way too many flakes and cancellations on my Craigslist sales. humans suck.

[phantom]

I still do some CL because I don't ship bikes any longer. I put my landline number in and explain that it has no voicemail on it and you can't leave a message so, initial contact through CL e mail relay is usually the best way. When I don't have anything listed I turn the ringer off. Anyone that knows me will call my cell so having my landline ring only when I have ads is no problem. Whenever I go to look at a CL item or when someone is coming here I am always concealing.

 

[kreika]

I never bring a Craigslist stranger to my house! Ever! Always meet in a safe location. Bring a friend (or some heat) if you have concerns for safety. Regarding those FB “is this item still available”. I believe a vast majority are bots. I typically don’t respond unless they actually type a message. Good luck everyone and stay safe!

 

[kccomet]

I'm a pretty good buyer, but not so good as a seller. I sell or try to a few things on cl or fb from time to time. I always state in my ad leave number if interested, very few do, they want text after text which drives me crazy, I think it's a generation thing.

 

[Axman88]

I think that sellers on Craigslist are a lot better than the average seller on Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. They will miss appointments at the times they set, refuse to provide ANY contact information, ghost your emails, etc.

1/3 of the folks won't modify their spam filters after they place an ad. All the responses end up in their Junk folder.

However, apparently sometimes this squirrelly behaviour can work in one's favor. A friend offered a motor scooter for sale recently on CL. One buyer Paypalled him $200 to "hold it for me", then never showed up. The guy is not returning emails or texts either. Two weeks later the $200 is still in his account, while the scooter was sold to another buyer.

People complain about the fees that Ebay charges, but having some $ investment in an ad forces sellers to take their role seriously.

 

[Junkman Bob]

maybe I am the "odd man out" here, but when I see a bike or other junk for sale I call if they accept phone calls, arrange a time and get there within a reasonable timeframe to buy or at least look at the item in question. 9 times out of 10 I am ready to leave when I call. only unexpected traffic will make me late. I'm single and have no kids I got to keep so my time is 100% my own other than work.

I have NEVER arranged to meet a seller and call them at the time I am supposed to arrive and say I am not coming. I tell them where I am coming from and check the google to see how long it will take to get there. it has become so bad that I think maybe someone is messing with me using multiple phone numbers. I brought 2 bikes and a frame to my work to accommodate a potential buyer a few weeks back and he cancelled on me never to be heard from again.

on a positive note I have never had a no show. they always TEXT, cancel and either never text back or text a week later.. had texts from 3 individuals for items for sale this morning and last night, not a one has arranged to meet me.

this is getting old, suddenly shipping a bike or parts (or assorted cool stuff) no longer seems like a pain in the butt.

my other selling rant here is texts. I am ready to only put my land line in the ads and have people call me and leave a message. which means I will have calls with no message left for a call back. not seeing how 15 texts over 45 minutes is better than a 5 minute phone call.

I have been a buyer/seller for a good 35 years , it did not used to be this way

maybe it's a Bay Area thing. how are local sales going for you guys?

I don’t get it either …Simple phone call …. I had a young guy tell me that weird people do phone calls instead of texting ….

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

Then there’s the guy who shows up and you get the feeling he is just casing the joint, debating if a visit some night to liberate your wheels and tools is worth his while.
people can be such pigs.

I was selling vintage car parts for a long time. a Grandpa looking guy came by in a 51 sedan delivery with his 2 teen grandsons to buy 51 Chevrolet stuff. the next day the 62 Cadillac hubcaps were missing from the 1961 Lincoln I had outside.

I saw the caps later at a swap meet. they had flaws that made it obvious. the seller was probably the dad of the kid. in hindsight I wish I had asked him if his Dad had a blue 51 delivery, but at the time thought it was not worth it as it could have ended poorly. people get defensive when you accuse their kids of being thieves.

I bring items outside for sellers, nobody comes in to scope out the place. not even the Pope would come in to see what else I had.

 

[HEMI426]

I had a guy and girl call and come out to look at some small parts I had, I was home alone and after we dug out the parts the girl said it was a long ride and needed to use the bathroom in the house. There was no way I was falling for that one, so I told her to go behind the barn, I said thats where I go sometimes. She didn't and they stayed for about another half hour. I try to make sure my wife or a friend is there with me. In general I trust people but I paid for that trust a few times. Live and learn I guess.

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

after all my complaining a guy showed up today right on time to buy the hydraulic base to a vintage dentist chair I had on C- list.
my neighbor who does X-ray installs and maintenance put it out for the scrap guy. I get more cool stuff from his scrap piles.

 

[Darthvader]

Anonymity breeds contempt. This is why humanity is going to hell in a hand bag. You can thank social media.

 

[genesmachines]

I have buyers call before they leave their home for mine. That way I know they are at least planning to come, no call- no wait. FB sucks but then so do smartphones in my book!! Its hell to get old and hate change