How often do you guys get call backs from Craigslist ads?.
 

I usually do pretty well. I hate it when people do not list a phone number, but I understand why . I always let people know in my emails to them that I am a local buyer, prepared to pay cash, and am not going to try to haggle them down. I have been trying to buy a cheap little gas mizer car to run back and forth to the hospital ( gas is killing me, and my truck barely fits in the parking garage) .
Maybe it is the demograhpic I am dealing with, as I have mostly been looking at cheap VW , volvo, or 3 series cars, that need work. but I am telling you, that I have responded to at least 10 ads over the last week or so, with not one reply back. I see their stuff is still for sale so what gives? I am 100% ready to run down there and hand them a pile of cash, load it on my trailer, and go away.
I know when I am trying to sell something, I make it easy to get a hold of me. I want to get sell it, get paid, and get my ad taken down asap to avoid to barage of texts that usually roll in.

I don't list my #, and I don't give it out until I'm sure I'm dealing with real local buyer. But that I said, I just listed a motorcycle, and got 2 solid responses.

People are lazy and don't take down their ad, even after their item has sold. I'm boat shopping and can tell you that boat sellers are way worse than car sellers. I've received several replies to my inquiry after a month! No big shock that they're still for sale.

^^^ This.

I regularly trade on CL and because it is a free listing, a lot of people don't work the sale very hard. I figure if they don't respond within 24 hrs, the item is sold or the seller is on drugs or in jail, move on.

I always respond to an ad with "local buyer, cash in hand, no games."

As a seller, I was berated in an email once for not responding. I never got the first email. I think there is an issue with CL's email system, sometimes. Try emailing again.

Are you not putting your phone number in your responses to listings? That could be a big part of it. I never put my number in an ad, but I put in the ad that I won't reply to a response without a phone number in it. Filters out most of the scammers, I think.

Ya that one frustrates me. I called about a slick ghia and the guy was offended that I was calling about it. It's had been sold for a month and the ad wasn't down. :mad: I was pissed that it had sold! I wanted it!

If I really want a car, I don't mind following the chain and asking the seller to contact the buyer and see if I can talk to him. I have been able to get a few cars that way. Sometimes people have regrets about spending that much for a car or bike and they want to get out. I am there with cash in hand to help them out of this rusty heap of a sinkhole they just bought.:)

Considering the guy told me he had 5 buyers call and got more than asking, and that the buyer was taking it to an upcoming auction, I was no longer interested. ;) Ghias are cool, but I'm not ready to drop north of 10k for one.

Craigslist has one serious flaw: even if you take down your ad, it will appear in 'nearby area results' on a search.

Craigslist sellers have an amazing variety of flaws: mostly failing to respond to inquiries. But sometimes leaving no contact pat (Craigslist has a workaround) and sometimes failing to delete the ad after the item is sold.

Biggest problem with Craigslist is that the scammers are getting more clever in obtaining your email info, by creating credible responses (not 'is the item still available' emails), but actual questions someone in the market might ask.

If you're responding to bargains then odds are they're sold or in the process of being sold by the time you send out your e-mail. Lots of people camp out on CL looking for cheap cars. Cars priced below market will sell in less than an hour.

And, yes. People are bad about removing old ads.

That's a good question. I always respond to ads with my phone and usually have good return call rate. That said, you are digging at the bottom of the value chain, so the people selling these may not be the most organized folks to start with. I often find cars that have been sitting with the heads off or 1/2 a year and finally they are ready to sell it (at book "good condition" value nevertheless). They aren't going to be real go-getters getting it completed ...

G

I've had fantastic success buying and selling on CL.

Just sold a set of used tires last week.

I find it amazing. When I lived in PA, I used CL and sold a ton of stuff! Here in FL I've had absolutely no luck! Go figure!

Listed my grandson's dirt bike last year.......Besides the numerous low-ball texts, one kid wanted to know if I would trade for a PIG.....

I won't list a phone # next time......

Yup. If you put up with the morons and scammers it is a great tool.

Maybe he had a Harley he wanted to trade?

I have had really good luck buying/selling and giving things away on Kijiji.

I ask the potential buyer to respond to the ad with a phone number. I will then set up a viewing time and location by phone or text. At least that way I have an email address from them and a phone number. Seems to cut down on people wasting my time.

My biggest score so far has been the Big Green Egg. I also picked up a Snap On open scissor for a very good price.

I sold my CBR600RR on CL earlier this month. I didn't post my phone # because I didn't want to deal with all the idiots - scammers, low-ballers, people wanting me to finance them, people wanting me to repeat information already in the ad, etc. I got 20-something e-mails the first day, maybe five of them solid-sounding buyers. The first one I called took my address and showed up the next morning with a van and a wad of cash (he actually asked about my old CB400T as well, as he was restoring one). I e-mailed the others and said the bike had sold, then pulled the ad.

The experience was so good I'm considering selling the other two bikes (thinking about a CB500F).

I just put a set of wheels on CL for $300. I got a text asking for my lowest price, I responded, "$75 each".

I get another text from him, "so $250 for all 4?"

WTF...