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[Stephen Kirby]

I've gotten into it with a few trolls on both CL (they used to be called CLL or Craig's List Losers) and FB.  I gave up on FB.  Trying to sell a car gets you and endless stream of lowball "would you take $xxx".  Some are so ridiculous as to really piss me off.  Worst thing is that it's mixed up with a public profile telling everything about you.  Those of us who play music tend to use FB to advertise gigs and promote things.  So, now you have these jackalopes hounding you with half price offers.  I asked a few why they would even bother with such ridiculous offers and you get "well, I should be able to try" or some other insipid entitled nonsense.
The other thing that's happened to me a few times when trying to sell a vehicle is spammers selling CarFax alternatives.  They start by asking a question about the vehicle and add in (a red flag that I've forgotten about the first few times) that they have trouble with the craigslist mail transfer system so please reply to xyz@gmail or some other free mail host.  Then you get spam about how you should get a vehicle report from whatever it is to help you sell it.

[Scott Olewiler]

OfferUp is another alternative but I have found that nobody wants to pay the listed price even if it is very reasonable. As if they're getting ripped off if you won't take their lower offer.

So the trick is to ask for more than you want and then negotiate down to your real price. Ridiculous  but effective.

I also have been getting numerous  "buyers" tell me they want to buy what I have on both offer up and Facebook marketplace after some back and forth questions and then they suddenly just stop communicating.

My biggest beef with all of these services is the inane questions asked that are already answered completely in the item listing.


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[Debbie Dunkley]

OfferUp is another alternative but I have found that nobody wants to pay the listed price even it it is very reasonable. As if they're getting ripped off if you won't take their lower offer.

So the trick is to ask for more than you want and then negotiate down to your real price. Ridiculous  but effective.

I also have been getting numerous  "buyers" tell me they want to buy what I have on both offer up and Facebook marketplace after some back and forth questions and then they suddenly just stop communicating.

My biggest beef with all of these services is the inane questions asked that are already answered completely in the item listing.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes Scott - you hit on another couple of pet peeves of mine.
I cannot count the times I have had someone blow up my email or phone for info back and forth over days - sometimes weeks and then suddenly it's like they never existed. You cannot get them to call or text back.
I had one guy do this to me in texts on 2 separate occasions and I didn't catch it but on the third attempt, I noticed the thread on my phone that linked his number and I totally ignored him.

Also you mentioned the folks who ask questions that have all been clearly  addressed in the ad - even the price!

[Richard Turner]

only way its feasable around here is to have a second line or burner phone. put voice calls only and phone number in the ad and that seems to eliminate all the keyboard warriors. they seem scared to lowball outside of txt and email

[Tim McCulloch]

only way its feasable around here is to have a second line or burner phone. put voice calls only and phone number in the ad and that seems to eliminate all the keyboard warriors. they seem scared to lowball outside of txt and email

Google Voice or other free VOIP service is good for the times you don't want to expose your Telco number.

[Craig Leerman]

Got a call today about a piece of gear listed on Craigslist

Caller:, “Is the item still available?”

Me, “Yes”

Caller, “ I don’t have the money for it now, can you hold it for me for a few weeks?”

Me, “No, I can’t hold it for you”

Caller, “Why are you being a jerk?”

Me, “Why are you trying to buy things with no money?”

Caller starts yelling something and I hang up.

I have gotten dozens of calls from people who tell me straight up they don’t have the money to buy stuff I list on Craigslist but want me to hold the item for them until they can raise the cash.

I also get a dozen or so lowball offers on every item.

I just listed a few old 10 and 12 space racks and a guy emails and asked if they could be converted to drum cases. I respond and tell him the rack rails are just bolted in and he could glue carpet or foam to the insides and make nice drum cases out of them. He answered he didn’t have time for a project like I was going to do the conversion for him!

On the plus side, I usually sell all the crap I don’t want to pack and ship on eBay.

[Art Welter]

Low-ball offers don't bother me, at least I know there is somebody interested..
What bothers me are people that complain when I won't "meet them halfway" about an hour drive away for a $25 item.

[Scott Olewiler]

Yes Scott - you hit on another couple of pet peeves of mine.
I cannot count the times I have had someone blow up my email or phone for info back and forth over days - sometimes weeks and then suddenly it's like they never existed. You cannot get them to call or text back.
I had one guy do this to me in texts on 2 separate occasions and I didn't catch it but on the third attempt, I noticed the thread on my phone that linked his number and I totally ignored him.

Also you mentioned the folks who ask questions that have all been clearly  addressed in the ad - even the price!

This happened again to me on Friday. Negotiated a deal on some gear with someone, settled on a price and then he just stopped responding.


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[Stephen Kirby]

This happened again to me on Friday. Negotiated a deal on some gear with someone, settled on a price and then he just stopped responding.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I only "negotiate" in person.  Anyone trying to run down the price without looking at the item isn't serious.  I do the market research and price fairly.  If they bother to come look at it, I'll entertain offers.  Especially if they can justify it in some way.  This car needs new tires, or, I'm going to have to repaint these cabinets to use them on my corporate gigs.

[Debbie Dunkley]

I have found with Craigslist whether the asking price is fair or not - there is an expectation of taking a reasonable offer.
I don't necessarily like doing things this way but I personally see it as a trade off for the free advertising.
If I was paying eBay fees, I'd probably end up with about the same money or even less so taking less than advertised isn't such a negative.
Lowballing however is the problem. eg. when an item is worth $200, I don't mind someone offering $150. I might then counter with $175 and if accepted we are all good. But in that instance offers of $100 won't get a response.

[ProSoundWeb Community]