Semi-Automated bots are killing selling cars on Craigslist!
 

:mad:

I've listed a car for sale on Craigslist. I've sold at least five or six before. Now I've had three different "people" respond via text and with just enough mistakes and dialogue to seem convincing, they tell you they want to meet, and right before they ask you for an "IHR" Report or the "NVR Report". Having not heard of those, they give you a link where you have the "opportunity to buy a report. Ugh!

They won't call you - they say they are at work or at church (yes, church, seriously), and often I get the same canned response later in the conversation. On one hand, it's clever, on the other, it's totally frustrating!!

Now I have to remove reply by text from the ad - which is suboptimal since most people prefer to communicate by text.

This is why we can't have nice things.

It's a very common scam to harvest credit card numbers and email addresses.

You can still buy and sell private party, just filter out the crap and be diligent about flagging fraudulent ads or miscategorized ads. Aggressive dealers will post in the "by owner" section from time to time. And renew your ads, post to surrounding cities.

The sun is setting on Craigslist........I'd rather pay for an ad and not deal with the thrashy responders......

I always provide and ask for a phone number. Then I say, "Email back is fine." After the first text it's a call. If that doesn't prove to be a scam, I can go ahead. I don't answer my phone. In fact, yesterday I put 'do not disturb' for 23 hours and 59 minutes. It won't let you do something like 6am to 6am, but 6am to 5:59am works. Only my family in Favorites can call me. Otherwise, I have to look every so often. If I'm expecting an important call, I temporarily add them to my Favorites.

This is the answer to the old land line answering machines for cell phones. Yes, I have an outgoing message. Scam me all you want. Dave's not here.

What do you mean we can no longer have nice things? Is Craigslist a nice thing?

You used discretion and good judgment which is what all of us who buy and sell on the inter webs should use. Thanks for letting us know.

PS I will continue to have nice things. ;).

It's definitely not what it used to be but that could be said for the internet in general. It was great while it lasted...:(

Time was, not so long ago, when you could sell anything quickly on CL for free if it was priced right, etc. Now, it takes forever if at all. CL is still an ok place to buy stuff, IMO but that is because the demand-side of the equation has evaporated. I'm talking about everything from cars to window air conditioners, just anything that used to sell no problem.

Ebay has also gone the same way. Used to be able to sell anything on ebay, hell, people would joke in the old days about not throwing anything away because you could put it on ebay. I still buy a lot on ebay, (mostly new stuff like auto parts), but selling has become torture. The whole populist internet economy only lasted a few years, maybe ten. Now, I have probably 20 auctions going on continuous loop for desirable vintage Mercedes parts and some random Toyota LC stuff that would have sold in a day a few years ago, once every couple weeks something sells. I'm talking fixed-price listings w "make an offer", still no interest.

Scammers on CL are a boring nuisance but reveal themselves immediately w first inquiry. I usually just delete texts w/o responding but if I'm really bored, I'll ask for pictures w the donkey.

Yep, great while it lasted...:cool:

It’s a meme that whenever we have something that works well, someone will come and mess it up. My frustration bleeding through.

I gave up on Ebay years ago after it became apparent there were so many scammers and people who would screw you any way possible if you had to return something. I have sold a few things on CL and only accept phone calls and do the spelling out thing with my phone number. Seems like anything in existence goes down hill after a while because of all the *********s around.

This is why you say, "Send me your phone number, or I will ignore your message"
Real buyers want to talk ASAP.

Meh. I don't really find it that hard to spot scammers. I've only been straight up ripped off once on eBay, and PayPal refunded my money. I've had more experiences where stuff arrived damaged. The vast majority of the time, the sellers refunded my money on the spot.

Ive been using fb classifieds for simple stuff, that I do not want to travel all that far for. Most times, you can do some snooping and figure out exactly who you are dealing with . I've sold 2 cars this way also.
Times, they are a changin

I've found that it can be better than okay on items costing a few hundred dollars and up, as sellers are often surprised and excited to have a real buyer respond ... and then actually show up. If you think that can't be leveraged, think again.

_

It's not just Craigslist and not just texts. There seem to be a lot of "buyers" that say they only trust a specific carfax type reports calling others unreliable or scams.

I simply tell them they can use the VIN in the ad to get their own report. Include that reports are the buyers responsibility not the sellers. And if they would like PPI I can put them in contact with reputable garage in my area and they can arrange for a PPI at their expense. Otherwise, this vehicle is not the one for them.

Also will only take full cash in-person or bank transfer. Otherwise vehicle does not leave my possession.

Have had people come get vehicles with cash, and people wire money and send a transport assuming the transport has nothing to pick up if the bank is not happy with the transfer. Provide a bill of sale with the above with vehicle information proof of ownership and agreed upon amounts and dates with the statement if the amount is not met by the agreed upon date the sale is off.

The scammers stop bugging me pretty quickly.

I usually build a web page for the vehicle with all of the vehicles information for an interested buyer. Then place Ad with one pic, very general info, the minimum contact info for that ad provider, AND a link they can copy and past into their browser. If someone calls and are asking questions that are answered on the web page, it is a sure sign they are NOT legit. When I started doing this it really reduced time wasted on scammer calls.

here is the last vehicle I sold this way...CayenneS
Removed the pricing and contact information after the vehicle sold.

Exactly why every machine listing I put in CL starts with "No text messages, I will not reply"
That way when I get a text, I know it's a bot or someone who didn't bother to read the first line of my listing. Either way, not worth wasting my time on. I have a rule that works well for me. If they aren't serious enough to dial my number and talk to me, they aren't a serious buyer to begin with.

my frustration is sellers on Craigslist.
It costs nothing to list, and to keep relisting in every region for 300 miles.

I search tools and it's filled up with people relisting used Snapon Screwdrivers for $100 with "lifetime guarantee" they collect at swap meets or new in box Craftsman stuff they bought closeout that nobody bought at Sears. I search and get 100 hits in each region to wade through.

Oh, I'm aware and agree. :)

I had something similar happen when I was trying to sell my Mini on CL.

Some guy emailed and said he was very interested but was not local and did not trust carfax, even though I had one on hand.

He told me if I wanted the sale I had to use some other car checking service. Then gave me the link

My response was pretty nasty, I basically told the guy to do his own due diligence and not waste my time, I was not checking the car out for him. I had a car fax if he wanted it.

He sent a second email telling me it was a mistake to use Carfax as no one trusts it blah blah..

I sent him an email back, truthfully telling him I just sold the car and good luck with his search.

I had no idea he was trying to scam me for info.

I agree! I've sold multiple cars and large items on Craigslist with nary a problem in the past. Last week I listed a truck for sale and immediately got the scam about clicking on their link for their version of a car fax. Scams, scams and more scams. I pulled the ad after only 3 days and still get them a few days later. I tell them all to go do stuff to themselves that is not polite, get a real job, can't wait until they meet their maker, play with a ball in the middle of the interstate, and lots more things that are NSFW.

When I repost after Christmas I think I will try car gurus or similar. Not worth the hassle.

Here Kijiji is more popular than CL. Whenever I post a classic car I get calls from salesmen for a classic car "service" that for $300 guarantees they'll sell my car for asking price.

I told the one guy sell my car for asking and I'll give you a $300 commision. "Sir it doesn't work that way." My reply "neither do I."