Is there anything left of Craigslist?

In reply to NordicSaab:

I just sold my wrecked zx-10 on there successfully. But I refused to use an email address and required contact via calling. Also just drove 2hrs to Hamilton, OH to buy a Powerwheels ride on for a local charity downhill derby on Monday. The seller thought for sure I was a scammer or crazy because "Who would drive that far for something like this?" He was surprised, and at the price point both of us were happy. I personally have never managed to sell or buy anything on CL through email only. YMMV

JohnRW1621 wrote: I have a rusty '03 Impala to put up this week. First car in a couple years. We'll see...

I just completed this ad. I do not think it's even live yet.
We'll see how it goes.
CL Ad for '03 Impala

Ad critiquing welcome.

The ad must be live now because I have gotten 1 email into my spam folder that only said, "$900"
Am I supposed to believe this is an offer of $900? Listed at $1,800.

I also got one text which includes the CL Ad heading but the only thing written after that is, "...?"
Phone number from South Carolina (I'm in Ohio.)

I guess those two should be ignored.

In reply to JohnRW1621:

Sounds about right.

OHSCrifle wrote: How does this Google spam report work?

Highlight spam in your Inbox by checking the box to the left of each title. Check as many as you want. Then, click on the icon in the top shaped like a stop sign with an exclamation point in it. Voila! They are gone.

In reply to JohnRW1621:

The offering half price for any given item for sale is sometimes a tactic to start haggling thats becoming more popular.

I just make up something about a others that are interested. Or why its an "awesome" deal at the current price. Usually the flakes on the other end lose interest, but it works just enough to try it. This way at least they dont assume its sold

Offering half gets you kicked off my property or hung up on.

If i feel something is worth half the asking price I don't bother. My first question is "is your price firm?" Sometimes they come right down to bottom dollar without having to offer. Got an astro that was advertised at 1200 for 800 just by asking that. His reply was "junkyard offered me 800 because they want to use it for deliveries so its yours for that " The people that come right down always name a price less than I would have offered

Other acceptable questions from my negotiating tactics "it doesn't run, I'm assuming worst case, is $xxx out of the question?" Or "is $xxx in play or am I busting your balls too hard?"

I don't use the CL email at all but require phone or text. Replacing the 0 with an o (or you can spell out a number to help.) Seems I still get the occasional spam text.

I ignore all stupid questions including 'least you will take' queries if that's all they ask.

When I respond to someone else's ad, I state my name, the fact I'm in the area, and some sort of question and/or get right to the point and ask when and where I can see it.

Works for me.

I'm a "cash buyer" would you take $200 for your lambo? "What's the least you'd take for it?"

"Is this thread still available?"

Then never responds again.

I am interested in your item. Would you accept trade? (Seriously though, interested in the water heater. Gas, Electric, brand, gallons? We could make it part of the 7 deal.)

One day in and this to report back.
I've gotten one scammy email and it went right to my Yahoo Spam folder. I got other spam emails telling me there are MILFs in my area but I don't think that's related.

I've got about 5 texts right away and another 2 today. Only two were instate area codes. Of those two, one was from 3 hours away, the other genuinely local area code but the message was,
"I m like you car which is you address."
Not really a request for appointment so I ignored.

Im listed in my small town CL as well as well a Cleveland, OH (major market) one hour to the east and Toledo, OH (still a very big market) one hour to the west.
All my scammy inquiries have come from the small hometown market ad.

No real inquiries yet.

In reply to MrJoshua:

It's a Rheem 42,000 BTU 50 gal gas unit. It was in use for only 1 year in a commercial space (light usage, well maintained). They go for about $550 new- I was asking $200.

I have 1 offer for $180 from the guy who asked "What's your lowest price?" However, his area code says he is in CA- 3000 miles away, so I don't really think I'll hear from him again.

Sure I'll deal, if you want it.

Dont worry about the area code IF you have some dialogue with the buyer. Its very common to have out of state/area area codes.

I have family (ohio) that share a phone plan with some on the west coast (Oregon address but lives in Alaska).

Driving taxi I saw often college students still share their parents plans from other areas. Also people that have moved and havent changed cell contracts and/or dont want to go through a number change ordeal have out of area codes.

Its not the area code alone that triggers my distrust, it's the incoherent or incomplete/fragmented verbiage combined with the distant area code that triggers the distrust.

No further inquiries gotten today in any form including spam folder.

I lamented over what to ask for the car.
My pricing structure is as follows:
1st week, ask what everyone else is asking and see what it brings.
I listed on Weds and I'll rebump the ad toward the top for the weekend.

2nd week, if nothing then I'll lower the price on Weds (probably $1.8K to $1.5K) and rebump for the weekend again.

3rd week if needed I'll go to $1.2k...

I'd take as low as $900 today so if someone comes and throws down a lowball this weekend they better be ready to back that up with cash.

I know, you may be thinking then why not just ask $900 today?
I feel if I do this, I'll be offered $500.
Sure, some games and hopefully some salesmanship. I believe that everyone wants a deal. I'd rather the buyer try to pull the car from me more than me try to push it on them.

jere wrote: Dont worry about the area code IF you have some dialogue with the buyer. Its very common to have out of state/area area codes. I have family (ohio) that share a phone plan with some on the west coast (Oregon address but lives in Alaska). Driving taxi I saw often college students still share their parents plans from other areas. Also people that have moved and havent changed cell contracts and/or dont want to go through a number change ordeal have out of area codes.

QFT

I got a response from an area code 700 miles away. Turns out, he lived less than two miles away, and came to buy my item that night. Paid what I was asking, too!

In reply to jere:

I'm not worried about the area code.

I'm just saying I don't expect to hear from him again. So far, I'm right.

I'm more successful selling on CL than any other alternative.

I just sold my used white letter tires on CL yesterday. They had probably 10-15% left. Took less than an hour from post to sell to delete.

Still alive and well here, just recently bought 2 bmx bikes (new school) for the boys, a mtn bike for the gf, a road bike, an aeron chair, a vinyl plotter and PC to run it for myself. And sold my broken 25 ga craftsman oil free air compressor (listed on offerup first but got all flakes)

When do you guys pull your CL ad down? When you've got a legitimate offer, and just waiting for the buyer to come get it? Or, do you wait until money is in hand?

In reply to SVreX:

My daughter lives in WV but her cell phone area code is VA from when she lived in Richmond.

Money in hand. It ain't sold til it leaves a stack of bills in my hand.

I sold a house on Craigslist. Our realtor couldn't sell it, so I advertised it on Craigslist and it sold in a couple of weeks.

The guy who wrote this:

"I m like you car which is you address."

Called tonight and asked nearly the same sentence. Jose Gomez is out driving it now.

Edit
There were a couple things he pointed out that he didn't like and lowballed with $1k...now. I tried to raise with no success but was happy to see that rust heap of an Impala drive away!
List on Weds. Sell on Thursday. Done.

Less that a dozen crappy texts. One legit text that I figured was not legit. One spam email. One real call from another guy who might call back.

All this cost me nothing.
Bargain of the century.

I put a couple of seats on CL yesterday, A beat up Corbeau and less beat up Recaro. Guy came for the Corbeau last night at 9:30 and ended up buying the Recaro too. Then we sat and bullE36 M3ted about cars and racing for and hour

Then there was this crap-

I really want to give them an address to string them along further.