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Craigslist noob, looking for help.

KeithTalent

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Ok, I posted a bunch of furniture for sale last night on the list for the first time ever. The only selling I have ever done previously was/is on Anandtech FS/FT, which is a lot easier to deal with since you can look at their posting history, check Heatware, talk with other members about dealing with the person, etc.

Anyway, I received this inquiry a few minutes ago (one line, that is all he sent):

<blockquote>quote:
Hi I was wondering if they are still available and if I could come get them</blockquote>

So my questions are as follows:

1. Easiest way to tell a scam inquiry (i.e. someone offers their Nigerian crown jewels for my Xbox; but I'm looking for more subtle scam indicators)

2. Does the above inquiry sound like a scam at all?

3. If it does not seem like a scam, what is the best way to respond to these guys?

Sorry for the ridiculously noobish questions, but I just want to make sure I deal with this properly.

Thanks in advance to everyone for the help!

Cheers,
KT
 
If you say it's still available, and they respond with the fact that it's actually for their sick aunt, and they're out of town but can send you a money order... then it's DEFINITELY NOT A SCAM.
 
They come to get the loot in person and hand you the cash.
It is pretty hard to scam something like that.
However, if they tell you that you need to take off your pants, be careful.
 
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Bewares!!!! Womens on teh craigslist are unclean!!!
Click to expand...

I already have one of those anyway 😀

Originally posted by: Jeeebus
If you say it's still available, and they respond with the fact that it's actually for their sick aunt, and they're out of town but can send you a money order... then it's DEFINITELY NOT A SCAM.
Click to expand...

Sarcasm detector is on and functioning perfectly, thanks.
 
Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Yes, anyone interested in purchasing items you have for sale is a scammer! 😛
Click to expand...

Touche! It's just because I read about so many scams from ATers and others.

Anyway, I just got this message:

Hi sorry I didn?t leave my info jen at 604-***-***
Thank you
Click to expand...

So I guess it seems ok.

KT
 
Look at that. You just started and you already have a girls phone number!
(And so do the rest of us.)
 
Originally posted by: Chryso
Look at that. You just started and you already have a girls phone number!
(And so do the rest of us.)
Click to expand...

Whoops 😱

I can be a real idiot sometimes 😀

KT
 
Craigslist scammers all usually have one thing in common. They will never meet you.

"Please ship your items to X" or I will have my agent wire you the money, please give me your information. That kind of thing. If you say, meet me to see it....that will narrow down the scammers. The other thing that helps is being selective and only giving your phone number and address to people in your city... I usually avoid people out of state and definitely out of country.
 
Agreed with Scarpozzi. Besides, about the only people you can trust when going through Craigslist are the one-liner, plain-talking emails. The ones you get that sound all proper with multiple sentences and use the word advert are typically the ones that you avoid.
 
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Craigslist scammers all usually have one thing in common. They will never meet you.

"Please ship your items to X" or I will have my agent wire you the money, please give me your information. That kind of thing. If you say, meet me to see it....that will narrow down the scammers. The other thing that helps is being selective and only giving your phone number and address to people in your city... I usually avoid people out of state and definitely out of country.
Click to expand...

Ahh, thanks for that. I have all of my stuff listed as pick-up only (because it is all way too large for me to ship), but I will keep that in mind if I ever start to sell smaller, shippable items on there.

I can imagine only dealing with local people would probably save a lot of headaches.

Cheers,
KT
 
Originally posted by: blurredvision
Agreed with Scarpozzi. Besides, about the only people you can trust when going through Craigslist are the one-liner, plain-talking emails. The ones you get that sound all proper with multiple sentences and use the word advert are typically the ones that you avoid.
Click to expand...

Hmm, interesting. I will remember to keep my words to a minimum if I ever try to purchase anything there. I never really thought about that.

Lol at advert. :laugh:

KT
 
All good opints, thanks guys. I am just not used to using a selling medium with no feedback system; feels kind of weird.

KT
 
Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Anyway, I received this inquiry a few minutes ago (one line, that is all he sent):

Hi I was wondering if they are still available and if I could come get them
Click to expand...

So my questions are as follows:

1. Easiest way to tell a scam inquiry (i.e. someone offers their Nigerian crown jewels for my Xbox; but I'm looking for more subtle scam indicators)

2. Does the above inquiry sound like a scam at all?

3. If it does not seem like a scam, what is the best way to respond to these guys?

Sorry for the ridiculously noobish questions, but I just want to make sure I deal with this properly.

Thanks in advance to everyone for the help!

Cheers,
KT
Click to expand...

are you serious, #2 is possibly a scam response...how the f are they supposed to reply?

If they are coming to your house make sure they bring cash and a truck.

Cashier's checks can be forged.

Do not trust paypal for local transactions either. They can say you never shipped anything. They may have improved this lately but last I checked people were getting scammed that way.

 
Originally posted by: alkemyst

are you serious, #2 is possibly a scam response...how the f are they supposed to reply?

If they are coming to your house make sure they bring cash and a truck.

Cashier's checks can be forged.

Do not trust paypal for local transactions either. They can say you never shipped anything. They may have improved this lately but last I checked people were getting scammed that way.
Click to expand...

Well that is pretty much why I posted this, because I was not sure. As I said, I have no experience with these types of things.

Is it ok to put 'cash only' in the ads,or is that more of a one-on-one type of thing?

I definitely will avoid PayPal for this.

Cheers,
KT
 
If they ask you to ship it, it's usually a scam or not worth the hassle.

Are they asking you to ship your furniture? No.

Scam? Probably not.
 
Make sure you put stuff like "sold as is no warranty and cash only".

Also tons of lowballers on craigslist. No, I am not going to let you have an iPod for $10 because it's used and market price is the sam price as I posted for.
 
I have another Craigslist question. When selling big ticket items, what kind of procedure do you follow?

For example, if you sell something large (say a big TV and some other things) do you get them to pay cash? It seems strange to ask someone to bring, potentially, thousands of dollars in cash.

Anyone have experience with this type of thing?

Thanks.

KT
 
Originally posted by: KeithTalent
I have another Craigslist question. When selling big ticket items, what kind of procedure do you follow?

For example, if you sell something large (say a big TV and some other things) do you get them to pay cash? It seems strange to ask someone to bring, potentially, thousands of dollars in cash.

Anyone have experience with this type of thing?

Thanks.

KT
Click to expand...

I'd probably go with them to a post office or somewhere that does money orders, and watch them pay for the money order. Then you take the money order and you give them the tv.

If they want to pay with a check, take the check and tell them they can pick up the item once the check clears when you deposit it.
 
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