What should my next response be? (craigslist)
 

I'm probably going to need a 4x4 truck, so I put an ad in Craigslist to sell my old two-wheel-drive Chevy.

Got a live one on the line, curious whet the Pelican brain trust thinks my next response should be.

Here's what's transpired thus far:

Do you still have the '71 Chevy?

Truck is available.

Okay am interested in buying it but I'd like to know the condition, are you the first or second owner? and how long have you had it?

I've had it a couple years. Unknown history before I bought it

Okay i'll take it. I'll have to pay you through PayPal because am currently at the Hanscom Air Force Base at Bedford, Massachusetts. I have a mover that will come for pickup once payment is cleared in your PayPal account and do you have a paypal account?

I will sign over the title when someone hands me cash.
There are plenty of trucks for sale in Massachusetts.

I insisted on paypal because I have been ripped off using money order and paypal protects both buyers and sellers from scam and is very safe.And You have nothing to worry about I am a serious buyer and as soon as I make the payment the pickup company will contact you so as to know the right time for you to pick it up

I'm glad you have a mover you trust.
He can give me cash, and I will help him load it on the transport truck.
You will really enjoy this nice truck.

You have nothing to worry about am a man of god a man of my word what shall it profit a man that gains the whole world and looses is soul all is vanity so get your mind relaxed okay I can't take you off your money

Excellent! Since you are a quality man of god, I'll take $500 off the price of the truck. Please have your shipping agent call me as soon as possible.

So he will now be $7000 And I we be waiting for the paypal details so that I can make the payment Asap

I'm thinking my next response:

"A local guy has seen the truck and really wants it. He has offered 10,000, but I've already promised it to you for 7000.

Tough decision."

-or-

"I need to do this in cash, as I owe a not-very-nice-guy quite a bit of money if you know what I mean, and if he doesn't get some cash soon, it will not be a good day for me."

Any other juicy ideas?

Don't respond. Period.

You've wasted too much time already.
That 'person' has 20 canned paragraphs to copypasta.

You need to demand more of a response. Lot of scammers out there so ya need to be sure.
You require a photo of dog standing on forelegs balancing a watermelon slice on it's butt.
An original bunny with pancake on its head.
Make it happen.

"The man with the bowtie is behind the carnival ride. He will send you a secret message via carrier pigeon with my paypal address. You must respond 2 days ago or the world will end yesterday."

Yup.

If/when I list anything on CL, I typically include a few disclaimers (and put them in bold print):

* Please don't email asking if the XXXXX is still available. If the ad is still up, it is still available.
* If you are interested, please forward a legitamite phone number (no VOIP/Google Voice BS), and I will call/text you to discuss. Replies without a phone number will be deleted/ignored.
* Local, cash deals only. No shipping. No Paypal. No western Union. No Nigerian Princes.
* I don't need any help selling it, nor am I interested in any trades at this time.

If any replies don't meet the above, they get deleted immediately.
Those that do include a number, I usually run through FoneFinder/PhoneValidator to confirm they are letgit numbers. If they are any sort of VOIP/GV numbers, they get deleted/ignored.

That generally weeds out the majority of the scammers/dreamers/time-wasters.

Thanks for sharing, Dan. I got a nice chuckle. You, my friend, are not just a nice guy. You are a nice, smart guy.

I have played this game before in much the same manner you have done so far......."if your shipping agent is coming to pickup my vehicle, and you trust him, send cash with him, other wise I will sell locally" !

Don't fall for his crap, somehow, this is a scam.

I know this is a scam but exactly what is the scam? Is it just phishing for email addresses or something more sinister? I usually respond to these with you can paypal the money to my personal email account FUstupid@aholedotcom

"I'll have to pay you through PayPal because..."

All these internet scams seem to be run through PayPal.
For decades and decades.
Millions in fraud committed in the open market right in front of internet cops.
There is no "Report this to the IMF" button on my browser.

What have the PayPal owners been doing about it?
Shouldn't they be held liable?
At some point...?

they will either send you email link to a scam site that looks like paypal, with a login to steal your info, or send a fake email that claims to have paid too much, looking for a refund.

It's a waste of your time....Tell him to call you. He won't.....Been there..

Too funny. I had a similar exp recently. The guy said he was at Hanscom AFB, same exact thing as your guy. The best part is, I was AT HAFB for a work trip when we spoke. I told him I just so happen to be in town (even sent him a pic of my location) and would gladly meet him and of course no more response from him.

I've had the same dude several times now. I always tell him that the item is out by the curb, just come and take it.

Steve

Tell him that upon further reflection, you've realized that a real man of God would know His name is spelled with a capital letter. Offer to let him atone for his sin by agreeing to repay the $500 you took from the price since he was so pious.

Funny! Keep jerking him around if you're enjoying it, but do be the last one to respond. You get points on your man card for playing him as far as he will go before he ignores you.

I get it but

a) I don't use my land line.

b) I don't give my cell to ANYONE that I do not personally know.

Everyone else gets my google voice number.

In fact cord cutters are porting their triple play home numbers to google voice more and more.

Mine is moving this month.

So again, I get it, but you may want to reconsider as a google voice number is not solely the domain of scammers, less so every day.

Me too! I like a firm, but positive ad. :D

CAR FOR SALE

DON'T ask if it is still available. If the ad is still up, it is still available.
NO VOIP/Google Voice BS
NO replies without a phone number.
NO shipping
NO Paypal
NO western Union
NO Nigerian Princes.
NO goat ropers, pig lickers, tire kickers, time wasters, hog washers, nose pickers, honey dippers, tee totalers, cheese cutters, or hippies.
NO, I don't need any help selling it
NO, I am not interested in any trades.
Get off my lawn.

How about it just sold locally? Done.

Tough crowd thanks goodness I don't buy much off Craiglist. What is the question to ask to get a respond? I always ask if the item still available. What's wrong with that? If it is, then I expect a yes and set up a time to have a look. I dont understand? I really get a kick out of the guys that never call back even if I left my phone number. WTF, do you want to sell the item or not? Its a fooking simple yes or no email / text

I get your argument/side as well, but the situation is easily addressed by one of a few different ways, if you are a legitimate buyer:

1. Make an exception to your "not giving my number out" policy.
2. Leave a work number, along with a time window to call.
3. Leave the number of a close friend/family member who isn't as worried about it (with prior approval of course).

If none of those options work for you, then you would miss out on the opportunity to buy something I have listed on CL. I simply wouldn't waste my time, nor set up any sort of "meet" without corresponding via direct text or phone conversation (preferably the latter), first. Obviously, there is a margin for error and potential missed opportunities, but I am OK with the percentages. I don't list stuff on CL for a living (in fact it's usually a PITA), so it's not something I lose sleep over. YMMV. ;)

Well, you would think that would be enough, but with the 18,000 different scams that are pervasive on CL, I don't see the harm in setting a few additional qualifiers (buying or selling).
Nothing at all. When selling something though, it's simply just another tool to weed out the potential contenders from the pretenders. There are lots of scammers and/or flakes that open their dialogue with "is your item still available".
Bottom line: If you can somehow convey to any potential scammer that replying to your ad would be a waste of time, they will likely move on to the next. Of course, you are never immune to scammers using bots that spam countless listings at a time.

LOL, I hear you. People that don't respond to inquirys (even if to say "sorry, sold") and/or don't take their ads down after their items sells are yet just another "feature" of the minefield that is Craigslist. Enjoy! :D