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Craigslist Vent - Page 2

post #21 of 43
4/21/09 at 10:59am
I am constantly fighting with people on Craigslist and Freecycle. I am so sick of people not showing up. I hear your frustration with people. I am to the point that it is not worth trying to get the money and I would just donate it for the tex deduction.

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post #22 of 43
4/21/09 at 11:03am
Maybe I just don't get the whole "garage sale" aspect of CL, but to me, when you agree on a price via email or telephone beforehand, it's really tasteless to offer less at the time of the transaction UNLESS the item is seriously misrepresented.

A couple years ago, I was selling a Maclaren stroller. It was in mint condition- absolutely perfect. My asking price was 50% of what they were going for on ebay. My CL ad said that my price was firm- no offers. 8 people emailed about it- I went down the list and the first person agreed to my price, we set up a time, etc. She stood on my front porch and hemmed and hawed for 30 minutes- then offered me $20 less than what we had agreed on. I flat out told her that she had agreed to a certain price, and that if she had changed her mind, she was free to leave without the stroller and I would be happy to sell it to one of the other 7 people who were interested. She did pay my price, but OY, it was a headache.

I just don't get people like that
post #23 of 43
4/21/09 at 1:02pm
The haggling gets to me once they arrive. I sold everything in my last lot of items for the asking price up until the last person came. He was a no show the first time and came 3 hours late the second time. Then he rushes in and says he only brought $35 instead of the $50 for the items he came for. I feel now that he was setting me up the whole time to just want to get rid of the stuff. But at the time I really did want to be done with it after he wasted so much of my time and gave it to him.

I agree with many of the pp, with craigslist you either have to be ready to negotiate and set prices higher than what you want, or stick to your guns and say that this is the price, take it or leave it.
post #24 of 43
4/21/09 at 1:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAHDS View Post
I am not a haggler. I buy off Craigslist and pay whatever they're asking. If I think it's too much, I wait for it to go down.

I would have told those people no. I don't like people who try and swindle. YUCK.
same here.
post #25 of 43
4/21/09 at 1:54pm
I HATE HATE HATE when people put higher prices then what the item is really worth - evven though, as Ive learned from this thread, its for me to haggle you down. When I see a picture of an old wooden dresser, that looks old and decrepid - I am insulted that you are asking $50 for it - when clearly you dont use it, dont need it, and are trying to get rid of it.

I think upping the price just so you feel more comfortable haggling and dont have to say no is wrong. Either be comfortable and firm and say no thats the price - or haggle - but dont raise the price to higher than what its worth!
post #26 of 43
4/21/09 at 2:07pm
I guess that I am not much of a haggler either. I say what I mean and mean what I say. If someone just list a price for an item, then I can see trying to negotiate but not after you already agree to pick said item up unless it was really not what was described. If I listed an item as "firm" then I would ignore those who tried to negotiate and if someone showed up trying to negotiate after I listed at "firm" then I would not be amused. I not to be a rude person but I am a blunt person and would be so in that situation.
post #27 of 43
4/21/09 at 2:11pm
But, why did you take their deal? If someone agrees to one price even having seen the photos and knowing full well up front about the item, I won't take anything less than the previously agreed upon price. It's OK to not take their offer.
post #28 of 43
4/21/09 at 2:22pm
I'm not a fan of craigslist. Mostly because I can't seem to sell anything! People seem interested but then either don't show or after many many emails, just quit responding.

I would have said not to that deal. I'm not a haggler either and if they'd agreed to a price in an email, they should stick with it.
post #29 of 43
4/21/09 at 2:52pm
I'm ok with someone making me an offer for less via email, but once you say you're going to buy the item and I give you my address, don't show up at my door and offer me less. Its a waste of my time because I'm going to say no! I sell stuff on CL all the time and fortunately have only had 2-3 people try to haggle in person. I stay firm and tell them that I wouldn't have agreed to sell them the item if I knew they were going to him and haw and then low ball me.
post #30 of 43
4/21/09 at 8:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChampagneBlossom View Post
No, not a horrible person. I just think that should be done before we meet in person.
I don't think you're a horrible person. If you're not willing to take the 20 bucks, then say "I've got a butt load of offers, can we settle on $35?"

I'll almost always ask if they go down in price in person. I'm not comfortable negotiating price on something I haven't seen.
post #31 of 43
4/21/09 at 9:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kerc View Post
I don't think you're a horrible person. If you're not willing to take the 20 bucks, then say "I've got a butt load of offers, can we settle on $35?"

I'll almost always ask if they go down in price in person. I'm not comfortable negotiating price on something I haven't seen.
I'm just curious - do you say in the email, well I'll come take a look at it and we can agree on a price then? Or do you just say that you'll take the item?

If someone was upfront with me and said that we would agree on a price when they got here, I could then decide whether or not that would be OK with me. If there were other people wanting to buy, I would probably make an appointment with someone who agreed price firm. But if no one else was interested, I'd be OK with it. But if someone agrees to pay the asking price, and I take the time to be home and get the item out and do my part of the bargain, and then in person says, "no, actually I don't want to give you what you wanted, it's just not that good of an item" it's almost like an insult or something, that the item just isn't up to par or something or that I was lying about its condition or whatever. I don't *think* I'm being too defensive... Am I?
post #32 of 43
4/21/09 at 10:59pm
If I want something for cheaper than a person is offering it for, I ASK in the email. I won't waste their time or mine by showing up and then saying, "Oh, will you take X amount instead?"

In fact, today DH sold his golf clubs. I told him to be prepared for the guy to offer him less than what he was asking. But SHOCKINGLY enough, the guy paid what DH was asking. I'm just so used to people showing up and offering less. :/
post #33 of 43
4/22/09 at 8:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by UberMama View Post
If I want something for cheaper than a person is offering it for, I ASK in the email. I won't waste their time or mine by showing up and then saying, "Oh, will you take X amount instead?"
I agree. I have never shown up and asked for a cheaper price. I would be really uncomfortable with that. I've sold a ton of stuff on CL over the past 6months and would always go through each email and write back to people until I found someone that was wanted it for the price listed -- or was upfront and offered me a lower price over email or phone. When I've been the buyer, I've only haggled 2-3 times and always via email. If they accepted my offer than we go to pick it up.
post #34 of 43
4/22/09 at 10:13am
When I respond to the email I always say I'd like to come and take a look, not that I'm going to buy. I understand that if someone sends you an email and says I'm going to buy it, when can I pick it up -- then you're wondering why they want to haggle.

My own experience is: I've gone to look at a dresser for my kids and it stunk of smoke. No way was it worth the time to me to refinish the dresser and get the smoke out.

Now you've got me wondering if I'm breaking a craigslist rule of etiquette?
post #35 of 43
4/22/09 at 11:24am
Quote:
Now you've got me wondering if I'm breaking a craigslist rule of etiquette?
I think that as long as you (the general "you"- not just the PP ) are honest, it's fine. If you say, "I'm interested" but don't mention anything about wanting to see the item before deciding, I can see where a seller may think that you are for sure planning to buy. Honestly, I think communication is key when you're dealing on CL.
post #36 of 43
4/22/09 at 11:50am
If you are mad at them for trying to get a better bargain then you should not bother with craigslist. Of course people are going to make faces and try to guilt you into lowering the price. If you don't like their offer then counter offer or walk away. Money is tight these days for everyone and people are being told to bargain more. I think most people assume that a price listed is negotiable unless stated in the ad that the price is firm. You can repeat in your responses that the price is firm and that you will not accept lower offers. Then hold your ground. Or you can price things to expect some negotiation. Glad you got to vent, but now do something about it
post #37 of 43
4/22/09 at 1:11pm
My husband used to have the ugliest truck on the planet. It was a GMC something-or-other in the back and a Ford in the front. It was like five different colors, all some sort of primer. It sorta ran. There weren't *that* many problems with it. I really wanted it gone though because it bothered me. My husband agreed that I could get rid of it without worrying about how much money I got. I put it on Craigslist for $20. People showed up and tried to haggle us down.

Dude. It's a vehicle that runs for $20. Give me a break.
post #38 of 43
4/22/09 at 5:27pm
When I'm interested in something on CL I send an email saying that I'm interested and would like to see the item. Presumably that isn't a firm commitment to buy - what if I see it and it's not exactly what I was expecting? Also I agree that if I have made the effort to go all the way to someone's house, even if I try to bargain a bit (I usually offer $5-10 less than asking price) if the person said the price was firm I'd probably just take it. It's way more hassle for me to go see the thing than it is for the seller to respond to a different offer.
post #39 of 43
4/22/09 at 8:53pm
I've been trying to rid of my baby stuff on CL. I'm not desperate for money, so I click on the "I'm desperate for baby stuff!" wanted ads, and I email them and offer everything for free. About 90% of the time I don't even get a response!

So now I just stick everything on the side of the rd and it's gone within a couple of hours

I don't like the whole notion that everyone's stuff is worth so much. Just because you bought it at so and so price doesn't make you an awesome person that you're "willing" to sell it at 50% of what you paid for it or whatever. Even if it's in great condition. It's used and you're making money off it regardless of what you get. It's like yardsales. You charge like 50 cents for a book, not $10 because you paid $20 for it. Having said that, I would never bargain at the scene unless it's a yardsale. But that's just me.
post #40 of 43
4/22/09 at 9:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lovebeingamomma View Post
I don't like the whole notion that everyone's stuff is worth so much. Just because you bought it at so and so price doesn't make you an awesome person that you're "willing" to sell it at 50% of what you paid for it or whatever. Even if it's in great condition. It's used and you're making money off it regardless of what you get.
We bought it used already. But yeah, I suppose getting ANYTHING is better than nothing.

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