conquest - DENIED!

[ChristTrekker]

I hate flaky Craigslist sellers.

So, Saturday, I'm online for work, and notice a C650 for $20. I fire off a quick reply saying I'd pay $10, then shut down til Monday morning. Just after midnight, the guy replies saying $10 is ok and asking if I can pick it up Sunday. Well first thing Monday morning I respond saying I'll pick it up any time that's agreeable. Monday night (after work) I get a reply that it's already gone. Wouldn't you think that when agree to sell something, for a given price, that you need to follow through? Or has our wired society come to expect that nobody "unplugs" any more and instant responses are the norm?

I hate flaky Craigslist sellers.

 

[Osgeld]

so you low balled him and replied a day late?

 

[Unknown_K]

You should use a generic gmail account for email so that you can check it on any machines. A deal is not a deal until confirmed or paid for. It would be nice if people gave you a day or so to reply to confirm the deal, but in this age where people get distracted and never reply back I can see the seller just wanting it gone to the first person who shows up (especially if multiple people replied and he isn't making any money off of it).

 

[kvanderlaag]

When I'm selling something for local pickup, to a person who I don't know (be it personally or from a community forum) I don't really feel like I owe anything to "the first person to say they'll take it."

Unless they're paying me to hold it, the first person to successfully complete the chain of communication and show up at my home with the agreed upon price gets the item. I'm not selling it to do anyone a favor, I'm selling it because I need money, because I need it out of my house, or both.

Selling specific items to specific groups of people is a different story, but if it's a commodity item that's going to produce a lineup of people who want it, why would I turn those people down just to wait for someone to maybe get back to me, just because they were the first person to e-mail me?

 

[ChristTrekker]

Hmmm. I guess whenever I listed something for sale, I was not interested in causing a literal race to my door, nor have I expected that the other party would stay glued to their computer monitor until all details were finalized. I generally do work with the first person to show serious interest, if the sale can be worked out within a reasonable timeframe. I assumed that most people were like this. Sounds like y'all have a different opinion.

 

[Unknown_K]

It doesn't even have to be for sale, you have any idea how hard it is to get people to show up to get free items on freecycle? I had people practically beg me for an item and then never show up or even email me back if something happened. Some people use craigslist to ditch items cheap (almost free) just so they won't be swarmed on freecycle and have to deal with the no-shows (once you put a token price on something that weeds out quite a few people). I know I hate putting working items in the trash.

 

[4seasonphoto]

I had people practically beg me for an item and then never show up or even email me back if something happened.

Same here. I've had good luck with FreeCycle, but mostly look for people who will commit to a pickup within a few hours. Beyond that, they lose interest or get distracted.

 

[Bunsen]

so you low balled him and replied a day late?

QFT

 

[ChristTrekker]

Lowballing? Really? I've been getting 68k Macs for free as far back as 2002 (G1 PMacs back then, too), so unless it's something really rare, I think $10 is plenty fair. A stock C650 is a nice machine as far as 68ks go, but it's still a 17-year-old box. I presented a reasonable counter-offer. The seller sounded more than happy to get a response to his post, as I suspect it saved him having to pay for disposal. If I didn't already have an A/UX box, maybe it would have been worth more to me. That's the nature of supply and demand, and market pricing.

 

[Osgeld]

I thought 20 was pretty fair, and maybe someone else did too, and it was apparently worth more to that other person cause they already had it, I mean this is not some guy trying to make a living on "interesting" computer systems, its just some dude that wanted the thing out of his house

and I know we all talk like good little citizens, but "saving him the disposal fee" ? if the guy wanted to chuck it it would have been in his trash can, or at least where I take most of my techno garbage, the dumpster at work (I mean authorized recycling and reclamation center for hazardous waste)

This is why I dont deal with classified ad's anymore, you set a price you think is fair, do not indicate negotiable or best offer , and someone ALWAYS calls you up trying to nickle and dime you down, then 9 out of 10 times you only hear back from them day(s) after its gone just to hear them get huffy

 

[Unknown_K]

There are people who camp out on craigslist and freecycle among others who reply a minute after you post something wanting it then spend a few days trying to flip it for a profit. If they find somebody who wants it they pick it up, otherwise you never hear from them again.

The funniest thing I remember about freecycle was when I went to pick up a complete IIgs system (and it was mint) the people were kind of shocked that I had shown up and was on time. Too many people had wanted the system and never shown up, it was relisted a second time when I seen it. Anything posted made by Apple is swarmed on even when the people have no clue what it is (no its not a new powerbook pro!). Pretty much the same with any computer stuff around here.

A couple years ago I went to pick up a 15" Dell monitor for a system I was giving away and the guy just gave it to me for free, he had listed it for $15 on craigslist just so he would not get flooded with email if he posted it free.

I don't mind doing counter offers when people are quoting ebay prices, but when I commit to purchase something I send the paypal ASAP.

 

[ianj]

Why would you spend a day off the computer if you were expecting a reply from someone about a purchase, anyway? Lowballing or not.

 

[chet david]

Better luck future endeavors