Put a want ad on craigslist

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member
I was looking to buy a tool. Put an ad on craigslist. Mistake by putting my cell so they can text me. Now I'm getting spam texts for the first time. Seller is asking if I except a check. Wait a minute, I'm the buyer, why do I need to except a check. There is no phone # to respond to either. This is my first bad experience with craigslist. Live and learn I guess. I just canceled the ad. No more craigslist for me.
 
I still use Craigslist, but I never put a phone number in the ad. I use them to sell old equipment, and always receive low-bid offers from people who haven't looked at the item. I'm thinking these are not serious buyers...so why are they wasting their time and mine, too?
Butch
 
After we moved, I listed an ad to sell some surplus things. Got a reply that made me wonder for awhile. It tuned out that the guy was a very nice gentleman from south of the border. He made an appointment to look at what I had for sale. Turned out that he buys a lot of things in AZ and resells them. He gave me his business card and phone number so I could notify him direct if I have something for sale so I don't even place an ad on CL anymore.
 
I have been selling a camper on craiglist, people don't show up and waste your time or just look real sketchy looking around everything at the house
next time i think i will put something for sale in the empty lot down the road. I never include my number as well i tell them send theres and i will call.
 
I have listed several things over the years. I always ask them to reply using CL email with their phone number, location, and best time to call them. That way I can see if the number and their city/state is close or a waste of my time. (Reverse lookup) Or if their use of the language might be concerning, I will just ignore them. Then if a deal is made, I will ask them to meet me at WalMart in town or even the police station parking lot. I will talk with the desk officer on duty or store manager and tell them what I am doing and never had an issue on their end. I tell the buyer I live way out in the country so giving directions would still get them lost. Only issues I have had is lately, I will edit my post with "Item Sold, Thanks." Almost immediately, I get an email asking if I still have the item. DUH!
 
Well I used to have good luck there with just my phone number. If I allow emails it is nothing but scammers ! Last for sale ad put the wifes cell number and she got nothing but scams like you got. So I spelled out the middle numbers and this stopped the scams.
 
Yes there are some things a person must deal with if he uses CL. Spammers and scammers abound both via email and phone. A person has to choose if its worth it or not and don't fall for easy to spot scams. Personally I do well enough to put up with the scum bags. Just this week I placed a want ad for some 8-14.5 trailer tires and found 4 nice ones a mile from home for $10 each vs $100 each at the tire store.

Tips if you choose to try it again are to not place your phone number in the ad and create a email account just for craigs list. If it gets thick with spam create another one. My ads say email to get phone number. My reasoning being if somebody doesn't want to deal over the computer why are they looking at a cyber buy and sell site to begin with? LOL
 
Local college student put a car on CL to sell.Got contacted by a potential buyer.Found the car and sellers body the next day.

Goggle KSDK for the story.
 
Also I seen a story on TV where some town police department was actually wanting people to meet at the police department to do the craigslist transactions. They did recommend you at least let them know why you are there.
 
I recently sold a truck on CL (1979 f350) the first 2 weeks it was listed I got some spam. i had them texting me trying to write checks or cashires checks but i just stuck to cash in hand will buy this truck and after about 6 weeks I had $1800 in my hand and was on a plane to oregon for a much needed vacation. it seems like there may not be a way to avoid the spamers and you just have to be away and safe. I like the idea of meeting at the Police station though.
 
I buy off craigslist pretty often and had the same problem, $5.00 phone from the dollar store with pre-paid minutes stopped all that.
 
If you want to sell to me list a phone number or I just let the ad go by. I bought a boat last week,camper four years ago and a golf cart from CL listings, in Western IL, St. Louis Mo and Jefferson City MO.
 
These discussions never fail to amuse me.
First, just DEFINE what Craig's list really is - want ads. Classified ads. Same thing that has been in your local newspaper forever. The main differences are that it is FREE and electronic. After that, it is the same critter wearing a different suit.
Since it is FREE, it does bring out some scam artists. One common thread that I see is the ALL users have computers and are paying for internet access. Then there are the spammers that get paid to spread their advertising.
The biggest problem that I see with transacting this type of business in this manner is anonymity. One can get on these sites with totally phony information, hide behind some made up "handle," and say and do things that would never be acceptable in polite company.
I see no problem with posting a phone number. when the callers get too irritating, there is always law enforcement to turn to. Harassing another person by phone is still a violation of the law. So is stalking - whether by phone or otherwise.
I have had many dealings on eBay and Craig's list. Problems are rare. Just do your homework and back away from a deal that seems suspicious. The positive side is that these electronic marketplaces have extended my shopping area to the entire country - or even the entire world. They have also extended my potential sales area to the same level.
Craig's list saves me the expense of buying a daily paper and thumbing through ads.
Overall, I think it is a good thing.
 
We have a lot of 'flippers' around here now who are trying to make a quick buck by buying anything cheap and trying to sell it for more than they paid. Most of them have no idea about what they are looking at.
 

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