Does Craigslist actually work?

[szyzygy]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Sold a number of items with no problem, but buying seems to be a hit or miss deal. Lots of flakes out there.

Just like on here. Some dude said he had a floorboard for me, haven't heard back from him since.

[kanadary]

picked up my 911 on CL as well as some camera equipment, got a 70-200f2.8L IS lens for 1k, going rate is 1.5K, a 580EX II flash for 150, usually used goes for $300-350.. and sold some stuff, mainly kids bikes, bike trailer, and child bike seats. like many have said, only respond to phone numbers, and meet at public places, well expect for the 911 but that was at the sellers home.

[szyzygy]

Oh, I bought my guitar on there as well. I got a sweet Manuel Contreras II for $600, with the original papers from Madrid.

[glewis80SC]

Bought our latest daily driver on it 90 civic hatchback seller was staight forward and honest, but did have to slosh through a bit of BS before we found him.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Craigslist is like anything else on the net. It's classified with a much wider audience than your local paper which is dying off so you get more flakes but I've generally had good experiences. There are flakes on the Pelican classifieds too don't forget.

[azasadny]

My father has sold a few high end items on CraigsList and it's worked out very well for him!

[Joe Bob]

You guys are all over the map.....Wayne is asking about buying a pair of last generation used PWC/Jetskis/Seadoos.

He lives on the west coast and a lot of people use them in salt water.

Modern skis are four stroke, have OBD style diagnostics, fuel injection, turbos and are not easily owner serviceable. Not something you should buy from the average dork on CL.

As to phone #s, no way in hell would I post a telephone # on a CL ad, same on Pelican. With worldwide access, you are opening yourself up to lot's of very strange people. Back in the day, I would have had no qualms on doing so as well as having someone come by my home.

I once had a guy drive from SF to Santa Barbara unannounced, knocking on my door at 6am for a 914 part......that scared the crap outta me.

Not anymore. Any ad I answer, get a response to, is looked at with the feeling that someone is scamming me. Look at the disclaimers on CL.

I would bet that 80% of the email/response traffic is total BS and someone is trying to put a hand in your pocket.

[recycled sixtie]

Ebay, Craigslist, etc etc if I can't meet the seller/buyer in person I would not risk it. I really dislike doing busy this way. The only people I trust online to do bus. with are Wayne/ Pelican Parts Employees and Jake Raby so far. Too many scammers as u say out there. If I am putting my credit card no. out there I have to trust them. I very seldom use debit cards and try and pay cash for everything. So far so good

[kaisen]

I say all you old tin-foil hat types should just stay off CL

More deals and easier transactions for the rest of us

[J P Stein]

Originally Posted by kaisen

i say all you old tin-foil hat types should just stay off cl

more deals and easier transactions for the rest of us

+1

[Jagshund]

Have had other folks list items for me twice. Both times the items sold within 3 days at asking price.

So I'd have to say yes from a selling standpoint.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Sounds fishy to me.

You don't say!
Didn't you know Yahoo is in the shipping business, and had tons of warehouses around the country where people can just drop off items until they sell?

I mean, it's Yahoo, a safe company with a good reputation and now they have control of the product and will guarantee the escrow. And those two jet skies are just sitting and waiting in storage, offered for a great price, and the seller will even pay for everything else. How easy!

Poor Amanda works so hard traveling around the world for her job and all that, and has nobody at home(sniff). She's even a Premium Seller. Couldn't someone give her a break, and take these things off her hands?

[McLovin]

For most items, buying or selling, CL is hard to ignore, simply because of its tremendous popularity and volume of users.

But, like most things internet, it takes a good dose of common sense, and some internet savvy and experience, to use successfully.

For example, if you don't instantly know it's a scam when someone selling a car says they are overseas, or they want to use an "escrow," or the words "Western Union" are used . . . CL is not for you.

For those that can effectively transact on CL, it is a tremendous resource.

[LeeH]

Buying:
Ads with prices way below market value and with no contact info are typically going to be scams. Flag them and move on.

I keep an e-mail address just for Craigslist communications. No worries about my primary e-mail getting spammed. If I were to start getting a huge amount of spam at that address, I'd just make a new one.

When responding to an ad, mention the item in the e-mail, mention what part of town you live in. This lets the seller know that YOU are not a scammer and will increase the odds they respond. Scammers send e-mail like, "Is it still available?" If you send one like that, you probably aren't going to get a response.

Selling:
Including a phone number in your ad lets local buyers know that you're not in Nigeria. Spelling out the numbers in the listing keeps the spam-bots from grabbing your number.

Putting some hint as to where you live (ie major cross streets) keeps people from calling and asking where you are located.

Firm but fair prices reduces the number of silly lowball offers.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by McLovin

For most items, buying or selling, CL is hard to ignore, simply because of its tremendous popularity and volume of users.

But, like most things internet, it takes a good dose of common sense, and some internet savvy and experience, to use successfully.

For example, if you don't instantly know it's a scam when someone selling a car says they are overseas, or they want to use an "escrow," or the words "Western Union" are used . . . CL is not for you.

For those that can effectively transact on CL, it is a tremendous resource.

This^^^

We have a lot of members here that are of the older generation and/or are not web-savvy for whatever reason. There have been many threads where otherwise intelligent people simply cannot figure out how eBay auctions work, and why they keep getting out-bid.

The internet in general and most of its most popular commerce sites are a massive resource, it has practically reinvented the free market. I can sell used auto parts sitting in my garage, (or anything else legal), to a worldwide audience for the cost of a few minutes of my typing time. I can buy nearly anything new or used for the best price possible and have it arrive on my doorstep 2 days later. I just bought a new Fluke multi-meter and a Streamlight flashlight on Amazon for rock-bottom price. My friend who buys absolutely everything online swears by Amazon, I use eBay more. He even buys groceries and bottled water on Amazon.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by LeeH

Buying:
Ads with prices way below market value and with no contact info are typically going to be scams. Flag them and move on.

I keep an e-mail address just for Craigslist communications. No worries about my primary e-mail getting spammed. If I were to start getting a huge amount of spam at that address, I'd just make a new one.

When responding to an ad, mention the item in the e-mail, mention what part of town you live in. This lets the seller know that YOU are not a scammer and will increase the odds they respond. Scammers send e-mail like, "Is it still available?" If you send one like that, you probably aren't going to get a response.

Selling:
Including a phone number in your ad lets local buyers know that you're not in Nigeria. Spelling out the numbers in the listing keeps the spam-bots from grabbing your number.

Putting some hint as to where you live (ie major cross streets) keeps people from calling and asking where you are located.

Firm but fair prices reduces the number of silly lowball offers.

Good advice. I always respond to CL ads with this: "Please call me anytime @ (323) 555-xxxx or send back your # and best time to call." I'm afraid that still my inquiries sometimes wind up in their spam folder because I put "Mercedes" or something in the subject line.

Can you advise me on a good email account just for CL? Email phishing is a serious problem on the site. I use gmail and I've heard that it's not good for CL, some sellers will not accept any emails from gmail or hotmail because of their popularity with scammers(?) The problem is that it's a 2-way street; trying to protect yourself while not being mistaken for a scammer yourself by someone's email filter. PIA.

[LeeH]

I use G-mail. The subject line autofills. I try to make my response specific to the item so there's no doubt I'm a real buyer.

[Joe Bob]

Good idea.....

BTW, AFIK, Tahoe is the only Lake that has. I looked into it when I lived in Reno. There were other local Lakes that were closer, cheaper and easier to launch at.

If you have ever swam, or used a PWC in Lake Tahoe...you wouldn't care....it freaking cold all year round.....it has a thermocline that wells up and keeps the water frigid....

[lendaddy]

Dealer as on craigslist are a big part of the problem, I search the for sale by owner section only. Craigslist is a fantastic resource.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Dealer as on craigslist are a big part of the problem, I search the for sale by owner section only. Craigslist is a fantastic resource.

How so?