Do you use a Craigslist template to avoid the #*$(ing idiots?

[Doppel]

I've always noticed that Craigslist is a magnet for total f**king morons, so I'm hoping to find a good template approach to avoid the morons' emails.

Here is what I'm using right now, trying to sell a TV at a damn-near criminal price (really it is). I list the TV and at the end:

Price is firm and if you are reading this the TV is still for sale.

I've received four emails, so far:

1) Asked me for my number because she was interested. I gave it, never heard back.
2) Asked if I would take $5 less (just being a greedy pig) and also would I drive it into the city. I never responded.
3) Asking "U still got the TV". That was it. Didn't even bother putting in a question mark. I didn't bother responding.
4) Asked if the tv is still for sale. I hate myself and responded yes. I imagine I won't hear back.

I know I come off as insufferable here at times but my ads and correspondence are polite and to the point. It's a fine line between telling the idiots not to email me and not coming off as a dick in the ad, I think.

 

[lxskllr]

I scan the jobs on Craigslist sometimes, and the listings are appalling. I need to start a company that creates job listings for people. I'd use clear, concise, and accurate English, and I'd include all necessary information. Maybe charge $5 per listing, and make money on volume. The problem is the people that need my services are likely too stupid to realize it.

 

[Newbian]

So do u still have it

 

[Number1]

You're lowering your chances of selling your stuff by refusing to knowledge interested people. Are you that busy that you don't have the time to deal with them?

Yet you take the time to come in here and complain about it.



That is my firm opinion. If you're reading this, I have not changed my mind.

 

[chin311]

sounds about right. I listed an iPhone 4 on there the other day, sold within 6 hours for the price I was asking, had about 10 inquires, 2-3 worth the time to communicate with. I had the following kind of inquiries:

1) would you take 40 cash tonight (lol didnt respond)
2) do you still have it? x3
3) can I come get it @ 1030pm (lol again)
4) whats your address (lol)

I hate Craigslist but I've been lucky to sell to normal decent folk the past few times. Usually I cut out the retards easily, grammar is usually an easy way to spot the not-so intelligent ones.

 

[Number1]

sounds about right. I listed an iPhone 4 on there the other day, sold within 6 hours for the price I was asking, had about 10 inquires, 2-3 worth the time to communicate with. I had the following kind of inquiries:

1) would you take 40 cash tonight (lol didnt respond)
2) do you still have it? x3
3) can I come get it @ 1030pm (lol again)
4) whats your address (lol)

I hate Craigslist but I've been lucky to sell to normal decent folk the past few times. Usually I cut out the retards easily, grammar is usually an easy way to spot the lesser intelligent ones.

"the lesser inteligent ones"? Is that proper grammar?

 

[bigrash]

U stil got tv

 

[chin311]

"the lesser inteligent ones"? Is that proper grammar?

Lol opps, ya got me. I was referring to the "plz" "u", etc etc

 

[JulesMaximus]

You wouldn't take $5 less than your asking price? Really?

There are a million tvs for sale on craigslist. I'm surprised you got 4 e-mails.

 

[HeXen]

It's a fine line between telling the idiots not to email me and not coming off as a dick in the ad, I think.

looked more like an impossible line. Either you want to sell it or you dont.
Grammar expectation from cell phones or keyboards is a waste of time and tells more of the persons ability to type than their intelligence.
how hard is it to respond with typing a few words? So you become a crybaby if they don't respond back or can't type well or didn't take the time to read your overworded document about selling a TV super cheap. Any brick n mortar store or online shop would go broke if they waited for intelligent sounding interests.
c'mon now, this is kids stuff...just market the stupid TV and be a sales guy and sell the stupid thing. cripes

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I have them emailing me all the time with their phone number and name. That wouldn't bother me except I have my number listed

 

[feralkid]

Is this a parody post?

Seriously; "insufferable" is an understatement.

"Hello, I am the great Doppel, and if thou shalt deign to purchase from me, Ye must answer these questions three."

"There will be a short literacy test, wherein I shall determine if you are worthy to buy my used crap."

Good God you have some serious issues with your fellow humans.

And dude, "criminally priced" is not the preferred nomenclature. It generally refers to something being "over-priced" to an extreme level.

 

[TJCS]

I use a template but the idiots and phishing fags keeps on email shooting you in the eye. Some days you want to get rid of something bad enough you reply to the still available emails and then.... BAM! phishing fags!

Is it still available?
Avaialbe?
Can you ship this to <xyz>
whats your phone number?
<insert pity story here> please help.

You just kinda have to tell yourself that sometimes what makes craigslist so great is the idiots. Or else who is gonna buy stuff you don't want no more.

 

[xj0hnx]

Hello my friend, kindly remove you ad from Craigslist, as I want to purchase your items. I will gladly send you a cashiers check and include an extra $100 for your efforts. Please email me your address so I can have the courier service I use come pick up your item as I am currently on business trip.

 

[Zukatah_]

Even if you use the best template in the world, there will be some idiots that can't read.

I sold my winter tires this week. I put in all the information (Brand, Model, Size, Thread left, wheel size, bolt pattern, etc.) and I got a couple of emails regarding information that was already in the ad. I'm always torn between replying and forgetting about it but I guess it's a tough one to ignore when you want to get rid of your junk.

Finally, someone who couldn't even spell their email address right came to buy them. I know for a fact they won't fit on his car because it's not the same bolt pattern but the info was clearly stated. Too bad for him, it's a $200 lesson on how to read and a bonus lecture on bolt pattern.

 

[Ruptga]

You might also include a boilerplate response that they can copy and fill out; something that has all the information you personally need to set up the transaction and to know they are serious about it. If they can't be bothered to answer two to four simple questions they almost definitely aren't worth your time. But for the most part, it sounds like you are doing things right. Some people are just that stupid and there is nothing to be done about it unless you can manage a coup and a genocide, and even then the problem would come back in the next generation.

 

[Doppel]

You're lowering your chances of selling your stuff by refusing to knowledge interested people. Are you that busy that you don't have the time to deal with them?

Yet you take the time to come in here and complain about it.



That is my firm opinion. If you're reading this, I have not changed my mind.

lol

Most of these people are yahoos. I'm just saving myself the trouble of dealing with them and frankly don't want to deal with people who cannot follow basic instructions.

I think actually I may starting putting a tiny series of letters in my ads like AXU or something and then I could filter all craigslist emails with those letters in them. This would then let me filter out 99% of the spam that the bots find, although I'd have to tell people to take those out. There must be a way to deal with spam, though, since CL can't/won't.

I hate Craigslist but I've been lucky to sell to normal decent folk the past few times.

The people who come to my house are fine! I've never had a problem with them. It's getting to them through the riff raff that is the issue.

There are a million tvs for sale on craigslist. I'm surprised you got 4 e-mails.

Like I said, I'm asking way below what anybody can buy one for new. I don't want to deal with a greedy pig trying to get $5 off just to make himself feel better AND get free delivery. Stores have firm pricing and so do I and I said as much. I don't always have that on items.

Is this a parody post?

Seriously; "insufferable" is an understatement.

"Hello, I am the great Doppel, and if thou shalt deign to purchase from me, Ye must answer these questions three."

"There will be a short literacy test, wherein I shall determine if you are worthy to buy my used crap."

Good God you have some serious issues with your fellow humans.

And dude, "criminally priced" is not the preferred nomenclature. It generally refers to something being "over-priced" to an extreme level.

Asking people to let me know when they want to pick it up and don't ask stupid sh*t is hardly a labyrinthe of questions.

 

[dud]

I've always noticed that Craigslist is a magnet for total f**king morons, so I'm hoping to find a good template approach to avoid the morons' emails.

You are never going to completely rid yourself of the idiots and fools that populate Cl. Just last week I posted a WTB (Want To Buy) thread on my local CL. You and I know what WTB means but apparently NOT the idiots looking through CL. Within 8 hours some tool sends me an email asking me what condition and price I wanted for my "WTB" item.

I quickly responded with a WTH he was thinking ... thinking I was selling an item when I was clearly SEEKING to buy the item. He never responded back ...


Good luck OP, you are going to need it. You can't fix stupid.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Craig's List is free, and it's infected with stupid people and cheap people... but what are you going to do? Be persistent if you want to sell your stuff on the free and local.

My template tells people where I'm located (Los Angeles is a big place), it lists everything that they might want to know about the item, it shows them many pics, it tells them that the item is still for sale if the ad is still up, and it asks them to provide a contact number.

Doesn't matter.

"Where are you located?"
"Is the item still for sale?"
"Does it come with a power supply?"
"Can you hold it until I get my paycheck?"

Surprisingly, I find sellers to be just about as flakey as buyers.

At least 85% of my interactions on CL are a complete waste of time.

 

[DrPizza]

n/m

 

[spacelord]

I usually put a blurb about
"Sold As-is, No trades, Cash Only, and I won't ship it"

I was selling a 6 year old vehicle.. and someone wanted to trade for a smaller, older vehicle of far less value. Some people will try anything.

 

[SheHateMe]

Oh man, $5 less is really gonna hurt!

 

[Doppel]

Oh man, $5 less is really gonna hurt!

I don't give a crap about $5. It's the principal of the fact people cannot follow instructions.

Case(s) in point, earlier today I said I doubted that guy would get back to me in first post. He hasn't.

I've changed my listing with some key words and requesting people email after removing this key word from the subject, or else it goes to spam. I have since received two emails, both with the key word. My listing is like 150 words long. I don't know why people cannot read and follow basic instructions.

 

[Doppel]

And now, somebody is texting me asking if it's new or not. The fucking add says NEW and unopened and there is a picture of a TV in a box with fiberglass straps around it because it's new.

 

[Triumph]

Yes there are tons of idiots but you just gotta put up with it because what alternative do you have? Ebay where there is 75,000 other people selling the exact same thing? Swap meets, what's that? Forum? limited audience. Newspaper? What's that?

If you want your shit gone, price it right, and it will be gone. People will buy anything for the right price.
If your price is fair and you want that price, then grin and bear it.
Consider the option that you may be being the CL asshole to someone else.