Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

[imagirlgeek]

Since there have been quite a few tanks listed in the Fish Market lately that link back to Craigslist, and people with pretty strong feelings about them being scams, I thought I'd share my experiences buying and selling on Craigslist.  

If you've had good or bad experiences with Craiglist, please share.

1.  Bought a 150G with custom stand, 3 filters, heater, 3 huge pieces of holey rock, gravel cleaner, a travel kit full of meds, a testing kit, 2 kinds of cichlid salts/buffers, 7 Frontosa, pair of Nimbochromis venustus, pair of Copadichromis Borleyi, a Dimidiochromis compressiceps, a flying fox, a clown pleco, and an albino chinese algae eater.  I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff.  Anyway - $400

2.  Bought a 210G with Stand and Tops.  It had a leak, which they told me about up front, so we had to reseal it.  - $200

3.  Sold a rowing machine.  - funds went through Paypal.  No problems

4.  Attempted to sell a bike rack - got contacted by someone trying to pull the Western Union scam (i.e. - "I'll send you a cashier's check for over the cost of the item, and you Western Union me the difference, and I'll have my shipping people contact you").....yeah, right.    We contacted Craigslist and the local police like it says to do on the site when you think you are getting scammed.  The cops actually came over and took a report even though we hadn't fallen for it.  

5.  Attempted to sell fish once and the post got marked for deletion.  Even used the words 'rehoming fee', but there are some hardcore people out there who don't like animals sold on the site.  Again ---->  

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

ive had a decent experience on their. I dont think as many of the tank ads are scams like others think.  I believe there are just a bunch of dumb people out there who do not realize what there items are worth(EX: flowerhorn worth $1200)

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

Yeah, OR they just want to get rid of stuff that is taking up room in their house.  We sold the rowing machine for much less than it was worth.  We just wanted to get it out of our spare room.  It was either going on the curb or we were going to get a little cash in our pocket for it.  The people we bought the tanks from got tired of messing with large tanks.  Lucky for us!

[PlanB]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

I've sold some guitars recently and bought a few things. I've been trying to get a decent-sized aquarium lately and hardly anybody ever responds back to me, not even to say whether it's been sold already or not which has me pondering the legitimacy. That's the one thing I like about eBay. Having a personal account instead of anonymous postings somewhat holds you accountable to what you post. People can also anonymously flag your post which is also annoying.

Oh, and people need to realize that selling a few extra fish that you have is not the same thing as churning out a puppy mill in your backyard. Craigslist allows you to have a rehoming or adoption fee because people would "adopt" pets for free then sell them to science labs.

But it is free, so I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

I've been trying to get a decent-sized aquarium lately and hardly anybody ever responds back to me

May I make a suggestion?  We had/have the same problems, so when we were actively looking for a 200+ tank, I put my own WTB post out there.  It took about 3 weeks, but a woman called me with a 210 she wanted to sell.  It worked out great because we didn't have to worry about racing to beat everyone else to it.

[PlanB]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

Thanks, that's a good suggestion. I've been refreshing craigslist all day at work and I'm like there's no way I'm not the first person to respond to some of these ads.

[Ranakalea]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

I have had some good luck with craigslist.

Recently bought a 55 gallon, stand, top, lights, emperor 400 filter, all decorations, nets etc..... as well as a $30 fish gallery credit and a partial case of beer..... all for the everyday low price of $50

Also, bought my 60"x18"x24" reef ready with sump, pump, stand, canopy, lights for $150.

I had good luck making a good bit of money doing side work installing car stereo equipment as well.

[Philbert]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

Katypond saw a tank on Craigslist, and posted the link. I called, and went and got the tank.
The people were very nice, and I got a 55 with a nice stand, like new Whisper 40-60, and top for $50. I got a 48" light from a member for $10...no beer, though.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

Well, Philbert, THAT is just atrocious!  that is the most disappointing experience I've ever heard with Craigslist.  No Beer....the nerve of those people.  

[mrairportjunke]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

say man. you come over here and buy my 44 hex tank,  ill help you load it up and ill post it on craigslist to make you feel better and ill evan pitch in a beer or two.  :)

[PlanB]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

Okay, watch out for Alert Pay scams. I'm trying to sell an iPod right now and got an out of state reply saying he would fedex me a money order payment for $40 over what I was asking through "Alert Pay"... That should scream scam right there. Plus the email was in the usual overly-technical scam language:

Hi,
 I'd proceed payment via Alertpay online.Am in Los Angeles(Los Ng)so you'll have to ship.I'll sponsor the shipping anyways.Am a serious buyer so if you'd not like to ship within the US please dont bother to reply.(No offense intended).I will offer you $220 to secure the item.
 Alertpay delivers cash to your residential address via FedEx Int'l Priority to ensure prompt/safe delivery.If you're okay with my payment method,please provide the name and residential address you want Alertpay to deliver the money.Thanks.

On the plus side, I may finally be getting a good size tank pretty soon!  

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

Yeah, that's the same one we got only it was 'Western Union' instead of 'Alertpay'.    And I also love how they never mention the name of the 'item' you are selling.  It's always just 'the item'.  WHAT-EVER!  

Good catch!

[PlanB]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

I should have emailed back "I'll fed ex you a kick to the throat, scammer!"

There's a good folks and bad folks, just be smart about it. If it's too good to be true, let it be. Yeah, some of these seem like pretty obvious scams by us, but there are people like my dad who are just getting on-line who just aren't that experienced and knowledgeable yet.

[JStrider]

Re: Good Experiences/Bad Experiences with Craigslist

avoiding scams is pretty easy, just only deal local and only deal in cash, always inspect an item before you buy.  Craigslist is basically newspaper classifieds online.


I've bought several older bicycles on craigslist $30 - $60

Found a welder to fab up a neat bike repair stand for me. - $100

I bought my aquarium/stand/pump on craigs... guy suggested I check out this site as well. $125

I got a leather couch and love seat set for $450 - got a really good deal on them... had the guy take pics of labels and stuff so I could do research and find a price for em new... and they were in basically like new condition.

a marble coffee table... I think $30ish... wood was pretty scuffed up... but an hour labor and it cleaned up really nice

I got an 6+ foot tall cat tower for free, just had to drive 15 minutes and pick it up off the peoples curb, no interaction at all... it doesnt look the best, but once I dont feel lazy I'll rip off the old shredded carpet and replace it.

I gave away a mealworm colony that I had been using to feed my leopard gecko.  I had originally said I would sell it for $10 but after the guy came and I was talking to him about reptiles it turned out that he ran a reptile shelter, so I just gave it to him for free.