Craigslist Diaries

I know many of us have craigslist stories but I thought I'd share one from yesterday. Since I've had my 05 C230 for 7 years now and want a truck, I decided to put it on CL. A little background...it's an 05 Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan with CLS style 19" wheels, CL style grille, Debadged, last year of the supercharged 4 cyl so it gets pretty good mpg. White on black, heated seated, moon roof, rear sun shade, power everything except passenger seat. Basically loaded besides Nav, Harmon Kardon, or phone. 145k miles. Just did brakes and spark plugs, all filters, etc. So anyways I decide I want to price this thing to sell fast so I check for sale sites for 100k mile plus 05s in the country and decide price it lower. Settled on $4995. Six, yes six weeks with only one email for pics and then yesterday I have the following email exchange....

 

T.M. - (Guy from CL) Will you take $3k

 

Chip - LOL no. Its already priced below everything out there on cars.com nd I'm in no rush to sell. Thanks

 

T.M. - Thanks for the reply. This isn't cars.com, it's CL and it's for bargains. You're buying other people's used goods.

 

Chip - Uhhh, they're used goods no matter which site you buy them from. A sales price is a sales price where ever. Obviously you did not read my ad, which states I'm in no rush to sell and the price is firm. Good luck with your $3k car, I'm sure it will be spectacular.

 

T.M. - Get lost. Stop harrassing me. Don't email me again.

 

Chip - On second thought, maybe you should put that 3k towards going back to school. They will teach you things...like the definition of harassment. Hopefully the next time you list something for sale, someone will offer you 60% of that and you can enjoy it. Take care

 

 

I know dealing with the general stupidity is part of using craigslist but man...at least it kept me partially entertained. I was hoping I would get another stellar response but no luck yet.

In all my ads I write "principle inquiries only. No brokers, ad agencies, or listing services"

 

When those types do call, I interrupt them an ask "Do you have a lack of respect or lack of intelligence?" They will usually stop and ask what I mean. I then respond with "Either you read my request and chose to ignore it or you don't understand what it means. So which is it?" CLICK....

I guess the positive is that I have gotten very little spam from CL. I actually checked the Text only box and put my number and someone called. I am not a big phone talker since I have hearing aids so I said just text me and I never heard from them. But I agree with you, if I'd have said make me an offer, I'd expect random things like that.

 

 

Amazing... must have been a 16yo looking for his first ride or someone just completely stupid

Amazing... must have been a 16yo looking for his first ride or someone just completely stupid

 

Lol, I would not be surprised either way. The harassment thing was pretty funny though!

Amazing... must have been a 16yo looking for his first ride or someone just completely stupid

 

 

Probably a Bootstrapper like that old thread in the business section.

I sold my previous BMW last year, on CL, for $1500 under KBB value, because it was really my beater and I wanted to sell it quickly. I advertised at $6,000 and the KBB was like $7,500 or $8,000. I made sure I put it in the add. It was amazing how many people shorted me on price. I'd get tons of texts saying. "Hey bra, I give you 3K." I'd text back: "Are you fcuking kidding me?"

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a kid who messaged you, or some Obama voter, on welfare. Both of those type of people want to drive an entry level german car and feel like they're rich or something.

Yeah, honestly for that cheap, I'd rather give the car to someone who really needs it. If I don't get any legitimate hits this year, I'll probably do that.

Since it's a week before April fool's day I'll throw this story out there. While I was sitting at home on April first a few years ago watching a movie with the wife my phone rang. "I'm calling about Caesar" inquired a very young girl from an unknown area code. "What?" I replied. "Caesar the ferret, do you still have him?" "Sorry, wrong number." As I hung up I had a call coming in on the other line. Same thing, little girl looking for a ferret. Within two minutes the phone was ringing off the hook and I realized what was going on. Called my youngest brother in Nashville and he was laughing his ass off. He had posted a Free Things ad for a fully potty trained ferret named Caesar in several major metropolitan areas. He took it down and we had a good laugh.

 

He posted a free kegerator for my other brother, a litter of labradoodles for my friend, a free hot tub for another buddy, and several other things. Lots of hilarious stories ensued. My buddy with the labradoodles somehow couldn't put it together and thought everyone calling was pranking him, so he's answering and yelling at everyone while the people calling think he was pranking them so they yell back and forth. My brother with the kegerator wasn't near another phone and had to turn his phone off it was ringing so much. By the time he got a hold of the prankster and got the ad taken down he had over two hundred voice mails.

 

Which reminds me, the brother in question is a fellow engineer and lives in Reston/Arlington. Any chance you want to be involved in an elaborate April fool's prank?

 

On the pricing, you guys need to remember that pretty much everyone that frequents Craig's list is there because they love to haggle. Posting "Price is firm" and "No negotiations" is like putting a sign at Starbucks that says "Decaf Only". It just doesn't compute with many of the people browsing.

 

 

 

 

I have an April Fools day prank idea. But Im not a prankster so I would be about the last person any of my friends would expect. That would be cruel. I would have to leave it for an hour, then ask them about it.

I find this thread to be terribly harassing...

Since it's a week before April fool's day I'll throw this story out there. While I was sitting at home on April first a few years ago watching a movie with the wife my phone rang. "I'm calling about Caesar" inquired a very young girl from an unknown area code. "What?" I replied. "Caesar the ferret, do you still have him?" "Sorry, wrong number." As I hung up I had a call coming in on the other line. Same thing, little girl looking for a ferret. Within two minutes the phone was ringing off the hook and I realized what was going on. Called my youngest brother in Nashville and he was laughing his ass off. He had posted a Free Things ad for a fully potty trained ferret named Caesar in several major metropolitan areas. He took it down and we had a good laugh.

 

He posted a free kegerator for my other brother, a litter of labradoodles for my friend, a free hot tub for another buddy, and several other things. Lots of hilarious stories ensued. My buddy with the labradoodles somehow couldn't put it together and thought everyone calling was pranking him, so he's answering and yelling at everyone while the people calling think he was pranking them so they yell back and forth. My brother with the kegerator wasn't near another phone and had to turn his phone off it was ringing so much. By the time he got a hold of the prankster and got the ad taken down he had over two hundred voice mails.

 

Which reminds me, the brother in question is a fellow engineer and lives in Reston/Arlington. Any chance you want to be involved in an elaborate April fool's prank?

 

On the pricing, you guys need to remember that pretty much everyone that frequents Craig's list is there because they love to haggle. Posting "Price is firm" and "No negotiations" is like putting a sign at Starbucks that says "Decaf Only". It just doesn't compute with many of the people browsing.

 

 

I'd rather have that than what happened to me last year. Last year a guy at the office put in my number on a bunch of escort websites all over the country. For days, I'd get calls all the way until 2 in the morning from women "wanting" to have sex, nude chat messages while I'd have my phone on the table at dinner. One hooker texted me and said: "Do you want to have a good time?" I said "No thank you, I'm happily married. Stop texting please." She texted back with "Most of my clients usually are." Lol.

On the topic of April Fools jokes, about the most hilarious and brutal I have seen yet involves getting someone a subscription to a really twisted porn magazine, the more vile the better. And have it deliberately sent to the next door neighbors house in that dudes name.

 

Bonus points if you hit multiple neighbors.

On the topic of April Fools jokes, about the most hilarious and brutal I have seen yet involves getting someone a subscription to a really twisted porn magazine, the more vile the better. And have it deliberately sent to the next door neighbors house in that dudes name.

 

Bonus points if you hit multiple neighbors.

 

How is that an April fools joke?

Which reminds me, the brother in question is a fellow engineer and lives in Reston/Arlington. Any chance you want to be involved in an elaborate April fool's prank?

 

On the pricing, you guys need to remember that pretty much everyone that frequents Craig's list is there because they love to haggle. Posting "Price is firm" and "No negotiations" is like putting a sign at Starbucks that says "Decaf Only". It just doesn't compute with many of the people browsing.

 

Haha sure! Just let me know. It's like saying no trades...people still ask Lol.

 

I find this thread to be terribly harassing...

 

I was hoping he would reply back and I could let loose LP on him by posting the email address! He got lucky!

 

 

On the topic of April Fools jokes, about the most hilarious and brutal I have seen yet involves getting someone a subscription to a really twisted porn magazine, the more vile the better. And have it deliberately sent to the next door neighbors house in that dudes name.

 

Bonus points if you hit multiple neighbors.

 

Haha, that's a scene from Big Bang Theory. They get Sheldon a subscription to Granny on Granny and he says other than the crosswords, it is pure filth! My neighbors are all senior citizens so I have a feeling I would see a steady stream of ambulances if I did that!

 

How is that an April fools joke?

 

Everyone knows what Raj wants for his bday now!

 

 

In my experience, Craigslist is only great for getting rid of stuff for free. Selling stuff can be a pain in the ass with all the lowballers and nonsense. Put "free" in the title and your phone will fcuking explode with people begging to take your crap. I had some couch and a recliner that my dog has pissed all over and it was old. Not worth much to me. So instead of trying to sell it for $100 or whatever I put "free". My phone exploded with people begging to come get it NOW. Hell yeah.....come get this stinky dog piss couch NOW....please do!! It was gone within an hour. If I would have even asked $50 for it, I would probably still have it. And people I have bought junk from on there all complain that selling on there is a pain in the ass. People lowball, never show up when they say they are, etc, etc.

 

For me...if it goes on CR, it's going up for free.

I can understand that mentality but you list it for free. This guys logic was...if it were $5k listed on cars.com he would have offered me more than if it's listed for $5k on CL. And that I don't follow. Exactly as you mention though, I listed a phone for sale for like $50 and it was a massive waste of time. Should have listed it for free.

In my experience, Craigslist is only great for getting rid of stuff for free. Selling stuff can be a pain in the ass with all the lowballers and nonsense. Put "free" in the title and your phone will fcuking explode with people begging to take your crap. I had some couch and a recliner that my dog has pissed all over and it was old. Not worth much to me. So instead of trying to sell it for $100 or whatever I put "free". My phone exploded with people begging to come get it NOW. Hell yeah.....come get this stinky dog piss couch NOW....please do!! It was gone within an hour. If I would have even asked $50 for it, I would probably still have it. And people I have bought junk from on there all complain that selling on there is a pain in the ass. People lowball, never show up when they say they are, etc, etc.

 

For me...if it goes on CR, it's going up for free.

My parents live on an acreage on a busy highway. Whenever we have old crap we put it at the end of the driveway with a free sign on it. Usually never takes more than an hour for someone to pick it up. We never pay disposal fee for old tires. I had a shot set of drag radials I put there. We put a very old mattress out there, someone stopped before we where finished walking back to the house. People are crazy for free shit.

I actually kind of agree with his point . . . it is Craigslist. Lowballing is totally acceptable in that domain.

I actually kind of agree with his point . . . it is Craigslist. Lowballing is totally acceptable in that domain.

 

Lol, I'm sorry but that makes no sense to me. I don't disagree that people are going to do it but the price is the price especially when you state that verbatim in the ad. But regardless, it wasn't so much his lowball offer but his logic behind it.