Craigslist and the decline of civilization

[dirtyblueshirt]

Today I replaced the bathroom fan in the condo. The motor stopped working, it's a $15 dollar part but I decided to replace the whole thing for $30. With the old one, I posted it on Craigslist in the free section. In the ad, I wrote:

The fan on this unit died, you can replace it with a part from home depot for about $15:

Replacement Motor Wheel 50CFM for 696N-C350BN at The Home Depot

Otherwise this comes with everything else... the 9"x9" housing, 13 watt florescent light and trim pieces. You will also need to buy the bulb.

It's free, pick it up at the location specified behind the Mercado Shores Liquor on 7th St. & Silver Strand Blvd.

No questions will be answered. First come, first served.

Now I know that you can hide your email address altogether for this reason, but I like to have the link there just to see who doesn't read. Lo and behold, I got this email:

Hi, I saw your add please give me a call very interested




Esther
619-288-xxxx

So being the smart ass that I am, I replied via my iPhone (I was not home):

Thank you for displaying such a keen interest in my ad.

Sent from my iPhone

Now we'll see what happens.

[osufans]

If I didn't know any better, I'd say we were cut from the same cloth. I tend to get a bit ornery when people fail to follow simple directions as well.

[psi chick]

i hate posting on craigslist. people are stupid when it comes to this stuff. we've sold a few things on there, and people will ask questions that are already answered in the freaking ad. what do they think that if they ask we'll tell them something different? and the lengths that they want you to go to for them to get it. omfg. we put my old phone up there for $50 because one of the buttons didn't work. wrote on it that we're in westchester, pick up is fine but you come here. had a guy write back offering us $35 if we would go to brooklyn and meet him at a subway station. yeah ok. then another guy asked if we could drive to the waterfront because he was in a residential care facility and had to be back by a certain time, then proceeded to tell us that he could get us other phones and good prices on plans. the phones were years old too. what a pain in the ass.

[BondiBlue]

^ Why I don't use craigslist.

[dirtyblueshirt]

The thing I hate most is when I post something, I tend to post it at equal to or below the average for a similar item. Then I get responses saying "what's the lowest you're willing to go?". If I were willing to start lower, I would have. People really don't understand bartering anymore... I give you a number then you tell ME what your offer is... Then we'll negotiate.

Then there's the people who lowball by a ridiculous amount. Depending on how low they go, I sometimes write back pretty scathing replies telling them not to waste my time.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk.

[Norm201]

I don't understand all you people complaining about Craigslist. If you don't like it, don't use it. Simple. I use it to sell items and I have no trouble. I set a price and the buyer pays it. I never use phones, or give my address. Only e-mail. I suggest a public meeting place close to me. If for some reason they don't show up, no big deal. If I decide to buy something, of course I'm going to ask if they might take a lower price. Why not? Nothing ventured nothing gained. And in most cases people agree to lower their price. If not then I pay the asking price. What makes Craigslist nice is that there are no conditions like e-bay. What you must consider when using Craigslist is that for the most part you're buying or selling "junk"! Items people have no use or value for. Assume the worst and hope for the best. I've done well using Craigslist.

[Norm201]

Originally Posted by dirtyblueshirt

Today I replaced the bathroom fan in the condo. The motor stopped working, it's a $15 dollar part but I decided to replace the whole thing for $30. With the old one, I posted it on Craigslist in the free section. In the ad, I wrote:



Now I know that you can hide your email address altogether for this reason, but I like to have the link there just to see who doesn't read. Lo and behold, I got this email:



So being the smart ass that I am, I replied via my iPhone (I was not home):



Now we'll see what happens.

I don't get it. Are you interested in selling the fan or are you more interested in playing games? If your not playing games then just ignore the phone replies. But if you really want to sell it. Call her. If not throw the damn thing away!

[dirtyblueshirt]

Originally Posted by Norm201

I don't get it. Are you interested in selling the fan or are you more interested in playing games? If your not playing games then just ignore the phone replies. But if you really want to sell it. Call her. If not throw the damn thing away!

You're completely missing the point. The item was free, sitting in an alley, and the ad said no questions.

I don't have a problem with Craigslist either, I love using it. I just get frustrated with stupid people who can't read the listing.

[dirtyblueshirt]

Another one this morning:

Good morning! I was wondering if you still had your bathroom light/fan? pls text/call me at 619991xxxx. thank you

And my reply:

Good morning! Thank you for your interest in my ad. Please take a moment to read it again!

- Sent from my iPad 2

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk.

[Didds]

I once posted a fan for free on craigslist (well, kijiji, but basically same thing). We said if you want it, you have to come and get it - it's a free fan, I'm going to drive across the city to meet you.

Except people kept asking us to! Most of them were asking us to drive over an hour to give them a FREE FAN. It was completely ridiculous!

I'm trying to not send useful things to the landfill, but you're not doing me a favour by taking the fan I could just toss in the garbage outside my house.

p.s. your ad wasn't that clear that it was sitting in an alley. I think you're to blame for all these replies. "Pick up in the location specified" sounds like "I'll meet you here" not "It's sitting in an alley waiting for you". FCFS implies that, but it also implies that you won't hold the item for someone.