| Author | Message | ||
     Ourdee |
Craig's List: How do people drive me nuts? I don't care if they low ball me. It lets me know someone wants it. I just let them know how much they can have it for. I usually know before I place the ad. I have a rule I go by and only hint of it in the ad. "Phone numbers get a faster response", I believe a person that really wants my item will aid me in getting a hold of them. So, I call phone numbers before anyone else. If I am waiting for you to come look tonight or tomorrow evening, and the item is as described, and I have other people in line waiting for you to say you don't want it, I will not lower the price. I simply say,"I can't go lower I have x number of people waiting in line. I never lie about this. I also have contacted those in line to let them know I have a looker and will contact them to let them know either way it goes. It is funny when I get asked how much was it new. I already know how much I can buy a new one for and promptly tell them. If they want a new one, I let them know who is selling them. I also tell them if mine is a high end product. | ||
| Etennuly |
I did a fair amount of business there for a few years. Spammers and scammers wrecked it for me. Always some asshats pissing in the soup. | ||
| Court |
There are the GOOD stories too . . . . . I am leaving in the wee hours to go inspect a car I've been wanting for a long time and that I've been following on Hemming's for a couple months. I spoke to the owner today and was really impressed. He's owned the car for 22 years and he is truly "one of us". The guys story was told with passion . . how he and his wife acquired the car . . the things he did to it over the years . . how and why. In addition he gave me the list of things he WOULD do in the future . . the order he'd do them in . . how and why. And he has a perfectly good reason . . . after 22 years to sell . . he simply has 6 collector cars and the 2 he is keeping have sentimental stories . . his brother bought one of them new. He and his wife are moving, following retirement, from their large place in Newport, Rhode Island to be near his daughter in CT. Then he spoke for 10 minutes about how he priced it and the "envelope" in which he is negotiable. I'll offer precisely what he's asking . . it's fair. I can't put my finger on it . . . but it feels a lot better dealing with a truly passionate owner as opposed to the dealer I spent a couple hours with the other day. Dealer was nice, famous, very knowledgable . . and incredible to talk to. But I felt like I was being "steered". After a couple hours there . . . we were haggling over a car that was nothing . . . in terms of condition, colors, features and so forth that I wanted. I was "justifying" changing my criteria. As I thought about it . . . I thought when you are making a truly stupid, passionate, unnecessary purchase . . . don't make a stupid, stupid decision. It's in your gut. | ||
| Ourdee |
I worked with a man that was an Army recruiter during the nam. years and always made his quota. He took me on sales calls. Told me once on the way that he was going to sell them X fence. Then talk them out of it and sell them Z fence. Did just what he said with me watching. He operated like a Mentalist. Showed me some neat tricks. He was like watching the devil's kid. I haven't like car salesmen since. | ||
| Ourdee |
Craig's List score a few minutes ago. In the free section.   At the curb for 6 hours. Still there when I got there. Guy's friend made it for a Honda 650. Then gave it to him. Thing is nice and over built. Angles look right. WooHoo! | ||
| Etennuly |
I have had way more good stories than bad utilizing CL for buying and selling mostly automotive stuff. As a professional automotive painter i can tell you that if I paint say a hood panel through hours of preparation, color matching, painting, buffing, and cleaning it all means nothing if one little nib of dust gets missed in the process, all of the good that was done gets overlooked. I just despise that people volunteer to be that little dust.nub in so many facets of things that are meant to be good. | ||
| Glitch |
Be like Vern Don't be a dust nub | ||
| Sifo |
There was a car I wanted on Craigslist. Exactly what I was looking for. His only contact provided was email, so I would send an email asking to set up a time to see the car. Never got a response. It kept getting relisted. I kept responding. This went on for weeks before I gave up.  I've had some good luck, buying and selling on Craigslist. As always, buyer beware. | ||
| Ourdee |
+1 Glitch. I moved recently from another State. People are sometimes hesitant to call my out of state number. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
People are just generally weird. Most recently, like 4 years ago before I had kiddies, I had to buy a full size four door truck. Guy lists 2004 Dodge ram, fair price, I met up with him at a dunkin donuts. Truck wasn't perfect but was perfect for what I needed. Needed some stuff but was straight and manageable. I was going to place an offer the next day but he wouldn't tell me where he lived so I could get it. Gave me the run-around for a week. Later he calls me and said someone offered him a thousand off of his asking price. I was disgusted by his idiocy at this point and said "That sounds like a nice offer. You should accept it." A week later, he calls me again and said the other buyer was a no-show. I told him I wasn't interested in his truck anymore. I just don't get why he didn't want me to know his secret home address. I would have seen it on the title. One other thing that turns up my fury: If you have a thing for sale on the side of the road, PUT THE PRICE ON IT! I don't want to call you to ask what the price is. Are they just lonely? "I'm bored and lonely. I wish I had someone to talk to....I know! I'll sell my lawnmower again!" | ||
| Ourdee |
If you are bored and lonely, let your bike breakdown in the after noon at a stop light North of Belvidere, Illinois. More women stop to check on you than you can shake a stick at. That was crazy. | ||
| Teeps |
For some people it's the hunt. Back in the day ('70s) a friend would stock a classified for sale ad for weeks. Usually not even calling the selling party until the ad was no longer in the paper. The purchase, if it went through, could take a couple of months. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Some people are pushed to sell "X" by their significant other who knows jack about it, so they post the ad to keep the s/o happy while having no real intention of selling. I went to look at a Dodge D250 pickup with a Cummins in it a couple of years back, the guy had listed it with his sisters phone number and a cousins address, I eventually got an appointment to go and see it at his place. Nice house backing onto Lake Champlain about half a mile from the US border. Guy isn't short of a bob, owns a school bus company, brand new Yam SuperTen in the garage, and new Toyota Tundra in the drive. Went for a test drive, truck is in fair nick but needs a little work. Get back to his and I crawl underneath, every seal on the trans is pissing, but the price is still fair, I try and get a little off, but he's not budging. So I agree to pay his asking price in the ad and hold out my hand to shake, he looks at my hand then looks me in the face and says he wants a grand more. I just said goodbye and left. | ||
| Ourdee |
I try to buy stuff at a low enough price that I won't loose money. There are a few things I have that my asking price is pretty high on. Those are things I want to keep. But there is a price. Lil Red is for sale, but I won't take less than $10,000. I would have to replace it. My mower and trailer are listed. I don't want to get rid of them but there is that price at which I would. I look at furniture because I have access to a consignment store. Then I am looking at something I can fix or refinish. | ||
| Damnut |
Some Craigslist sales are really good. Check out my latest find on the ole List. I stole this thing for about the price of a nice TV.   | ||
| Glitch |
People are just generally weird. Amen Brother! That's the take away from this thread for me, that, and don't be a dust nub. BadWeB FTW | ||
| Ourdee |
Jim, Trade you a riding mower for it. LOL | ||
| Damnut |
LOL. I was planning on just flipping it but I just may end up keeping it since it is so nice. Anyone want to buy a 97 S1? | ||
| Mnscrounger |
I've never had a big problem dealing motor vehicles on CL but my ads usually have a disclaimer like this: "I intend to lower the price a little each week until it sells. If you think the price is too high, wait before calling--it'll either be cheaper (or sold) the following week. I'll consider face-to-face cash offers after you've seen the ____. Until then, let's not waste each other's time. Thank you for reading." After reading that grumpy statement, only those serious about buying call or text. Those that show up are usually nice folk and have the full price in their pocket. Saves time dealing with lowballers and looky loos. I've gotten lowalled face to face, politely declined, and wished them luck in their search. I don't like haggling. The art of the deal to me is finding someone who values the item for the same reasons I do. | ||
| Ourdee |
I like the ones that say make an offer. I look at how long it has been listed and if they say they need it gone or to get rid of it. I pick the price I would be comfortable with owning it for and that is my offer. Sometimes they take it and sometimes they say they need X amount more. I usually have just made my final offer. I remain very polite and say thank you. It should never be personal. I have just found some gravel for free. I need some gravel for where the rain washed some out. The free is on top of a concrete drive in a pile. Sweat equity. I may go shovel some tomorrow. Need to tarp the inside of my Jeep. Oops, I was too slow. It's gone. | ||
| Court |
These stories remind me of why experiences like I had today are so cherished. Guy had precisely what I was looking for. I drove 4+ hours to see it. He had everything ready including all documentation including every receipt for the total restoration and the entire album of photos since the day he and his wife brought it home on a trailer 22 years ago. He's a retired high tech fellow with Raytheon and it shows. The most meticulously detailed vehicle I've ever seen. Aircraft stainless, mahogany and everywhere something, through the years, had been reported as deficient . . . he redid properly and perfectly. His wife, a heck of a nice person and huge supporter of years of a "many vehicles habit" was as enthusiastic as he was and had a fabulous lunch prepared as we came back from a ride and they spent the next hour telling wonderful stories. It was a simple matter of paying him precisely what he was asking, it was more than fair. Pick up next week. I've purchased 2 new cars from dealers this year . . . I'd rate one as a nightmare and the other acceptable. Today was an absolute joy and a reminder of the sickness we all share. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Loving owners/sellers make all the difference. I bought my house about six (wow...ugh, time flies) years ago. Stumbled into it, walked through it, could literally feel the quality in the build. Turns out, it was built by the seller's late husband. He was a custom home builder by trade, carpenter by hobby, and built this place with his own two hands for himself and his family. He passed, the kids were gone with their own families, and the widow simply couldn't handle the place on her own. People ask "when was your house built?" I say "87". "oh, 1887?" Classic, traditional, solid as a freakin' bunker, and gorgeous inside and out. I told my realtor I wanted it. "What should we use as an offer?" she asked. "Full price. We both know it's worth every penny, and then some". Made the deal and the seller (Pam) asked me in tears if she could stay through the holidays because she was having a hard time leaving (settlement was early October). I didn't even hesitate - absolutely, please enjoy one more Christmas in your house. I was happy to do it, my karma was happy to do it...and when it was all said and done, she actually forced me to accept RENT for letting her stay. I could not believe it. Every day, I pull up my driveway and gaze. Some days (more often than not), I actually stop the vehicle and take it all in. Living here, I feel like I knew Herb; like I was part of his family. I'm as proud of what he built as I'm sure his own family is. Some things...you just don't negotiate. You find a good seller, with a good product, and a fair deal...and you shake hands and say "thank you". | ||
| Ourdee |
Look at this. https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/bar/d/reduced-bmw-gs-neval/6228753485.html Someone is getting the whole package. I'd keep the sidecar on it and put the aluminum boxes on Lil Red.    | ||
| Court |
>>>>Some things...you just don't negotiate. You find a good seller, with a good product, and a fair deal...and you shake hands and say "thank you". Bingo. You that smart? Time and tide, in concert, give me confidence in saying "yes" on your behalf. Back in the days when common sense was . . well, COMMON . . . people intuitively, knew this. Trade was not an economic tug of war. I've had several of those types of transactions occur lately and both my sons and I have our share of real estate stories. The quote I used today . . . and have on a number of occasions . . "The wand, Mr. Potter, finds the wizard". Anyway . . . thank goodness those types of people and transactions still occur. Rat . . we're preparing to gather . . . I'll call you and check dates. Have a couple interesting folks inbound . . . including The Marshall Tucker Band . . . in the next month. Weird, and interesting story. | ||
| Ourdee |
I must say. I don't haggle like I used to. Last house I sold was too easy and I had paid asking price when I bought it. This house, I looked at the pattern the seller had been doing with the price lowering. X amount every X many days. It was time for the next price drop and I offered what it would be on the day it looked like he was going to drop it. Next thing I knew we were moving in. I am very happy with it and he was very happy to be free of it. It had been a rental and he was going broke trying to bring it back up to snuff. I've been working on making it the way we want it. | ||
| Court |
>>>I've been working on making it the way we want it. I think the term we now use is "De-Cherubing". | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Nothing wrong with cherubs, as I keep telling everyone, be creative print off some old fighter planes and have them dogfighting. | ||
| Ourdee |
"De-Cherubing" That's Crusty. I'm De-bulk-heading, De-walling, De-closeting, De-cabneting, and flooring the attic. Will be De-carpeting. | ||
| Court |
Ahhhhhhhh . . . now I think I get De-idea ! :-) | ||
| 86129squids |
Hey all, I've had the remedy for John's predicament for some time, framed and one of my fave posters... bought it on a last lost GF's trip back home, no love for me. http://derekhess.com/portfolio-items/season-to-ris k-3/ | ||
| 86129squids |
Whoops, thread jump there. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Just keep me posted Court. Looking forward to it. Also, check your gmail. Sent ya something a couple days ago... |
