Craigslist Rant

john in la · Mar 31, 2019

The cap started coming off my rear tractor tire.
Since my rims have been welded up due to rot I was already to just order a new set.
The $1150 price for 2 off brand tires and rims was just hard to swallow.

So while I hate dealing with individuals and their used junk they think is priceless I looked on craigslist.

Found these tires that have been listed for over 20 days.

I text the guy on friday to find out if he still has them.
He answers me and says yes and we chat via text a couple of times.
I then ask when can I come look at them and your address.
He says you can come saturday but gives no address.
I ask for address again but no repronce.
I send another text saturday morning and try to call a couple of times.
No responce.

It just seems to me if I had something that would bring in hundreds of dollars.
Have been trying to sell for weeks and finally have someone intrested with cash in hand I would be bending over backwards trying to get these things sold.

Oh well guess I will just get the new tires.

Billy NY · Mar 31, 2019

I hear ya, but as you likely surmised, some people are not too swift on follow up. Same happens when you sell something, half @ss responses, seemingly waste of time questions and people don't show up when they say they will.
Years ago, I called on a troy bilt rototiller, said I'd like to stop by, look it over and make an offer. It was obviously in nice shape, the price was good, I was ready to buy. The seller became evasive, well ummm? this and that, then said I still need to use it and so on. So I politely asked, why then did you list it for sale, when you knew you had all this other baggage associated with it?

If he was just testing the waters to sell it, then say so. ie, "I've got this tiller, still in use, but will entertain a reasonable offer for it to make a deal" I'd know to steer away, or simply make a standing offer and move on, they respond, fine, if not, the offer stands. Or, just don't list the darned thing until ready to sell it.

People get a little flakey sometimes, part of the human race I suppose.

Heck with it, enjoy your new tractor tires on your tractor, sometimes you win to save a buck, sometimes you don't, life goes on regardless, LOL !

farmer656 · Mar 31, 2019

I understand your pain, last weekend I was looking for another vehicle for a spare. this was sat morning,well I called and text the guy at 8 am, I was really interested in vehicle he had posted. knowing that I need to go to the bank by noon, to get the cash, when he finally answered about 2 in the after noon, was wanting me to come right away, me not having to get the money by noon it was not gonna happen cuz cash talks, then in conversation he has no title, tells me it will be there this Wednesday, so I tell him when he has title in hand call me I will come with cash, still have not heard from him but it is still for sale Frustrating,

rrlund · Mar 31, 2019

You're gonna feel bad if the guy died or something.

Crazy Horse · Mar 31, 2019

I guess in any private sale, the seller or the buyer should never assume that the other guy is concerned about the guy on the other side of the transaction. And maybe always expect the worst, that way you avoid most of the disappointment. For sure though, some of these stories leave a guy scratching his head.

JOCCO · Mar 31, 2019

You are dealing with people and they can frustrate you. You are correct on them putting effort into selling it.

Dean · Mar 31, 2019

It all boils down to this: His time is valuable but yours is not.

Dean

Dave H (MI) · Mar 31, 2019

I buy a lot of stuff on CL John. The last year an increased number of people are afraid to have me come to their homes. This happens more with text and email contact than with phone calls. Did you have a phone number and did you call him? Much easier for him to evaluate you and vice versa. I am running into more people telling me we have to meet in a parking lot or such. Never occurs to them that I am not crazy about meeting strangers in strange places with a pocket full of cash. When I sell on CL I put the item out on the drive, secured. They come and I go out and deal with them. If it is a freebie it usually listed as FCFS, bring help to load, and do NOT knock on my door for any reason. You should call the guy. Most likely scenario is someone has snapped them up quicker than you and he is avoiding the contact. If I really want an item, I don't screw around with texts and emails.

JD Seller · Mar 31, 2019

He might have a good reason not to respond. Like working the weekend shift. More likely is he just does not have a clue. Some people are not experienced in dealing with sales from the seller side. It is different on the back side of the counter. LOL

He could be like me too. I text as a last resort. A few short numbers, or some yes or no questions is fine. More than that forget it. Also around the livestock I turn my phone ringer off. Nothing like helping a cow calve then have the phone ring and start a rodeo. LOL

Grandpa's Fords · Mar 31, 2019

I've been looking for a replacement for my damaged and rusty pickup box for some time checked internet, Facebook and craigslist. Found numerous listings most junk those that were not were priced outrageously. Found an obscure add on c-list 2002 Chevy parts truck and a phone number nothing else. Called no answer no voice mail set up finally sent text of inquiry. 2wks later guy texts me back to say it has a good box. No price no pictures. After 2 more weeks I got 2 pictures of the box still on the truck it looked good from these pics. Fortunately he was only 15 miles from me, so after another week finally got to go see it. He wouldn't tell me his last name if he had I've known his father most of my life. and knew where it was located. Young man 17 years old goes to high school and works for his dad nights and weekends, doesn't even carry his phone with most of the time. Bought the box and both doors and some other parts for less than half of what I've seen on other adds.
I really lucked out everything was in excelent shape (truck had hit a tree and frame was beyond repair). The young man has since called me and asked if I needed help to work on my truck.
It may have taken 6 weeks to get this happening but every once in awhile I get pleasantly suprised.Before this I was ready to swear off C-list

grizz02 · Mar 31, 2019

had something like that happen turned out he sold the item and was to childish just to say its sold , and yes its frustrating

ss55 · Mar 31, 2019

After having the ad up for a few weeks he may not be monitoring the ad very close anymore, or he may already be dealing with several other potential buyers.

miner09 · Mar 31, 2019

Sometime it a scam. But they want you to send money first.

DoubleO7 · Mar 31, 2019

(quoted from post at 11:35:27 03/31/19) Never occurs to them that I am not crazy about meeting strangers in strange places with a pocket full of cash.

Goes both ways.
I do not want some stranger coming to my place for something that can be sold in the parking lot of the nearest police station.
The cops are encouraging CL buyers/sellers to do it as well, must be a valid reason.

Why have someone that says they are interested in what you have for sale come to your place and scope out all of what they can see?
There are "buyers" that have no intention of buying anything.
But will come back later to steal it and convert it into drug money, etc.

WellWorn · Mar 31, 2019

...
It may have taken 6 weeks to get this happening but every once in awhile I get pleasantly surprised. Before this I was ready to swear off C-list

I've listed nothing on Craigslist, for good reasons. I check e-mail when convenient, which might be days or weeks apart. I don't spend much consistent time around a landline; lack of cell coverage out here mean texts often take several hours (or even days) to get through; short calls are made or received only from a few odds spots out in the fields, but only if I stand on one foot, hold the phone pointed ESE, 31.6 degrees from vertical, the moon is in the right phase, and if there is no manure on my boots. IOW (in other words), not the kind of person [b:a2222b4d3b][u:a2222b4d3b]I'd[/u:a2222b4d3b][/b:a2222b4d3b] want to try to contact to buy stuff from.

I'm told I resemble the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. It can be proven I'm "here", but at no time exactly where.

CBBC · Mar 31, 2019

I've bought a few good thing off CL.
Mack DM dumptruck $5000, F350 dually flatdeck $4500, F250 crew cab full box $4000.

All these were very good prices for my area. But the were buried in the adds withing a day and were never reposted. They also did not have good key words to bring them up in the search.

The flat deck I bought as soon as I could get up the next day . The other but the other two I watched and noted how many times the ads had been viewed, and then a couple weeks later contacted them.

Have sold some small stuff and like anything, you get a few weirdos sometimes.

T.R.K. · Mar 31, 2019

I had the same experience. Tractor on CL for over a month. I don't have any way to send text. I email about two weeks ago. No response.

He puts the ad back to the top of the page on the 29th. I e-mail again, and ask for his phone number and the best time to call. I mean, If he wants to sell it, he should try to be available, right?

He e-mails me back, almost the exact same message. Wants my telephone #.

He don't want to be bothered, I guess.

DoubleO7 · Mar 31, 2019

(quoted from post at 13:20:42 03/31/19) I've bought a few good thing off CL.

the other two I watched and noted how many times the ads had been viewed, and then a couple weeks later contacted them.

Have sold some small stuff and like anything, you get a few weirdos sometimes.

We do not have a "viewed" counter on our CL ads down here.

tomNE · Mar 31, 2019

the great buys usually come from someone who doesn't pay much attention! I use CL alot and don't lose any sleep on thing that get away!

Traditional Farmer · Mar 31, 2019

I've bought and sold a lot of things on CL,when I get emails I can just about tell who is going to be a pain in the behind to deal with so I'll wait a day or two before I answer and if a couple better replies come a long I respond to them first.I'm not in desperate need to sell anything so if I loose a sale no big deal.

Ray · Mar 31, 2019

I?ve called on tractors and it?s like pulling teeth trying to get some answers. I asked a guy if his tractor had ps or live pto. He said he didn?t know,then told me it was sold. I guess I was supposed to buy it without asking any questions. It?s still advertised in a new add.

Crazy Horse · Mar 31, 2019

QUESTION ...... for those that don't text (like me), is the text number not the same as a person's cell phone number?

ss55 · Mar 31, 2019

When I want a seller to respond to my emails or calls I make the first move in disclosing information by include my name and telephone number in my first contact.

544hydro · Mar 31, 2019

Looks like I’m in the minority but I have sold a fair number of items on Craigslist and never put my phone number in. I communicate by email until someone is ready to come look or buy. But I’m not desperate to sell stuff either. If it doesn’t sell I don’t mind keeping most stuff.

rustred · Mar 31, 2019

I have the same b.s. happen here in the photo adds. contact him give him info. he agrees then cant get ahold of him anymore. as the saying goes... god is great, beer is good and people are crazy.

SodBuster87 · Mar 31, 2019

(quoted from post at 10:11:45 03/31/19) I've bought and sold a lot of things on CL,when I get emails I can just about tell who is going to be a pain in the behind to deal with so I'll wait a day or two before I answer and if a couple better replies come a long I respond to them first.I'm not in desperate need to sell anything so if I loose a sale no big deal.

And that is the reason I don't waste my time with ads that only have an email and no phone number. I'm not going to beg you to take my money. You want my business or you don't. I really don't care either way. My experience is email only ads at best have a 50% reply back rate. It's not worth my time for stuff I don't need that bad and its very seldom that great of a deal anyway.

Sod Buster

Stephen Newell · Mar 31, 2019

You never know what is going on in his life. Perhaps there was an emergency he had to go out of town.

mmfan55 · Mar 31, 2019

I post ads on craigslist often. Get my share of scammers or spammers. I put in my ads "calls only " . After a while, a person can recognize a "generic" response from text. If a text is worded to sound legitimate I will respond. Others get deleted. I feel someone calling is more personal and serious inquiry. Never leave email any more. Had an issue where some scum bag hijacked my email address and was putting up bogus ads with my email info. C/l can be good or bad.

LarryH · Mar 31, 2019

what size tires and rims do you need I have some for much less than 1150

flying belgian · Mar 31, 2019

Ya, I bet that's it.

1206SWMO · Mar 31, 2019

Same here...I never give my phone number and I don't text..They can email me for my phone number...I usually sell everything that I list for sale..

K Effective · Mar 31, 2019

For those of you unequipped to text, you [u:f3e3eb4fb9]can[/u:f3e3eb4fb9] send an email converted to text to the seller. They provide their phone number, and you do have to be able to identify the carrier- usually you can Google the number and the responses will tell you. Then send an email to [email protected] or which ever carrier they have.

Clearly, this is not ideal, but if there is an item you truly need and they are only receiving texts, you can at least reach out to them.

Google can provide instructions and links for every carrier.

YMMV

paul · Mar 31, 2019

I know I?m the oddball, but I don?t have a cell phone so can?t text, and I have a phone phobia so it is hard for me to initiate a phone call. I?ve had several good email purchases through CL.

There are goofy buyers and goofy sellers out there, just how the world turns.

Drove past a car trailer with a for sale sine along the road for a couple weeks, one day the owner was mowing grass so I pull in. He chats with me 45 minutes, I say well I should get on my errands, what about the trailer? (He conversed a lot but never did say much about the trailer so far......) Well, uh. Just wasn?t sure if it was really for sale or not, he could get back to me in a few days....

I thanked him for the time, regretted wasting an hour of mine, and went on my way. Drove past that trailer with a sign on it for another 2 months that summer.

Don?t understand.p people.

Paul

VicS · Mar 31, 2019

rossow (mn) · Mar 31, 2019

I saw an item on c-list back in December or early January. Ad said calls only, please. But no phone number was provided. I clicked on c-list site saying it would send a message to seller. Since then (it's now almost April) I've seen the item listed at last count 16 or 17 times. and each time it's the same ad with no phone number listed, and no other contact information. I've asked the c-list automatic thing to contact seller, but he must not read his email. I suppose the dopey seller is wondering why no one has responded to his ad.

john in la · Mar 31, 2019

13.6x28 on ford 12 inch 6 loop rims.

pinball · Mar 31, 2019

type the phone number in your search. might find out where he is at for sure.

Texasmark1 · Apr 1, 2019

I had really good luck on Craigs list on farm equipment and just recently an immaculate 2009 Honda Element EX (for trips to town in crowded parking lots....like at the Dr.'s office) for $8k, 108k Miles. Had service records, including Carfax record, all the fluids had just been changed, tires were good for at least another year, garage kept, paint like new, head and tail light lenses clear as new, upholstery looked untouched, on and on. Guy was moving on a Saturday, needed to get rid of one of his cars, I hit him on Wednesday, sweet deal. First used car I ever bought that needed nothing done!

Gary201 · Apr 1, 2019

John, I can beat that price for new rims and tires and I'm not far away. Send me an email if you haven't made a deal and are interested. Or call me at six o one 395 eleven thirty two. Gary

mb58 · Apr 1, 2019

The lack of response from sellers is one of my pet peeves! Especially the ones that start out communicating, like your guy did, and then fall off the face of the earth. Then there's the folks that post something for sale on face book AND DON'T GIVE A LOCATION!!

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