Why is Craigslist going downhill?

[JacobAziza]

I've been selling and giving away stuff from my hauling runs on CL for about 3 years
www.biodieselhauling.org/salvage

Heres what I found works really well:
I use the anonymous email system. Never give them my phone number. Since about 1 in 10 people who say they are interested, I don't want to waste my time on phone calls.
When an email comes in from a CL ad, I have a standard generic reply message:

I still have it.

It is outside in the driveway (covered by the awning), so you can come by anytime.
If no one is home, please leave payment in the cat door.

3521 High St
Trailer #22

The park is the only driveway between MacArthur Blvd and I-580 Freeway.

Mine is the first trailer on the right after the permanent building halfway down.

Delivery is also available.

See my other postings under "Salvage; Sale and Free items" at biodieselhauling.org

--
Bakari Kafele

If a lot of people wrote about the same thing, once it gets picked up I send them all another generic message saying it has been picked up already.

In 3 years only one person has ever picked something up and failed to leave payment.

Cuts down immensely on the time and work of constantly talking to people who aren't actually going to show up.

[alohaspirit]

If I adopted that way, my stuff would all disappear.

Thats an interesting style though. Glad it working for you.


Id also like to share about a good experience I had and hopefully youll share yours.


I was selling a car a little over a year ago. I got a call from a lady from a neighbor island who was interested. She said that she was getting divorced and since she didnt want to fight over their car, she wanted to get a similiar one. As always I was skeptical since shipping cars off island is a huge red flag. But we talked it over and emailed each other back and forth and I agreed. She showed a ton of trust and mailed me a check. (Now ive been burned once when i was younger: sent money to a guy in florida who basically said "haha, f-u") So I was determined not to let her down. I cashed the check and after finding out it was legit, took the car down to the loading docks. She got it a few days later and said she was very happy as it was everything she hoped it would be.

[JacobAziza]

Originally Posted by alohaspirit

If I adopted that way, my stuff would all disappear.

thats what I thought at first too.

I live in a poor part of a large city (East Oakland), and have sold many dozens of things ranging from $20-$200 this way over the past 3 years.
I find people are more trustworthy the more you trust them.

I do prefer to not leave my address in the original ad, so they have to contact me first. Then at least I have their email and a way to contact them.

[Bicycle Bob]

With that system, you don't even know that the unpaid item was taken by an ad respondent. Thanks for testing and reporting on that method. I used to live where farm-gate produce stands were common. There was always some shrinkage, but not enough to pay for an attendant, just as the deer always got some, because a perfect fence was too costly.
I knew a young woman who often walked through a rough neighborhood around 2 AM. She'd watch out for the first guy who looked vaguely threatening, and ask him to walk her home. They all became perfect gentlemen.

[JacobAziza]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

With that system, you don't even know that the unpaid item was taken by an ad respondent.

very true.
I thought just last week that I had my second problem (someone who picked up a free item helped themselves to something which clearly wasn't being given away) but it turned out to have been my neighbor, who brought it back a few hours later

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

With that system, you don't even know that the unpaid item was taken by an ad respondent. Thanks for testing and reporting on that method. I used to live where farm-gate produce stands were common. There was always some shrinkage, but not enough to pay for an attendant, just as the deer always got some, because a perfect fence was too costly.
I knew a young woman who often walked through a rough neighborhood around 2 AM. She'd watch out for the first guy who looked vaguely threatening, and ask him to walk her home. They all became perfect gentlemen.

...until one wasn't.

[bgd73]

paranormal things have happened as a result of craigslist in the crime category.

I still have not ruled out my car getting attacked. the facts of previous events, and then the result..way too freaky to completely ignore. I am a bit loud about the old sube..and will be for the rest of my days at the rate things are going. I know what you mean by retarded or unpleasant. the ads take a long time for responses even from boston. It is free, and the net is stacking up fast, economy for real world does this...leaving more time at computing, and it gathers all kinds of people, including psychopath.

[captainslug]

It really sucks ass right now. I'm giving up on trying to list anything through it.

[Christ]

I'm in the process of selling parts off my 'Coma on CL... I haven't gotten any spam so far, just the typical people who want to ask questions that are covered in the post, then ask the same question 4 emails later. I've told everyone so far that I would only discuss majority details in email, if they had specific questions, they'd have to come look at it.

I think I've got the bed sold, which is actually going for more than I paid for the truck. Great for me! That one sale might actually finance my Metroid purchase, also from CL!