craigslist

[Tororider]

I have bought and sold a lot of things on craigslist. I ALWAYS assume these are cash sales. I don't think you did anything wrong. Could you have specified that it was cash only, sure, but if you take the check you have all the risk. You could have told him that you would take the check but he had to come back and pick up the forks when the check cleared.

 

[Dargo]

I've never carried a checkbook in my life. Not once. If I need a check I gets the checkbook from my wife's purse. Just one of those things with me. If it doesn't print out from my Quickbooks or reside in my wife's purse, I'm not going to have a check.

 

[Mousefield]

IMO, unless the ad stated so or you informed him that you would not take a check....he had every right to be disgruntled with you...

If he was coming out with a check the purchaser should have asked, not the other way around.

 

[tallyho8]

I've noticed that in some small rural towns where everyone knows everyone that checks are used more often then cash. I've been in small local stores that kept a book of counter checks on the counter where you just fill in your account number and make out the check and they are used by all the locals.

I have never seen this in larger towns where most of your customers are strangers. Having run my own business for 38 years and taking hundreds of checks (many which I still have ), I would never take a large check from a stranger because I know that it is next to impossible to collect for a bad check in our area and know that this is one of the easiest, safest ways for a crook to steal without worrying about jail time.

When I place an ad I usually tell the responders cash only over the phone but I have had many show up with a check and insist that it IS cash, not credit.

 

[/pine]

If he was coming out with a check the purchaser should have asked, not the other way around.

...If the ad does not state "cash only" it is logical that the seller would accept a check...or other legal tender
just because it's 'Craigslist' makes no difference....CL is no different than any other classified listing...

An individual accepting a check from another has no fewer rights than any other entity accepting a check...all you do is make sure they have a photo ID and take their driver's license #....in reality a check is the same as cash...

It really comes down to "exactly how much money are we talking about?"...there is a buffer between what most would pay cash for and what most wouldn' consider anthing but a bank draft or cashiers check...

If paranoia has reached the level that you are afraid to do anything but cash transactions that's fine...but I see people with items at flea markets that are priced at thousands of dollars....how many folks carry that much cash on a regular basis? (not talking about dealers)

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

I too pay in cash. The ad probably should have said that, but come on for that much money and a stranger he shouldn't have been surprised.

 

[aczlan]

I have only found two CL sellers who took checks, one took it as payment (after copying down license info) and the other would only take it as a deposit, we were buying a haywagon and made out a check for the sale price as a deposit, we then brought cash and traded the check for cash (he wasn't around so he left the check on the seat of his truck and we left cash in the same place). Would I take a check? Not unless I personally knew the person. It is too easy for someone to write a bad check if you are selling or take your account number and use it to make a fake check if you are buying.

I pay with a check at the Chiropractors, but that is about it (they dont take plastic and I dont carry much cash).

Aaron Z

 

[gregsons]

Let me give some advice, Craigslist deals should only be done in CASH. when i mean cash i mean little pieces of paper with pictures of dead guys on them. This comes from experiance taking compls. from numerous folks at work. If you do take a check ask for several forms of ID , home , cell , work, number, ss# mothers maiden name, and still dont take a check.

In my side business i stopped taking checks and it has been clear sailing since. if you get scamed they may get arrested but that dont mean you get your $$$ back.

And if you write checks for a sale like this your setting your self up for failure. like it was posted before Name / address / phone number / account #/ signiture. all there for the taking.

 

[Mousefield]

...If the ad does not state "cash only" it is logical that the seller would accept a check...or other legal tender
just because it's 'Craigslist' makes no difference....CL is no different than any other classified listing...

An individual accepting a check from another has no fewer rights than any other entity accepting a check...all you do is make sure they have a photo ID and take their driver's license #....in reality a check is the same as cash...
It really comes down to "exactly how much money are we talking about?"...there is a buffer between what most would pay cash for and what most wouldn' consider anthing but a bank draft or cashiers check...

If paranoia has reached the level that you are afraid to do anything but cash transactions that's fine...but I see people with items at flea markets that are priced at thousands of dollars....how many folks carry that much cash on a regular basis? (not talking about dealers)

Reality is cash is cash. A check is a piece of paper that, unless you can get cash for it, is still just a piece of paper. That is why I still have bum checks from 1986, they are not cash. If the account is closed or has no money in it how do you get the CASH? Then how much time do you spend trying to get your money, for most people it is not worth their time. You are just out the money.

 

[schmism]

wait, theres another option of buying something off of craigslist other than cash?

news to me. I would never offer a personal check, would never take one.

If you can bring a cashiers check, then you can instead get cash from the bank. If you can bring a money order, then instead you can bring cash.


I suppose we could do paypall, but then im going to charge another 4% on top of the agreed upon price.