Red flags from untrustworthy sellers on craigslist

Discussion in 'Marketplace Discussions' started by 12" 45rpm, Jan 12, 2018.

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  1. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    It is annoying that 80% of used stuff on craigslist is from "untrustworthy" sellers. There are people whose ads contain one or more of these red flags

    1. Overpriced
    1. Don't talk about any flaws
    3. Keep re-posting
    4. Use unrelated keywords in ad so ad comes up when you search for different brand
    5. Paranoid imbecile language like " Cash and Carry only", "No spammers", No Trades... duh! Are these people adults or children that they can't tell the difference between a genuine buyer and a scammer.

    What other red flags can you ad to the list from your experiences? One thing's for sure, there are a lot more people who want your money than you want their product! Are people so hard up for cash they spend countless hours trying to make an extra buck through these shady ways? It is incredibly annoying.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2018
    Gumboo likes this.
  2. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    6. A lack of coherent communication.
    7. Refusing to meet in a very public place for both parties safety.

    As a fair note... I do list on craigslist and I do provide grading but unless there's anything special regarding the release I let my scans do the talking. Want more detail? Email me.

    Keep in mind you have to be able to distinguish the wheat from the chaff because there are morons who think its fun to have you go out of your way for them and they never show. This is why I'm glad I live in the city where I can control where the meeting will be. If they are one of these morons communication will stop when I say "Sorry, I can't drive 10 miles for an inexpensive CD can we meet in the big city instead?" :D They're not the brightest lot. FWIW, an interested party will always meet up in a public place of your choosing has been my experience.

    Your number 1. doesn't hold much water for me unless it's off the charts ridiculous. Your number 3. means I'm a scammer because I relist after 2 months when my ad expires? :wtf: Another leaky boat here for me.
     
    showtaper likes this.
  3. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Interestingly I almost never meet someone in a public place. It's always at their home or my place. Occasionally I meet someone half-way if it's a long drive. If someone seems untrustworthy then I would not meet them at all.
     
  4. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    I must admit I'm surprised you being a New Yorker and all. The last thing I would want is a potential scammer/thief knowing where I live and what I own. A good con you will most likely not see coming due to a good self presentation and they do exist. Even a couple of blocks from where you live is safer than your own home.
     
  5. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    I've only moved to NYC recently, before that was in Chicago. Interestingly I find NYC craigslist people much more responsible and trustworthy than Chicago folks.

    In any case, I would pass on someone selling on craigslist who insisted on meeting in public. To me it means they are either hiding some flaw or just overly suspicious .

    Anybodies home address is public information.
     
  6. showtaper

    showtaper Concert Hoarding Bastard

    I've bought and sold a number of items on Craigslist (some repeat offenders :D) and we've all agreed on neutral ground to complete the deal. I don't read anything into that other than one's concern for privacy and safety.
     
    Dave likes this.
  7. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    [​IMG]

    Unless I were selling a vehicle my home location remains private. If a piece of equipment I would suggest going to their home for their convienience.
     
    uzn007 and showtaper like this.
  8. AaronW

    AaronW Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Any ad that has an overtly religious tag line, like "Have a blessed day!"
     
  9. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Haha, good one. Though I have found such folks are great when I am giving stuff away for free, i.e always on time and respectful..
     
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  10. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Browsing craigslist today and found some more red flags

    1) Using all CAPS and !!! marks
    2) Used car salesman lingo like"only $xxx , a great deal, a steal etc.."
    3) Ad consists entirely of copy/pasted info. from manufacturer website
     
    Dave likes this.
  11. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Some more red flags:

    - Any textspeak
    - Gimmicky pricing like $199 or $195..
    - Saying price is "Firm"..
     
  12. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    I would agree with most except "Saying price is firm". It really could be the seller doesn't want people wasting his time trying to nickel and dime him to death. I've had some very laughable experience with this from some not so smart buyers trying to get me excited over a complete collection purchase and a very much reduced price.
     
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  13. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    The problem with people who say price is firm is I see them as stubborn and untrustworthy . No used item can have a "firm" price. There are always undisclosed defects that can make the price negotiable when you see it. So I do not waste my time dealing with someone who says price is firm.
     
  14. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    I fail to see any reasonable connection between the two points. If someone has a used item for a firm price it only means "if" I really want it "I will" pay the asking price depending on my own desire to have it and market availability.
     
    Lorraine likes this.
  15. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Here are some more:

    - Reducing price by insignificant amount to bump ad
    - Tooting own horn, i.e describing how awesome their product is.. Comes across as desperate to me..
    - Seller saying they will lose money or taking a big loss .. Not my problem..
     
    Metralla likes this.
  16. uzn007

    uzn007 Watcher of the Skis

    Location:
    Raleigh, N.C.
    Biggest red flag is that they're on Craigslist.

    What usually follows is some junk they found in a relative's garage, sometimes literally paint-spattered, for $20 or $30 a disc.

    I check my local CL semi-regularly for amusement purposes. The only ads I would ever consider (if I were a dealer or a much more serious collector) are the occasional sales of a collection that aren't outlandishly overpriced, and those constitute less than 5% of the total "vinyl records" listings on Craigslist (probably more like 2%).
     
  17. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Haha, that's a good joke. I do agree there is too much overpriced junk on Craigslist. Far more people are interested in your money than people are interested in their item.
     
  18. Combination

    Combination Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Orleans
    People hold steady on a price all the time. At the average record show, for instance, it probably happens 500 times over the course of the day. And to say that undisclosed defects happen every time just isn't reality.

    If you're that worried about this sort of thing, maybe try shopping for stuff on a place other than Craigslist? It's not like the place has a reputation for being a sister to Sotheby's.
     
    black sheriff likes this.
  19. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Sure, but I'm not going to buy from such folks. The market determines the price, not what you think you deserve.
     
  20. Combination

    Combination Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Orleans
    And by the same token, you don't necessarily get to pay what you think you deserve.
     
    black sheriff and Dave like this.
  21. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    That's ok , it's fair. But it's not fair to deny someone the chance to make an offer an an used item.. IMO I see the seller as delusional, stubborn, and/or untrustworthy..
     
  22. Combination

    Combination Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Orleans
    I'd say do it anyway. Like the old saying goes, "It never hurts..."
     
  23. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    A new annoyance:

    Selling several items in one ad and updating the ad to say "SOLD" on certain items.

    If you sold it, just remove it from the list. They probably do it to add more "credibility", but I just see them as greedy and dumb.
     
  24. ArpMoog

    ArpMoog Forum Resident

    Location:
    Detroit
    I went through a period where I sold a bunch of my gear on craigslist and I never had a problem.
    I would have people come around back to the family room where they would check things out
    and do the deal. They were not open to the rest of the house and I had my Mastiff present and
    carried a 357 just in case. Had a few flakes but mostly things always went smooth.
     
  25. All Down The Line

    All Down The Line The Under Asst East Coast White Label Promo Man

    Location:
    Australia
    It sounds as bad as Ebay.
     
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