Craig's list weirdness.

[LibraLabSoldier]

Since I got back from Iraq, one of the ways I have made extra money and kept myself busy is buying, selling and trading stuff on CL.

Several months ago, a friend needed money for her utilities and refused to let me just give her money. So instead, I bought her old 96 Sebring convertible from her.

I put it up on CL. A guy contacted me wanting to trade for a boat, which is the 77 Demcraft that brought me here. Here is where stuff got weird. He did not do the title properly, so while I was trying to track him down, I got a call from the OKC impound yard saying they had the Sebring and wanted to know if I would come pick it up. Seems that after the guy got the car, he got picked up committing a crime and had several warrants.

Uh oh. I commence to do all sorts of title searches and such to make sure I did not have a hot boat sitting under my garage.

Turns out, it was legit. It took me another four or five months to figure out a way to get the title settled.

I have also purchased a couple of old VW Beetles for 400 bucks that I parted out for close to 4000......

I still have the boat, but currently I have a guy with a running 1948 Ford pick up interested, as well as a guy with a 1970 Honda CB350 motor cycle.....

Have any of you guys had interesting trades or buys on CL?

 

[bassman284]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

Congrats on getting the title straightened out. It's not always possible. If I was looking at a used boat, the title would be the first thing I'd want to look at, ie, does the seller have one. No title, no deal and I don't even look at the boat. Same with trailers or motors in the states that require them to be titled.

 

[LibraLabSoldier]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

In Oklahoma, boats and motors have to be titled separately, trailers do not. This state has more fines and fees than anywhere I have ever lived.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

Thank You for your service LLS, and welcome to iBoats.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

I am not quite sure why you have the boat back again.
Whether the guy got arrested or not, it sure seems like it should be his car now.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

I had 2 older BBQ grills that I wanted to get rid of as well as some excercise equipment. I put it on CL for free. Good condition, free to a good home. 3 months...no takers.

I relisted it...same exact ad...but put $50 apiece for the grills and $300 for the gym. Sold all in 2 days. Go figure...:facepalm:

 

[LibraLabSoldier]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

Honestly, CL is one of the ways I make extra money and occupy my time. This boat is just the biggest of trades I have gotten. I am honestly trying to turn it into a motorcycle, or a decent amount of cash to take my wife and daughter on a vacation. So far I am just getting ridiculous offers or trades of junk.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

Because a friend of mine had a nightmare experience with selling a car, that was titled to him, without a transfer to the new owner at the time of sale. I no longer let a car go to a new owner if titled in my name without going with them to the DMV to transfer to their name.

This friend spent 7k on an Attorney because the new owner never transferred the vehicle to his name and was in an accident where they were at fault and not properly insured. This Friend has assets and a Cut Throat Attorney came after him because according to State records he owned the car. Thankfully he did have a hand written bill of sale, but spent a heap of money with his attorney.

I wouldn't brag, online, about making a profit on Craigslist sales unless you are claiming so on your tax return.

 

[phillyg]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

An added protection is to prepare a simple bill of sale and print two copies, one for the buyer and one for yourself, that includes all the terms of the sale that you both agree to. Both of you should sign both copies, and mark your copy "duplicate original" to minimize the buyer "modifying" his copy after the fact. Then, whatever he/she does with the purchase after the date of sale is on him/her. If your state requires you to notify it of the sale of a vehicle or boat, do that the next business day and keep a record of your notification.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

An added protection is to prepare a simple bill of sale and print two copies, one for the buyer and one for yourself, that includes all the terms of the sale that you both agree to. Both of you should sign both copies, and mark your copy "duplicate original" to minimize the buyer "modifying" his copy after the fact. Then, whatever he/she does with the purchase after the date of sale is on him/her. If your state requires you to notify it of the sale of a vehicle or boat, do that the next business day and keep a record of your notification.

Very good advice!

I go the extra step of making them transfer it at the DMV, while i am there. We both sign, done deal!

In my State there is a form, as a seller, you fill out to notify the state that you have sold a vehicle. They will track down the buyer if they don't register in their name. They want that sales tax! We used to be able to "tell" the state what we paid for it, as to keep taxes low. Now they use "Blue book"

With a boat, in my state of TX, you pay a penalty that increases the longer you wait to title in your name. Its handled through Parks and Wildlife they dont mess around.

 

[LibraLabSoldier]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

Lucky for me, the tiny town I live in has a tag agency that is about four hundred meters from my front door...and the girl who works there has a crush on me.

I traded the dude the car for the boat. It is his car, as far as I am concerned, even if he is in jail somewhere in Oklahoma. That impound lot can keep that bathtub of a car for all I care.

I do claim my sales on my taxes, trades....not so much. I also donate a lot of stuff I get so between charity, gambling losses and CL sales, it all breaks out even.

Long story short, I have this boat titled, cleaned up, sitting in my yard, a few miles from a lake that I cannot get it to.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

Lucky for me, the tiny town I live in has a tag agency that is about four hundred meters from my front door...and the girl who works there has a crush on me.

I traded the dude the car for the boat. It is his car, as far as I am concerned, even if he is in jail somewhere in Oklahoma. That impound lot can keep that bathtub of a car for all I care.

I do claim my sales on my taxes, trades....not so much. I also donate a lot of stuff I get so between charity, gambling losses and CL sales, it all breaks out even.

Long story short, I have this boat titled, cleaned up, sitting in my yard, a few miles from a lake that I cannot get it to.

Im no tax expert but you don't claim sales unless you had a profit... You can't claim gambling losses unless you are claiming winnings.

 

[LibraLabSoldier]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

And that is why my wife handles the taxes. You can't let a guy with a head injury do your income taxes. Run for public office maybe, but taxes? No.

I know I am careful to always get appropriate titles, and in the cases of firearms check their pedigree and make sure they don't "have a body on them".

As it is going right now, I may be trading the boat for a 1979 VW Rabbit.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

And that is why my wife handles the taxes. You can't let a guy with a head injury do your income taxes. Run for public office maybe, but taxes? No.

I know I am careful to always get appropriate titles, and in the cases of firearms check their pedigree and make sure they don't "have a body on them".

As it is going right now, I may be trading the boat for a 1979 VW Rabbit.

Sorry about your head injury!

Myself and Family Thank You for your service!

 

[LibraLabSoldier]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

It was not combat related. It is a funny story, and that same day I got to meet Gary Sinise. I hit my head on a steel I beam support for the Xray departments five Airconditioners. The CT scanner likes it to be cool.

Save your thanks for those guys who did not come home, or risked their lives. I worked in a super safe base at the hospital. I saw a lot of blood and guts and gore, but it was delivered.

I do not agree that everyone who put on a uniform is a hero. I went because I am real good at what I do (blood banking and transfusion medicine are my area of expertise)...We saved a lot of lives. For that I am happy and thankful.

But I was just doing what I was trained to do to the best of my abilities. Nothing heroic about it.

 

[Tempelton]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

I would imagine that the people you helped save would not think twice about referring to you as a hero. Sure you might not have seen front line battle but you seen you own type of battle every time you helped save someone. I would also like to say that I consider you a hero in the same way I consider ER nurses and doctors heros.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

I would imagine that the people you helped save would not think twice about referring to you as a hero. Sure you might not have seen front line battle but you seen you own type of battle every time you helped save someone. I would also like to say that I consider you a hero in the same way I consider ER nurses and doctors heros.

Ditto...

 

[Water_God32]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

Yes thank you for your service, everyone has there place where they excel. You saved lives!! You are a hero! Thank you again for serving our country!

 

[LibraLabSoldier]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

If someone could tell me why this blasted Mercury 500 keeps leaking fuel from the carbs I would be ecstatic. I do not think the actuator for the choke is working.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Craig's list weirdness.

If someone could tell me why this blasted Mercury 500 keeps leaking fuel from the carbs I would be ecstatic. I do not think the actuator for the choke is working.

You should probably start a post in the mercury outboard section with " mercury 500 carbs " as your title.