

A handshake and a buck and a half will get you a cup of coffee. Handshake alone? Not worth anything.

 

[Mousefield]

I have has some pretty good luck, both buying and selling using CL but a few bad ones as well.
Had one guy come to buy some lumber from me, shook my hand and said he take it all and would bring the cash tomorrow when he picked up the lumber. He had offered a check which I declined to accept. Well about an hour before he is supposed to come and pick it up he gives me this story of how he called a lumber yard and they told him it was over priced. He was going to take the whole lot for $4200, I sold it in several lots for over $6,600. So it worked out in the end. But yes, you ask for cash and they want to give you a check, unbelievable.

 

[Looking4new]

But yes, you ask for cash and they want to give you a check, unbelievable.

I find that a lot of people don't like to carry a lot of cash on them. I don't have any problem carrying 2-3000.$ on me. But then again, if you looked at me you would never in a million years suspect that I would have that much loot in my pocket.

 

[Mousefield]

I find that a lot of people don't like to carry a lot of cash on them. I don't have any problem carrying 2-3000.$ on me. But then again, if you looked at me you would never in a million years suspect that I would have that much loot in my pocket.

He was going to the bank the next day and bring me the cash when he got the lumber. Good thing I did not take him up on his offer to pay by check. Just think, he's got the lumber and then the check may come back from the bank NSF. I just think he didn't have the money, plain and simple. This was not store bought lumber, it was fir milled from 4 trees on our place, oldest about 100 years old and over 4 ft at the butt, lovely wood, it's stuff you don't see at a lumber yard.

 

[ultrarunner]

I made a recent purchase where the seller wanted cash... the bank was not at all happy because it was the first Friday of the month and they said I needed to give them at least a day's notice so they could order it.

I told them to call other branches and then they offered me the cash in $20's...

When I bought a car a few years back... someone that actually knew my name... (I was a friend of his Father), his son wanted a bank cashier's check and wanted to do the transaction in the bank lobby... we both used the same Bank... but in different cities.

Can't really blame folks for being cautious... most of my private part vehicle transactions are done at the local AAA lobby which has DMV services... don't want to buy something and later find out there is a problem with title/registration.

That said.. there are scammers out there... recently, a Craigslist add for a Honda Accord at a very low cash price has been circulating... it's a scam to rob folks of cash.

Another is collecting first month's rent and security deposit for a home that is actually a vacant foreclosure...

 

[caver]

I was trying to sell an ultralight aircraft kit... Lots of aluminum aircraft tubing. I had a low baller show up. I told him I will cut it up for scrap and donate it to charity before I sell it to him for that price. And that was when the economy was booming.

 

[EE_Bota]

I made a recent purchase where the seller wanted cash... the bank was not at all happy because it was the first Friday of the month and they said I needed to give them at least a day's notice so they could order it.

I told them to call other branches and then they offered me the cash in $20's...

When I bought a car a few years back... someone that actually knew my name... (I was a friend of his Father), his son wanted a bank cashier's check and wanted to do the transaction in the bank lobby... we both used the same Bank... but in different cities.

Can't really blame folks for being cautious... most of my private part vehicle transactions are done at the local AAA lobby which has DMV services... don't want to buy something and later find out there is a problem with title/registration.

That said.. there are scammers out there... recently, a Craigslist add for a Honda Accord at a very low cash price has been circulating... it's a scam to rob folks of cash.

Another is collecting first month's rent and security deposit for a home that is actually a vacant foreclosure...

I bank at a credit union, and a few years back, I went in for $2500 cash, and they acted like I had a skunk in my pocket....made me wait until closing time, and then emptied the rest from their "vault," and all the workstations, and it looked for a while like they were going to take up collections from the employees. I know it sounds like I am exaggerating, but that is how it was, and I did feel like a fool...expecting my credit union to be able to give my $2500 on a Friday. I had no idea they kept so little cash that payday for some folks combined with my (I thought meager) request would wipe them out. Shows what I know.

 

[shortthrow50]

Should have Hung up soon as he started his bullcrap

 

[beppington]

I was trying to sell an ultralight aircraft kit... Lots of aluminum aircraft tubing. I had a low baller show up. I told him I will cut it up for scrap and donate it to charity before I sell it to him for that price. And that was when the economy was booming.

You prob burned that bridge. Why do that?

 

[Groo]

I've been on both sides of the fence. I have had a-hole email me, so I ignored them. I've gone and looked at an old snowmobile to offer $100 less than asking and got the "I could part it out for more than that!" OK, have fun with that, but don't act like I called your mother a ***** over my "lowball" offer. Glad he didn't take my good offer. That ended up being a real bad snow year.

 

[YesDeere]

When it's less than 50% of what your asking I think you have every right to tell a lowballer to go fork themselves. I've had to. Almost got the 48 oz ball peen out to do a little custom work on their hood. Don't treat people like they're stupid or desperate.

 

[Groo]

I usually try feeling the seller out before a real low-ball offer. I might say something like "hmm.... It looks like what we consider a fair price for this _ is pretty far apart" or maybe "Its probably worth what you are asking, but I can't afford close to that" If they seam to receptive to a low offer, I'd lay it on them, but usually they start getting defensive, so I walk without pissing them off more.

 

[beppington]

If I'm going for say a $200 item (asking price), I'll bring exaclty $100 in my wallet, 3 more $20's in one pocket, 1 more $20 in another, & another in another up to the max amount I'm willing to pay. Try holding out $100 cash & say "Will $100 do it?" Says no, so after "the right amount of time" pull out say another 20 & "How about $120?" No. Pull out another 20, "Alright, I'm willing to go $140?" ... until you've reached the max you're willing to pay. He doesn't need to know you have more 20's on you.

Seeing that cold hard cash speaks to many :licking: :thumbsup:

Also, "You're gonna let me walk out of here for what, all of another 20 bucks?, & then have to deal with more phone calls & more lookey-loo visitors, when you could be done with this thing right now & move on with your life?"

 

[yelbike]

If I'm going for say a $200 item (asking price), I'll bring exaclty $100 in my wallet, 3 more $20's in one pocket, 1 more $20 in another, & another in another up to the max amount I'm willing to pay. Try holding out $100 cash & say "Will $100 do it?" Says no, so after "the right amount of time" pull out say another 20 & "How about $120?" No. Pull out another 20, "Alright, I'm willing to go $140?" ... until you've reached the max you're willing to pay. He doesn't need to know you have more 20's on you.

Seeing that cold hard cash speaks to many :licking: :thumbsup:

Also, "You're gonna let me walk out of here for what, all of another 20 bucks?, & then have to deal with more phone calls & more lookey-loo visitors, when you could be done with this thing right now & move on with your life?"

No offence, but you'd be gone after $120.

I don't have the patience for dickering like that.

Don't forget the seller has to put up with more calls, tire kickers and low ball offers, BUT YOU WASTED YOUR DRIVING TIME THERE AND BACK HOME PLUS FUEL!!

 

[beppington]

No offence, but you'd be gone after $120.

I don't have the patience for dickering like that.

Don't forget the seller has to put up with more calls, tire kickers and low ball offers, BUT YOU WASTED YOUR DRIVING TIME THERE AND BACK HOME PLUS FUEL!!

YesDeere above said 50% worked for him, so it will be in the realm of possibility for some. All part of negotiating. And of course plenty of negotiations fail.

Oh, BTW, so you'd kick me out at $120 not even knowing if I might eventually pull out enough 20's to meet your full asking price?? WHY??!!! Supersensitive.

 

[MasseyWV]

You're gonna let me walk out of here for what, all of another 20 bucks?, & then have to deal with more phone calls & more lookey-loo visitors, when you could be done with this thing right now & move on with your life?

I don't haggle and people try tactics like that on me all the time, to no avail. My answer is always the same, pay my asking price or we're done.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Oh, BTW, so you'd kick me out at $120 not even knowing if I might eventually pull out enough 20's to meet your full asking price?? WHY??!!! Supersensitive.

Look, I understand what you're doing, and I don't mean to suggest that it's wrong, but it does irritate the heck out of me when people do it. When I put items up on CL for free, I am very clear that it's first come first served and I will not hold it for anybody. But when I am selling an item, I don't want somebody to show up only to have had it sell out from under them, and then they wasted their time and gas driving over. I assume that if you call me and I say, "Yup. It's available. Come on over," then you seriously intend to buy the item, and anybody else who calls, I tell them it's currently spoken for, because I expect that there is a good chance that you will buy the item. Now, it'd be one thing if we were talking about a car, where you just really don't expect to pay the face value, because there are all sorts of intangibles that you just can't evaluate until you see the vehicle. But if I'm selling, say, a circular saw, and I tell you it's 15 amps and in good condition, then either you want it at my asking price, or you don't. When you show up and start out offering me half what I asked, I'm mad because I told three other people that the item was spoken for, and instead of hassling with you, one of them could be over here right now paying me what I asked. But because I don't want to waste their time and gas, I held the item for you, and in exchange, I'd like you not to jerk me around trying to find the Absoulte. Lowest. Possible. Price. You. Can. Squeeze. Out. Of. Me. And that's why when you start doing that, I'll tell you thanks for your interest and send you on your way, and offer it to somebody who is going to handle the transaction the way I would prefer.

 

[aczlan]

What bugs me is when I have a price on something that is a little high, the person obviously thinks that it is too high, but wont make an offer. They say "what is the least you will take" but wont say what it is worth to them.
As an example, I have an item for sale, asking $1300, probbaly worth $900 and I would take $750 for it (numbers made up), but I obviously want to get as much as I can for it.
What benefit is there for me in saying right off the bat, $750 and it is yours if the buyer is thinking that it is worth $900?

Aaron Z