eBay/Craigslist wow- ****** out there

[MasseyWV]

I no longer email; if they don't put a phone number in the listing I don't bother. Most people don't reply to their email postings, less than half in my experience.

I no longer email people on Craigslist for the very same reason. In my experience, ads which don't list a phone number are either from scammers, spammers, or sellers who are collecting offers so they can weed out all but the highest one.

 

[aczlan]

I no longer email people on Craigslist for the very same reason. In my experience, ads which don't list a phone number are either from scammers, spammers, or sellers who are collecting offers so they can weed out all but the highest one.

I dont put my phone number on my ads as most phone numbers can be traced back to an address with a reverse phone lookup and I dont want people showing up, or calling me at all hours of the night because I didnt accept their offer.
I prefer to work with email first as it is easier to block spam emails (I use Gmail) than to block spam phone calls.

Aaron Z

 

[Looking4new]

I list only my email mainly because I am 150 miles away from home and the home phone and the equipment. I know the condition of the equipment. The people that rent the place from me have no idea what any of it is worth.
I think I set my prices reasonable.
BTW my stuff is on Kijiji.

 

[shownuff]

I sold my tractor on cl , it took about 2 months and 6 people looked at it all low ballers I never posted my phone number and if they left me a number I would reverse phone check it and if was near by I would call them back.I was told by one guy that if the item is on cl for more than a week the price is too high,everyone interested in it wanted something for nothing,I told one guy if he could find the same machine for the price he offered me I would go buy that machine.... I finally sold it for my asking price

 

[MasseyWV]

I dont put my phone number on my ads as most phone numbers can be traced back to an address with a reverse phone lookup and I dont want people showing up, or calling me at all hours of the night because I didnt accept their offer.
I prefer to work with email first as it is easier to block spam emails (I use Gmail) than to block spam phone calls.

I share your concerns, and to address the problem I have a pre-paid cell phone that is only used for buying/selling and for occasional outgoing calls. When I'm not using the phone, I simply turn it off, and the best part is that my primary phone number is never exposed to anyone that I don't want harassing me.

 

[aczlan]

I share your concerns, and to address the problem I have a pre-paid cell phone that is only used for buying/selling and for occasional outgoing calls. When I'm not using the phone, I simply turn it off, and the best part is that my primary phone number is never exposed to anyone that I don't want harassing me.

I use my Google Voice number for the same reason, but I still dont want to share it with the world at large... Call it paranoia if you want, but it works for me.

Aaron Z

 

[KYErik]

I sold quite a few things on CL in the last 2 months- an old project motorcycle, a pygmy billy goat, a cow calf pair, some older bridles and an older Lamb brand saddle, an ATV rear axle. Most of it sold within 2 days of posting the ad (the cow calf pair took about 8 days) with very little haggling. I think part of my luck has to do with taking pictures- I always post at least 2 pictures of each item.

I also have a prepaid cell phone number that I list as well as email (I check it frequently). I state in the ad that I have no voice mail and that 4pm-8pm is the best time to call (I leave the phone off the rest of the time).

My typical policy is that I answer the calls/emails in the order that they are received and I will hold an item for as long as it takes the person to drive to see it (typically less than 2 hours)- but no longer. If someone says they want to wait to come look at the item on the weekend, I tell them that it is first come, first served.

If I get lowballed, I just politely tell the person that I'll keep their offer in mind but that I just listed it a few days ago so I'll wait to see if I get any better offers.

 

[tractchores]

You guys are never going to believe this... But i had a lowballer call me like 5 times in a row and finally offer me half of asking price on an item. It wasnt a cheap item so half of the price was crazy. I politely said nope. The next day he leaves me a voice mail apologizing for the low offer and wishing me luck!

 

[Taylortractornut]

I dont mind low ballers, just the ones that act like your a podunk really hack me off. I had an F 700 Ford truck with a 6 speed and air brakes and low miles. I had a guy that wanted to buy it to make a dump truck out of. I told him 4500 or 3900 cash. Then he comes by the next day saying he didnt like it not having a 5 with a 2 speed rear. I told him that why it was a 6 speed. Then he started in on the air brakes and the tilt hood. But would give 2950 for it like it sat.

I told him that I grew up in commercial trucks and knew what It was a good truck. That I bought it with air brakes and the 6 speed and tilt hood for a reason. But every saturday for a month he would show up and look at it. I finally drove a pipe up i nthe yard and tacked a spare to it. I went out one morning he was out there and told him if he wanted to kick tires and talk about a truck there was the tire I had a hangover to nurse off.

If I see something and I want it Il lbuy it, most time Ill offer a decent lowball cash price right then. Dad buys and sells tractors and implemnts on the ide. More than one time he has sold something to someone and before he could move it from the road someone stop to buy it. Dad tells them its taken and then they get mad because he wont sell out from under the first buyer.

 

[Cat_Driver]

It's called NEGOTIATION and people do it every second of every day. I've MADE ten of thousands of dollars by low balling and I've made another tens of thousand by sticking to my guns. I've also lost money by selling items because I needed the money.

Just ask the guy who bought my 1942 Woody with only 37,000 miles on it...for $7,000.00

Not a typo, that SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.