selling things on Craigslist...

CHANGEinWAVES

Anyone done it before?

What usually goes down when people contact you?

I posted last night a larger piece of furniture and had what seems to be 4 or so inquiries. But they all seem a bit like a scam to me. Maybe I'm paranoid...but I just wanted to see how the transactions usually go down.
Thanks in advance:D

unifiedscene

i've sold many things on there. usually it's concert tickets i can't use. but i've also sold computer accessories and a digital camera. i'm not sure what you mean by scams... if you are selling something how can they be running a scam?

youngster

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

Anyone done it before?

What usually goes down when people contact you?

I posted last night a larger piece of furniture and had what seems to be 4 or so inquiries. But they all seem a bit like a scam to me. Maybe I'm paranoid...but I just wanted to see how the transactions usually go down.
Thanks in advance:D

I sold my guitar on Craigslist earlier this year. The guy emailed me and said he was interested. I emailed him my phone # to call and set up a time to look at it. He called and came by the next day, made me an offer I accepted and that was it. You can't really be scammed if you're selling cause you are in control of the sale. The worst that will happen is people won't show up to look/buy it. Oh, one more thing. I don't accept personal checks. Cash or certified check and you won't have any worries.

muiren77

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

Anyone done it before?

What usually goes down when people contact you?

I posted last night a larger piece of furniture and had what seems to be 4 or so inquiries. But they all seem a bit like a scam to me. Maybe I'm paranoid...but I just wanted to see how the transactions usually go down.
Thanks in advance:D

i take it, no success in selling yet?

CHANGEinWAVES

muiren77 wrote:

i take it, no success in selling yet?

Nooo an I want cheese damn it!

Lukin66

unifiedscene wrote:

i've sold many things on there. usually it's concert tickets i can't use. but i've also sold computer accessories and a digital camera. i'm not sure what you mean by scams... if you are selling something how can they be running a scam?

I work at a bank, and I have seen many scams on craigslist targeting sellers. The main one is someone sends a check (it can be personal or official, but they are always fraudulent) for an amount over what you are asking. They ask you to cash the check and give the money to a friend of theirs that is picking up the merchandise as a 'finder's fee'. That way, they usually get whatever the overhead on the check is, and whatever has been sold. I unfortunatley saw this pulled on an elderly couple selling their car. Someone sent them a check, they cashed it and gave the 'finder's fee' and the car to the person picking it up. A week later, the check bounced and because of it, their account went 5K negative, and their car was gone. There are always ways to scam people, sadly enough

CHANGEinWAVES

Lukin66 wrote:

I work at a bank, and I have seen many scams on craigslist targeting sellers. The main one is someone sends a check (it can be personal or official, but they are always fraudulent) for an amount over what you are asking. They ask you to cash the check and give the money to a friend of theirs that is picking up the merchandise as a 'finder's fee'. That way, they usually get whatever the overhead on the check is, and whatever has been sold. I unfortunatley saw this pulled on an elderly couple selling their car. Someone sent them a check, they cashed it and gave the 'finder's fee' and the car to the person picking it up. A week later, the check bounced and because of it, their account went 5K negative, and their car was gone. There are always ways to scam people, sadly enough

Kinda sounds similar!
They want my name address and home phone#
Say they'll send me a check in the mail because a mover will be pickin up the item and they can not be there.:rolleyes:

Lukin66

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

Kinda sounds similar!
They want my name address and home phone#
Say they'll send me a check in the mail because a mover will be pickin up the item and they can not be there.:rolleyes:

I don't think it would be a big deal as long as they are not asking the you to pay the mover with the proceeds of the check.

unifiedscene

Lukin66 wrote:

I work at a bank, and I have seen many scams on craigslist targeting sellers. The main one is someone sends a check (it can be personal or official, but they are always fraudulent) for an amount over what you are asking. They ask you to cash the check and give the money to a friend of theirs that is picking up the merchandise as a 'finder's fee'. That way, they usually get whatever the overhead on the check is, and whatever has been sold. I unfortunatley saw this pulled on an elderly couple selling their car. Someone sent them a check, they cashed it and gave the 'finder's fee' and the car to the person picking it up. A week later, the check bounced and because of it, their account went 5K negative, and their car was gone. There are always ways to scam people, sadly enough

I guess I should have qualified my statement by saying I would never accept a check from anyone on craigslist for anything, ever.

Wilds

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

Kinda sounds similar!
They want my name address and home phone#
Say they'll send me a check in the mail because a mover will be pickin up the item and they can not be there.:rolleyes:

Sounds fishy to me.

CHANGEinWAVES

Wilds wrote:

Sounds fishy to me.

That's what I thought...
I think I may add cash only to the description.

the wolf

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

That's what I thought...
I think I may add cash only to the description.

i think if i were you i would also make sure i have someone there with you when a couple of strangers strong enough to move furniture comes into your house too. but thats just me. i worry.

NothinGBetteRPJMaN

That's a crazy scam someone posted.

I personally have never used Craigslist and have never really been to the site but
One of my friends said one of his friends found a hooker and another friend found his girlfriend on Craigslist

So now he is trying to find a hookup and I think all he has gotten as responses are bots

wtf?

CHANGEinWAVES

the wolf wrote:

i think if i were you i would also make sure i have someone there with you when a couple of strangers strong enough to move furniture comes into your house too. but thats just me. i worry.

U offering ur services:D

riffrandall

Lukin66 wrote:

I work at a bank, and I have seen many scams on craigslist targeting sellers. The main one is someone sends a check (it can be personal or official, but they are always fraudulent) for an amount over what you are asking. They ask you to cash the check and give the money to a friend of theirs that is picking up the merchandise as a 'finder's fee'. That way, they usually get whatever the overhead on the check is, and whatever has been sold. I unfortunatley saw this pulled on an elderly couple selling their car. Someone sent them a check, they cashed it and gave the 'finder's fee' and the car to the person picking it up. A week later, the check bounced and because of it, their account went 5K negative, and their car was gone. There are always ways to scam people, sadly enough

OK any person who would fall for this is a out-and-out moron. First of all, taking a check from a stranger? No. Second, taking a check and giving that person money back? Um.. hi, can you say "idiot?"

I've sold lots of things on Craigslist, but not my body (yet), and have had the most success with selling off things like furniture and tickets. Person comes to my house, gives me cash, takes what they bought. End of transaction.

Who Princess

riffrandall wrote:

OK any person who would fall for this is a out-and-out moron. First of all, taking a check from a stranger? No. Second, taking a check and giving that person money back? Um.. hi, can you say "idiot?"

Wow, that's a little harsh. Normally I say "buyer beware" on transactions like this but Lukin66 mentioned that the couple who were taken in were elderly. Older adults tend to be a bit more trusting and not usually as tech savvy so I can understand this happening.

I have sold 2 vehicles on Craigslist with no problems. They were older ones that would have been very hard to trade in or sell through conventional methods. The only real problem was being pestered by some "auto brokers" who kept offering to sell them for us. The buyers paid cash and met us at the courthouse where we exchanged the keys and titles for the $$. With both transactions everyone seemed to go away happy.

But I agree, have someone at your house when the buyer comes to look at the furniture or pay for it if they're going to pick it up personally. We were very careful about scheduling people for test drives so that my husband and I were both home.

PJSerf

I've sold tickets on craigslist before with no issues. My deals were always cash only....

Jearlpam0925

Anyone NOT doing strictly cash deals is just foolish.

meistereder

I sold a ticket for cash, met the dude and he gave me cash and bought me a beer. The only bad thing is I had to sit with him and he was kind of a weird guy.

Jearlpam0925

meistereder wrote:

I sold a ticket for cash, met the dude and he gave me cash and bought me a beer. The only bad thing is I had to sit with him and he was kind of a weird guy.

Yeah, fuck that shit...."Thanks for the beer, but could you go over there?"

CHANGEinWAVES

whoprincess wrote:

But I agree, have someone at your house when the buyer comes to look at the furniture or pay for it if they're going to pick it up personally. We were very careful about scheduling people for test drives so that my husband and I were both home.

I changed the item to 'cash only'
Now I think trying to find a male to be there with me might be harder then selling the item! Haha.

Wilds

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

I changed the item to 'cash only'
Now I think trying to find a male to be there with me might be harder then selling the item! Haha.

Invite a gaggle of woman. Strength in numbers.

CHANGEinWAVES

Wilds wrote:

Invite a gaggle of woman. Strength in numbers.

I can't seem to get any together for a girls night out...so I'm sure it'll be tough convincing them to be here while a stranger looks @ or picks up the furniture. (Besides I live about 30mins from all friends!)

Trailer

I would definitely try to have someone there with you. I posted a free couch and mini bar on craigslist a few years ago. I contacted the first reply and they came over that night. It was a group of 20 something gangster looking guys who took the couch and bar... and then started shadily commenting on how nice my TV looked.:eek:

My roommates were home, so they didn't try to steal it... but I definitely got the impression that they might have if they thought they could get away with it. Nothing ever happened after that.. but just remember that you are going to be letting in strangers into your home. Like people said.. be safe.. have some people over.

CHANGEinWAVES

Trailer wrote:

I would definitely try to have someone there with you. I posted a free couch and mini bar on craigslist a few years ago. I contacted the first reply and they came over that night. It was a group of 20 something gangster looking guys who took the couch and bar... and then started shadily commenting on how nice my TV looked.:eek:

My roommates were home, so they didn't try to steal it... but I definitely got the impression that they might have if they thought they could get away with it. Nothing ever happened after that.. but just remember that you are going to be letting in strangers into your home. Like people said.. be safe.. have some people over.

This kinda makes me nervous...especially since I live alone.

Who Princess

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

This kinda makes me nervous...especially since I live alone.

You don't have to let anybody KNOW that you live alone though. There's no reason for people to learn a lot of details about you. And I didn't give people my address and directions to my house until it was clear they were a serious buyer and wanted to set an appointment to come look.

Is there someone you work with who might do you a favor and be at your house while you're trying to sell it? Or maybe a neighbor?

CHANGEinWAVES

whoprincess wrote:

You don't have to let anybody KNOW that you live alone though. There's no reason for people to learn a lot of details about you. And I didn't give people my address and directions to my house until it was clear they were a serious buyer and wanted to set an appointment to come look.

Is there someone you work with who might do you a favor and be at your house while you're trying to sell it? Or maybe a neighbor?

maybe I could borrow a friends husband...
neighbor are under the "couldn't be bothered" category (can't wait to move!!)

PatrickBateman

watch out for assholes that offer you 10 times your asking price if they send you a moneygram and you ship first.
I have sold many things with no real aggravation once you contact them via phone.

Oh, and I always meet at a public place....althoug furnture s difficult

BrinkofForever

I posted for a roommate on Craigslist... got an assortment of freaks that I had to meet and entertain life stories of while deciding on whom I would trust in my personal space and whom I wouldn't.
The guy I finally settled on turned out to be pretty cool though... a sound technician who has toured with the likes of the Buzzcocks (06) and hung out with Eddie Vedder in the back of the Cocks tour bus for four hours..getting baked and talking about politics and conspiracy theories. Added bonus..the guy works on a cruise ship four to six months at a time and still pays rent!

GraySaturday

Brandi.. I sell things on craigslist very often. I've made hundreds of dollars on items.

I make it a rule that I only accept cash, in person, and the buyer must pick up the item. Of course I still get the emails about people wanting to scam and stuff, but I stick true to the NO check rules. My husband actually sold our Audi TT on craigslist and that was of course trickier, but we had banks involved and signed legal documents and such to protect ourselves.. but it is possible to handle transactions work 20k on craigslist if you are smart about it.

Rule of thumb, have a friend come over, and never let anyone come look at the item or pick it up or whatever when its just you alone.. protect yourself!

PM me if you have any questions.. I have a lot of experience with it.

Who Princess

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

maybe I could borrow a friends husband...
neighbor are under the "couldn't be bothered" category (can't wait to move!!)

I understand. There are neighbors and then there are neighbors, some helpful and some not so much. Borrowing somebody's husband is a good idea since everyone should understand about you wanting to play it safe.

I should also stress that even though we are all emphasizing that you watch out for your personal and financial safety, it's also been my experience that people are usually going to be very ordinary and just looking to make a decent purchase for themselves. If you've taken precautions you should have a good selling experience.