I've been sending a whole bunch of emails to people who are apparently trying to get me to give them money for their car, but it would appear otherwise based on the number of responses ive received. i'm running about a 5% return rate, maybe less now. i understand if the car's sold they may simply delete it rahter than let me know its gone, so that likely accounts for some, but it cant be all.
is the problem my email title? format of the email body? how do GRM'ers prefer to receive emails with questions that would most likely create a response?
the format i've been using is:
subject= THEIR CL ad title copy/pasted
body= Hi, if your car is still for sale i have a few questions for you.... blah blah blah
my message ends with= my name and email, occasionally my cell if i'm very interested
followed by= a line of ================ to seperate my message from below
and lastly= the rest of their CL ad copy/pasted so they nor i have to reference the actual CL website ad to see exactly what was in the listing.
What are you, a lawyer?
I'm guessing there are some that are put off by the length of the message, or they might think it's computer-generated since no human in their right mind would do what you do. j/k 
if they have a phone number call it :)... if I have cash and WANT something i call if I can...
That's what I do to. I don't get why people don't write back...maybe the cars are selling that fast?
As a frequent craigslist user, I've noticed that the majority (not all, but a distinct majority) of emailed responses that have the title of my ad copied and pasted into the subject of the email are fishing scams.
So...think like the ad poster. If I see "my ad title exactly, Columbia/Jeff City" (Columbia/Jeff City is the title of my local craigslist), I'll usually look it over, but with a skeptical eye.
With that in mind, when I respond to a CL ad (which I also do frequently), I put in something in the email reference line that lets them know it's about the item in question but WITHOUT reciting their title verbatim. I'll say something like "F150 parts on craigslist" or "MX3 parts car listed on Craigslist" in my title.
Then usually the body of the email states that I am interested in their stuff and if they still have it, I'd like to take a look. Then I ask for a response about if they have it and what works for them.
oh...and that reminds me, never call it an "item" as that's exactly what the scammers do. When responding to a set of tires they call it "your item," for instance.
Of course, you're probably fighting spam filters as well, and I don't have much advice on beating them (though I think my email title style might have better luck than the copy/paste style).
Clem
Oh...also, copying and pasting their ad into your email may set of their spam filters...I think. Just a hunch.
Clem
I dunno, when I reply to a CL ad by picking the email link, it automatically fills in the subject line of the email, so I don't bother changing it.
To the OP, it's just the nature of Craigslist. It's free to post stuff there, so people are very lazy and irresponsible about responding, in my experience. Take the good with the bad.
Anymore if there isn't a phone number I don't even bother to try. I will fire off one email with my phone number to schedule an appointment to look at it and that's it. I can count the number of call backs I have gotten back on one finger. There are so many idiots using craigslist it almost isn't worth using.
I've never bought a vehicle off craigslist, but the just before Christmas we bought a used fridge to have a little extra room for leftovers and a beer fridge in the garage. I answered two ads by email, and got prompt responses from both.
Maybe we Virginians are just more civilized. 
Toyman01 wrote:
Anymore if there isn't a phone number I don't even bother to try. I will fire off one email with my phone number to schedule an appointment to look at it and that's it. I can count the number of call backs I have gotten back on one finger. There are so many idiots using craigslist it almost isn't worth using.
I don't call people who do that. I sit in front of email all day. Email works for me. If I wanted to use the phone, I'd have put in my phone number.
when selling
I respond to every email... lowball or not... I put in one of my google voice numbers for phone and set it to not fwd to my phone... I can get txt and phone calls that way but call them back on my terms and not be caught by surprise... I do specify to leave a msg and that i would call em back asap...
but i'm ready to sell when I list...
Toyman01 wrote:
Anymore if there isn't a phone number I don't even bother to try. I will fire off one email with my phone number to schedule an appointment to look at it and that's it. I can count the number of call backs I have gotten back on one finger. There are so many idiots using craigslist it almost isn't worth using.
I feel the same. CL was great but as more people found it fewer actually respond.
Something may be able to eclipse it now...
Lesley
SuperDork
1/27/11 9:45 p.m.
I don't use Craigslist any more, but do use Kijiji. I just hit "reply" then ask them if the flywheel/tires/widget is still available... if I hear back from them I ask for more info. Probably 30% ... I never get an answer and assume the item is sold.
I get a mixed bag . . . some respond and some don't.
Then I get the people that don't want to answer questions or act like my $$$ ain't good. Oh well . . . lol
I stopped putting my phone number in my ad. Once I've established you're not a scammer, then I'll either give you my phone number, ask you for yours, or I'll call the phone number you provided.
I think if every ad cost a nickel (seriously), you'd cut nearly 100% of the idiots out of the community. You'd still have scammers, but you wouldn't have idiots. The cost is what brings the idiots to CL.
I have the same problem on the other end. When I go to sell something I include detailed information, a good price based on research, and multiple clear pictures. I almost never get responses.
I'm tempted to list something in typical craigslist style:
92 car runs great head gaskit blown. Transmishun wont shift out of 2nd, $7000.
(insert grainy picture of the car, covered in snow, taken from the front door of a house at night, possibly with a tree in between the house and car)
I bet I'd sell stuff in seconds.
You have to email them in their language:
YO U STILL GOTZ DAT CAR CUZ I WANT TO COME LOK AT IT I GOT FO'HUNNERT CASH MONEY.
Thought this was going to be about the missed connections section.
