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

[MasseyWV]

I no longer email; if they don't put a phone number in the listing I don't bother. Most people don't reply to their email postings, less than half in my experience.

I no longer email people on Craigslist for the very same reason. In my experience, ads which don't list a phone number are either from scammers, spammers, or sellers who are collecting offers so they can weed out all but the highest one.

 

[aczlan]

I no longer email people on Craigslist for the very same reason. In my experience, ads which don't list a phone number are either from scammers, spammers, or sellers who are collecting offers so they can weed out all but the highest one.

I dont put my phone number on my ads as most phone numbers can be traced back to an address with a reverse phone lookup and I dont want people showing up, or calling me at all hours of the night because I didnt accept their offer.
I prefer to work with email first as it is easier to block spam emails (I use Gmail) than to block spam phone calls.

Aaron Z

 

[Looking4new]

I list only my email mainly because I am 150 miles away from home and the home phone and the equipment. I know the condition of the equipment. The people that rent the place from me have no idea what any of it is worth.
I think I set my prices reasonable.
BTW my stuff is on Kijiji.

 

[shownuff]

I sold my tractor on cl , it took about 2 months and 6 people looked at it all low ballers I never posted my phone number and if they left me a number I would reverse phone check it and if was near by I would call them back.I was told by one guy that if the item is on cl for more than a week the price is too high,everyone interested in it wanted something for nothing,I told one guy if he could find the same machine for the price he offered me I would go buy that machine.... I finally sold it for my asking price

 

[MasseyWV]

I dont put my phone number on my ads as most phone numbers can be traced back to an address with a reverse phone lookup and I dont want people showing up, or calling me at all hours of the night because I didnt accept their offer.
I prefer to work with email first as it is easier to block spam emails (I use Gmail) than to block spam phone calls.

I share your concerns, and to address the problem I have a pre-paid cell phone that is only used for buying/selling and for occasional outgoing calls. When I'm not using the phone, I simply turn it off, and the best part is that my primary phone number is never exposed to anyone that I don't want harassing me.

 

[aczlan]

I share your concerns, and to address the problem I have a pre-paid cell phone that is only used for buying/selling and for occasional outgoing calls. When I'm not using the phone, I simply turn it off, and the best part is that my primary phone number is never exposed to anyone that I don't want harassing me.

I use my Google Voice number for the same reason, but I still dont want to share it with the world at large... Call it paranoia if you want, but it works for me.

Aaron Z

 

[KYErik]

I sold quite a few things on CL in the last 2 months- an old project motorcycle, a pygmy billy goat, a cow calf pair, some older bridles and an older Lamb brand saddle, an ATV rear axle. Most of it sold within 2 days of posting the ad (the cow calf pair took about 8 days) with very little haggling. I think part of my luck has to do with taking pictures- I always post at least 2 pictures of each item.

I also have a prepaid cell phone number that I list as well as email (I check it frequently). I state in the ad that I have no voice mail and that 4pm-8pm is the best time to call (I leave the phone off the rest of the time).

My typical policy is that I answer the calls/emails in the order that they are received and I will hold an item for as long as it takes the person to drive to see it (typically less than 2 hours)- but no longer. If someone says they want to wait to come look at the item on the weekend, I tell them that it is first come, first served.

If I get lowballed, I just politely tell the person that I'll keep their offer in mind but that I just listed it a few days ago so I'll wait to see if I get any better offers.

 

[tractchores]

You guys are never going to believe this... But i had a lowballer call me like 5 times in a row and finally offer me half of asking price on an item. It wasnt a cheap item so half of the price was crazy. I politely said nope. The next day he leaves me a voice mail apologizing for the low offer and wishing me luck!

 

[Taylortractornut]

I dont mind low ballers, just the ones that act like your a podunk really hack me off. I had an F 700 Ford truck with a 6 speed and air brakes and low miles. I had a guy that wanted to buy it to make a dump truck out of. I told him 4500 or 3900 cash. Then he comes by the next day saying he didnt like it not having a 5 with a 2 speed rear. I told him that why it was a 6 speed. Then he started in on the air brakes and the tilt hood. But would give 2950 for it like it sat.

I told him that I grew up in commercial trucks and knew what It was a good truck. That I bought it with air brakes and the 6 speed and tilt hood for a reason. But every saturday for a month he would show up and look at it. I finally drove a pipe up i nthe yard and tacked a spare to it. I went out one morning he was out there and told him if he wanted to kick tires and talk about a truck there was the tire I had a hangover to nurse off.

If I see something and I want it Il lbuy it, most time Ill offer a decent lowball cash price right then. Dad buys and sells tractors and implemnts on the ide. More than one time he has sold something to someone and before he could move it from the road someone stop to buy it. Dad tells them its taken and then they get mad because he wont sell out from under the first buyer.

 

[Cat_Driver]

It's called NEGOTIATION and people do it every second of every day. I've MADE ten of thousands of dollars by low balling and I've made another tens of thousand by sticking to my guns. I've also lost money by selling items because I needed the money.

Just ask the guy who bought my 1942 Woody with only 37,000 miles on it...for $7,000.00

Not a typo, that SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

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?

 

[rsewill]

Just ask the guy who bought my 1942 Woody with only 37,000 miles on it...for $7,000.00

Don't need to ask him, he tells everybody.

 

[ultrarunner]

I've bought a few items I had no intentions of buying... it was the seller asking me to please buy it.

Went with a friend to look at a business inventory sale... he was looking for shelving and I just went along for the ride.

There was a box trailer out back and I asked if they were selling it and the owner said yes... when everything is gone... he wanted $600 for it.

I told him I really didn't need one and I wouldn't get $600 of use out of it... he took my number and called about a week later... told me it had to go and asked if I would pay $300 and I said OK...

My problem with Craigslist is people have never come to see items I have for sale... once they hear it is in Oakland... that is the end of it.

I've gotten smarter... now if I have something for sale... I tell them it is stored at my brother's home about 10 minutes away... everything sells and no one has stood me up yet...

 

[Mistyridgefarm]

It's a different world out there for sure. I've sold hay on CL and for the most part, no problems.

This last January, I had a guy come buy some excellent square bales that I had an excellent price of $4 each. I don't need to make a million dollars on someone else's back and like that I can go to sleep each night without cheating anyone.

He bought them all but I was stupid to take a check. You would think a guy boarding 70 horses could be a little honest. It bounced. Short story, I had to file civil charges to get payment four months later. It used to be a man wearing boots and overalls could be counted on over the suit and tie. Like I said, it is a different world.

I have never been good at haggling over another mans price. I ask what the lowest they will take and if it is more than it is worth to me, thank them and move on. For the most part, I haven't had many problems. If the price seems to good to be true, it probably is.

Bottom line, if you sell or buy from people you have never met, and will most likely never see again, I think there is a very good chance that one of the parties will be less than honorable in the dealings. I sure wish it wasn't that way.

 

[teg]

...Both had vent ribs just like I wanted. All that for $60.!!!!

What took you so long!!! For really good deals, I go get it as fast as I can, so what you just describe doesn't happen!!! :laughing:

 

[LMan1967]

My exp with CL is the same as eBay....everybody acts like their junk is gold-plated, and everyone else's is junk.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

What took you so long!!! For really good deals, I go get it as fast as I can, so what you just describe doesn't happen!!! :laughing:

Wow $60 bucks, that a deal of a lifetime! You know, that is every man's fear: that after he dies, his wife will sell his hunting and fishing gear for what he told her he paid for it!

 

[shownuff]

CL does stand for cash listing,I would never take a check ,I was offered a time share also offered a classic car in trade. must put in ad no checks no trades no a-holes

 

[Looking4new]

CL does stand for cash listing,I would never take a check ,I was offered a time share also offered a classic car in trade. must put in ad no checks no trades no a-holes

People just don't know what the word cash means anymore.