$500 surcharge for tire kickers and lowballers

dodge man · Mar 22, 2021

I have never sold a thing on Craigslist. I have given stuff away free though, nothing that valuable but stuff I felt was wasted if I threw it out.

So will you take $400 for the truck?

bdog · Apr 2, 2021

I hate dealing with people on selling things. I intentionally price things low so they sell quick. Pretty much everything I sell on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace sells in the first day, usually in a couple hours. What additional amount I might be able to get for things just isn’t worth the hassle to me.

TractorGuy · Apr 2, 2021

It seems some items draw more flakes than others. I go about half and half on setting a firm price or adding discouraging language to an ad. The firm price isn't as much of a detraction but the language can shut it down. Might just be weeding out the flakes? Even when I add the word firm I will still get some jerk asking "wat is best price".

I have a VW rail buggy advertised that was getting a lot of unwanted messages. People kept contacting me and asking questions that were answered if they read the ad. I finally tired of it and added some built in questions and answers on top of the item info. Haven't had an inquiry since.

Questions: Answers
What's your best price: $2500 Firm Cash Only
Is it still available: Are you reading the ad?
Does it have a title: NO
Is it street legal: NO
Can I call you on the phone: NO
Will you call me on the phone: NO
Can I have your address: Shown by appointment only.
Should I inquire about this at 4 AM: NO. Please send inquiries and questions between the hours of 8AM to 9PM.

LOL! I don't really care if I sell it. It gave me some pleasure knowing the jerks that drove me to add the language would read it.

I just didn't respond to the guy that asked "wat is best price" but the wife said I should have replied and told him it was $3000.

Jstpssng · Apr 2, 2021

I put a snowsled on CL a few years ago... a running sled probably worth $700-800 I advertised for $300.Within 18 hours I was so sick of the low ballers and tire kickers that I took it back off. One guy had called me in that time though, and still had my number so called me back. He wanted something for his nephews to use in his field but only had a 2wd truck so couldn’t drive to my house.
No problem, I jumped on the sled and ran it 1 1/2 miles down the road to meet him.(doing one last “ski stand” as I pulled out my driveway. He gave me the cash with no qualms, we loaded it and I walked home. I don’t think that he had a lot of money and was buying it for somebody else’s kids. I felt better selling it to him than if I had gotten full value from somebody else.

BigBlue1 · Apr 2, 2021

Can't you just ignore the lowballers or just say "no"?

caver · Apr 2, 2021

So what's your bottom dollar on that Ranger?

There's an area music gear Marketplace page. There's a few guys on there that are obvious gear flippers. Some guy had a guitar and was priced too high, said he had health problems. I got an alert he dropped the price $100 and it's now a fair price. He went on about all the upgrades he did and it's worth more but he needs the money. I told him I'm not a gear flipper and intend to buy it to play it. He truly had health issues in person and gave him his current price.

I've learned that if you add expensive upgrades you are better off taking them back off and selling them separate even at say 50% less than you paid for them. I see this a lot in motorcycles. Often their upgrade is not something I'm interested in and surely am not paying over blue book for it.

Industrial Toys · Apr 2, 2021

Next time someone low balls you on the phone say, sorry, no one gave me what I asked, so it just left down the driveway for scrap ten minutes ago.

CobyRupert · Apr 2, 2021

Steppenwolfe said:
Years ago I bought a used F350 with a dump bed for a very good price, but already had a work type bed I planned on switching to. So, I placed an ad for the dump bed; pick up for free. Not one phone call. Month later I put 1200 bucks on it and sold it for a thousand within 3 days. Go figure.... People are nuts.

If you think about it, a free dump bed isn’t worth anything. Zero. Who wants a worthless dump bed?
...but a dump bed worth $1200, now that has some value!

ultrarunner · Apr 2, 2021

No shows are my biggest problem...

I found having the item at my brother's farm eliminated 98% of no shows.

When I sold the Dozer it was too big to move... so I sold it from home...

The buyer... the only one that showed up came from far away and he got real worried to the point of almost turning around...

Something about buying in East Oakland has some thinking it is a scam to get robbed...

Anyway... he did pull up and then sat in the car... I walked out and said are you here about the Dozer and then said it's on the back 40... we can walk or drive to it...

My point is people have preconceived notions that are heightened when buying/selling...

Just like the free dump bed no one wanted but sold for a $1000

Having a farm address or expensive area fits the profile where as getting off the freeway around liquor stores and homeless encampments doesn't...

Every one likes a deal... for some it is cultural not to leave any money on the table...

Having been exposed to the car business at an early age only maybe one person in a hundred would come in and pull out check book for asking...

That said... when we needed suits for uncles wedding dad had socks thrown in... same when buying for events... always get the extra loaves of bread... something extra makes people feel good.

Gone to plenty of Firm Price situations... can't change the fact it is only worth x amount to me...