Craigslist Etiquette: The Heads Up TXT

I've been trying to do business with this lady selling me a 35mm f/1.8 lens for my Nikon.

She INSISTS on using only email to communicate, but yet she'll only check it once a day. I can't meet except for right after work, so she says "yeah, I think 6:15 at Amelia's will work."

Then, I hear nothing for the rest of the day. I've given her my cell number in EVERY SINGLE EMAIL and I still hear nothing from her.

So today, I ask "can you meet tonight." she responds with "I think so." That's it. I. think. so.

Then tonight, she sends me an email at 9:30pm saying "Wow we're really having issues meeting up. Try again tomorrow?"

So I basically just sent her a professional if not somewhat irritated sounding reply asking:

"Typical Craiglist Buyer/Seller Communication is easiest when the details are sorted through email, but the meeting place is finalized in a text message sent 15 to 30 minutes prior to the meeting time as a way of confirming that the meeting will still work for both parties."

"This also provides some level of protection as most cell phone numbers can be traced, where as most emails cannot. It is in both the buyer and sellers interested to have a contact phone number and name."

I hate that stuff from both sides buying and selling. Email seems to be becomimg outdated almost

I have never received a response to any email I have ever sent on CL

Seems like a lot of trouble for a camera lens.

Have you priced Nikon lenses? Oi!

If you don't want to give out your number, aren't there way of blocking it on the senders end? So I could send you a txt, or call you, but you wouldn't be able to see my number?

In reply to PHeller:

absolutely. I have a friend whose phone number shows as 'Restricted' anytime he calls or texts me from his cell - even though I have his number in my contacts. I think he paid a little extra for it through Verizon, but I don't think it was much.

ryanty22 wrote: I hate that stuff from both sides buying and selling. Email seems to be becomimg outdated almost

Email is fine as long as you check and respond to it regularly.

I wonder if this isn't an issue caused by the sexes of the buyer and seller. I know my wife would not be comfortable corresponding with a strange man in response to a craigslist ad and she would be very hesitant to arrange a meeting with him. In fact, she just wouldn't sell anything on Craigslist to avoid such a situation. Heck, I think she gets nervous when I buy or sell something to a stranger via Craigslist.

ultraclyde wrote: In reply to PHeller: absolutely. I have a friend whose phone number shows as 'Restricted' anytime he calls or texts me from his cell - even though I have his number in my contacts. I think he paid a little extra for it through Verizon, but I don't think it was much.

Yup, and when I see restricted I don't answer.

T.J. wrote: I wonder if this isn't an issue caused by the sexes of the buyer and seller. I know my wife would not be comfortable corresponding with a strange man in response to a craigslist ad and she would be very hesitant to arrange a meeting with him. In fact, she just wouldn't sell anything on Craigslist to avoid such a situation. Heck, I think she gets nervous when I buy or sell something to a stranger via Craigslist.

I've made an awful lot of deals through Kijiji, and almost always insist on meeting at a coffee shop or high-visibility parking lot.

I think I'd pass on someone who's that difficult to deal with - I've had those sort of transactions before and they're a waste of energy.

I usually meet in the parking lot of a police station or inside a bank for my craigslist sales or purchases. Seems to weed out some buyers though.

In reply to nicksta43:

The word is out about Nick nationwide!

Those craigslist e-mails are quick to be sent to junk mail. I use a craigslist only email to communicate. Don't care about who has that email. I make no use of it otherwise.