I've done several $1k and one $2k plus deals via CL. I've also done many lower dollar and trade deals via CL as well. I usually do them in a very public parking lot. If it feels a little weird I do it inside a restaurant/coffee house. GC is the place to test before you buy. Someone already said they don't need to know why you brought in what you did.
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Meeting up with CL people
- Thread starter free_Bassd
- Start date
I thought this was a thread about the 'casual encounters' forum
If you're looking for robots. Or STDs.
Peace,
Greg
I'm surprised at the people that suggest to negotiate price ahead of time. I don't offer until I see it, regardless of how well the ad was written and how good the pictures are.
Mike N said:
that's what I always thought, I'm not in the business of wasting anyone's time by any means, I just feel like I can't make a really good offer until Im there with the product.
Bingo.
I looked at a 79 Z/28 that was advertized on CL. Lotsa pics, called the kid and made a time to look at the car. When I got there I found out the windshield was cracked, the hood in the pics didn't come with the car and the Hurst shifter in the pics was missing. None of this was mentioned during the phone call, and the crack in the window was not visible in the pics. He was asking $1400 so I offered him $1000 cash. His Dad proceeds to unload on me telling me that I saw the pics and price and I should have negotiated before coming over. I pointed out the discrepancies from the ad and told him to stfu.
Maybe pre-negotiation is a CL thing.
I've bought and sold many items via craigslist and never had an issue. Cars, music equipment, services, whatever. I've never once negotiated a price prior to seeing an item and I'm of the opinion that the price listed is the starting point. When I list items for sale I use the same principle. I never really saw the point in carrying a weapon to a deal either, seeing as I have insurance. Whatever I'm buying/selling isn't worth playing quickdraw.
kanonfodr said:
There's a reason I carry two, and I'm a big boy and am quite capable of assessing my own situations that I encounter.
I've been to many houses and parking lots, too many to count.
As I said in my post Two times I felt it was best to throw that info out there. two times, not every time not even often, but twice.
I am confident that the decision was a good one at the time and both times it turned out to be exactly that.
I would not go announcing to every person I have a gun, but if events play out the same as they did these days I'd do it again easily and have no worries about it.
I often open carry, kinda hard to hide that walking in the door. It's not all that uncommon to be armed really, and as long as your dress attire is appropriate, most people don't even bat an eye at it.
ADbassman said:
I have insurance too but I'd rather my kids not have to cash in on it while I'm still so young and so are they.
If any of you guys thought for a minute my carrying a gun is for the protection of property theft.
Lol that's definitely NOT what the guns purpose is.
If giving up the property avoids me dying or having to kill someone believe me that property will be gone and my gun will remain in my holster unseen.
My gun is to protect my life and only my life.
The bass or whatever and handing it over is my first line of defense.
It is also not a "CL" thing, I carry a gun 100% of the time 100% of the day 100% of the week, month, and 365 days a year.
My gun is always with me at all times. Rather have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
And for the record, this is what comes out if my wallet is requested at gun point.
If all they want is the bass, or whatever I'm selling they can have it.
But there's not s chance in hot places I'm turning over a road map to my family and our hard earned cash.
If all they want is the bass, or whatever I'm selling they can have it.
But there's not s chance in hot places I'm turning over a road map to my family and our hard earned cash.
Make an initial negotiation, if need be, based in what you see in the ad.
You can further negotiate if it isnt as described, pointing out the discrepancies.
Meeting somewhere public is a good call, you can also usually get a pretty good feel for a person when communicating with them. Only really sold gear from the house when it was someone that I knew to a degree.
FWIW, I wouldn't be letting someone I didn't know into my house if they were obviously armed either, though not so much of an issue here. I'd appreciate their right to carry and why they'd take it to a strange place, just not in my home.
You can further negotiate if it isnt as described, pointing out the discrepancies.
Meeting somewhere public is a good call, you can also usually get a pretty good feel for a person when communicating with them. Only really sold gear from the house when it was someone that I knew to a degree.
FWIW, I wouldn't be letting someone I didn't know into my house if they were obviously armed either, though not so much of an issue here. I'd appreciate their right to carry and why they'd take it to a strange place, just not in my home.
You guys make it sound like the USA is a neighbourhood from Hell. I actually think I feel safer in Israel.
I thought this was a thread about the 'casual encounters' forum
+1
I was going to say my bedroom has always served me well... or theirs.
I've bought and sold a lot of musical gear on Craig's List.
Selling is easy, meet in a public place, talk to them first to see if they sound shady. I suppose there are people out there who sound normal and reasonable on the phone who only intend to shank you for that $200 bass, but I would imagine it's rare. Certainly hasn't happened to me.
Buying is trickier. I agree with what seems to be the prevailing school of thought about making offers. Agree before hand to a price you're willing to pay, and only offer lower if the condition isn't as described. Huge jerk move to get someone to spend their time and effort meeting you, then lowballing them.
Selling is easy, meet in a public place, talk to them first to see if they sound shady. I suppose there are people out there who sound normal and reasonable on the phone who only intend to shank you for that $200 bass, but I would imagine it's rare. Certainly hasn't happened to me.
Buying is trickier. I agree with what seems to be the prevailing school of thought about making offers. Agree before hand to a price you're willing to pay, and only offer lower if the condition isn't as described. Huge jerk move to get someone to spend their time and effort meeting you, then lowballing them.
I'm guessing you never buy from the classifieds then?
TB classifieds? Yeah, I've bought and sold from them, well before the feedback system was in place. Buying from or selling to a like minded Bass player is much easier than buying from some blowhard on CL.
This thread was about Craigslist. I don't offer until I see it. Way too many scammers there.
I've never sold a bass on craiglist but did meet up with a user from the forum. We met at a local guitar center and he went in and played around with the bass, decided he was happy with it and I walked away with cash in hand. No problems. If you are worried about then bring a friend and meet in a public place.
Personally, I think it prudent to make most transactions either at a neutral site. If it is a bass I'm selling, then if I feel good about the buyer I may set up an amp on the front porch and let the buyer play it there. If I got bad vibes from the buyer I wouldn't offer that option. OTOH, if I got bad vibes from the buyer I'd be careful in a number of respects.
