Why are people on Craigslist so stupid?

nguyendot

Seriously-

I sell a lot of things on Craigslist, and it seems to attract a lot of less than desirables.

Last week I had a 10" LCD portable LCD for sale for $100 (msrp 229.99) BNIB. Old man calls me and says he wants it - agrees to the price. We meet up on my day off with the girlfriend. He's 40 minutes late, specifically after I asked him not to be. He's like 70 years old and brings his son, 50.

He takes it out of the box and looks at it, asking where the a/v inputs are. I show him the A/V to miniplug cable and tell him that's the input. He basically calls me stupid and says nooooo those are the outputs. I ask him what a portable tv could possibly output.

Anyways after I prove its new, he asks me what my lowest price was. I told him hey, you agreed to $100, that's why we showed up and you drove across half the city to get it. He says "no, I'm not paying $100, I'll offer $70". I tell him no, you agreed to $100, so that is the price you will pay if you want this. He offers $85. I tell him forget it, you're being a douchebag and wasting my time - go home empty handed.

I toss it in my trunk and go home. What's with these people?

halo71

I had a guy a few years back do basically the same thing to me. I posted an ad for a MosValve TubeWorks 1180 guitar rack power amp for $150. He calls me and says he wants it and wants to meet the next day. He shows up late and only has $50 on him! :eek: Then literally begged for me to let him have it for that. I later ended up giving it to a guitar buddy of mine in Portland.

But yeah, CL seems to bring out the slugs sometimes. Although I have had many great dealings.

kawizx9r

I'd post something but it'll just remind me of those bad experiences.

Honestly though, I can't say I hate the people on Craigslist any more than the people around here. Society is just full of dumb f@#$s...

nguyendot

I'd quit if it didn't bring in so much money.... But yeah I get so many people who amaze me.

Them: Yeah I want to buy it
Me: Buy what?
Them: Your craigslist item.
Me: Which one?
Them: The one on craigslist
Me: Can you please clarify? I have about 50 ads, which item?
Them: can you tell me what all you have?
Me: No, do a search
Them: do you have pictures?
Me: Did you look at the ad at all? They're huge.

.......

kawizx9r

DSkip wrote: »

I'll remember that when you need tuning advice

Lmao I didn't mean on here on the forum

You should know that though.....jerk:biggrin:

Knucklehead

kawizx9r wrote: »

I'd post something but it'll just remind me of those bad experiences.

Honestly though, I can't say I hate the people on Craigslist any more than the people around here. Society is just full of dumb f@#$s...

got that right brother.

bigaudiofanatic

I have had people that constantly email me asking stupid questions.

Do you have pictures?
Uh links right above item.

Is that the price for all of it?
No that is the price per item, each price is by the item.

How old are the speakers?
"2 weeks old used for maybe 14 hours than put back in box, MINT"

I mean seriously look at the thread ans stop asking stupid questions. I hate that its a waste of my time.

Than you hear nothing for days so you send them a email asking if they are still interested. After giving a bottom price last email they go so whats the bottom price you can go? UGH

kawizx9r

I'm pretty firm on my prices on CL. No one said you had to sell your items less than what you were asking.

I did have a couple of run-in's with potential buyers agreeing to pay what we settled on just to show up and offer alot less. It's annoying, but I just kick them out. Don't know how many of you know this, but I'm a dick and very blunt. Went from 'Good afternoon, how are you doing' to 'get the f@#k out' in 5 minutes flat (someone was interested in my Alpinestars Motorcycle Jacket I had for sale).

And David, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. If I had a nickle for every idiot I ran into every single day...I'd have Wilson Audio speakers, Krell amps, MIT Oracle IC's+speaker wire and more! :eek:

cokewithvanilla

So many people on craigslist try to low ball, I hate the ones that do it after meeting. Usually, I make sure that if I am selling, we meet somewhere about 30 seconds from my apartment. This way, if the **** offers me 60% of my asking price, I can walk away without having to feel like I wasted my time and gas.

My biggest issue is when someone says ,"come on $90" and then keeps begging for like 5 minutes, I finally give in... and they ask "got change for a 20?"

nguyendot

And tomorrow is a new day for Craigslist. Hopefully it will be a good one.

Got an old man coming to buy my B&W's. He tried to lowball me at first.

What was funny was he offered me 25% less than my asking price. I said no, its firm. He then said well I don't want to pay full price because they're not the color I want, and I want the higher model.

Pretty funny, I didn't think I had to make them whatever color he wanted, and he didn't know any other model existed until I sent him the owners manual for the speakers..... He tried to find someone else selling these speakers within 500 miles and failed miserably. Now he's crawling back. Yeah we'll see how tomorrow morning goes.

BlueFox

nguyendot wrote: »

I sell a lot of things on Craigslist, and it seems to attract a lot of less than desirables.

It's on the Internet. :rolleyes:

mrbigbluelight

nguyendot wrote: »

He tried to find someone else selling these speakers within 500 miles and failed miserably. Now he's crawling back. Yeah we'll see how tomorrow morning goes.

And, with tomorrow bringing a new day, may I recommend that after reviewing the international financial markets, you realize that the value of the dollar has dropped by X % , and inform slugnuts that "Ohhhhhhhh, I'm sorry ..... that was YESTERDAY'S price !!! Today they're selling for { XX ] " .... and jack your price up by 50%. Cash only.

Society has changed to be sure. I try to be pleasant, even in the face of rudeness. Up to a point. Then the speech of "You have a couple of choices: get the #$%^ out, or stay here and I'll #$%^ you".

Nobody ever wants to stay. :redface:

tonyb

I sold my B&K on craigslist with some fairly good results. After listing it, I had 10 calls in the first day. I was upfront on condition and also told everyone I was firm on the price and to not waste my time with any offers. One guy drove from Evanston to Algonquin to grab it 3 days later. No haggling, brought his own CD to listen. You have to be crystal clear with people otherwise they think you need the money and will take a lower price. You also have to decipher the tire kickers from the buyers and only set up times for those serious about buying. I probably ask them more questions than they ask me.

Sherardp

kawizx9r wrote: »

I'd post something but it'll just remind me of those bad experiences.

Honestly though, I can't say I hate the people on Craigslist any more than the people around here. Society is just full of dumb f@#$s...

This is awesome. Well said devildog.

snow

tonyb wrote: »

I sold my B&K on craigslist with some fairly good results. After listing it, I had 10 calls in the first day. I was upfront on condition and also told everyone I was firm on the price and to not waste my time with any offers. One guy drove from Evanston to Algonquin to grab it 3 days later. No haggling, brought his own CD to listen. You have to be crystal clear with people otherwise they think you need the money and will take a lower price. You also have to decipher the tire kickers from the buyers and only set up times for those serious about buying. I probably ask them more questions than they ask me.

Leting them know you break knees for a living doesnt hurt either Its true though the dumbing of america is a real thing, every day I look at the ads and shake my head. It took miilions of years supposedly to evolve and at the rate were going it will be another 75 or so before were cavemen again.

REGARDS SNOW

Toolfan66

I price anything on craigslist knowing they will want to haggle a little. I for one have had great luck in selling on craigslist the first person that has come to my door has left with what they intended to buy..

tonyb

snow wrote: »

Leting them know you break knees for a living doesnt hurt either Its true though the dumbing of america is a real thing, every day I look at the ads and shake my head. It took miilions of years supposedly to evolve and at the rate were going it will be another 75 or so before were cavemen again.

REGARDS SNOW

No bro, you have me confused with Cathy. She's the enforcer. It was probably her who took out Joe's knee awhile back. She's brutal.

Have to agree on the dumbing down of america thing. Pains me to see it. Even more so that we don't see it happening at an alarming rate. Oh well, you know that old saying...you can lead a horse to water........

cfrizz

tonyb wrote: »

No bro, you have me confused with Cathy. She's the enforcer. It was probably her who took out Joe's knee awhile back. She's brutal.

Have to agree on the dumbing down of america thing. Pains me to see it. Even more so that we don't see it happening at an alarming rate. Oh well, you know that old saying...you can lead a horse to water........

HEY!!! That's not nice Tony! And if you don't want me to put you on my list of people who need to be seen to, you will apologize! I'm "brutal" after all.

Joe has to get back to me with the jerk that took out his knee, so that I can get take care of it.:biggrin:

Jstas

I haven't had much of a problem with craigslist. I got a few things from there and everyone I met up with has said "Oh thank God! You're "normal"!" But, if I don't like the price, I won't even respond to the ad.

The few ads I did have up, any calls I got if the person was getting wishywashy and asking a bunch of questions that, if they actually looked at the ad, were answered, it was easy. I just immediately said "Oh! Wait, I'm sorry. I sold that item last night. I thought you were referring to *insert lie here*. Thanks for calling though, good luck on your search!"

zarrdoss

I had one bad experience selling some speakers on e-bay. The buyer agreed on the price on the phone and I held them for him, he showed up on time and agreed they were in excellent condition. Then started to try and talk me down, I told him no and he kept insisting so I asked him to leave, he kept on insisting that I sell to him for the price he wanted to pay, I guess he thought if he was annoying enough I would bent to his will, wrong. I Asked him to leave one last time and after he just looked at me with a stupid grin on his face, I think he was on some kind of drugs, I literally had to push him out the door. This has to be the most annoying guy I have met in my life and one of the reasons I am leery of letting those people in my house.

Jetmaker737

snow wrote: »

It took millions of years supposedly to evolve and at the rate were going it will be another 75 or so before were cavemen again.

REGARDS SNOW

Actually it'll take 500 years as predicted in the movie "Idiocracy". A pretty funny but underrated film (IMHO).

quadzilla

Well, these douches are making it bad for other buyers too. I've driven > 45 minutes to get something, after agreeing to the full asking price, only to be told someone got there 5 minutes before me and they sold it "because I didn't know if you were really coming or not." This kind of thing has happened more times that I can count.

zingo

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

I price anything on craigslist knowing they will want to haggle a little.

Ditto

ESavinon

snow wrote: »

Leting them know you break knees for a living doesnt hurt either Its true though the dumbing of america is a real thing, every day I look at the ads and shake my head. It took miilions of years supposedly to evolve and at the rate were going it will be another 75 or so before were cavemen again.

REGARDS SNOW

The problem is that survival of the fittest does not apply to our species anymore.

dorokusai

I have a current eBay deal that the buyer asks for combined shipping, of which I didn't mind and has since complained about the costs for almost a week. He's trying to school me on how to ship...LOL, and it's aggravating to say the least.

And my ad on Craigslist got flagged and removed because of a stupid HTML link that was actually just trying to help the potential buyer. It was flagged by some hag in bum f wherever town and she was dumb enough to email me directly and taunt me about it. Sorry lady, you just got your email dropped off at hacker central....good luck sweetheart.

tonyb

cfrizz wrote: »

HEY!!! That's not nice Tony! And if you don't want me to put you on my list of people who need to be seen to, you will apologize! I'm "brutal" after all.

Joe has to get back to me with the jerk that took out his knee, so that I can get take care of it.:biggrin:

Ok...Ok...I apologize, but it did get you out of your coma and start posting again,didn't it ?:biggrin:

cfrizz

tonyb wrote: »

Ok...Ok...I apologize, but it did get you out of your coma and start posting again,didn't it ?:biggrin:

Sweetie, I'm not in a coma, I'm just studying my butt off trying to keep on top of my Medical Terminology class.

So far it's working. I aced my first test last week & got a 92 on my second test this week!

I wake up in the middle of the night going over definitions and spelling!:eek::eek:

jephdood

Yep, you've got to be VERY clear in your listing, but often it doesn't matter.

Here's a line I put in my most recent ad for speakers:

"Will absolutely NOT split the set (don't ask), and price is 100% firm (don't offer)."

And despite this, I still got several requests to split and a few insulting "offers".

:mad:

indyhawg

What I love are the know-it-alls that email you and tell you your price is too high. I had a guy to that to me a few days ago. He did not even bother to leave any contact info or make an offer. I sold the item within three days for full asking price.

jim 249

This is why I won't allow people to come into my home for something I want to sell on craigslist. It is just to risky with the bad economy and all.

http://www.ktvb.com/home/Police-bust-two-men-in-connection-with-Internet-robbery-103165459.html

mdaudioguy

The couple deals I've done on CL went very well, both buying and selling, but I'm always wary of the situation. Basically, if it's not done my way or to my liking, it won't be done. No deal is too good to pass on, if I don't feel comfortable.

As for the dumbing of America... I think everybody should be forced to watch a few episodes of Cops, just to see what it's like out there in the real world.