• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

selling stuff on CL, RANT

L

Lee H

Nov 30, 2011
1,363
11
55
Redding CA
#1
will someone PLEASE invent an application so I can shock stupid people through their computers or phones....PLEASE...

I listed one of my motorcycles for sale on Craigslist (71 triumph ). What a mistake! I looked at ebay prices, and went with that, knowing it was low. Another mistake. I have gotten every snot nosed kid making me trade offers, for every kind of junk POS they can lay their hands on.
I had one kid offer me a junker 1980 datsun 280ZX. The car does not run. When it was parked it was only running on 5 cylinders. Parts have been robbed off it. it has back DMV fees owed...and the sales pitch was.."It was worth $8,000 a few years back, so if you fix it up, and wait until the economy rebounds and the market comes back, it will be a classic someday and maybe worth a lot." I am not kidding. You cannot make this stuff up

I have had over 100 responses on this bike, so I think I have it priced too low. yet I get these people responding, acting as if I owe it to them to make sure they have something nice, at my expense... I really want to slap a few upside the head


OK, end of rant
 
#4
Lee H said:
will someone PLEASE invent an application so I can shock stupid people through their computers or phones....PLEASE...

I listed one of my motorcycles for sale on Craigslist (71 triumph ). What a mistake! I looked at ebay prices, and went with that, knowing it was low. Another mistake. I have gotten every snot nosed kid making me trade offers, for every kind of junk POS they can lay their hands on.
I had one kid offer me a junker 1980 datsun 280ZX. The car does not run. When it was parked it was only running on 5 cylinders. Parts have been robbed off it. it has back DMV fees owed...and the sales pitch was.."It was worth $8,000 a few years back, so if you fix it up, and wait until the economy rebounds and the market comes back, it will be a classic someday and maybe worth a lot." I am not kidding. You cannot make this stuff up

I have had over 100 responses on this bike, so I think I have it priced too low. yet I get these people responding, acting as if I owe it to them to make sure they have something nice, at my expense... I really want to slap a few upside the head


OK, end of rant
Click to expand...

Just the cost of doing business on a free site.

I'll let you sleep with my girlfriend in exchange for your bike, but you gotta spring for the motel room and booze.
 
#5
You need to use the usual chain of craigslist disclaimers at the end of every listing. A couple of the main ones are "will only respond to serious offers" and "no trades" (when you don't want to trade).

Just think of each crappy attempt at a transaction as a chance to add a new line to your disclaimer :D
 
#7
Lee H said:
will someone PLEASE invent an application so I can shock stupid people through their computers or phones....PLEASE...

I listed one of my motorcycles for sale on Craigslist (71 triumph ). What a mistake! I looked at ebay prices, and went with that, knowing it was low. Another mistake. I have gotten every snot nosed kid making me trade offers, for every kind of junk POS they can lay their hands on.
I had one kid offer me a junker 1980 datsun 280ZX. The car does not run. When it was parked it was only running on 5 cylinders. Parts have been robbed off it. it has back DMV fees owed...and the sales pitch was.."It was worth $8,000 a few years back, so if you fix it up, and wait until the economy rebounds and the market comes back, it will be a classic someday and maybe worth a lot." I am not kidding. You cannot make this stuff up

I have had over 100 responses on this bike, so I think I have it priced too low. yet I get these people responding, acting as if I owe it to them to make sure they have something nice, at my expense... I really want to slap a few upside the head


OK, end of rant
Click to expand...

I'd like one that shocks the **** out of sellers who who don't honor their agreements and sell stuff out from underneath buyers who have made a good faith commitment to buy (i.e. 'I have your asking price in cash when do you want to meet and a time and location is agreed upon). I've been burned a few times that way now.
 
#10
Yeah...Craigslist is wanker central.

People know it's easy to just spam email dozens of people with horrid offers. As a regular seller on Ebay, it is very similar. People on there expect me to do a Wal-Mart price-match. I usually counter-offer my list price perhaps minus a cent and call it the "scumbag special".

That will often piss them off and I just laugh. I let them know if they came in a physical store and offered me $200 on an $800 item they would get laughed out. Ebay isn't any different so they should stop whining.

Then they often will say "I was a serious buyer". Yeah...right.
 
#12
I know the feeling, OP. I just sold two bikes on CL, so it can be done. But it was painful. I had one guy interested in my Sportster (listed for $6250) want to trade me a microwave, power washer, "some electronics," a push mower, and a sofa. All used. Well, I guess he figured my bike was used, so it would all even out.

The usual disclaimers are a good idea, to be sure. But they also don't work very well. There are idiots who are owned by reading comprehension, and idiots who just want to waste your time.

I still have a bunch of bike parts and apparel for sale. I know; it's used stuff. But offering me $80 for a complete set of bike plastics in new and non-rashed condition? Come on.

:mad:
 
#13
Lee H said:
I had one kid offer me a junker 1980 datsun 280ZX. The car does not run. When it was parked it was only running on 5 cylinders. Parts have been robbed off it. it has back DMV fees owed...and the sales pitch was.."It was worth $8,000 a few years back, so if you fix it up, and wait until the economy rebounds and the market comes back, it will be a classic someday and maybe worth a lot."
Click to expand...

Pure win.

I know it would have ultimately been a waste of my time, but I'd have to respond to an offer like that, just because I'd be curious about what kind of idiot I'm dealing with.

Unfortunately, I don't get any offers that interesting on CL...just scams about shipping the "item" to some address and I'll get a check that is worth more than the "item."
 
#15
I always love it when someone asks "What is the lowest price you can go?" then want to start negotiations there, and nitpick hoping I will go down further.
I have told people that I am a professional mechanic/machinist. I will fix everything they find wrong, but I am adding the R&R shop time to the price.

One guy today, told me that he did not like the front wheel, and expected me to take the price of a new wheel off the purchase price so he would not be out.
I told him that I was in no way responsible, either financially or morally, for subsidizing his motorcycle preferences. If he wanted to buy it, then customize it further, that was his prerogative. but until I had been paid for the bike, it was mine, and it would stay just exactly as I liked it. . . I don't think that guy likes me..LOL

I have had a LOT of gun offers. I am up to 5 AR15s, and one HK91. The AR offer today included the M203 gernade launcher (let's say it was the 37mm flare launcher, just to be on top of the legal stipulations). One guy offered a customized 308, short range sniper rifle. I think it kind of shocked him when I told him that I had given a .338 mag for the bike to begin with
 
#17
I usually put out a good price, add "no trades", add "If it is listed, it is still available", and "first cash gets it." Then I refuse to talk price over email ("I never negotiate by email"), delete any trade offers and delete low ball offers.

My girlfriend got a classic. She listed a 6 foot tall bookshelf. It said "6 foot" in the headline. When she got the first email, the CL email system included the "6 foot". The first email asked if she still had it. Guess what the second email from that person asked? Yes, "How tall is it?"
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back