Another CL Flake

[Woody Sound]

So I put a nice stereo component on CL at a super reasonable price, $100, I just need to quickly clear out a bunch stuff before moving out into another home. A guy from a town about 135 miles away contacts me and says he really really wants it, but lives in town x, will pay me $50 more to ship it to him, and I agree to it. I give him my pp address and tell him I'll get it packed up right away. The next day I tell him it's all packed ready to go, just waiting for payment. No answer. On the 3rd day he writes back saying "Sorry to back out but I have some other expenses."

[starjasmine]

My first instinct when I heard that he offered 50% more than your asking price was "scam." Instead, seems like a real person who maybe just doesn't manage their purchases carefully. At least he responded back... ghosting is a pretty common response to uncomfortable situations these days.

Good luck with future inquiries!

[ArcaJazz]

These days fb marketplace seems to be the best way for local classifieds.
CL and OfferUp are kinda done.

[wintermoon]

I learned a long time ago not to do anything until I'm almost positive a CL deal is going to happen. No shipping, if someone pays via PayPal outside of ebay, they can easily claim they never got the item and you have no recourse. And I don't immediately get the item out and ready for local deals when a time and place are agreed on. I have the buyer email when they arrive at the nearby police station, then I'll load it in the car and go, this weeds out no shows.

[Stringswinger]

These days fb marketplace seems to be the best way for local classifieds.
CL and OfferUp are kinda done.

I get results with both CL and FB Marketplace. The price is right on both platforms compared to the old days of paying for classified ads in the paper.

Flakes are part of selling stuff. Dealing with things like placing the ad, weeding out the flakes, processing payment and shipping are what a dealer does to earn his/her consignment fee.

[acoustic_archtop]

These days fb marketplace seems to be the best way for local classifieds.
CL and OfferUp are kinda done.

Agreed. I buy and sell all the time. Only had one issue so far.

[Bob_Ross]

Historically (for me) the ratio of flakes to smooth sales from Craig's List has been easily 12:1, if not worse.
And some of the flakes are just gobsmackingly ridiculous...like, did you even read one word of my ad before replying?!?!

otoh, I just sold a bicycle on Craig's List and the buyer was as unflakey as any I've ever encountered, simply a wonderfully straightforward no-drama sale. Wish I could have more of those, and fewer flakes. :sigh: