Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

[bryanwess2000]

So I list a 1991 searay 180br for FREE no trailer, seats, steering or motor.
A project boat, I get like 50 responses in 2 days, hardly any leave their
#, most want me to drop it off at a certain time then change the time,
some say they can get it on 1 day then change the day. Some even ask
if they can have the motor that was on it after I specifically stated in my
ad I bought the boat for the motor, trailer and hydraulic steering. I looked
on ebay and the SS rails, cleats, swim ladder, SS handles and a perfect
windshield could bring >$500 dollars, $300 or more just for the windshield.
I mean just parting it out could make you some money. I even offered to
deliver it within 35 miles of my house provided someone could help me push
it off the roller trailer, or meet them at the boat ramp and put it on their
trailer using my little kicker motor.
So after all the BS I called the county dump thats 10miles from my house
and it's only $10 to dump the whole boat. I'm going to strip it and haul it
to the dump.
I know the boats no beauty queen but the transoms solid and it was used in
2009 according to the lady I bought it from, no holes and it's an outboard
model boat. It would be cheap to get it on the water if you don't care
about cosmetics, or part it out and make some money.
Am I crazy for thinking these people are expecting a little too much for FREE.
I think thats the last time I list anything for free, I guess it wasn't free
enough. The only reason I was giving it away is I need the trailer NOW for
one of my other boats.
Sorry guys just needed to vent.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

Hey can I have it? I'll be there tomorrow...no wait can we make it Monday? Hows' the motor?

yea people can be stupid.....

I know a guy that had a V-20 hull for the same exact reason, ...he didnt really want to give it away for free but a guy came to the house and gave him a story about how he wants to fix it up for his son so they can fish...he liked the guy so much he gave it to him for free....a month later the guy had it cleaned up on craigslist and was selling it for $2500.

I think you are doing the right thing....take all the parts off of it, scrap it and then take your time and sell those parts you talked about and puts some gas in your boat.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

I never put anything on Craigslist for free anymore. I always put $50 or $20. For some reason you get way more people that are interested in taking it.

 

[skargo]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

People are babbling fools for the most part...

 

[JoLin]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

Please drop it off at my home at 1:00 on Sunday. Thanks!

Oh- can I have the motor?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

You can only drop it off at my place for free if you give me a decent warranty on it. And by the way bring the motor as well but make certain that it has good compression

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

I had a larger boat I was giving away, took over a year and in the end I had to tell people I wouldn't show it if they didn't have a trailer. Told them to meet at a location and I would find them and they could follow me. First guy met me, loaded the boat and took it!! I got lucky.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

Last weekend..and I mean ALL WEEKEND I did nothing but filter emails and then calls from people that were responding to my free mattresses as.

I had a decent King w/boxsprings and a really good queen with boxsprings.
I specifically stated I WILL NOT DELIVER, SORRY!

So the very first guy says he wants the King, but has a dodge neon..sorry about that buddy..He said he was only 6 miles from me, and he really expected me to bring em over...nope.

I took people in ORDER of their responses, one guy said he and his family were evicted and starting over and needed both sets..set up a time, no show, no call..nothing..

Move on to the next response..and the next..Had people say they would come get it NOW, and got MAD at me when I told them I was processing people in order of responses..

Had people demand pictures to even contemplate coming to "look"
I told them you are not coming to "look" you are coming to TAKE!

After all was said and done, two very gratefull needy couples came and were very very happy to have them..It was almost worth the hassle.

 

[popo4fun]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

I dont normally post on here..more of a reader/learner but I HAD to post on this..... so I had an 86 Sea Ray 210 cuddy....I had hit a stump and ruined the outdrive. Insurance wouldnt do right and i couldnt afford to fix it, so long story short I posted an ad on criagslist asking a very very fair price. Now I guess if you list on craigslist it means that the "buyer" starts out at half of your asking price...lol. Anyway so a couple comes by and gives me this story of how it is just what they were looking for ...that they could fix it and be perfect for their family. SO i sell it for less than i needed to but I thought hey this family will really use it. I felt glad that the boat would be enjoyed like my family did. I even gave them several items to help out like bumpers and lifejackets and a 2 person tube. Well guess what i see posted on craigslist 2 weeks later for sale for almost triple of what I sold it for....yep you guessed it....my old Sea Ray. Next time I will keep all my extra stuff and not fall for the old song and dance.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

I had a 15-foot hull at the curb with a sign, "Free to a good home." A week went by with no takers.

On a neighbor's suggestion I changed the sign to add a bit of value: "Boat hull for sale -- $25."

That night someone stole it.

 

[stylesabu]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

as for the two of you that got talked out of your boats,cause you thought you were being nice. If that was me I would have called on the boat and even showed up just to look the guy in the eye. It wouldn't have changed anything, but at least he'd know that you knew, he's a butthole. sometimes it doesn't pay be a nice guy, then you get a story like cheapboatkev,and it makes it all seem worth it. remmeber once you sell, trade or give it away. its no longer yours, its now thiers to do as they please.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

I had a 15-foot hull at the curb with a sign, "Free to a good home." A week went by with no takers.

On a neighbor's suggestion I changed the sign to add a bit of value: "Boat hull for sale -- $25."

That night someone stole it.

LOL - I love it!

In a similar vein I remember hearing a real estate agent talking about how he was having trouble selling a certain house. It was the least attractive in a nice neighbourhood and so was priced significantly less than the surrounding homes were generally worth. No takers for months.

His strategy was he bumped the price up to par with the others and it was gone in a week. So much of buying and selling is psychology I guess. People want to believe stuff they buy is worth something in someone's else's eyes too. I believe Porsche used a similar strategy some years ago - raised prices and eliminated some cheaper models to further "rarify" their image. Too bad - I really loved those 944s...

I have had similar hassles selling cars. People think nothing of making appointments then not showing or calling.

My last car was such a disaster I worded the ad practically daring anyone to buy it, accompanied by a long list of difficiencies, a suitably tempting price and a bill of sale actually stating it was completely unfit for the road, although it wasn't really.

My wife thought I was nuts but I absolutely didn't want to have that thing come back on me later. Some mechanically inclined young guy took up the challenge and I unloaded it within a week complete with a clear conscience

 

[bryanwess2000]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

Rick that story made me laugh. I guess it's all about perceived value. If it's
free it must be worthless, if it costs something it must have value. I guess
I should have listed it for about $400-500 and "let" someone talk me down
to $50-100.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

I had a 15-foot hull at the curb with a sign, "Free to a good home." A week went by with no takers.

On a neighbor's suggestion I changed the sign to add a bit of value: "Boat hull for sale -- $25."

That night someone stole it.

ROFLMAO!! Seriously, I almost spit coffee all over my laptop. Priceless

 

[Northern Lights]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

I have bought several items off CL, don't even bother looking at anything that is not fairly priced. I put our Bayliner 3270 on CL & will never do that again. Had people call that wanted to list it on their website for $$$, someone tried to have me use them to finance it with a warranty again costing me $$$. I think as far as selling on CL I would only offer small items. There is also to many business' selling on it, should be limited to individual sellers. If want to buy new there is amazon & eBay. End of rant.

 

[Maxum21]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

Craigslist is pretty much a complete joke. Everyone wants something for nothing, and when it actually is free, they want something extra like an engine, or free delivery when its convenient for them. I place all my ads on ebay now.. its night and day

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

Craigslist is pretty much a complete joke. Everyone wants something for nothing, and when it actually is free, they want something extra like an engine, or free delivery when its convenient for them. I place all my ads on ebay now.. its night and day

Wow..must be where we live. Hereabouts our craigslist is one of the largest in the country for boats....so far in the past three years, I have bought and sold four boats here. Everything but my current boat has come off craigslist, and the boat I traded for this one came off craigslist....

I actually use the site to horsetrade and barter as well...I have peddled a ton of fishing tackle and boat supplies.

Yeah, we have our fair share of jerks and no-shows, but they will even come from BoatTrader and newspaper ads...

 

[skargo]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

Of course there are jerks on craigslist, but I would never call it a joke. I make money there, and use it all the time, for business and pleasure.

I got news for you, newspaper classifieds have idiots too.

 

[labguy]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

I had a 1986 Bayliner that needed some interior work and an engine coupler. The engine was good, the outdrive was good, just needed the coupler. Well, I didn't want to do the work because I wanted a "new" one anyway. Found a 1991 SeaRay 180 BR (best boat I have EVERY owned) and bought it. Called my sister and asked her if she wanted the Bayliner for FREE. Told her what it needed and she said, "Are you sure it runs? Why are you getting rid of it?" I was like, "Look, Im offering it to you FREE. If you don't want it, you can ditch the boat and make 200-300 off the trailer (trailer was very nice)." She said she would take it. Then, I asked her if her husband can run by my house while he was down this way to get it and she had the gall to say, "Can't you just bring it to me? (She lives 45 minutes from me)". I took it to her because I needed it out of the way for the new boat. People are so frigging ungrateful.......

 

[109jb]

Re: Craigs list ad responders have me stumped?

I had a snowmobile that I listed on CL last year, not for free but for a very reasonable price. Wanted to sell it quick. Got call after call from people wanting me to deliver it as far away as 100 miles for nothing. One of the guys that called the day I posted it (Monday) said he would come pick it up saturday. I told him then that the first person that put cash money in my hand was going to take it. He called Saturday and said he was on his way and I told him it was already sold. He started swearing at me and telling me what a jerk I was for selling it out from under him. I of course hung up, but the idiot called back and started swearing again. I didn't hang up but put the phone down on the counter and went about my business. Don't know exactly how long he cursed out my counter top but it was at least 5 minutes.