Craigslist Misadventures

THE PILGRIM · Dec 27, 2016

If you use Craigslist, you most likely have had some strange experiences.
Like- had a Nikon Canera body for sale for $1800.
Clearly stated No Shipping.
Got a response with a name and telephone number.
That's good!
The area code wasn't from here, but I was thinking it was one of those cell phone situations.
Called the dude, he wanted the body.
Then he told me he lived in Ohio! Ohio?
Didn't you see my no ship post?
He didn't think that applied to him.
So I told to send me the $1800 plus $100 for packing, shipping.
He said no way! I'm not sending money until I get the camera!
It was nice talking to ya!

THE PILGRIM · Dec 27, 2016

The beat goes on - get another response with a name and phone number.
This dude can read and heed, tells me right off he saw my no ship, and he lives in Lost Angeles.
Lost Angeles? I ain't shipping no camera there!
Then he tells me his Mother lives in Grants, NM.
She is coming over to Albuquerque this very afternoon.
Would I sell it to Her?
You bet!
And she's coming to a FedEx store not far from my house, owned by a family member.
She called me from a local bank and asked how would I like my money?
I of course told her cash. Cash works well for me!
I delivered the camera body to her and she shipped it to LA I guess.
At that point- It was her camera, she could ship it anywhere she wanted to!

i1afli · Dec 27, 2016

I like a story with a happy ending.

otisrush · Dec 27, 2016

It has reached a point where I treat it like a game:

I tell people to only respond via text.

<20% of the people actually text me.

OR

DWalt · Dec 27, 2016

I've seen about every attempted scam you can think of during my years of selling on Craigslist. Two rules I live by - cash only, and personal exchange of money for product in a public place.

29aholic · Dec 27, 2016

Well I would post about my adventures in the casual encounters section but it would get me booted from the forum.

Smoke · Dec 27, 2016

That awkward moment when you go to look at the jobs on Craigslist and see your employer advertising your position

ETA I notice several people have liked this post. I want to assure you that I'm not kidding. It really happened

BLACKHAWKNJ · Dec 27, 2016

Takes all kinds. I found a Raleigh Tourist with the rare 22" frame on Craigslist in Duxbury, Ma. Sent a deposit, then after some time the seller emailed me about coming to pick it up. Told I was mulling taking the train from Central NJ, he said he'd meet me at the train station. Ended up driving, simplest solution. Found his address, some pleasant conversation, paid the balance, loaded the bike on the car and home I came.

federali · Dec 27, 2016

Hey, if you have another camera body, I'll send you a $4800.00 check due from an investment. Just send me the body, take $100.00 for shipping and handling and send me back the difference by postal money order!

THE PILGRIM · Dec 27, 2016

federali said:
Hey, if you have another camera body, I'll send you a $4800.00 check due from an investment. Just send me the body, take $100.00 for shipping and handling and send me back the difference by postal money order!

I did have a guy try that one on me.
It was a laptop computer for sale.
He needed it for his sister who a college student.

Onomea · Dec 27, 2016

I have purchased several nice furniture items off Craigslist at excellent prices in the past year. No problems at all.

paplinker · Dec 27, 2016

THE PILGRIM said:
The beat goes on - get another response with a name and phone number.
This dude can read and heed, tells me right off he saw my no ship, and he lives in Lost Angeles.
Lost Angeles? I ain't shipping no camera there!
Then he tells me his Mother lives in Grants, NM.
She is coming over to Albuquerque this very afternoon.
Would I sell it to Her?
You bet!
And she's coming to a FedEx store not far from my house, owned by a family member.
She called me from a local bank and asked how would I like my money?
I of course told her cash. Cash works well for me!
I delivered the camera body to her and she shipped it to LA I guess.
At that point- It was her camera, she could ship it anywhere she wanted to!

Glad it went well.

Even cash can get tricky. One of my coworkers just sold a ATV on craigslist and got fourteen counterfeit hundred dollar bills.

I have sold two on there myself with great results. Sure have to be on your toes nowadays.

THE PILGRIM · Dec 27, 2016

A couple of months ago I listed an iPad on Craigslist for $400.
I got a would you take $350 response? Yes, I would.
The buyer paid me with $50 dollar bills.
I'm medium familiar with $100s, but don't actually handle 50s that often.

glenwolde · Dec 27, 2016

I had a guy show up to buy a laptop I advertised, and he tried to give me a fake cashier's check. It was pretty well done, but not good enough. I had spent decades in the printing industry and among the many things we printed....cashier's checks! Millions of them!

I also know that cashier's checks are one of the most commonly forged instruments.

Ogandydancer · Dec 28, 2016

I am very cautious about craig's list. Only sold a couple of things on it and bought one. It really pays to be careful. People will try anything.

Lee's Landing Billy · Dec 28, 2016

My deal went pretty good. A 1903 Colt with factory nickel and pearl. Met in the Kroger parking lot changed $350 into a Colt. Lotsa guns sold here on Craig's List.

Tom S. · Dec 28, 2016

Lee's Landing Billy said:
Lotsa guns sold here on Craig's List.

They aren't supposed to be. CL has a ban on selling guns.

Ballistic147 · Dec 28, 2016

Lots of good folks on Craigslist but you have to weed them out of all the bad ones. Guess that's why it's free. I've sold a lot of stuff there over the years and probably been really lucky. Most of my Craigslist ads end with "Cash only and ABSOLUTELY NO TRADES!" and I still get all kinds of idiots wanting to trade something. I prefer to deal with the ones that can read.

A friend of mine goes on there and intentionally misspells items he's looking for in the search and generally comes up finding stuff. In a lot of cases when he contacts the seller they take whatever he offers because they have not had anyone else "interested" in the item. He often resells it and doubles or triples his money just by spelling things correctly so people can find it.

THE PILGRIM · Dec 28, 2016

Tom S. said:
They aren't supposed to be. CL has a ban on selling guns.

Funny how that works.
CL does prohibit guns.
That's why Jason's and Armslist are so handy.
But since CL is locally self policed, it's up to the locals to flag it.
A while ago, I ran a want to buy a Pickup ad.
Kept getting flagged, finally gave up.
Apparently the good old boys car salesmen were sitting around flagging want to buy ads.

1morethan8 · Dec 28, 2016

Sent a tent to MI from TN... sent UPS COD.

Craigslist Misadventures

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