Sketchy Craigslist Ad?

04-19-2019, 12:32 AM

I responded to an ad for a guitar amp on the local CL. The seller said he could not show it where he lived, but would be willing to drive over to my house (30 miles away) to show it to me. Sounds pretty odd--it's a good amp at a little bit below market, but it's not expensive. At the risk of sounding naive, is this a scam?

Gogar · 04-19-2019, 12:43 AM

Seems a little odd, but I don't know how it could be a 'scam.'

Open carry and wear your FOP Tshirt, and buy that amp.

Geronimo '74 · 04-19-2019, 12:55 AM

meet him at a location nearby your house, just to be sure.
No need to give him your adress

LEAKYSEALS951 · 03:05 AM

Make sure the location has a wall socket to plug into!

This sounds a lot like my last (and probably last...) cl transaction for a while.

Perhaps he lives in a small apartment and can't crank the amp up.
Perhaps he is ashamed of where he lives.
Perhaps his place is full of his roomate's drugs or something.
Perhaps he's scared of sketchy CL people and doesn't want to have people at his place.
Perhaps the amp is stolen and isn't his to sell.

For him to drive 30 miles out of his way tells me he's either really young and full of boundless energy, or a little too eager to sell. edit- or retired, too much time on hands, doesn't want CL buyers around.

I made the last guy I bought from sign a letter stating a bill of sale with him comfirming the item was his to sell. (Not that that would have done a lot of good- but it would at least show I tried some effort in confirming it wasn't stolen.).

In my case- worrying about / buying potentially stolen stuff really soured the whole thing.

berettafan · 04-19-2019, 03:20 AM

Def don’t have him to your home. Tells him where to find more guitar stuff to steal!

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

meet him at a location nearby your house, just to be sure.
No need to give him your adress

^^^ That
And yeah... sounds a bit flaky. Not a scam if they're willing to meet you but something doesn't sound right.

piscator · 04-19-2019, 03:56 AM

Dunkin' Donuts and put the open case out to collect tips! ;-)

Shaun @ Tru6 · 04-19-2019, 04:21 AM

There are nice people in the world. I bought my bike on CL, I said I couldn't come down until after work, he said he would bring it to me. He drove 45 minutes. Super nice guy when we met.

porsche tech · 04-19-2019, 04:28 AM

A lot of police stations have areas set aside now for meeting people to buy something from Craig's list.

cmccuist · 04-19-2019, 04:57 AM

I like to meet at a Walmart parking lot when I’m selling things. There will be an outlet at the gas station where you can plug in.

masraum · 04-19-2019, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berettafan

Def don’t have him to your home. Tells him where to find more guitar stuff to steal!

That was my first thought.

Chocaholic · 04-19-2019, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche tech

A lot of police stations have areas set aside now for meeting people to buy something from Craig's list.

This. Tell him that you’ll meet him at a local police station. If he agrees, good chance he’s legit. If he disagrees or no-shows, you have your answer.

04-19-2019, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berettafan

Def don’t have him to your home. Tells him where to find more guitar stuff to steal!

That was my thought.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

There are nice people in the world. I bought my bike on CL, I said I couldn't come down until after work, he said he would bring it to me. He drove 45 minutes. Super nice guy when we met.

I know--in the "old" days, I wouldn't have thought much about it, other than he's a nice guy for offering to drive it over. But I worry about buying something stolen--I've had things stolen before, and it sucks. I think I'll buy new, and trade in one of my several old amps. Besides, I wanted tweed instead of black.

In a related incident, yesterday I got an email ostensibly from the dean of my school, whom I've never met. He asked me if I was on campus, and then asked if I could buy some Amazon gift cards for him. He said was stuck in an important meeting, couldn't use his phone, and it was an urgent request--he wanted the gift cards as a present for his best friend's son's birthday. I told him I'd like to help, but I had a meeting with a Nigerian prince who needed my help transferring money out of Lagos. Also let the real dean know, who got campus security on it.

Eric Hahl · Eric Hahl's Garage

It's stolen. Don't support the thieving asshats.

pwd72s · 04-19-2019, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche tech

A lot of police stations have areas set aside now for meeting people to buy something from Craig's list.

Bingo!

Zeke · 04-19-2019, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche tech

A lot of police stations have areas set aside now for meeting people to buy something from Craig's list.

Yep, best place to meet but not always convenient. People I meet coming to me I give them a place next to the freeway. And I pick places next to the freeway when I have to travel to meet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

It's stolen. Don't support the thieving asshats.

Not always.

scottmandue · 04-19-2019, 12:03 PM

I got burned on my last CL purchase so I'm a little sour on the idea right now.

I sold a amp on CL, we have wall outlets in our parking structure so we met there

04-19-2019, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche tech

A lot of police stations have areas set aside now for meeting people to buy something from Craig's list.

I'm afraid my guitar playing would result in criminal charges if I did that.

Went over to Guitar Center and bought a new fender Blues Junior in tweed. They gave me $120 on my old amp, plus 10% off the new one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxQ6Lp_BHjU

LEAKYSEALS951 · 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madcorgi

I'm afraid my guitar playing would result in criminal charges if I did that.

I was thinking about playing "I shot the sheriff..."

Probably not good idea

Not buying the CL amp was probably good idea. The worry over it wouldn't have been worth the savings (if any).

01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I was thinking about playing "I shot the sheriff..."

Probably not good idea

Now that's funny!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Not buying the CL amp was probably good idea. The worry over it wouldn't have been worth the savings (if any).

Agree. I bought an acoustic bass from Guitar Center and they had to hold it for 30 days after the sale to clear a "police check." Completely approve.

I buy used guitars from time to time, but I always try to make sure the seller is the guy who actually owns and plays it. Ten years ago I got my 1999 American Strat from a guy who played in a skittle/ska band, and it had a ton of nice upgrades like noiseless pickups, locking tuners and graphite saddles. Young guy had a wife and baby and it was pretty clear the wife had decided his pursuit of the dream needed to end. He showed me pictures of him playing gigs with it, and asked me to take care of it. I gave him full asking price.

The Strat looks nice with the tweed and sounds terrific.