Selling on Craigslist...

jgogums wrote in post #12879419
Because it works.

OHH right! for the scammers! gotcha!!

I think Craigslist is a great site, despite the scammers.

Yes it does. I have made hundreds of sales and purchases, being hacked was the worst thing that happened ever, and that was just a cyber space problem, no skin or cash involved.

Just sold a car today on Craigslist. It indeed works, but be prepared for the long list of losers that will contact you. We were selling a junker car for $500 and you can't believe the people that wanted to work out a "payment plan" for a $500 car. It was sad, but we sold the car, for cash. It works.

Damn those low ballers. I put a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 up for a really good deal, and still got $100 offers for it.

I do all my transactions face to face, and I do them at my work, since we have camera's that record everything.

rxjohn wrote in post #12876682
Ok, the scams are easy to spot.

Then there are lowballers.. you can tune them out too.

Then there are lowballer extremes.. who will agree to a price then when you meet, they tell you they have less money than agreed upon price. Unfortunately, by then you've wasted your time and gas meeting them...

There are also PP scams where the buyer claims to have not received the item, says he received a box with a rock in it, says it was broken and he returned it, etc. Files for refund from PayPal.

Sadly I do only business local buy or sell cash only that is the way it is for me this world is a sick place.

stax wrote in post #12875864
Right. The first step is used only to lure in the gullible and/or greedy. Once they get a live one, game on.

Check out this site as it really shows to what lengths the scammers will go and how nonsensical their stories can be.

PS. I don't condone some of the language/phrases etc used but it does highlight what the scammers will do.

I've sold quite a few items on Craigslist. Get responses from a whole bunch of strange characters, but in the end I was able to net more money for my gear than I would've online.

I wouldn't deal with anyone from Africa though All sales local. I do offer Paypal as an option, but so far everything was paid in cash. Now reading all the PP horror stories, perhaps I shouldn't use it.

I wont buy on craigslist, but I will sell.
I have sold thousands of dollars of equipment without face-to-face transactions. My rules that I clearly state in my first reply to all potential buyers: You pay me first by regular paypal, once it clears I will ship the item to a residential address. I will never give out my paypal address, I always send out a "request for payment" to the buyer's address (in other words, I ask for their email, and not give out mine). I only ship to the same address listed on the paypal account. On occasion I will want to talk to them on the phone. There is a big difference with a phone conversation than just typing words on an email.

Good luck!

I use their responses (usually 2-4 emails total from a serious potential buyer) to gauge their seriousness, normalcy, trustworthiness, and to be sure it's not a scam.

I use Craigslist every time I sell something. I don't ship and I demand that we meet in the security lobby where I live. When people balk at me for that I just move on. Last night I sold a 7D to a guy that drove up from San Jose and this morning I had another one drive the 50 or so miles up from South Bay for an EF-S 60mm. They all ask to meet somewhere in between but I say no and it typically ends up not being an issue. I also sold my G10 this morning to a guy who I believe worked at night so he came by on his way to bed

I specify in the ad that I don't respond to Nigerian princes, Singapore bankers or anybody else that won't show in person with cash. That seems to have worked for me in this batch of selling.

I found my 5D and grip on Craig's List. I drove an hour to meet the woman who was selling it, and her husband and daughter, at a restaurant in Orange County. I got there and they'd already had a beer poured for me. We sat, talked for a while, I ran the camera through its paces, and handed her a bunch of $100 bills. Best two hour commute I've ever made.

My problem with Craig's List is people who simply want a ridiculous amount of money for what they're selling. I remember seeing a listing for an AE-1, a roll of film, a crap lens, and a beat up bag. The "asking price" was $500.00. What's even funnier is that the listing noted that low-ball offers would be ignored.

What the Hell else did the guy expect?

rxjohn wrote in post #12876682
Then there are lowballer extremes.. who will agree to a price then when you meet, they tell you they have less money than agreed upon price. Unfortunately, by then you've wasted your time and gas meeting them...

I've done this before...but a reasonable amount. Like, I got a bike frame off a classifieds earlier this summer (not craigslist, but same principle.) He was asking $450, I showed up with $425. He wasn't unhappy.

theextremist04 wrote in post #12976287
I've done this before...but a reasonable amount. Like, I got a bike frame off a classifieds earlier this summer (not craigslist, but same principle.) He was asking $450, I showed up with $425. He wasn't unhappy.

I would be. If a price had been agreed to beforehand.

If no price is set, then negotiating is fair game.

I'd be furious if after agreeing to a price over the phone/online the buyer decided to bring less then the said amount when meeting in person. I'd have him/her go to the bank.