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Craigslist - ok to be flakey?

ashtray

ashtray

Feb 25, 2008
4,045
3,783
Ventura County, CA
#1
If you've ever used Craigslist to try to sell something, it seems the caliber of buyers can vary widely - but one thing seems to be a constant: buyers being flakey is the norm. If you post a for sale ad, and you get 10 replies from people interested asking more questions, then you truly don't expect to hear back from all 10 people. In fact, it seems 10 is a good number of initial responses to an ad to have a decent chance of one person actually responding to correspondence.

So given the anonymity (?) of Craigslist and the expectation that interested buyers will disappear without notice (re: NEVER put something on hold for a potential buyer!), do YOU think its ok to do the same when responding to a for sale ad?


Personally, I don't like doing it on purpose but sometimes it just happens, and I don't worry about it. Yes I was interested, but after sleeping on it/sobering up/checking my bank statement/sudden car repair that came up/etc, I don't need to justify my reasoning to the seller why I am no longer interested. Often I approach a sale as "potentially interested" and follow up with "thanks - I'll think about it" - which is completely true (and I've gone ahead and purchased the item too in many cases).



And on the flip side, I've had sellers not respond to my initial email inquiries. And I've not responded to others' initial email inquiry if I didn't like their tone, or decided doing a transaction with this person could be more trouble than its worth. So it goes both ways. Just seems the Craigslist format brings out the flakey in people. ;)
 
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#3
I think it's fine that buyers on Craigslist are often undecided or "flaky". I don't think it's any different than going to a store to browse items that you are considering buying, but aren't convinced you need. Questions are fine too. It may help them figure out if they really want to buy what I'm selling. The only thing a potential buyer has to remember is that the item might get sold to someone else while the are trying to figure out if they really want it.

What I don't like on Craigslist is sellers that do not respond. I've made offers on gear a few times and received no reply from the seller. Yet their ad appears week after week. Do they want to sell their damn stuff or not????
 
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#6
No it's not ok to be flakey, it's a prerequisite! As for you being flakey, I think it's flakey to use the fact others are as an excuse to be one yourself. I do my research on anything I'm looking for, know what I'm willing to pay, what it's worth, etc. and can size up flakey sellers in a heartbeat and can weed out iffy buyers just as fast, but then again I have almost 20 years of experience in sales. I don't appreciate people wasting my time so I don't do it to others, decisiveness is key.
 
#7
One pretty effective way to weed out flakes when listing stuff is to say "emails without a phone number will be ignored". Put it in caps at the top of the listing description. If a buyer is actually interested in purchasing your item they will adhere to that.

On the flip side, I prefer NOT sending my cell number to strangers, and sometimes I'll ignore the requirement and respond with detailed questions or information and I'll get a response anyway. It depends on how hot the deal could be. If it's a screamer, I send them my number.
 
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#8
BadJazz said:
One pretty effective way to weed out flakes when listing stuff is to say "emails without a phone number will be ignored". Put it in caps at the top of the listing description. If a buyer is actually interested in purchasing your item they will adhere to that.

On the flip side, I prefer NOT sending my cell number to strangers, and sometimes I'll ignore the requirement and respond with detailed questions or information and I'll get a response anyway. It depends on how hot the deal could be. If it's a screamer, I send them my number.
Click to expand...

Actually you can disable email responses when making a new listing, which is what I started doing several years ago, I only have my cell number on there and ask them to call not text and guess what? A very high percentage of people willing to actually speak with you become buyers in my experience because it removes that disconnect that emails have and becomes much more personal.
 
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#10
I don't reply if I'm no longer interested. Why would I?

I also don't hold things for people. First come first served. If you're coming to pick it up then I usually meet you near my house. I made the mistake of meeting someone halfway once - never again because they didn't show.
 
#11
BadJazz said:
You are braver than I. I prefer the initial contact to be through the anonymous (for both parties) email system rather than including my number in my listing.
Click to expand...

Eh, not a big deal imo, they may have your number but you have theirs too. Not sure how old you are but back in the day before computers and email that's just how it was. You want it, you call them. You want to sell it, they call you, no bravery needed. On the other hand I never ever give them my address and always meet somewhere public during the day in places such as libraries, coffee shops, parking lots, etc

denhou1974 said:
I don't reply if I'm no longer interested. Why would I?
Click to expand...

Courtesy. Look it up.
 
#15
I found that being annoyed by flakiness comes from false expectations. Assume that everything a potential buyer tells you is BS until they hand me the cash, I don't adjust my life to their schedules, if they want it that bad they will adjust to mine.
 
#17
I am one of those guys that requests a phone number on my C.L. ads. "No phone number, no reply." If someone leaves a number I will call them. I never hold anything. The first person that shows up and puts the money in my hand gets the product.
If I am a buyer I will tell people, I am not interested, I will call you back at ... or I am interested when can we hook up?
If I am going to be late, can't make it or change my mind I call and let people know.
Those things work for me.
 
#19
With LA traffic and the need to try stuff out to make sure it works, I often give out my address - once I have at least their name and phone number. (Something to give police in case things go south...). That said, I meet them in the garage, not inside my house. My house is locked, alarm set. Security cameras active to record everything too.

I would never not show up once I set plans to meet. If I couldn't make it, I would call well in advance. I treat people on the other end of the email as I would want to be treated. That said, if I send a seller an email with a question and their answer negates the deal for me, I probably only reply half the time.

I did inquire about car parts recently and told the guy I'd check my schedule and probably stop by over the weekend if available. I didnt have his address - only his cell phone number. Then I got sick with a flu bug for 2 weeks and everything went to pot. I still kinda want the car parts now though...
 
#20
I've been selling quite a bit of stuff on CL lately and haven't had a flaky buyer yet - well, except the kid who gave me four twenties instead of five, apparently thinking I wouldn't count it. I cut him some slack and acted like I thought it was an honest mistake, but he had just confirmed by text that the price was $100, and he was at the bank withdrawing the money. He didn't have the other twenty bucks on him, so we went across the street to the bank and he got the other twenty. Little twerp.

I also guarantee everything I sell - if it doesn't work, you get your money back. If it works but it's not your cup of tea, what a bummer for you - but there's always craigslist.
 

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