Is CL for real?

I have responded to dozens and dozens of CraigsList ads over the last couple years.

I don't think I've EVER had a single response. None.

Doesn't matter whether I hit the email link, or use a separate phone or email printed in the body of the ad.

I am pretty good at avoiding the obvious scammers, and have never had bad spam or other negative results.

I'm beginning to take it personally.

Am I missing something? Are the percentages of real quality ads just very, very low?

Maybe I am just good at picking 'em...

For some reason, no mattet if its buying or selling, my wife has much better luck than me. I send an email and its ignored. She sends one and gets a response. We have even tried it on the same ad. So she does all the buying and selling now.

SVreX wrote: Are the percentages of real quality ads just very, very low?

I think the percentages of real quality sellers is very low.

So, you are saying I should ask my wife to make all the car pr0n connections, right?

I don't think this will end well...

I have pretty good luck with buying, selling can bring out the weirdos though. I am posting this from an iPod touch that I bought off CL last week.

I think that higher demand items of cars, parts and tools may get a good many responses that the poster won't answer calls or emails after the first couple or few good prospects. They may fall back on later calls if they wash out. And being CL is the LCD of selling, ad posters don't feel the need to remove an item in a timely manner once it's sold.

I'm negotiating for a set of wheels and tires with a guy from CL currently. Going to pick them up on Tuesday...

Occasionally, it does work.

I know the feeling as some time I wonder if ALL the ads' are fake. E-mail after e-mail and no response. But I have had luck buying and selling it just seems to take time.

I've had much better luck selling, but do they listen to contact info... hell berkeleying NO. As in: no texts, no calls after 9 pm.... so, what do I get.. nothing but texts and 10:30 pm calls. CL is annoying as berkeley but I can still move a lotta stuff when I need to.

logdog wrote: For some reason, no mattet if its buying or selling, my wife has much better luck than me. I send an email and its ignored. She sends one and gets a response. We have even tried it on the same ad. So she does all the buying and selling now.

It could have something to do with your e-mail signature; "It puts the lotion on its skin" kinda scared me at first.

DrBoost wrote:

logdog wrote: For some reason, no mattet if its buying or selling, my wife has much better luck than me. I send an email and its ignored. She sends one and gets a response. We have even tried it on the same ad. So she does all the buying and selling now.

It could have something to do with your e-mail signature; "It puts the lotion on its skin" kinda scared me at first.

Here I thought it was my address CreepyUncleCharlie1952@gmail

SVreX wrote: So, you are saying I should ask my wife to make all the car pr0n connections, right? I don't think this will end well...

Its been successful for me. YMMV

Pieced together a complete roof rack and snowboard mount for my car from 3 different sellers this weekend. 2 of the components were brand new. Total cost $125 (that's cheap here in the land of hellaflush)

Talked to the guy who had the $850 1 owner mx-6 gt I've been drooling over, he might try to fix it with his mechanic friend helping, but holding onto my number in case he changes his mind :(

I feel your frustration. I've found cars over the years that really interest me, but it's hard to generate a response. My hypothesis is that the cars I like sell quickly and, by the time I find it and email an inquiry, it's already sold. And, I guess most folks don't then bother to respond that it's already sold.

The other thing I detest is having to text for more information. Trying to find out about a car by text is infuriating. I inevitably call the person, who then doesn't answer, but is fine texting me a response.

I mean where else can I get a coffee table and a blowjob? especially in the same trade/deal!

ive bought and sold a few items on craigslist now, never had a problem with the actual people. But yes, for every good post you land on, youll get ignored by 8 dozen other posters when you reply saying youll meet in their area with the asking amount in cash.

I blame my decent grammar, and ability to utilize punctuation. I probably look like a spammer to the droves of moronic asstards who lazily flounder all over the list...

fasted58 wrote: I've had much better luck selling, but do they listen to contact info... hell berkeleying NO. As in: no texts, no calls after 9 pm.... so, what do I get.. nothing but texts and 10:30 pm calls. CL is annoying as berkeley but I can still move a lotta stuff when I need to.

So just don't put your phone number in the add and ask them to email you with a phone number. That's one way around it. About the only way I know of.

Clem

You have to almost be a notch above curt about it, bordering on aggressive shiny happy person, and expect nothing on their part. More so on the poorly written stuff, less if the pictures and writeup are nice. Sound like you are intent on buying it irregardless of your actual intentions. That's how I do business on CL and it works fine.

SVreX wrote: I have responded to dozens and dozens of CraigsList ads over the last couple years. I don't think I've EVER had a single response. None. Doesn't matter whether I hit the email link, or use a separate phone or email printed in the body of the ad. I am pretty good at avoiding the obvious scammers, and have never had bad spam or other negative results. I'm beginning to take it personally. Am I missing something? Are the percentages of real quality ads just very, very low? Maybe I am just good at picking 'em...

Having sold, bought, and traded a lot of stuff on CL...here is my advice: Make sure the seller knows you're an actual person who is interested in buying their "item"

[no that you would...but don't call it an "item." Any response that says, "I'm interested in purchasing your item...can you tell me it's latest conditions and asking price?" is a scam. Always.]

Important rule: never send an email asking if it's still for sale. That is the most often received scam/spam phishing tactic.

If someone emails me asking if it's still for sale, it's a scam and does not get a reply. If someone who's genuinely interested in my "item" emails asking only that...they're not savvy enough about how CL works to realize they won't be getting a response...but they won't be getting a response. Acutally...that happened this weekend. A guy asked if "it was still for sell" and I ignored it. Until he sent another email with more info that made me think he's probably a real person. I replied that time. Jury is still out.

How I reply to an ad to get though the sniff test is something like:

"Hi, I'd like some more information about your '78 Fairmont. Is it a straight six or 4 cylinder? What part of town are you located in? I'm Alex and this is my phone number...so you know I'm a real person: 573.....
Thanks!
Alex
Columbia"

It's important to point out that the questions I ask are NOT ones that are clearly addressed in the ad. If someone asks me something I've clearly stated in the ad...it's either a scam or a moron and either way, I don't want to deal with them.

Clem

I bought most my cars through CG. Escort for 1,000. Ranger for 650. F150 for 2,500. Cadavalier for 400. Go Kart for 50. Bunch of good deals there.

I've had better luck by calling a phone number, or even texting. But I've found several ads with no contact #, so emailing them is the only contact method, which I rarely got a response.

I think at least for vehicles, some guys list them for sale to appease the wife, with no real intent on selling, but giving her the false impression he really is trying.

Datsun1500 wrote:

fidelity101 wrote: I mean where else can I get a coffee table and a blowjob? especially in the same trade/deal!

Must be a nice table if ya had to blow a guy to get it.....

One word....

mahogany

could be a regional thing... i've bought and sold on 4 different CL regions here in MN- Fargo, St Cloud, Brainerd, Minneapolis/St Paul- and i've found that the experience is better (and prices are lower...) with the more rural Fargo and Brainerd sections than they are on the St Cloud and Minneapolis ones. of course, the descriptions and spelling are also worse on those sections, but the bargain basement prices more than make up for that.... if you are looking to buy, they get back to you- even if the thing is already sold... if you are looking to sell, they actually don't get mad at my "click the anonymous link at the top of the page to contact me" method of selling things that i use to avoid posting my email address or phone number on the main page and weed out the few undesirables before actually making phone contact..

When calling, you will inevitably get a voicemail. I have had luck with stating my name and number, telling them why I am calling, then stating the number again somewhat slower so that it can be written down. Doesn't hurt to tell them when you will give them another call, either.

Text using google voice. I've had 90% at least response with this method.

They think because you are using a phone to contact them, you're not a scammer... Jokes on them!