Craiglisters......

Why is it that someone posts an item for sale then doesn't return emails and or phone calls. I've contacted 5 people in the past week about pellet stoves and not one has got back to me. Some of the ads have been up a few weeks and some just hours old. If the item is sold take the freakin ad down!

Rant Over.........

 

I second that...had that happen with firewood and other items..the last time I went to the guys house at the arranged time, not answering his phone, garage door open, no answer at the door...hate that chit!

 

I bought the 4th mower I called on because the first three didn't respond.

 

Because it seems 90% of the calls or emails are people that just want to waste time.
The other day I got a call, it was almost midnight, over an item I have listed. He called 3 times in a row, and finally left a msg.
Seriously?!
Usually if its after 8:30 or so I'm not calling people unless I know they will be awake.

 

I find it rude.

One ad I had only wanted the spare wheels and tires on a tractor sale. He wanted to wait on the sale of the tractor which I understood. They sold with the machine, and he got back to me to let me know a good month later. I gave him a gold star.

 

Oh i pretty much expect time wasting phone calls and emails when i post something on CL. I dont email or call someone if im not very interested in their item and i have the cash in hand. Im not afraid to make a phone call or leave a message. But most folks these days don't post their phone # so it's email only. Fine by me but return the emails! And i'm not contacting people with "smoking deal" type ads. These are average priced stoves so i don't really expect them to be snagged up right away.

 

I generally don't post my number because I got tired of the iditos calling me at all hours. A while back I had a truck listed.

3AM... phone ringing. I was on call for work so I figured it was work.
"Uh..... yeah.... uh.... do you still have the xyz for sale?"
me: "Yes, I still have it" In a half awake voice.
"Ok, thanks" and hangs up.

Plus with email I can answer when I have a chance. If I took phone calls all day (I probably get 20-30 calls a day) I would never get anything done. My voicemail msg says to email me actually.

 

Its just as bad trying to sell things....

People contact and say they are interested, but then no response for a day or two as other offers line up.

People massively lowball... which is fine I dont get offended but if I say no or just counter sometimes the buyer gets offended? really?

Another nasty trick i just got hit with is they agree on a price and show up "oh sorry my wife took the cash out of my wallet all I have is [half or whatever]"

Its not Craigslist per say, but my wife is on a town Facebook group for trading used kid stuff (toys clothes, etc). She will advertise a jacket we spent say $50 new for 5 bucks and women will ask her if she can take 2 or 3 (really?) and if she can drive a half hour to drop it off (are you kidding???).

Don't even get me started about the fact that barely used kids stuff sells used for about 5cents on the dollar...

 

I recommend getting a Google Voice Number for CraigsList ads, you can forward it to any phone number, the cost is nothing and you can set rules for when to or not to fwd calls. I use them for work calls as well. After 6pm it automatically changes my VM message to I am out of the office for the day, and I will return your call in the morning

 

I suspect that people don't answer their phones because they are too darn lazy to pick it up and tell the person at the other end that they have just sold the item. I have actually seen this in action. I was at a friends house years ago, the phone was ringing off the hook. "Aren't you going to answer that?" "No--it's just people calling about the car Billy put an ad in the paper to sell. He changed his mind, and the ad runs for another two days."

 

Another reason for Google Voice. If you have a dedicated sales line you can just stop the forwarding and change the VM to say "the item has been sold thanks for the call. "

 

Huh, never heard of Google Voices before. Wish I had known about this a year or two ago, I would have made that my business #.

 

This I why I rarely sell anything. I drove my last car until until the tranny went and called the junk man to come and get it. Some things I just give to people I know who can use them.

 

I've deleted my ads. Sorry guys.

 

It's about time!!!!

 

The way I see it, there's nothing wrong with a good rant once in a while.

 

I have had pretty good luck with people that put their phone number in the add, but I sure as heck don't call anybody passed 9pm.
With email I don't get many responses back.
One guy I called and he said the item had sold a couple weeks ago, I told him he should take his ad down.

 

I am ready to get a little kicker stove for the basement. Something that has a small firebox and secondary burn and doesn't take up much room at all. Since I am a fan of Englander wood stoves, I looked for the VL-17 and lo and behold, found a new one (bought; never used) on CL.

The seller has yet to return/respond/answer any of my calls!

Dang!