Craigslist 101

airmenair

airmenair

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Arlington, Texas, USA
I'm selling a vehicle on craigslist for the first time. In fact this is the first time I've sold anything on craigslist before. I'm also not much of a salesman, so I have a question or two in regards to handling potential buyers.

I'm trying to sell my former 85 Merkur parts car in non-running condition. I have a few interested potential buyers who would like to come see the car. This is my predicament: Since the car will not drive and I don't have a way to haul it the potential buyers will have to come to my house to see it. I'm not to thrilled about just handing my address over to a person who I have only communicated with via e-mail. So how should I go about it? Just be up front and tell them that since I do not know them I would prefer to meet in a public place first and then I could escort them to my house?

Better options?

Thanks :)
 
That's exactly what I would do.

That way you can make sure buyers are serious as you'll see the truck and trailer (if they have one) and be able to discuss details. Then, if you trust them, tell them to follow you back. Show them the car, let them inspect it and then take their money.
 
Pretty much how you should do it and how I've done it.

Except, of course, I carry a pistol or have backup while doing so - in case the answer to 'are they honest' is 'no, they're holdup artists.'
 
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Spectre said:
Pretty much how you should do it and how I've done it.

Except, of course, I carry a pistol or have backup while doing so - in case the answer to 'are they honest' is 'no, they're holdup artists.'
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Hmm. This can be replicated.

Makarov or CZ52? Or both akimbo? :p
 
Think of it almost like a blind date. Meet in public and have an out. I prefer a fast food place get there order something and just say you been busy and didnt have time to eat all day and sit and talk and get a feel if they creep you out have someone call and say you got to go pick timmy up from soccer practice.

The check out - make sure someone else is home and during the daytime if possable. Make sure you have title and all docs needed by the state handy but not outside with you. If they buy take cash in and then documents out.
Payment - CASH CASH CASH no money order no checks might be worth it to buy a counterfraud test pen if more then a few hundred.
 
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I cash checks all day long, I know what to look for ;)

edit: that said, no way in hell I would take one. lol
 
As others have said, meet in a public place, have backup/guns/both, and then decide whether to take them to see the car.
 
I have people meet me not at my house, and then have them follow me. They are usually OK if you tell 'em that it's tricky to find your house.

Communicate via email, but then when you've decided who you want to deal with, call 'em or have them call you. Talk to 'em on the phone.
 
Meet infront of the trainstation at high noon , make sure to have some people on the rooftops and the horses closeby in case things get out of hand :p

I might be playing to much redemtion.....

Seriously though, like already said, just use the 'my house is hard to find' trick and meet them somewhere in public, a bar/fastfood place, DO NOT tel them in wich vehicle you will be arriving or how you look, and make sure to be somewhat early, that way you can see what sort of people you are dealing with before they know its you.
Also make sure when you do take them home, make sure someone else is there , somewhat out of sight (AI: in the house) but close enough to help out if needed .

*realises you're in Texas*

forget everything I said, just bring an M16 and Spectre :p
 
If you're that concerned I can only conclude your typical gregslist buyer must look like this.

https://pic.armedcats.net/k/kn/knarkas/2010/08/02/fake_bomb.jpg
 
AiR said:
If you're that concerned I can only conclude your typical gregslist buyer must look like this.

https://pic.armedcats.net/k/kn/knarkas/2010/08/02/fake_bomb.jpg
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Worse.

Three charged in deadly Craigslist robbery
suspects.jpg

From left, Kiyoshi Higashi, Joshua Reese and Amanda Knight.

Pierce County prosecutors have charged three people in a home-invasion robbery that left an Edgewood man dead.

Sheriff spokesman Ed Troyer said two of the suspects were captured in California over the weekend, and a third surrendered to police on Tuesday.

Troyer said Pierce County Sheriff's detectives are in California, and investigators are also working in Western Washington to capture other people believed to be involved.

"We are 100 percent confident that we have identified the group," Troyer said.

Joshua Nathan Reese, 20, and Kiyoshi Alan Higashi, 22, were captured during a traffic stop in Daly City, just outside of San Francisco.

Troyer said Amanda Knight was arrested during the same traffic stop but posted bail before detectives connected the three to the killings. She turned herself in again on Tuesday evening after her photo was released to the media.

"She showed up at a police station in Sumner," he said.

It was not immediately clear when she returned to Washington.

All three have been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and assault in connection with the April 28 shooting that took the life of 43-year-old James Sanders.

Sanders was shot to death at his home after letting in a group of people who said they were considering purchasing a diamond ring Sanders had listed on the Craigslist website.

Detectives believe Sanders was shot three times while trying to protect his teenage son, who tried to fight back against the robbers.

According to court documents, sheriff's deputies received a tip from someone who said Higashi called his father from jail in California and said police there confiscated a handgun used in the Edgewood murder.

The tipster told investigators that Knight went to the Sanders house to pretend to buy the ring, and that Resse pistol-whipped James' son.

The documents indicate that another man was responsible for shooting James, and the tipster said Higashi told his family that the deadly robbery "wasn't supposed to go that way."

Speaking to reporters after announcing the arrests, Troyer had no sympathy for the suspected robbers' intent.

"These people are heinous," he said. "The shooting was just something that didn't have to happen, but it's not a big step when you're willing to go point guns at people, tie them up and put them on the floor.

"Do we feel sorry for them that they think something went wrong? Absolutely not. They had their chance to come in and talk to us -- any one of them -- instead of take off and run away. We're thrilled to be able to charge every single one of them."

Police in Lake Stevens are investigating a similar robbery where a family was robbed after listing a flat-screen TV on Craigslist.

Officials said they believe the people involved in the the deadly Edgewood robbery are also responsible for the Lake Stevens incident.
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Due to the 'armed camp' state of Texas, we get a lot less of this crap than other states, but it does still happen here. The above story is, unfortunately, not all that unusual.

http://wbztv.com/local/milton.craigslist.robbery.2.1829416.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=5930862&page=1

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/81739072.html

http://wcco.com/crime/avoiding.craigslist.scams.2.1468846.html


One with a much happier ending:

Edit: Also - what the hell is 'gregslist,' some Euro-clone of Craigslist or something? :p
 
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Plus, meeting them first, you can ask to make sure they have the payment. In my ads, I specifically state "The price of this item is $50. By responding to this add, you've accepted that the price is $50. That does not mean that you show up with $40 and say 'take it or leave it.' You will be leaving empty-handed."
 
sounds about right ha
 
All good advice here, thanks. I sent him and e-mail and just flat out told him that I didn't want to give my address out through e-mail to someone I didn't know. I suggested meeting in the Wal-Mart parking lot and then going to the house. He was ok with that and said he'll call me once he has arrived.
 
Did you tell him not to worry about the pickup truck full of AK wielding 'protection?'
 
I'm unsure whether I'm supposed to laugh or cry.

I told various online buyers my address in order for them to pick an item up. Noone has set fire to it yet.

Hell, If I was a buyer and I was told to meet in a public place, then get in a strangers car, being driven to an unknown location, THEN I'd be fucking worried and just get my ass out of there ASAP.
 
Derek said:
I'm unsure whether I'm supposed to laugh or cry.

I told various online buyers my address in order for them to pick an item up. Noone has set fire to it yet.

Hell, If I was a buyer and I was told to meet in a public place, then get in a strangers car, being driven to an unknown location, THEN I'd be fucking worried and just get my ass out of there ASAP.
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I don't think he said anything about getting into the same car, he could just follow in his own...
 
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