Bad Craigslist Deal - How Should I Handle?

[RossMAN]

BTW, I meet CL folks at a public place that's not my home, and I use a burner phone number for all my dealings. I've had lot of people flake before the deal takes place, but I've never had a CL deal go "bad".

This is smart and I'm surprised more people aren't as cautious. You don't want to buy or sell something and have someone know where you live or your real phone number.

 

[Zorba]

How do you get a burner phone number?

I've never had a deal go bad on criagslist, but I mostly sell and never electronics. If someone called back within a day or two, I'd try to work something out, but months later? Yeah, pound sand. Especially if they had sold me a bum product that they wouldn't make right.

 

[Brainonska511]

How do you get a burner phone number?

I've never had a deal go bad on criagslist, but I mostly sell and never electronics. If someone called back within a day or two, I'd try to work something out, but months later? Yeah, pound sand. Especially if they had sold me a bum product that they wouldn't make right.

Prepaid phone from a drug store or convenience store.

 

[purbeast0]

ummm how could your iphone have gotten "blacklisted" and what does that even mean?

if it got blacklisted after you gave it to her, how is it your fault?

 

[Wonderful Pork]

BTW, I meet CL folks at a public place that's not my home, and I use a burner phone number for all my dealings. I've had lot of people flake before the deal takes place, but I've never had a CL deal go "bad".

I do the same using a throw away email & Google Voice #, never meet at home unless its something I don't want to lug myself (furniture, etc).

The worst that's happened to me is people trying to negotiate after we meet (with an agreed upon pre-discussed price). I take plenty of pictures and value my stuff fairly (if not on the low-side just to move it). In-person lowballing drives me nuts, but I just walk away now.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Tell them the iphone was "as-is" too.

This

 

[slag]

I gave away 3 older routers (netgear and cisco) on CL this past week and a 10/100 switch. GAVE them away but all worked fine. I later get an email from the person asking for technical support on the router that was flashed with ddwrt firmware as he didn't know how to get into it or how to make it work.

It's not difficult to google how to perform a hard reset on these routers and it was free hardware I gave away and hadn't used it in years so there was no way I could remember what the password was, but he sent me 2 emails after I told him I couldn't help him (3 total) asking for help and wanting technical support on this stuff.

SMH...

 

[Humpy]

I do the same using a throw away email & Google Voice #, never meet at home unless its something I don't want to lug myself (furniture, etc).

Craigslist is a good choice for selling furniture, drum sets, bicycles, etc. that's too big to really ship, but it's also usually too big to take somewhere else for the transaction. If it's small and easy to bring to a parking lot it's also often small enough to ship and take advantage of the bigger audience on ebay.

For CL I screen the hell out of buyers, racially profile, Google stalk, and only reply to people with excellent writing and speaking skills, before I give out an address. For ebay I just assume I'm throwing it away and it's a bonus if I actually get paid.

Selling stuff kinda sucks in general.

 

[Spineshank]

LOL - Craigslist purchases are 'as is'. Nothing more, nothing less. If you didn't check out the purchase before you paid for it, then it is your fault.

This. I have sold numerous phones, tablets, etc on CL. I always power it on, show them its in good working condition, etc, etc.

 

[mrrman]

Tell them the iphone was "as-is" too.

exactly

 

[Jembo]

I've always had great luck with Craigslist & Kijiji. I just always say; Cash Sale. Local Only.

The odd no-show but that's about it.

 

[Imp]

I usually meet away from where I live, but I've had numerous people come pick stuff up at my front door before. Never had a problem, no crazies. And I like to think that allowing them to come to my front door lets them know I'm not trying to scam them.

At the same time, I use an email with a fake name to talk to people before any transaction takes place.