Craigs List frustration..

[Kit]

As annoying as it is to have someone sell something out from underneath you, it can occassionally have some interesting benefits.

About 20 years ago, I was looking for something fun to drive in the summer, something a little different than my truck. I got to looking at an old MG convertible. Dude and I agreed on a price, but my money was in the bank and it was after closing. We agreed that I would come pick it up in the morning after the bank opened. Sure enough, I got there and he had sold the car. So now here I am with a big wad of cash burning a hole in my pocket, going through the local ads, and then..."Oh, this could be fun!"

And that's how I got my first bike, an '81 650 Special.

[rover]

C l

Yeah, sometimes it gets quite weird out there. But, I doubt there is a lawyer that would take a case, unless there is a written agreement. I don't think craigslist would get involved in it. When it is done properly, craigslist is a real blessing, but when it is abused by a few, it is a real curse. I am not going to get involved in trying to correct it, I prefer to leave that to the Chinese after they start running our once fine country.

[crazy steve]

Well, Steve, the attitude you just displayed is why I will not drive more than 20 miles for ANYTHING. I guess your attitude is fitting for a city, but here nearly every city is far away..

Rover, the sad part is I don't live in the city; I'm 45 minutes to an hour at least away from everybody, living in the boondocks. But after agreeing to hold items for these inconsiderate a$$holes who swear they want it then don't show, after telling other prospective buyers that it may be sold but call back and they don't, I quit telling anybody I would hold stuff. If you really want it, then there's your motivation to get here first. Buyers all have the same handicap, as I'm off the end of a 15 mile-long dead-end road. Now, if somebody says they're coming, I do tell any later callers that fact, but they're all told 'no holds'; first here with the right cash gets it.

I've found that since I started telling buyers 'no holds', I've had better luck with selling stuff...

[rover]

C l

Well, Steve, you sell any way you want. I live in the boonies, and I am not going to buy from Craigslist. I will wait till the Chinese take over our country, they can't be as crooked and inconsiderate as most Americans.

[Elevener]

Someone needs a history lesson. I have had great luck with craiglist buying and selling. But I understand first cash there gets it.

For vehicles I have bought a truck and 2 bikes, in the next few months will another bike.

[natemoen]

It's like Christmas sales. The people that are willing to get there early get the deals. First cash wins. It's unreliable in that respect but its really the only reliable way to deal with this sales medium.

[cywelchjr]

I found my 80G on Cl, and feel I got a pretty good deal. I found it on there and as I didn't really know how I was going to come up with the cash at the time was going to pass on it, but when I told my dad he said to go look at it and if it was a good deal we would work something out.

So, I went and looked at it, gave the guy my license and such (including the keys to my car (wife and daughter were sitting in the car so I felt safe)) so I could take it around the block for a test ride. Like mostly how it felt (some things felt a little awkward but I knew that was just adjusting some things to fit MY preferences) and called my dad. He said he would give me the money if I came over to get it. Gave the guy a $100 check to hold it while I went and got the cash (that's the way to get a hold, especially if you agree with the guy it's non-refundable) and got the cash, paid him, got handed the title and an extra windjammer to go with it (the original fairing for the bike as it turns out) and put the spare fairing in the car, and followed the wife and kids home on the bike.

Done put about 20k miles on it since then. Gotta say it's one of the better $800 put out, even though I didn't pay it (ended up being my birthday and christmas for the that year (was supposed to be for 2 years but I got a new tire for it each of the last two).

So, CL can work pretty well, but you gotta be quick and you gotta pay attention. You can get ripped off, and some guys out there are stupid with what they want, but what can you do?

[natemoen]

That is about the only way I would gold something.

[SthrnSqrl]

Craigslist Scammers

The one I really hate is when they basicly try to steal whatever you are selling. This is an email I received this morning in response to my ad for my 1978 EF. Keep in mind that this person has not been out to look at the bike, hear it run, or anything else. They are only going by what is in the ad.

Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me,i am okay with the price and
condition, i would like to make an outright purchase immediately but i
will need your honesty because i anticipate that a Certified Cashier's
check will be sent out to you via ups as the mode of payment,
concerning the pick up, i will be responsible for that, my mover will
come for the pick up at your location upon your confirmation of
receiving the payment and cleared in your bank.I would want you to
remove the posting from the web and also get back to me with the
information below so as to further a development.
1.......full names
2.......full home address
3......City, State & zip code and phone number.

As soon as this is provided,the payment will be mail out
immediately and i hope we handle this in good faith.


Thanks for the understanding... Rosemary.

[CatatonicBug]

That's the classic CL scam. They all look something like that.

[crazy steve]

Yeah, and that 'certified cashiers check' will be drawn on some bank you've never heard of and will bounce a couple of weeks later...

[psycoreefer]

and the next step will be asking you to "Pay the movers" that come to pickup the bike and they'll have the check written for your asking price plus whatever they want you to pay the shippers. So that when its all said and done if you fall for the scam you'll be paying someone to steal your bike.

[Kronk]

Wow, did they ask for you're SIN too? and I like how they top it off with a sweet old harmless bitty name like Rosemary

[natemoen]

Yeah I had some bike parts listed once and got an email in response about a whole bike worded similar to that except it was a soldier in Afghanistan wanting it for when he got home on a couple weeks.