Craigslist blues

[2stroke1971]

Gawd man!
I am selling my little old 15 footer because I bought an old bayliner and cant store 2 boats.
I really dont want to get rid of it but you know how that goes, Im a bit of a hoarder anyway. Got to be careful or I will wind up with 10 boats 20 motorcycles and a hundred guitars by the time I die...(All junky mind you, Im not rich)

Anyway, I thought I would list it on Craigslist. I was suprosed by the number of responses I got and so was pretty sure I would have it gone quick. The boat was 45 minutes away in my Mom's garage so I ran right up there and brought it down to my house.

First guy actually came over, but didnt want it because he thought it had a console, and it does not. (I put a better pic on after that)

Then, I got this long email from a fellow who had hip surgery recently, and so couldnt travel. He siad if I met him somewhere close to his house, he would buy it. I thought about that one, but since he was the second one to contact me, I gave him second crack at it and called him. We talked a good bit, and against my better judgement I told him I would bring it all the way to his house.

I got all hyped up and hit the road 10 minutes after we hung up. I was on the road about 5 minutes when I got a call. It was his WIFE. She asked me if I was on my way yet. I said yes, and she says to me "Well, he changed his mind, we dont want it"....Ok.

Got some low ball offers...one guy just wants the boat and not motor or trailer. One dude emailed me several times, then when I called him, he didnt answer...i left a message but have not heard back.

Another caller on the phone...after 10 minutes of details and talking shop, he tells me he's broke until March 5th when he gets his taxes back. (Now dont get me wrong, Im the same way, thats how I bought my Bayliner, with tax refund), but he could have mentioned it earlier.

And all of the above happened in the first day.
Its been quiet now, I guess the hawk eyed watchers have made their rush, now Ive got to wait. I think Im gonna put it back at my moms before my neighbors start crapping rocks that I have TWO boats over here.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Craigslist blues

I hear ya man. I've sold a lot of things of cl with little issue...until I tried selling the Mitsu Diamante I just got rid of. The amount of scammers and tire kickers were REALLY annoying...but eventually the right person came and that was that.

One guy called, was really interested and we even chatted for a LONG time on the phone. Well, we were supposed to meet the next day and he rescheduled for the day after...then that day all i got was a text saying he couldn't make it. A few days later I called and apparently his wife had looked in consumer reports, didn't like what she saw, but he didn't have what it took to just tell me about it.

Good luck!

 

[DANZIG]

Re: Craigslist blues

I prefer to deal on the email until I get an idea if someone is serious or not.

This go round I have a parts car for sale and apart from the usual scams I am getting quite a few,,, "My, brother, son, cousin, would like this" and a phone number to call.

One I would not have paid attention too, but several on the same add makes me think something is up.

 

[livin4real]

Re: Craigslist blues

CL is definitely a double-edged sword. I've been b/s/t'ing on ebay for 10yrs now, a couple years on CL. A couple tips on CL: I do NOT list a phone number, ever. If they want the item bad enough they will happily email (I use the anonymizer option on CL). I always put in bold letters in my posts "ALL SCAMMERS WILL BE REPORTED TO THE IFCC" (Internet Fraud Complaint Center FBI's cybercrime unit) and "serious offers only". I always google the persons email address before responding or their phone # if they leave it. It's amazing what will pop up in google. Most people use the same username everywhere when posting on different forums which they usually use in their email addy so I google the first part of email addresses and see if they've posted items on other sites or what kind of sites they belong to etc. When I sold our boat on CL three weeks ago I knew all about the guy coming to look at it before he got here. He was surprised when I asked him about his streetbike and his time he served in Iraq as a turret gunner lol. As I said, the internet is a powerful tool as long as you know how to use it. I also keep a counterfeit money marker to check all cash with when selling items. I also write down license plate #'s and vehicle descriptions when people come to look at something just in case they decide to come back later and try and rob it. All of this may sound over the top but unfortunately it's a necessity in todays world. Protect yourself first.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Craigslist blues

I prefer to deal on the email until I get an idea if someone is serious or not.

.

If I'm selling, it's just the opposite. No e-mails. I publish a contact phone number and hide the e-mail address. It weeds out some, including the ones whose opening line is always "what's your bottom line?" I can end those fast. My response is to come see it, then we'll talk. They don't come. I don't accept deposits to 'hold' stuff, either. First one in with cash gets it.

At the same time, when I place an ad I'm ready to go. I have a receipt ready to be signed. I have reggie and title at hand if that's what I'm selling. Everything's set. I don't make the buyer wait or put out any effort beyond picking it up.

 

[KermieB]

Re: Craigslist blues

livin4real sounds like me... take his advice guys, he's an experienced CL'er. I NEVER, NEVER, leave a phone number or email in the ad. If you leave an email, be prepared to get bombarded with junk mail and hundreds of offers to make money at home, etc. etc..

When someone comes over to MY HOUSE to look at my "whatever it is I'm selling," after I shake his hand I pull out my camera phone and visibly let him see that I am taking his picture for future reference. I've had three people turn and go back to their car without ever saying another word. I also take a picture of their tags. When that happens, you know damn well that they were up to NO GOOD!! Sometimes I think there are as many scammers out there as honest people.

I'm not at all scared to use the internet to buy and sell, but I use Ebay almost exclusively now unless it's a heavy item that can not be easily shipped, and then it's Craig's List. Ebay's feed back rating works really well.

Good luck.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Craigslist blues

Lotsa good tips mentioned already. Having a counterfeit pen, taking a pic of plate and person . . . great ideas.

I like to copy the buyers drivers license when I make a copy of the bill of sale.

Don't forget to always write on the bill of sale "As is and free of all liens. At least that's what I always write on it.

I use CL whenever I sell something. It's the greatest site ever, the price is right and I get a lot more calls than posting it in my local expensive classifeds.

CL can avoid things like having to have a garage sale and having all these derelicts pull into your driveway, flipping cigs on the driveway and casing your house out for a possible return when we are not home.

My daughter gets ticked off when we do have a garage sale I roll all items to the front of the driveway so they can't case out my garage, while I'm still carrying stuff out. I put up a rope so they don't wander up the driveway.

When selling on Craigslist you can get top dollar for dealing with a little hassle with buyers. It's still better than selling a used car on CL rather than just trading it into a car dealer. I'd rather make the profit off of selling a clean used car on CL than see the dealer pick up a quick profit off me for all the years I took car of my cars or boats.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Craigslist blues

If I'm selling, it's just the opposite. No e-mails. I publish a contact phone number and hide the e-mail address. It weeds out some, including the ones whose opening line is always "what's your bottom line?" I can end those fast. My response is to come see it, then we'll talk. They don't come. I don't accept deposits to 'hold' stuff, either. First one in with cash gets it.

Hopefully you at least post an asking price. I absolutely refuse to respond to any ad that says 'call for price'. Usually means the owner is trying to pull a fast one and give me the used car salesman sales pitch. If the price is absolutely out of line (99% of the time on these type of ads it is), they are just wasting both my and their time.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Craigslist blues

Hopefully you at least post an asking price. I absolutely refuse to respond to any ad that says 'call for price'. Usually means the owner is trying to pull a fast one and give me the used car salesman sales pitch. If the price is absolutely out of line (99% of the time on these type of ads it is), they are just wasting both my and their time.

Yeah, I always post a price.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Craigslist blues

CL is definitely a double-edged sword. I've been b/s/t'ing on ebay for 10yrs now, a couple years on CL. A couple tips on CL: I do NOT list a phone number, ever. If they want the item bad enough they will happily email (I use the anonymizer option on CL). I always put in bold letters in my posts "ALL SCAMMERS WILL BE REPORTED TO THE IFCC" (Internet Fraud Complaint Center FBI's cybercrime unit) and "serious offers only". I always google the persons email address before responding or their phone # if they leave it. It's amazing what will pop up in google. Most people use the same username everywhere when posting on different forums which they usually use in their email addy so I google the first part of email addresses and see if they've posted items on other sites or what kind of sites they belong to etc. When I sold our boat on CL three weeks ago I knew all about the guy coming to look at it before he got here. He was surprised when I asked him about his streetbike and his time he served in Iraq as a turret gunner lol. As I said, the internet is a powerful tool as long as you know how to use it. I also keep a counterfeit money marker to check all cash with when selling items. I also write down license plate #'s and vehicle descriptions when people come to look at something just in case they decide to come back later and try and rob it. All of this may sound over the top but unfortunately it's a necessity in todays world. Protect yourself first.

Well, I guess your ideas work for you. I wouldn't buy from you. First, because you don't list a phone number. I want to buy something, I have money to spend and a limited amount of free time. I want to talk to you, get an idea of what you're selling and decide if it's worth my time. Unless you're selling something rare, I've probably already moved on to another seller.

You're gonna snap my piocture as soon as I walk up? I'm gone then, too. I came to (maybe) buy something from you. If I don't and you get robbed (or pull an insurance scam), I'm now a suspect? I'm a prospective customer- I don't need to subject myself to your background checks and "show me your papers" salesmanship.

My .02

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Craigslist blues

Never list your email online, it's a welcome mat to spammers.
The same with your Phone number lately. (do a search on Google using just your area code and exchange and see how many phone numbers you can find, If you can do it, so can a scammer or telemarketer). If your number isn't unlisted, it will often give the complete address as well.

When I list on CL I use their contact system, then if I deem any replies serious, I'll give them a phone number, or usually if their serious, they will email right off with their phone number. I always Google their phone number to be sure it's not a scam number with a ton of complaints. Any time I reply to an ad, I email through CL, and give the seller a phone number and email, and the best time to call, as well as a list of any questions I have.

I get a kick out of people that reply to an ad with something like Call me, then don't leave a number, or they ask a question that's clearly answered in the ad. Or those that reply with a $250 offer on a boat that you have listed at $3500. Forget delivering any item that isn't paid for or anything that they haven't been there to look at and paid for. I'd pretty much assume it was a joke or scam.

As far as ads with no price, I'd never bother to respond figuring it's either a front for a scam or the item is so overpriced they fear it would be flagged by angry buyers.

When selling on CL, I've found that about 50% of people will show up when they promised, the rest are just wasting your time. The problem is their sometimes hard to pick out before hand.

Another big problem right now is the economy and there's an abundance of items for sale, and for sale cheap. People are desperate to sell and those who are buying don't have the money most of the time either. I've gotten some real deals lately and was shocked at how cheap some items were for sale for. (I bought a never used snow plow for $25, the guy said that he got 40 replies, 12 said they were coming to get it but never showed, two offered less, and I was the first to show up after two weeks of the ad being listed). I had actually ignored it figuring that there was no way it was still there. The ad was spelled correctly, it was in the right category, and the pics were clear. The plow was worth over $300, the guy had bought a truck and didn't want the plow. It was sitting in his garage with all the hardware.

One thing that does get me is those that put up an ad and don't answer emails. There are several items up now here that I've emailed about but a week later got no reply, and they've already relisted the same item again, and again they don't answer emails.

Those that do not put an email option also don't get answered, unless they want a call between 10:30 PM and 5:30 AM. Those that work nights and keep a PM schedule just aren't likely to get up to call about an item during what is the equivalent to your middle of the night.

There's a 15' boat listed right now that don't list any email and since most people's waking hours are my sleeping hours, a late night phone call probably isn't an option.

Another thing are ads with no pics or pics that look like they were taken with a camera phone at .3 megapixel or less and blown up 200%. If I can't make out whether it's a boat, a truck or a tree, it might as well not have a pic at all.
If your going to list online, then you should invest in at least a basic digital camera, even a 2 mp camera can give good results online. I used a 1.1 MP camera for years and could get good pics from it. Most camera pics I've seen are near worthless unless you have a fairly new camera phone and are adept at using some decent photo software to brighten up the pic a bit.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Craigslist blues

2stroke1971, craigslist, newspaper, what you are dealing with is normal for 'sale by owner'.

i sell and buy on craigslist, motors, boats, cars, misc. i make appointments for people to come see what i have. the appointment is made, when i am available, and would be at home anyway. they show or they don't, but they do not waste my time.

i put the 4 pictures craigslists allows, then links to others if needed. use an accurate description.

 

[freeisforme]

Re: Craigslist blues

I've answered a few ads for boats, gotten there 20 minutes after talking to the owner and been told that they weren't sure whether or not they were actually going to sell it, but go ahead and check it out anyhow???

One guy had a boat and trailer listed for $450, it was a good deal, and a fair price. I drove an hour to get there, after hearing it run, checking it all out and agreeing on a price, he all of a sudden didn't have the title and wasn't sure if he really wanted to sell it. Needless to say I flew off the handle. The ad stayed up for three more weeks, he even relisted it a few months later and two others I talked to went through the same deal with the same guy. I don't get what they think they're doing? The guy wasn't using the boat, it was three years out of registration. What bugged me even more is that I talked to this guy for an hour on the phone the night before.

I had another just two weeks ago, about 2 hours away, that wasn't home when I got there. The boat was in the back yard with several big dogs in the fence, the house was dark, with three cars in the drive yet 2 hours after calling and saying I'm on my way, there was no signs of life. They didn't answer their phone, the door bell got no response, and the boat looked exactly as described and pictured in the ad. I left after 30 minutes of trying to raise a response and even left a note on the door that I was there.
I got no further replies to my emails or any explanation. The ad remained up for two more months, it was relisted three or four times. I even had a buddy contact the guy, and got the same thing as I got, all was fine until he showed up, then no one was home and no further responses to emails.
I take it there were more that got the same deal as there was a few nasty counter ads about that boat listed right after.

I don't get what people are trying to prove by a fake ad? Unless their trying to see how upset they can get someone who just drove 2 hours. If the boat hadn't been decent, I'd have blown up and left a nasty note but I had actually figured that maybe something had happened, at least till they did the same thing to two buddies that tried to buy it as well.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Craigslist blues

Funny because I immediately reject any CL ad that does not include an email address. If people want to sell using the internet, then use it. I hear what you are saying about the "whats your bottom dollar" folks but to me that is a potencial buyer, the only issue to resolve is price and that is negotiable. My standard reply is, "I haven't thought about what my bottom dollar might be, what are you offering"?

The art of negotiation requires you be available to negotiate.

I'm instantly available. By phone. That's a lot faster than e-mail. People who ask 'bottom line' right off the bat aren't seriously shopping. They're merely curious. And, a serious buyer isn't going to make a legitimate offer without seeing the merchandise. Having a conversation like that is just a waste of time.

Dealing with me is very simple. My merchandise and asking price interest you? We don't need to spend days trading e-mails. Call, ask me whatever you want to know, make an appointment, come see it, make your decision and negotiate the price with me. Couldn't be easier.

 

[Proselect]

Re: Craigslist blues

I had almost the exact same thing listing our snowmobiles and trailer this year. The trailer and my wife's sled went right away with a rush of people looking and low balling before the right people came along and paid what it was worth. Then I listed my sled three different times, each having its rush of people you pretty well described interested in your boat. I finally sold it after sitting on it for quite a while. I got a ton of people calling and telling me it is exactly what they want and they will buy it. Of coarse they have no intentions of paying what you are asking. It seems its the same no matter what you are selling.

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Craigslist blues

I sold a car a few years ago on Car soup, had SEVERAL callers who would offer about 10% of the asking price. Only one person who actually wanted to test drive the car, with me in it as well. Did sell to her. But will never sell like that again. Too many scammers, and low ballers.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Craigslist blues

And then on the flip side you have guys like me that buy a lot of boats and comb through CL and eBay daily. Do I want to talk to 20 perspective sellers on the phone? No, not when I can fire off quick emails with pretty standard questions with a couple clicks of the mouse. By the way, I make rock solid offers (and buy the item) all the time without having seen the item up close. (Both with CL and eBay.)

Also, the old "come look at it" doesn't work for me as I often look at boats that are a good distance away. (I've been known to drive 1000 miles round trip to buy what I want if it meets my criteria.) To me, that is the single greatest benefit of using the internet, it doesn't have to be the guy two blocks away.

In most cases I request any needed information and a FULL set of good photos which of course has to be done via email. You can do anything you want I suppose but I am telling you that eliminating potencial buyers based upon your own perceptions of what "legitimate" is will often cost you a sale. Your choice of course...

I think we just need to face the fact that your style of buying, and my style of selling, aren't a good match. That happens, too. I'm not equipped by method or temperament, to cater to you. I'm an occasional seller of things I don't need or want anymore. If I sold in bulk I would, of necessity, use a different method of selling. It's the same for you on the other side of the transaction. Where I lose a potential sale, you lose a potential purchase.

That's life

 

[JoLin]

Re: Craigslist blues

Just something for sellers to consider. Every low balling, prop kicker eventually buys something. The only question is, whose item, yours or the next guys.

Point being, they are still buyers, it just requires you to be a better negotiator. I've had my fair share of them (more than my share) and while I can't turn everyone of them into a sale I find that by finding a little about them I often can.

Joe low baller shows up and makes a silly offer. I know and he knows its a silly offer but... Its a starting point.

I often take the approach, "Joe, how many boats have you tried this on and for how long"? Often Joe will admit that he's been looking for a very long time but just can't find what he wants.

Well Joe, I can't sell it for your offer but I can work with you if you can be realistic, you want a good solid boat right, well let's go over this one and let me show you what your really getting. Blah, blah, blah...

You might be surprised how well it works.

You're switching gears, Bubba. In this case you're talking about the negotiation after Joe low baller 'shows up'. Entirely different conversation.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Craigslist blues

True enough, customers and buyers should never be catered too. Best if you treat them all like thieves, bums and scammers. Just a thought to consider, every boat I buy, I sell. Two sides of the same coin.

Oh, c'mon. I never implied any of that. Get real.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Craigslist blues

I think the photo thing would be only appropriate when you are buying a used boat. I copy their drivers license anyway and in NY we have pictures on our licenses.

Always ask if they have the title in hand (and it has no liens on it) before you waste your time going out to see a boat. Lost or no title . . . walk!

I always list my email address. I created a yahoo mail drop account to use whenever I have to give out an email address.

Spam goes into the spam folder and is automatically deleted after a certain period of time.

I always list my cellphone number. I never answer my cell phone if the caller has his number blocked anyway. This way anyone can leave me a voice mail with their call back number.

I've been selling on CL and classified for years. I keep my stuff in primo condition. 95% of the time, it's usually the first person that actually comes out and sees the item will grab it.

The biggest mistake sellers make is listing their items with over inflated asking prices. Many as with a boat are under water with their boat loans and are trying to get out from under them by trying to sell the boat themselves outright.

If you buy from a dealer, you are paying a huge commission and you are never going to get that back. Check the retail and the wholesale prices in NADY first and start your asking price as an average between them. This leaves you room to dicker down to the average wholesale price.

Also realize that when you sell an item used (like a garage sale item) its only worth it to a buyer to pay 1/2 the retail because many of us can buy that same item brand new online with no sales tax and free shipping with a little searching.