Dumb answers to dumb questions

[Zachary Hoyt]

I used to feel frustrated when I would have listed something for sale on Craigslist or Facebook and included the town where I lived, and instead of looking it up on their devices people would write to me to ask "where is Orwell" (where I used to live) or now "where is Piercefield?". I finally started to write back "Right where it used to be", on the theory that a dumb question deserves a dumb answer. This doesn't lead to any sales, but the folks who ask that question don't have enough initiative to show up anyway, in my earlier experience, so I think nothing is lost. This led me to wonder if other folks on here have stock responses that are useful in life's more pointless conversations.

[Doug Garson]

I guess it depends on whether you want to sell whatever you put up for sale or whether you want to be a wise @ss. You can chose to answer questions from potential buyers even if you think they are stupid or not. Which option is most likely to end in a sale?

[Warren Lake]

I like the politician who was pulled over by a cop at Queens Park. Said to the cop do you know I am? Cop said no but its on your drivers license.

People have asked me enough over the years and common to have them not know where. Just as well, its growing around here and nothing good comes from that. It was as simple as green acres here and lots to be said for that.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Phone calls only, No emails, No texts is my policy for craigslist. I have only been stood up once. I have had a few remarkably enjoyable experiences selling on Craigslist as well as a few Duds. I have found that a little politeness goes a long way with most people. With a few people a huge amount of politeness did no good at all.

[Brian Runau]

I firmly believe in karma, so I try to respond to people from my higher self regardless of what others do or don't do. Not perfect, but that is my personal goal. Brian

[Alex Zeller]

Doesn't every Craig's list and facebook marketplace ad have a map? I guess every person is a potential buyer but I agree with you. I have asked questions repeatedly. Like what's your actual address, when an ad only has the general location and people just assume that I know where they are located. So I expect a bit of dumbness. But if you can't be bothered to click on the map image on the page to zoom out to figure out where the person is I'd be concerned that they may not show up when they say they will. Rarely do I sell anything that I really need to sell so I would rather risk not selling something that waiting my time.

[Zachary Hoyt]

I am happy to answer more specific questions, but in my experience if the buyer doesn't bother to look up the town and find out where it is they won't actually come to look at what I'm trying to sell.

[Lee Schierer]

There are those folks that are not computer literate enough to know that they can use Google and other sources to find things they want. I would suggest being polite instead of sarcastic when replying.

[Patty Hann]

Phone calls only, No emails, No texts is my policy for craigslist. I have only been stood up once. I have had a few remarkably enjoyable experiences selling on Craigslist as well as a few Duds. I have found that a little politeness goes a long way with most people. With a few people a huge amount of politeness did no good at all.

This is pretty much my CL approach.
First reply (by me) is via CL where I ask for a phone number and also explicitly state "No texts".
Then I wait... 2/3 of the time no phone number is forthcoming so i know the buyer is either a scammer or not serious.

[Warren Lake]

Karma falls flat on its face when you look at reality. There are tons of people who have had random crap fall on them and never deserved it. You want and example total disgrace human Paul Bernardo murdered I think three woman and raped many more in toronto. He should have been killed 10 times over and slowly for what hes done. Instead hes in protective custody. Not one of those woman deserved him. Let Karma explain that as it cant.

Im sure there are people that do good things in life and have great things happen to them. im proof of that but to say its run by Karma or think its an accurate saying its about as accurate as that crap they told us about the golden years.

[Jim Koepke]

When I sold my truck on CL, there were four emails within the hour. Sold it to the guy who got back to me first.


First reply (by me) is via CL where I ask for a phone number and also explicitly state "No texts".
Then I wait... 2/3 of the time no phone number is forthcoming so i know the buyer is either a scammer or not serious.

They may have had others who got in first and the item sold before it getting back to you.

It bugs me when people say, "you didn't answer my text." My landline doesn't do text.

jtk

[Patrick McCarthy]

its about as accurate as that crap they told us about the golden years.

Warren, Near as i can tell, the Golden Years have an awful lot of RUST in them . . . . so much for non-ferrous metals not rusting . . . just sayin'

[Doug Garson]

My preference is to use Craigslist email until it comes time to arrange a meet. That way you don't give out your phone number or real email address to a bunch of strangers. What bugs me is people who list an item and don't monitor their listing and respond in a timely manner or remove a listing when the item is gone.

[Patrick McCarthy]

Zach, not sure there is a clear answer to your quandary. I get the visceral impulse of responding in kind, but if you are truly having a proverbial "battle of wits with the unarmed", that initial satisfaction will dissipate pretty damn quickly. As several suggested above, we are all better served when we try to take the more generous and more understanding high road. You are not likely to be criticized, or hurt anyone feelings, by being kind, considerate, patient and understanding, i.e., your best self. Not always easy.

Some out there are truly stupid (and therefore, IMHO, truly deserving of our patience and understanding), but many of the dumb questions probably come from people that are socially awkward/uncomfortable and/or so hesitant they don't know how to communicate, nor where to begin. I used to attribute it - and many other things - to the failure of the American educational system, but i am not so sure that really explains it.

I think it is Mike H that has a tag line with the theme of: be nice, be good and do well.

Best, Patrick - one who struggles with silencing his own sarcastic thoughts from being voiced . . . .

[Ron Citerone]

Here in the Philly suburbs, sarcasm, wit, wise guy, what ever you want to call it is the norm. I have learned that people from other places don’t always get it or appreciate it. I don’t use it in other places or on the internet. I avoid it until I get read on a person and then tread carefully.

I think Patrick’s post says it best.

Also, sometimes very smart people miss stuff, or maybe the person isn’t very smart, either hardly deserves belittling imo.

[Patty Hann]

When I sold my truck on CL, there were four emails within the hour. Sold it to the guy who got back to me first.



They may have had others who got in first and the item sold before it getting back to you.

It bugs me when people say, "you didn't answer my text." My landline doesn't do text.

jtk

You misunderstand.... I am the seller, (not the buyer)
I get an email (via CL) from someone who [apparently] is interested in something I'm selling.
They typically ask if the item is still available.
I reply (via CL) 1) that it is, and 2) please send my your phone number, 3) no texts.
More than half the time I never get that phone call follow-up phone call.

[Zachary Hoyt]

It's interesting how things come across to different people. To me my answer doesn't sound sarcastic or unfriendly or belittling, just irrelevant and silly. I have tried to answer the question helpfully, but it's hard to know how to do that. I have tried saying what other towns the town I live in is near, but that may not be enlightening to someone from further away who wouldn't know those towns either. I could give latitude and longitude, but that would presumably be unhelpful too, to most people, though it would be very factual. When I would give the distance and compass bearing from the nearest city I would get the answer "That's too far away for me to come" or words to that effect.

[Patrick McCarthy]

Zach, i just Googled Piercefield and then read the Wikipedia entry. I then went to the town postings, and then was surprised with the number of restaurants in a town of less than 300 people . . . until i noted they were over in Tupper Lake. Conclusion: you really are in a remote location.

[Lee DeRaud]

There are those folks that are not computer literate enough to know that they can use Google and other sources to find things they want. I would suggest being polite instead of sarcastic when replying.

I vaguely agree with you in theory, but somehow the concept of someone being computer-literate enough to handle Craigslist but not computer-literate enough to handle Google Maps just Does Not Compute.

[Doug Garson]

Let's look at the pros and cons of giving a useful answer:
Pro - the potential buyer may come and buy your item.
Con - you don't get to show your incredible wit
Now, look at the pros and cons of giving a useless answer:
Pro - you get to show off your incredible wit
Con - you probably eliminate any chance of a sale.

MMMM, wonder what the smart choice is?

As for as someone not being computer literate enough to use Google to find your town, maybe they're on their phone with poor cell reception. It took them forever to download your ad and they are interested. Tried to Google your town and took so long they gave up in frustration and asked. They then get a wiseguy response. No longer interested and heading for Bestbuy cause they just threw their phone in the ditch.

[Cameron Wood]

When a response to my Craigslist ad shows a major lack of competence or reading comprehension, I tend to think that the interaction would not be worth the trouble, and don't reply.

It is surprising however, how many "spam" responses turn out to be from real people- when replying to a for sale ad myself, I try to demonstrate that I am a real person- where I'm coming from, when I could look, etc., and never ask "is this still available?".

[Alex Zeller]

Let's look at the pros and cons of giving a useful answer:
Pro - the potential buyer may come and buy your item.
Con - you don't get to show your incredible wit
Now, look at the pros and cons of giving a useless answer:
Pro - you get to show off your incredible wit
Con - you probably eliminate any chance of a sale.

MMMM, wonder what the smart choice is?

As for as someone not being computer literate enough to use Google to find your town, maybe they're on their phone with poor cell reception. It took them forever to download your ad and they are interested. Tried to Google your town and took so long they gave up in frustration and asked. They then get a wiseguy response. No longer interested and heading for Bestbuy cause they just threw their phone in the ditch.

It's not being able to use google. It's just a matter of clicking on the map that's in the page that shows the item. If you can navigate Craig's list or Marketplace to find what you are interested in and then click on the image to get to the page that has the information you need to contact the seller then surely you can click on the image of the map to the right of the pictures of what's for sale. Craig's list even shows buttons to zoom in and out. To me it says "I'm a spam computer and I'm not going to buy this. I just want your contact information". It's like the people who read an ad, see the price listed, and then tell you why it's only worth 1/4 of what you are asking. Some people will never buy. For the one person who just hasn't figured out how to use the map there's 1000s who are not serious or real who are replying to ads.

[Doug Garson]

It's not being able to use google. It's just a matter of clicking on the map that's in the page that shows the item. If you can navigate Craig's list or Marketplace to find what you are interested in and then click on the image to get to the page that has the information you need to contact the seller then surely you can click on the image of the map to the right of the pictures of what's for sale. Craig's list even shows buttons to zoom in and out. To me it says "I'm a spam computer and I'm not going to buy this. I just want your contact information". It's like the people who read an ad, see the price listed, and then tell you why it's only worth 1/4 of what you are asking. Some people will never buy. For the one person who just hasn't figured out how to use the map there's 1000s who are not serious or real who are replying to ads.

My suggestion that maybe they had a weak cell connection would still apply. I consider myself reasonably computer literate, but I just figured out recently that the zoom in/out buttons on the Google map included in Craigslist listings are active. For years I thought it was just a stagnant snapshot and so I would be included in the list of people who would not know where a place was from the map in the listing if I didn't recognize a landmark in the map. Clicking on the map (not on the zoom buttons), doesn't do anything for me.

[Doug Garson]

When a response to my Craigslist ad shows a major lack of competence or reading comprehension, I tend to think that the interaction would not be worth the trouble, and don't reply.

It is surprising however, how many "spam" responses turn out to be from real people- when replying to a for sale ad myself, I try to demonstrate that I am a real person- where I'm coming from, when I could look, etc., and never ask "is this still available?".
You don't have to look too hard on this forum to see posts that are incoherent and possibly spam but aren't. I've been tempted many times to quote someone's post and ask "can anyone translate this word salad into a meaningful sentence?" So far I have resisted knowing it could be seen as an insult.

[Warren Lake]

im guilty of that. I usually dont proof read either so far from ideal. The old guy had poor english at times but good most of the time. I saw past that, he could eat anyone experience wise.

One thing people often dont do is put enough info to be able to answer properly.

[dennis thompson]

Zachary, I can’t agree with your response, particularly when you have an item for sale. How long would it take to say it’s next to abc or a mile from xyz? Why risk a possible lost sale?

[Warren Lake]

Agree with Dennis I once didnt hire an arborist cause of a joke he told me. After I said your not the guy. Hired someone else and he was excellent.

Ive had struggles with one auction company and its just plain incompetence of the seller and the company.

[Cameron Wood]

Yes, one must resist the inner spelling Nazi and other anti-social voices.

I'm currently selling some plywood that I salvaged. A buyer responded and said " great, do you have a saw I can use to cut it up?".

I did respond to that- "no, sorry".

I have multiple times tied loads down for buyers- folks are often not good at that and you want them and others on the road to be safe.

[Doug Garson]

I have multiple times tied loads down for buyers- folks are often not good at that and you want them and others on the road to be safe.
Every lawyer that read that post just broke out in cold sweats. I will help someone tie down a load but make it clear to them, it's your vehicle, you are responsible not me if something goes wrong.

[Larry Edgerton]

Rarely do I sell anything that I really need to sell so I would rather risk not selling something that waiting my time.

Ditto. I think some people just use it for entertainment. I HATE selling stuff. And apparently the word firm has lost its meaning. If I have a "firm" price and they make me a stupid offer I counter with my price added to their reduction. I am always very honest in my ads, and when they come and try to find things to nit-pick I just tell them that this is not what you want. I know the dumb lowball offer is coming. I give a lot of good stuff away so I don't have to sell it.

[Larry Edgerton]

I reply (via CL) 1) that it is, and 2) please send my your phone number, 3) no texts.
More than half the time I never get that phone call follow-up phone call.

I agree. One, I can tell a lot about people with a simple conversation. Two, if I request they call and they do not, I can safely blow them off because they can or will not follow directions.

[Patty Hann]

I agree. One, I can tell a lot about people with a simple conversation. Two, if I request they call and they do not, I can safely blow them off because they can or will not follow directions.

If there is no phone call I conclude that the "person" is a bot of some sort, especially if their initial inquiry is stated "Is the item still available?" not "Is the plutonium still available?"
That is, the inquiry is very generic with the word "item".

[Stan Calow]

One of the side effects of being dumb is being immune to sarcasm and irony. It's one pf mother nature's protective mechanisms.

[Doug Garson]

One of the side effects of being dumb is being immune to sarcasm and irony. It's one pf mother nature's protective mechanisms.
Of course another side effect is thinking you know more than you actually know, (AKA the Dunning Kruger effect), one of mother natures self destructive mechanisms. :rolleyes:

[Steve Demuth]

I find very interesting the number of different ways people, acting both as buyers and sellers, in this conversation have found to be crankily prescriptive in how they expect transactions with complete strangers to work. As I see it, different folks out there have differing situations, different communications abilities, and wildly different personalities (extroverts looking for some socialization along with a sale, are going to be very different than introverts who really wish they didn't have to go through meeting a stranger in order to sell their lawn mower). We're trying to come together with them, often over an (often) relatively high dollar transaction, that we can only have minimally researched. There are going to be rough edges, folks. Personally, I think this is a place where putting a little effort into grace and accomodation is worth the trouble.

Personally, once I've weeded out the scammers (generally not hard), I have had only good experiences, both selling and buying over both Craigslist and Facebook marketplace - everything from sheep to used lawnmowers, to raw lumber. I am myself a very profound introvert, so it takes some effort, but I've met some fun people, and had a good time with it.

Of course, I know we all have our quirks in this, and my one personal peccadillo is that I really dislike potential buyers who are only interested in something if its a complete steal, because they're looking for a tool to cosmetically tune-up and flip. I'll cut the price on a tool in half for a young person trying to start on a budget, if that makes a sale that helps someone, but I have no interest in doing so for some well-off person just so they can rack up another bargain.

[Patty Hann]

I find very interesting the number of different ways people, acting both as buyers and sellers, in this conversation have found to be crankily prescriptive in how they expect transactions with complete strangers to work. As I see it, different folks out there have differing situations, different communications abilities, and wildly different personalities (extroverts looking for some socialization along with a sale, are going to be very different than introverts who really wish they didn't have to go through meeting a stranger in order to sell their lawn mower). We're trying to come together with them, often over an (often) relatively high dollar transaction, that we can only have minimally researched. There are going to be rough edges, folks. Personally, I think this is a place where putting a little effort into grace and accomodation is worth the trouble.

Personally, once I've weeded out the scammers (generally not hard), I have had only good experiences, both selling and buying over both Craigslist and Facebook marketplace - everything from sheep to used lawnmowers, to raw lumber. I am myself a very profound introvert, so it takes some effort, but I've met some fun people, and had a good time with it.

Of course, I know we all have our quirks in this, and my one personal peccadillo is that I really dislike potential buyers who are only interested in something if its a complete steal, because they're looking for a tool to cosmetically tune-up and flip. I'll cut the price on a tool in half for a young person trying to start on a budget, if that makes a sale that helps someone, but I have no interest in doing so for some well-off person just so they can rack up another bargain.

HAHA... Introverts of the world, UNITE!

[Doug Garson]

I'm a little surprised at how many people are concerned with scammers when buying and selling on Craigslist. I acknowledge they are out there and I've seen a few ads that got my spidey senses up but in my experience they are few and far between and easily ignored or flagged. Most people buying on Craigslist are looking for a deal, no one selling on Craigslist is expecting to get anywhere near full retail price even for new items or a unique item not found easily in stores. In my experience if you treat most people well they will return the favor.

[Patty Hann]

I'm a little surprised at how many people are concerned with scammers when buying and selling on Craigslist. I acknowledge they are out there and I've seen a few ads that got my spidey senses up but in my experience they are few and far between and easily ignored or flagged. Most people buying on Craigslist are looking for a deal, no one selling on Craigslist is expecting to get anywhere near full retail price even for new items or a unique item not found easily in stores. In my experience if you treat most people well they will return the favor.

I was selling rigid copper tubes (not "tubing") Made by K&S, I think it was 3/16 x 36", maybe a half dozen pieces.

Backstory (so to speak): Hobby-ists (Model RR, Rocketry, Robotics, Steampunkers) use K&S Engineering materials (or similar suppliers like Albion in the UK) a lot.
We can't find what we need in the Big Box places, sometime Ace HArdware has a limited K&S display.
Amazon carries it but at exorbitant pricing.

This CL buyer contacts me and keeps harassing me about my pricing saying he can buy 20 feet of copper tubing at HD for half the price I'm asking for all 6 pieces.
I point out that the tubing he is describing is the flexible kind used as a water line to a refrigerator... what I'm selling is totally different.
He doesn't let up. I sent him the specs of the two copper items (mine and the flexible tubing).
He still didn't let up. I finally told him he was didn't have a clue and didn't respond to his [CL] emails any longer.
Definitely CL jerks out there.

[Rick Potter]

About the maps..lets not forget there are people out there that cannot even find their own state on a map. Many have never even used a map, just an app.

Put me in the CL lover list. I have gotten many great buys there, and sold things too. A few problems, but usually pretty straight forward in my experience. Only really bad experience was trying to sell my BIL's pickup. The $25K is too much cash for most people to have, and it didn't sell. Lot's of wanna buys, but no sale.

[Patty Hann]

About the maps..lets not forget there are people out there that cannot even find their own state on a map. Many have never even used a map, just an app.

Put me in the CL lover list. I have gotten many great buys there, and sold things too. A few problems, but usually pretty straight forward in my experience. Only really bad experience was trying to sell my BIL's pickup. The $25K is too much cash for most people to have, and it didn't sell. Lot's of wanna buys, but no sale.
Did you get any ridiculous "Low ball" offers?

[Lee DeRaud]

I was selling rigid copper tubes (not "tubing") Made by K&S, I think it was 3/16 x 36", maybe a half dozen pieces.

Backstory (so to speak): Hobby-ists (Model RR, Rocketry, Robotics, Steampunkers) use K&S Engineering materials (or similar suppliers like Albion in the UK) a lot.
We can't find what we need in the Big Box places, sometime Ace HArdware has a limited K&S display.
Amazon carries it but at exorbitant pricing.

This CL buyer contacts me and keeps harassing me about my pricing saying he can buy 20 feet of copper tubing at HD for half the price I'm asking for all 6 pieces.
I point out that the tubing he is describing is the flexible kind used as a water line to a refrigerator... what I'm selling is totally different.
He doesn't let up. I sent him the specs of the two copper items (mine and the flexible tubing).
I think I see part of the problem:

All the K&S tubing I've ever seen is brass, not copper. (I went through a ton of it decades ago, when slot-car racing was still a thing.) Not at all easy to find these days, unless. as you say, you're willing to pay Amazon or (even higher) McMaster-Carr prices.

Not really sure there's even such a thing as non-flexible copper tubing...

[Patty Hann]

I think I see part of the problem:

All the K&S tubing I've ever seen is brass, not copper. (I went through a ton of it decades ago, when slot-car racing was still a thing.) Not at all easy to find these days, unless. as you say, you're willing to pay Amazon or (even higher) McMaster-Carr prices.

Not really sure there's even such a thing as non-flexible copper tubing...\

Not difficult at all to find.... budget busting, yes, but I use a half dozen vendors, mostly Hobby stores both Brick n Mortar and online .

Mfr: (my bad... K&S Metals not K&S Engineering) K&S METALS copper products (https://ksmetals.com/collections/all-products-1?filter.p.m.custom.material_type=Copper&filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&sort_by=best-selling)

Hobby Lobby used to sell a lot of it, and when they had their 20% off coupon I would buy what I could.

[Doug Garson]

I was selling rigid copper tubes (not "tubing") Made by K&S, I think it was 3/16 x 36", maybe a half dozen pieces.

Backstory (so to speak): Hobby-ists (Model RR, Rocketry, Robotics, Steampunkers) use K&S Engineering materials (or similar suppliers like Albion in the UK) a lot.
We can't find what we need in the Big Box places, sometime Ace HArdware has a limited K&S display.
Amazon carries it but at exorbitant pricing.

This CL buyer contacts me and keeps harassing me about my pricing saying he can buy 20 feet of copper tubing at HD for half the price I'm asking for all 6 pieces.
I point out that the tubing he is describing is the flexible kind used as a water line to a refrigerator... what I'm selling is totally different.
He doesn't let up. I sent him the specs of the two copper items (mine and the flexible tubing).
He still didn't let up. I finally told him he was didn't have a clue and didn't respond to his [CL] emails any longer.
Definitely CL jerks out there.

My response to him would have been, "if the HD stuff works for you and is cheaper, go ahead and buy it there. Goodbye and have a nice day." I wouldn't waste my time trying to justify my price to him.

[Lee DeRaud]

\

Not difficult at all to find.... budget busting, yes, but I use a half dozen vendors, mostly Hobby stores both Brick n Mortar and online .

Mfr: (my bad... K&S Metals not K&S Engineering) K&S METALS copper products (https://ksmetals.com/collections/all-products-1?filter.p.m.custom.material_type=Copper&filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&sort_by=best-selling)

Hobby Lobby used to sell a lot of it, and when they had their 20% off coupon I would buy what I could.

Learn something new every day. :)

Oddly, they also sell "Bendable Copper Tube" in the same sizes, same alloy, and same wall thickness. Different heat treating maybe?

(I've never set foot inside a Hobby Lobby, for reasons I can't/won't discuss here. Other hobby stores are rare here.)

[Lee DeRaud]

Not difficult at all to find.... budget busting, yes, but I use a half dozen vendors, mostly Hobby stores

Hmm...it just occurred to me that the last time I saw a K&S display, it was picked clean. But that was during the supply-chain issues 2-3 years ago.
As a Serial Hobbyist, I've since moved on from the activity that prompted that particular scavenger hunt. (Kinetic sculpture, if anybody cares.)

[Ron Selzer]

back in the 90's when working for Honeywell, the fitters would order in 5/32?, 1/4, 3/8/ 1/2 od copper tubing in 10" sticks. came in a bundle of 250'?. would bend it with special benders. real nice to see a job installed by one of the old guys who could run the tube in, straight, square, level and plumb all the tubes sweeping around the curves. Then they started running EMT and pulling poly inside it. Anheuser Bush Brewery insisted on soft copper coils that were unwound and stretched with a come along x feet which made the soft copper ridged. Think there still is a partial tube hidden away in the garage of 1/4" copper
Ron

[Patty Hann]

Learn something new every day. :)

Oddly, they also sell "Bendable Copper Tube" in the same sizes, same alloy, and same wall thickness. Different heat treating maybe?

(I've never set foot inside a Hobby Lobby, for reasons I can't/won't discuss here. Other hobby stores are rare here.)

If I avoided all the places with whose politics I disagree, I'd starve, not have any clothes, nor any utilities, not ever buy a car, and certainly wouldn't be able to engage in 90% of my interests.

Be that as it may, one of my Hobby shops I use is in Burbank (which is not really close to you)...Burbank House of Hobbies.
Actually I have never bought metal from them, even tho they carry K&S products.
What they have (which most hardware places do not have, not even most hobby stores in the sizes I needed) is machine screws, nuts and washers in #3 and smaller sizes.

I have hardware (and taps) in size 3,2,1,0, and 00, both coarse and fine thread.
You cannot get those sizes especially 0 and 00 at McMaster or McFeely or Fastenal, only some places online that sell "micro hardware".

Re: Bendable copper.... it has been annealed. So I'm guessing the rigid tubes have not been annealed. (Duh.... my powers of deduction are amazing :rolleyes:)

[Cameron Wood]

I think I see part of the problem:

All the K&S tubing I've ever seen is brass, not copper. (I went through a ton of it decades ago, when slot-car racing was still a thing.) Not at all easy to find these days, unless. as you say, you're willing to pay Amazon or (even higher) McMaster-Carr prices.

Not really sure there's even such a thing as non-flexible copper tubing...


I was big into slot cars back then too. Still have brass tubing, rod, etc.. Built frames, rewound motors- it was a hoot. Come to think of it, I still have the box that I took to the track, decals and all- it has electrical fittings in it now.

[Patty Hann]

My response to him would have been, "if the HD stuff works for you and is cheaper, go ahead and buy it there. Goodbye and have a nice day." I wouldn't waste my time trying to justify my price to him.
Actually I think I did say exactly that.... except that instead of "goodbye etc" I closed with, "... go ahead and buy it there and God bless you." :-D

[Ronald Blue]

If there is no phone call I conclude that the "person" is a bot of some sort, especially if their initial inquiry is stated "Is the item still available?" not "Is the plutonium still available?"
That is, the inquiry is very generic with the word "item".

I see your point. I actually had a similar experience last winter. Put an item on FB marketplace and had a response from someone claiming interest. However they requested my phone number. So my response was what area code will you be calling from? Because they were claiming to be from a town 15 miles away but across the state line so different area code. I don't recall why now but something made me suspicious they weren't on the up and up. My request went unanswered and I sold it that afternoon anyway. I've heard of scams that start with phone numbers and I thought verifying where they were going to call from was reasonable.