Knowing When NOT To Sell To Someone

[Julie Moriarty]

I've got the DW735 listed on a community website. Some guy wrote me the same day I listed and offered me $100 less than asking. I told him I wanted to wait for a week or so before dropping the price. He wrote back thanking me profusely.

I removed the listing when it looked like purchasing a new JP might go south. He wrote within an hour asking if I had sold it. I explained the situation. He wrote back and said, "Are you selling it or not!?!"

When the new JP purchase was resolved I wrote him and told him I'd be re-listing the planer and he could have it for $50 off asking. He wrote back and said no way. His original offer still stood. I wished him well.

After I listed the planer, he wrote warning "readers" the planer was refurbished (it's not, it's brand new in an unopened box).

Now I'm happy I didn't sell to him. I can just imagine him pounding on my door every time he has a problem.

[Mike Ontko]

This almost seems to be the norm these days with public positing sites like Craigslist. It's like fly paper for creeps and cheats.

Sounds like you were able to avoid the worst of that situation though. There's definitely something to be said about going with your intuition or 'gut instinct'.

[Jim Becker]

Always trust your "radar" when it warns you that something might be amiss. Sometimes, it will be unfounded, but all those times when it is accurate will save you some pain. :) I just spent about 38 years in mostly sales focused jobs prior to retiring from full time work. Trust me, I learned a long time ago that it's important to know when to "fire the customer". :) :D

BTW, I've found that the local sales groups on Facebook are a bit more effective than CL, although there certainly still are wackos out there. At least you're dealing with presumably "real people" with the FB groups...

[Mike Cutler]

New, in an unopened box, and he started off at $100.00 less than asking? I would have just said no and skipped all of the explanations. He probably already had a buyer on the line for it, and was only going to act as a middleman.
My wife does a lot online buying and tells me of all the scams folks do. Both buyers and sellers. It's kind of sad.

So far, knock on wood, I've been really lucky with Craigslist as a buyer. I also don't mess about with the folks selling the item. If I want it,I want to for me, not to immediately resell it.
Last thing I purchased was a 1" spindle cartridge for my Delta shaper. I got a lightly used OEM Delta,1" spindle cartridge, in the box, along with a 3/4" spindle for $35.00. total. The gentleman I bought it from said a previous buyer was messing around with him on this item. It was well worth the drive across the state for it.

[Julie Moriarty]

New, in an unopened box, and he started off at $100.00 less than asking? I would have just said no and skipped all of the explanations. He probably already had a buyer on the line for it, and was only going to act as a middleman.
The first tell was when he made the offer he said he makes toys for poor kids and didn't have anything more than he offered. Later, when I wouldn't come down to his price, he told me how much it's going to cost him to buy a spiral cutterhead to go with the planer. Guess he must have made a lot making those toys.

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

I recently ran several items on CL. At least 50% of the responses were idiots or scammers. Listed a pair of tractor tire chains and posted pictures. The first caller offered half price saying he could use them to pull logs without adding hooks. Or the fellow that wanted to know what cc engine was in the electric golf cart.

[Warren Lake]

illo turn it around ive sold machines with no issues but they were pro machines and pros bought them almost site unseen.

Im trying to buy a parts car on Kijiji. I missed the first one and it as the one, Stuff on there now is put up by people from Deliverance. Wife says great car for parts husband said its in weeds and ill have to tow it out to take photos its junk. Her area listed is an hour and half from where the car is, Next one gas two cars as well one shown other one not questions asked been in a field for three years more questions back window punched out iwth a brick so I said I guess then the interior is pouched, "ah yeah I guess so" son put up the ad father doesnt know how to post photos son refuses to take any doesnt like the father., on the positive there is a nice one, i know my stuff I ask six simple questions of my likely 30 and its becomes im going to keep it and replace the inside fenders meanwhile the ad says mostly stored in winters and Krown rustproofed. He was scared away by someone who clearly knows far more than he does. Honestly the farm animals around here are smarter than this group of people. No offense to farm animals.

and back on topic ive sold three or four times with zero issues to people that made a living at this. Ive purchased off craig several times tig welder other stuff no issues so it can work. I never push people about prices sometimes I ask sometimes i just pay, the last I just paid and there is more wrong with it than represented and that was off a forum.

[glenn bradley]

Dodged the bullet there. There are people I do not want to deal with no matter how good it sounds. I sure don't want to deal with them when it sounds bad.

[Matt Day]

The way I sell items, ESPECIALLY if they're coming to my house to pick it up (when it's big and bulky like a table saw), is after intial email/text to agree on a reasonable price, I insist on talking to them on phone. That way I can get a read on them, see if they sound like a woodworker or a creep. I've had nothing but good dealings with home pickups (knock on wood).

I've had a few morons I've met in public places who lowballed me or didn't show up. One guy admitted he was a reseller and basically wanted to buy my reasonably priced tool for 50% less so he could turn around and sell it again for a profit.

[Ronald Blue]

Good riddance to him. You gave him more of your time than he was worth already. With his low ball price no thank you would be sufficient. Sounds like he was trying to scam you. He's just upset that you didn't play his game. Good luck.

[Keith Westfall]

Good on ya Julie. I had a tool listed one time and someone phoned and offered $100 lower. I countered with $50 higher! Never heard from him again.

I listed some tires and rims for my daughter with a good price and said in the ad that if they come back as a low-baller, I wouldn't even respond. There were a few that I didn't respond to. And if they keep trying, I just keep raising the price.

Haven't got much time for most of them.

[John Goodin]

Good call. I typically sell for a little less than I should and include a statement like, “Price is firm but priced to sell.” When someone shows up and wants to low ball it, I knock just a little off the price, so they feel like they got a deal, and say I have 12 more people interested in it. Never had anybody walk away and I am done with burdensome process of selling something on Craigslist.

[Wade Lippman]

Good call. I typically sell for a little less than I should and include a statement like, “Price is firm but priced to sell.” When someone shows up and wants to low ball it, I knock just a little off the price, so they feel like they got a deal, and say I have 12 more people interested in it. Never had anybody walk away and I am done with burdensome process of selling something on Craigslist.

I've never come down on price and just one person (out of maybe 150) has walked away.
I ask a fair price (obviously I have reduced my asking price on stuff that isn't selling) and don't negotiate. But there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Several time people have paid me too much because they didn't have the right currency and didn't want to wait for me to try to find change. That has really bothered me. Not sure why....

[Julie Moriarty]

The first listing was on a website called Nextdoor. It only reaches the immediately surrounding area. Today I listed it on Craigslist. This is the first time doing anything on CL. About an hour after I posted the listing I got a reply asking if it had been sold or not and how much I wanted for it. The amount is listed on CL so I didn't get why that was asked. The person also said they don't check CL mail so to please use the email provided.

Anyway, I responded through the email provided saying the planer was still available. This reply came from a different email than the one I initially responded to:

Thanks for the prompt response to my email. I am so happy that the item is still available, I am very serious in buying from you, I would have come down to your location but I always have a busy hours at work, Please let me know if a Certified Cashiers Check is okay, My pick up will be after you have your money cleared up. The check will be mail out to you today via UPS Service and it will deliver to you within 48hrs, I will make arrangement for the pick up as soon as the check clears. Hope I can trust you with the check payment?

I will make arrangement for pick-up . So get back to me with below details asap.

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking price..

I will make arrangements for pick up as soon as you have your money, I will add an additional $20 for holding it for me. Please consider it sold.

Thank you , hope to read back from you soon

This whole thing seems fishy. If they can go to the bank to get a cashier's check, they can come here with cash. What do you think?

[Patrick Walsh]

Anything slightly suspicious on Craigslist I stay away from.

Just about every time I post on Craigslist I get some scam artist or fisher from what I’m told by Craigslist normally from some far away country.

It’s pretty easy imop after selling tons of stuff on Craigslist ebay or Internet forums when someone is a con artist and or just gonna be a pita!

[Frederick Skelly]

The first listing was on a website called Nextdoor. It only reaches the immediately surrounding area. Today I listed it on Craigslist. This is the first time doing anything on CL. About an hour after I posted the listing I got a reply asking if it had been sold or not and how much I wanted for it. The amount is listed on CL so I didn't get why that was asked. The person also said they don't check CL mail so to please use the email provided.

Anyway, I responded through the email provided saying the planer was still available. This reply came from a different email than the one I initially responded to:

Thanks for the prompt response to my email. I am so happy that the item is still available, I am very serious in buying from you, I would have come down to your location but I always have a busy hours at work, Please let me know if a Certified Cashiers Check is okay, My pick up will be after you have your money cleared up. The check will be mail out to you today via UPS Service and it will deliver to you within 48hrs, I will make arrangement for the pick up as soon as the check clears. Hope I can trust you with the check payment?

I will make arrangement for pick-up . So get back to me with below details asap.

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking price..

I will make arrangements for pick up as soon as you have your money, I will add an additional $20 for holding it for me. Please consider it sold.

Thank you , hope to read back from you soon

This whole thing seems fishy. If they can go to the bank to get a cashier's check, they can come here with cash. What do you think?

I'd stay away from that one myself.

[Julie Moriarty]

I'd stay away from that one myself.

Ignore it or respond with when you have the cash, we'll set up a place to meet. My SO suggested meeting at the local PD.

[Dave Zellers]

I believe this is a classic CL scam. The cashiers check is a forgery and the bank can take your money back even after they cash it for you. By then the guy is gone. The reason you got targeted was the NIB part. Super easy to resell.

[Jim Koepke]

I believe this is a classic CL scam. The cashiers check is a forgery and the bank can take your money back even after they cash it for you. By then the guy is gone. The reason you got targeted was the NIB part. Super easy to resell.

And profitable at any price if they got it free through a scam.

jtk

[Julie Moriarty]

I was thinking of responding giving my address as that of the local police department. :rolleyes:

[Mike Henderson]

The first listing was on a website called Nextdoor. It only reaches the immediately surrounding area. Today I listed it on Craigslist. This is the first time doing anything on CL. About an hour after I posted the listing I got a reply asking if it had been sold or not and how much I wanted for it. The amount is listed on CL so I didn't get why that was asked. The person also said they don't check CL mail so to please use the email provided.

Anyway, I responded through the email provided saying the planer was still available. This reply came from a different email than the one I initially responded to:

Thanks for the prompt response to my email. I am so happy that the item is still available, I am very serious in buying from you, I would have come down to your location but I always have a busy hours at work, Please let me know if a Certified Cashiers Check is okay, My pick up will be after you have your money cleared up. The check will be mail out to you today via UPS Service and it will deliver to you within 48hrs, I will make arrangement for the pick up as soon as the check clears. Hope I can trust you with the check payment?

I will make arrangement for pick-up . So get back to me with below details asap.

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking price..

I will make arrangements for pick up as soon as you have your money, I will add an additional $20 for holding it for me. Please consider it sold.

Thank you , hope to read back from you soon

This whole thing seems fishy. If they can go to the bank to get a cashier's check, they can come here with cash. What do you think?

That's a well known scam. I reply to them that the only payment accepted is cash. If they can't do cash, then go away. Some will say that they will pay with PayPal. Same answer - cash or nothing.

One other comment. When you list on Craigslist it's generally accepted that serious buyers may negotiate with you. Don't take that as a negative. I price a bit higher than I expect to get to allow for negotiation - and sometimes a person shows up and pays the full amount.

Mike

[Jim Becker]

The first listing was on a website called Nextdoor. It only reaches the immediately surrounding area. Today I listed it on Craigslist. This is the first time doing anything on CL. About an hour after I posted the listing I got a reply asking if it had been sold or not and how much I wanted for it. The amount is listed on CL so I didn't get why that was asked. The person also said they don't check CL mail so to please use the email provided.

Anyway, I responded through the email provided saying the planer was still available. This reply came from a different email than the one I initially responded to:

Thanks for the prompt response to my email. I am so happy that the item is still available, I am very serious in buying from you, I would have come down to your location but I always have a busy hours at work, Please let me know if a Certified Cashiers Check is okay, My pick up will be after you have your money cleared up. The check will be mail out to you today via UPS Service and it will deliver to you within 48hrs, I will make arrangement for the pick up as soon as the check clears. Hope I can trust you with the check payment?

I will make arrangement for pick-up . So get back to me with below details asap.

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking price..

I will make arrangements for pick up as soon as you have your money, I will add an additional $20 for holding it for me. Please consider it sold.

Thank you , hope to read back from you soon

This whole thing seems fishy. If they can go to the bank to get a cashier's check, they can come here with cash. What do you think?

CLASSIC Scam. DO NOT ACCEPT THAT "CASHIERS" CHECK. It will be fake and quite often written for more than you are asking.

Best practice is "local only" and "cash only", my friend...

[eugene thomas]

When list on cl if the initial response not list item am selling goes in the deleted file. My wife had co worker get one of them checks and was told at work it's a scam. She went to three different banks to try to cash the check before she was convinced not to cash it and send the seller some money back....

[Bill Dufour]

Many of those scam cheeks are so good the bank will cash it and put money in your account. They usually pay more then the asked for price and ask you to give the overage, in cash, to the person picking it up. It will take over one month for the bank to take back the money from your account. By then the buyer is long gone.
Many police departments have set up a corner in their parking lot, under street light, with CCTV recording 24/7 for folks to meet and exchange their purchases from online. Having their faces and license plates in the police data banks reduces scammers. Check with your city police or sheriff to see if they are doing this yet.
Bil lD.

[Ronald Blue]

Definitely a scam! The first thing was asking you to use a non CL contact email. That in itself would cause me to ignore them. I hope you have a "throw away" email address you responded with. Otherwise you will probably start getting bombarded with spam.

[Chuck Wintle]

The first listing was on a website called Nextdoor. It only reaches the immediately surrounding area. Today I listed it on Craigslist. This is the first time doing anything on CL. About an hour after I posted the listing I got a reply asking if it had been sold or not and how much I wanted for it. The amount is listed on CL so I didn't get why that was asked. The person also said they don't check CL mail so to please use the email provided.

Anyway, I responded through the email provided saying the planer was still available. This reply came from a different email than the one I initially responded to:

Thanks for the prompt response to my email. I am so happy that the item is still available, I am very serious in buying from you, I would have come down to your location but I always have a busy hours at work, Please let me know if a Certified Cashiers Check is okay, My pick up will be after you have your money cleared up. The check will be mail out to you today via UPS Service and it will deliver to you within 48hrs, I will make arrangement for the pick up as soon as the check clears. Hope I can trust you with the check payment?

I will make arrangement for pick-up . So get back to me with below details asap.

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number:
Last Asking price..

I will make arrangements for pick up as soon as you have your money, I will add an additional $20 for holding it for me. Please consider it sold.

Thank you , hope to read back from you soon

This whole thing seems fishy. If they can go to the bank to get a cashier's check, they can come here with cash. What do you think?
as many have mentioned it is a classic scam on CL and other sites.

[Julie Moriarty]

Many police departments have set up a corner in their parking lot, under street light, with CCTV recording 24/7 for folks to meet and exchange their purchases from online. Having their faces and license plates in the police data banks reduces scammers. Check with your city police or sheriff to see if they are doing this yet.
Bill D.
Bill, I had no idea anything like what you described exists. I was thinking of calling the PD to see if they would want to participate in a sting. But then I had to ask myself if I wanted to get involved in something like this. And even if I offered to meet at the local PD for the exchange, what are the odds they would show?


Definitely a scam! The first thing was asking you to use a non CL contact email. That in itself would cause me to ignore them. I hope you have a "throw away" email address you responded with. Otherwise you will probably start getting bombarded with spam.
This was running through my mind when I replied. I guess I'll know shortly if I need to create a new email.

[michael langman]

I had this scam happen to me. I was in a tither for a couple of days about whether I should sell to the scammer as I was not aware of the scam.
When I found out about the scam online, I went through with the sale. When the check for the boat I was selling arrived I took it to my bank, and they surely would have cashed it as it looked quite authentic.
I had read online that it really ticked off the scammers when they sent out a check and nothing happened because they sent it by certified mail and paid that cost.:).
About 4 days later I got a call from the scammer on the phone asking if I had cashed his check yet. I told him I had not gotten to it yet. A few days after that he called again with a threatening voice and said," You have my check!", and it sounded like he was trying to scare me.:p.
I told him if he wanted his check back he could come to my home and get it, in not very polite words I might add. I keep the check as a reminder of the things that happen to a lot of the nice people in the world.

[Frederick Skelly]

I had this scam happen to me. I was in a tither for a couple of days about whether I should sell to the scammer as I was not aware of the scam.
When I found out about the scam online, I went through with the sale. When the check for the boat I was selling arrived I took it to my bank, and they surely would have cashed it as it looked quite authentic.
I had read online that it really ticked off the scammers when they sent out a check and nothing happened because they sent it by certified mail and paid that cost.:).
About 4 days later I got a call from the scammer on the phone asking if I had cashed his check yet. I told him I had not gotten to it yet. A few days after that he called again with a threatening voice and said," You have my check!", and it sounded like he was trying to scare me.:p.
I told him if he wanted his check back he could come to my home and get it, in not very polite words I might add. I keep the check as a reminder of the things that happen to a lot of the nice people in the world.

But you still had your boat - right?

[michael langman]

Yes I still Have my boat Frederick. The delivery people never showed up for the boat. I would not have let them have it if they did. Their check never would have put money into my bank account had I cashed it. I did sell the boat a few weeks later.

[Frederick Skelly]

Yes I still Have my boat Frederick. The delivery people never showed up for the boat. I would not have let them have it if they did. Their check never would have put money into my bank account had I cashed it. I did sell the boat a few weeks later.

Sorry Mike. I was trying to follow what you did. I get it now. Thanks for explaining!
Fred

[Julie Moriarty]

A local guy who I have dealt with before offered me the same as the first guy. Nothing else from CL. I told the local guy if no one offers me more, it's his.

He bought an airless sprayer from me about a year ago. When I answered the door I saw this big work truck out front. I asked him if I could see it. I have never seen anything so organized! The planer should have a good home.

[michael langman]

No need to apologize Frederick. :)

I'm sure your new buyer will much appreciate the planer Julie. Makes for a good feeling all around.

[Wade Lippman]

When I found out about the scam online, I went through with the sale. When the check for the boat I was selling arrived I took it to my bank, and they surely would have cashed it as it looked quite authentic.
I had read online that it really ticked off the scammers when they sent out a check and nothing happened because they sent it by certified mail and paid that cost.:).


My son used to engage scammers for sport. I tried to explain that it could get him killed (as you say, they don't like it) but he knew more than me.:(

[michael langman]

There is a risk in everything in life I suppose Wade. I have always been bothered by people who take advantage of other people. Most people like the ones that would take money from innocent people many miles away are not the type to take serious actions against someone else.
But I do appreciate your advice as it seems a bit more logical then mine.

[Rick Potter]

Lately a lot of scammers seem to be getting lazy, texting that they want my 'item', or 'is the listing still available'? Not even bothering to adjust their text to the item for sale.