Buying and Selling on Craigslist

[NC-car-guy]

Does anyone else seem to run across every jerk out there?   I've been moments away from a purchase, had shippers lined up and everything on three different Buicks now, and each time the seller cancels last minute!  One didn't like the DMV fees to get the title in his name, one sold it out from under me for a couple bucks more, which I would have paid if he'd asked, and now this one we'd ironed out a price and when I talked to him this morning to set up a time for the tow truck to get it, he said oh, yea, I think I just traded it!   I am done with Craigslist.  Rant over, sorry.  If this is in the wrong forum I don't mind if you move it.

[John_S_in_Penna]

...one sold it out from under me for a couple bucks more...

That is a breach of contract, and you would have legal recourse

against the seller. Oral agreements are binding, too.

I doubt that you would take legal action, but you might

kindly and firmly remind such a seller that his actions are serious.

If he has any conscience, your pointing out his wrongdoing

might stop him from doing it again to another hobbyist.

Edited October 2, 2015 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[39BuickEight]

I only do CL transactions in person when buying.  I was lucky once to do a deal cross-country, but I never really felt good about it.  You certainly have to take into consideration the medium from which you are finding buyers and sellers.  CL is certainly the easiest place to list, therefore it will include folks who aren't the most scrupulous when compared to pay sites/publications.  On the other hand, I find my best deals there (for all sorts of items, car-related or not). 

[Mark Shaw]

I only use Craigslist to locate what I want.  Then I make an appointment to go see the item prepared to pay cash.

Edited October 2, 2015 by mark shaw (see edit history)

[John]

Selling on Craigslist is more frustrating than buying!  Too many scammers, low-ballers, crazies, etc to sort through to get to the few serious legitimate buyers.   Still, it's worth the price of admission.

[Matt Harwood]

I have no problem finding hookers and meth using Craig's List. What the heck are you guys complaining about?

 

Oh, wait, you mean you actually try to buy and sell cars on Craig's List? That's just crazy talk.

Edited October 2, 2015 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[superbuick]

I agree with Mark, go there and talk with the seller and be prepared to buy cash. I have bought many very nice cars for a great deal. I acted fast and showed up on time and met a lot of nice people. I would want it to change. I can tell a flakey guy on the phone , then I just don't go, In the last few years I bought a 36 Buick, 37 Zephyr, 60 Electra 225, 65 Riviera, 65 Wildcat 4spped convertible, 67 Sportwagon, 72 BMW 2002.

I find there is a great deals at times, most of the time seller is fishing for a high price. But be quick, honest and able to do it in person.

Steve Fisher

[trimacar]

Also, be a little careful about going to someone's house or meeting them in a non-public location. We've had some locals robbed when meeting in answer to an ad on CL.....the local police have even set up an area to meet for such transactions at a police facility....

[envoy_to_the_stars]

The number of Low-Ballers on craigslist is incredible.  I recently tried to sell my 2003 BMW M5 on craigslist - the KBB value was $18k.  I can't tell you how many e-mails I got with atrocious grammar stating that I should sell it to them for $7k because no one will want it and it'll just sit forever, "bro."  Really?  Less than half my asking price? 

 

Ended up selling it back to the previous owner for above my asking price.  All was well.  But I couldn't believe the games some people try to play on CL! 

 

 

........and then there's the traders.  "Would you take a broken ATV and a 1964 bass boat without a motor for your $1000 stereo?"

Edited October 2, 2015 by envoy_to_the_stars (see edit history)

[Matt Harwood]

I have a used hot tub with something growing on the sides, but I think it will clean up with bleach. Would you trade it for your BMW?

[Dwight Romberger]

Just like everything in life, I have learned to accept the bad with the good.

 

I just had  bad experiences selling my '36 International and my car trailer on Ebay .

 

I had a great experience selling my Model T a couple of months ago.

 

I am going to start selling a garage full of parts.  Some of the sales will go good, some will go bad.

Some of the stuff would be of interest to people on this forum, and I will list them here.

Other things are too generic and I have to appeal to a larger audience and compete with retail prices on Amazon.

 

I think of it as a part time job for me for the next month or so.

Some days will be good. Some days will be bad.

 

Maybe I will try listing everything for sale on this forum for 50% of retail and see what happens.  I prefer to do business with all of you.

 

 

 

Dwight

Edited October 2, 2015 by Dwight Romberger (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

I recently tried to sell my 2003 BMW M5 on craigslist - the KBB value was $18k.

Kelly Blue Book is not an accurate guide for used cars.

Compared to NADA, their retail price is 'way high, and

their wholesale price is very low. The preface to their

price guide even says they are a compilation of ASKING

prices--but you really need to know what cars SELL for.

I think K.B.B. is basically irrelevant. It gives dealers

a chance to say, "We sell for thousands under Kelly Blue Book!"

But the discrepancy would not, of course, justify your low-baller's offer.

[riv2x4]

I've bought the our last couple of used cars off Craigslist.  Local and cash or cash equivelent. No needing to get wife's permission or bank approval. Didn't make an offer or talk price before seeing the car, and if interested made a reasonable but not insulting offer. Got a couple of really great cars, missed on a couple, one by a maybe a few hundred, a couple other by $1K or more. Somebody wanted them more than I did. Like ebay, know where your max $$$ is and be ready to make the deal or walk away.  For the larger $$$ transactions I have asked how they want payment and even had one offer to meet me at my bank to get a Cashiers ck that we both knew to be good, I also avoid all if they don't have title in their name and no lein. Title must be available for inspection.

 

I sold one car on CL and did get the super lowball offers without seeing the car.  I think they are like spammers, throw enough of them ot and someone will take the bait.

Edited October 2, 2015 by riv2x4 (see edit history)

[Larry Schramm]

My general policy is to take a friend and cash when buying and have a friend when selling

[buick man]

… yeah sounds great but what if your don't have any friends and just cash ?    

[Dwight Romberger]

Buick man,

I just added my name to your friends list.

Now you have a friend to go along.

Dwight

[Jrbrks]

I have used CL to sell vehicles in the last year.

 

I am not a dealer or sales person of any type. 

 

I meet only in a public place and have the vehicle ready to deliver, e.g. serviced, clean and with a clear statement of my acceptable price.   

 

As I have a full-time job, I can actively debate with people at work and have no interest in arguing with others.

 

In my limited experience, the "odd" inquiries occur fairly soon after the advertisement first posts.  I do not respond to those.

 

For modern or collector vehicles, if I do not receive credible inquiries within the first two days, I believe I am pricing too high.  I remove the ad, wait the required 48 hours and lower my price, until I begin to receive credible inquiries.

This is my version of a market-pricing survey, and I agree it is not sophisticated.  Many people are rationale and are willing to pay a fair price, if they want the vehicle. 

 

I have met some nice folks and have only had one "buyer" not show up at the agreed time and location.

 

I do not enjoy the experience, but it has not been unacceptable.

 

Jim

[60FlatTop]

Why pay for cable TV when entertainment like this is free: http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5236290577.html

 

FYI, "Bang" is a noun.

 

On oral contracts, conforming to an oral contract is not based on the persons directly making the contract, but with those whom have made previous contracts. The proper wording is "It's not you, it is those whom have come before."

 

There is an acronym for Point of Sale, POS. "We met and had an argument with the POS." could mean the location wasn't good.

Bernie

Edited October 4, 2015 by 60FlatTop (see edit history)

[NC-car-guy]

Lol. Trade for a bang.... Sounds illegal

[60FlatTop]

A few years ago I was doing a job up in Malone near the Canadian border and the local paper had an ad for some thing like a "1978 Chevy 4WD. off road ready, sell or trade for guns". It was during a time of high terrorist awareness and I thought of someone sneaking across the border to do damage in the US and seeing the ad. Can't you see them looking at each other and wondering if they may have come in the wrong gate.

 

Up here we back into parking spots, ready to mobilize.

[JZRIV]

I've had no problem selling or buying on CL but I am very careful who I deal with. My antennas are up from the first contact. If you follow the warnings CL provides you are generally pretty safe but you also have to be a good judge to identify the deadbeats from the start so you don't waste your time.

When you think about all the stuff that people sell on CL that would normally sit collecting dust they are responsible for millions if not billions of dollars in cash flow. My best CL story is I picked some items from my only neighbors trash around noontime and put them on CL. by 2:30 PM they were sold with cash in hand! No other advertising media can come close to that.

from the CL site:

Avoiding Scams

Deal locally, face-to-face —follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.

•Do not extend payment to anyone you have not met in person.

•Beware offers involving shipping - deal with locals you can meet in person.

•Never wire funds (e.g. Western Union) - anyone who asks you to is a scammer.

•Don't accept cashier/certified checks or money orders - banks cash fakes, then hold you responsible.

•Transactions are between users only, no third party provides a "guarantee".

•Never give out financial info (bank account, social security, paypal account, etc).

•Do not rent or purchase sight-unseen—that amazing "deal" may not exist.

•Refuse background/credit checks until you have met landlord/employer in person.

Edited October 5, 2015 by JZRIV (see edit history)

[NC-car-guy]

Definitely just had the most interesting eBay interaction. As you saw on my buy/sell listing, I sold the wagon to avoid conflict. The buyer plans to restore it (holy cow) and sent his employees to pick up the car. They arrived with a half ton truck and a car trailer. Nice tilt trailer with a winch, etc. Catch is, none of it works. So I stand out in the rain for three hours and help these guys manually tilt the trailer and then use a come along to pull the car on the trailer with 4 flats. Shew, I'm beat.

[smithbrother]

I guess it had a CLEAR TITLE,,,,,,,, just kidding,,,,,,,got to have SOME FUN!

 

Dale in Indy