My New Zero Tolerance Craigslist Attitude.

[Charlzm]

I have been super lucky with Craigslist ads. I research the market, price on the slightly low end and have never had anyone haggle. Ever.

We're talking 5 basses, a combo amp, some performance car parts, furniture and some assorted electronics items over the course of about 10 years.

I have decided to stop using CL to sell things since, reading threads about CL sales, I apparently have used up all my good luck.

 

[Charlzm]

The only time that has happened to me is when the price was ridiculously low & never with music gear.
Last time that I an remember was when I was just disgusted by how child-like Stephen King must think his readers are, after trying to read Dark Tower.

I sold those all for $5 & the dude gave me a tenner w/o asking for change.

Yeah, the quality of those books declined precipitously after "The Drawing of the Three".

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I have decided to stop using CL to sell things since, reading threads about CL sales, I apparently have used up all my good luck.

I think the area you're in has a LOT to do with it.
I'm in a relatively rural area & the flakiness is off the charts. However, in a bigger city just 45 minutes East, things seem better. Folks over there get paid more & their real estate is worth more (in general).

 

[PaulCISSA]

I think the area you're in has a LOT to do with it.
I'm in a relatively rural area & the flakiness is off the charts. However, in a bigger city just 45 minutes East, things seem better. Folks over there get paid more & their real estate is worth more (in general).

Can relate. 30 minutes south and the mean IQ raises significantly. Commensurate with the dental work.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The local dentist complains that our area has Mt. Dew mouth a lot more than other areas she's worked in.
I think it's a pseudonym for meth-mouth.

 

[Ostie]

I had a similar experience on CL. I saw an item I was interested in and made an offer. The seller accepted and I asked when I could pick it up. We set a time for later that day after work. Later I called seller to tell him I was on my way. "Oh, I sold it"......silence. I said "we agreed on a price and then you broke our agreement and sold it?" I got a an earful about how I was a jerk for offering less than asking price, and serves me right for lowballing, and next time maybe I'll offer full price, yada yada. I told him he was an a*****e and hung up. Obviously there was nothing I could do except express my displeasure.

Some people are just like that. A gentlemen's agreement implies that both parties are gentlemen.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

It's difficult to assume they're going to play games & be less than honorable. If we just assumed the worst we'd never leave the house to meet these vagabonds, LOL!

 

[metron]

I hate selling on CL. When I do, I have two simple rules that seem to work well.

If someone makes an offer I won't take, the answer is just no. No need to bother with any reasoning why not or other ancillary chit chat. Second, confirm the terms before any meeting happens. I do not accept haggling in person unless something isn't as advertised. But when I'm selling, the item is always as advertised.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

My rule when buying is not to ask for a discount before seeing the item.
However, once I see the item & make sure it's functioning, I will ask for a discount, even if it's all in order.

Some people seem to really take it personally & visibly or verbally getting angry.
Last time for me was in a Krispy Kreme parking lot & the item wasn't really what I expected.

 

[123Nil]

Sounds like a little "Down East Dickering" to me!! What you say "Duke"

 

[HamOnTheCob]

This thread is 14 pages and counting, so really no use piling on insults to the OP, with whom I fully disagree about the way to handle the situation. All I'll say is best of luck in the future.

 

[socialleper]

Craigslist is really terrible in many ways. I get all sorts of spam messages from bots. People with zero intention of paying the price I put it up for. I don't know if it is an attribute of the sort of people that buy off of it, or just musicians in general.
It is just slightly better than paying for shipping and boxing something up. That is the only reason it continues to exist.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

 

[40Hz]

Tolerance for other people make life easier for everyone.

I just can't tolerate these zero-tolerance people!

Me too!

I think the concept of “zero tolerance” is kind of ridiculous because the only thing it ultimately accomplishes is tying your own hands.

If I’m caught up in something I need to deal with, I want to reserve as much flexibility as possible for how I get to respond.

 

[kmon]

I've had pretty good luck with CL in Austin although the volume seems to have dropped dramatically since facebook marketplace took off a bit.

I have no issue with haggling. I do get the OPs annoyance with the fact that he texted the guy clarifying that the price was $600...that's not a bad practice as people will show up and waste your time with a lowball offer. The buyer kind of pulled that **** on the way there. I'm waiting around, and ya it's annoying to have your time wasted.

On the other hand if somebody has driven all the way to my place when I've clarified a firm price, or is on their way, I know that I'm in the driver's seat. I can be pretty sure they have committed fully in their mind and have the full price in their pocket.

So I would have said no politely and he would have driven there and given me $600. I would have smoothed over the situation in order to avoid dealing with the next batch of CL flakes, or sitting there looking at a bass I no longer want for another 6 weeks.

 

[redwingxix]

You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

I have never understood why so many people wanted to catch flies that it spawned a phrase on the best way to do it. It's probably just more propaganda from big honey.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I have never understood why so many people wanted to catch flies that it spawned a phrase on the best way to do it. It's probably just more propaganda from big honey.

Or more so a commentary on how sellers view the buying public...

 

[InhumanResource]

I have never understood why so many people wanted to catch flies that it spawned a phrase on the best way to do it. It's probably just more propaganda from big honey.

What they don't want you to know is that lobbyists are really reptiles.

 

[J_Bass]

Would you consider $550? Haha thinking about turning around this traffic is horrible.

How about $650? Haha need money for gas, I face this traffic everyday.

Forget I said anything, I'm almost there. I'll give you $600.

Ok.

 

[gln1955]

I have never understood why so many people wanted to catch flies that it spawned a phrase on the best way to do it. It's probably just more propaganda from big honey.

Ah, I always wondered why Big Honey had more of a buzz than Big Vinegar.