craigslist scam, right?

[ttown]

I got this email from an aol user in response to an ad i placed to sell a few things on CL.
In my ad, I clearly state the products are in new/excellent condition; i clearly state my price is firm; and clearly state where i'm located -- and that it's cash-only.
The response refers to "the item" all over the place, and there's no hint in the email that he knows what "the item" is -- it looks way too generic.
What trouble am i asking for if i reply?
I will absolutely not accept anything other than cash and will not ship it anywhere.
So what can go wrong?



Hello

I saw your listing on craigslist. I would like to know if the item
is still available for sale and also would like to know its
condition?. I have some questions for you....


1)Are you the first owner?
2)How old is the item?
3)What is your final asking price for it?
4)Do you have any recent pictures for it apart from the one you
posted with the advert
5)How can you describe the condition of the item?
6)Where is the item presently?

Please get back to me as soon as possible so that we can conclude
on how you'll get the payment and i'll arrange for the pick-up of the
item in your house. you can contact me via e-mail because am not
always at home. Looking forward to hearing back from you

 

[manlymatt83]

yes. scam.

 

[OCNewbie]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83
yes. scam.

seconded. You'll know the ones that are legit. They won't seem so pre-fabricated. Even with those though, still use caution.

 

[zinfamous]

I don't respond to people that refer to the listing as "the item."

makes life easier.

 

[Raduque]

I'm trying to sell my wrecked, non-running accord on CL, and I got a VM the other day from a "car sales broker" who claimed he had "several people interested" in my vehicle. I'll give him credit though, he did say "Your Honda Accord".

 

[randomlinh]

sadly, I've gotten similar responses (but were specific to the product) even tho I laid everything out in the ads. And yes, they were real people. Mostly trying to low ball.

But yes, this sounds too generic.

 

[theflyingpig]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
sadly, I've gotten similar responses (but were specific to the product) even tho I laid everything out in the ads. And yes, they were real people. Mostly trying to low ball.

But yes, this sounds too generic.

I always list items on craigslist for 20%-50% more than I would actually sell them for. Everyone tries to lowball on craigslist and it annoys me. I once got an offer of $50 when I was asking $200 for a laptop. Pathetic.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig

Originally posted by: randomlinh
sadly, I've gotten similar responses (but were specific to the product) even tho I laid everything out in the ads. And yes, they were real people. Mostly trying to low ball.

But yes, this sounds too generic.

I always list items on craigslist for 20%-50% more than I would actually sell them for. Everyone tries to lowball on craigslist and it annoys me. I once got an offer of $50 when I was asking $200 for a laptop. Pathetic.

Some people are desperate enough to get cash that lowball offers sometimes get through. Doesn't happen often, but often enough to understand why people try to lowball in the first place.

 

[dud]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig

Originally posted by: randomlinh
sadly, I've gotten similar responses (but were specific to the product) even tho I laid everything out in the ads. And yes, they were real people. Mostly trying to low ball.

But yes, this sounds too generic.

I always list items on craigslist for 20%-50% more than I would actually sell them for. Everyone tries to lowball on craigslist and it annoys me. I once got an offer of $50 when I was asking $200 for a laptop. Pathetic.

As a seller I can understand your situation but as a buyer I have met my fair share of flaky sellers ... who make no sense at all. I am currently trying to get some info on a laptop that is advertised locally. I sent an email as instructed in the advert and got a response the next day that does not even begin to answer my question(s) about the laptop. The guy even dropped the price without me having to negotiate ... yet he can't provide a simple answer to my simple question?

A week ago I was trying to buy a Dell Precision laptop from a guy. I asked him if he was negotiable ... he replied no, his price was firm. He then started telling me where he lived (he even provided his addy and telephone #) and told me what time to come by. I had to email him back telling him that (as I had already stated) his price was not within my budget (we were 20% apart in price). He seemed to understand and we parted ways amicably. Two days later I see another ad for the same laptop but he had lowered the price. I guess his "firm" price was not so firm.

5)How can you describe the condition of the item?
6)Where is the item presently?

OP, 5 and 6 above are pretty good indicators that you are about to become the victim of a 419 scam. In fact, #6 is a dead giveaway ...


Good lluck ...

 

[n7]

I am interested in your "item" too.

Obviously a scam.

And if it wasn't, then whoever composed that email is too retarded to deserve to buy what i'm selling.

 

[Quiksilver]

Those who use "Conclude" and "Payment" in the same sentence make this a scam.

 

[vrbaba]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
I don't respond to people that refer to the listing as "the item."

makes life easier.

Good call. A light bulb should definitely go off at that.

 

[God Mode]

I usually receive emails that refers to the item I put up as "item". (ie: Is this item still available?) I've also sold to legitimate people that wrote their initial message in the same structure as in the OP. I've learned that not everyone constructs email the same way. Sometimes, older peoples email tend to read the same as a spam message.

 

[alkemyst]

1) Are you the first owner?

FUCK YA!

2)How old is the item?

thirty-ate dawg

3)What is your final asking price for it?

ask your mom, she's been gaggin' 4 this shiat bish!

4)Do you have any recent pictures for it apart from the one you
posted with the advert

see #3 son...

5)How can you describe the condition of the item?

large hard and in charge, smells like your mom too...

6)Where is the item presently?

there is a HUGE reason you were just told not to open the bedroom door.

 

[ttown]

OK... I don't have the guts for that ^------ cuz it would be my luck it turned out to be a legit response by some grandpa shopping for his grandkid.

I was going to respond, figuring it was semi-legit in that the email reply was an aol address -- but I googled and it turns out aol provides free email accounts now.

The other thing that points to scam is that I listed 2 items in the ad and he asks if i still have "the item"

If it was legit, he'd specify which one he was interested in.

 

[villageidiot111]

if you have to ask...