Craigslist Scammers...

Unbelievable! I have a utility trailer for sale and a guy contacted me today. Similar story to when I sold a quad. "just what I need. Im out of town so a friend will bring a check" I called BS and both times no further response. Really? You are trying to scam me on a $2000 trailer!? I just hope Karma gets them.

sleepy wrote:
Are there any truck camper stuff on there?

People have bought 19.5 wheels, tie downs, turnbuckles and receivers through CL. I have sold vehicles and RV's through CL as well as many other items. I have also delivered items post payment to the local area (large projection screen television, couch/loveseat combo, dune buggy, ...).

Also - when in doubt: a few local police stations in our area have offered to be "Craig's List seller meeting-points". I'm sure most police departments would, if asked.

TCdude wrote:
I've had amazing experiences using craiglist both selling and buying. In fact my current truck and camper were both purchase from private sellers on CL for a substantial discount compared to buying from an RV lot or Car dealer. My best advice is get the phone number and have a real conversation with the person before meeting. It's very easy to sniff out scammers and degenerates with a short phone conversation.

I agree!! Happy Craig'sLister here. Sold our 5er to the first caller the day after we posted the ad - super-nice people!

If I'm looking to buy something on CL and email is the only option, I'll make my inquiry very "friendly": "Hoping to take my grandkids fishing with this boat" or something like that. The scammers tend to be impersonal....

Are there any truck camper stuff on there?

Wanderin fool wrote:
Meeting somewhere is nice, but Im not hauling furniture to a public place.

Ditto.

Big items (vehicles. trailers, etc) I will have the buyer come to my house.

Small items that I can take somewhere, I will - primarily as a convenience to the buyer, so they don't have to drive as far.

I've sold more than I've bought on CL.

My first cargo trailer was a successful sale in 2010.
A motorcycle in 2006.

I sold my Desert Fox toy hauler in 2009 on CL.

Sold my 6x12 cargo trailer last year (I missed it already!!)

I've sold a lot of garage sale type items over the years.

Right now I have about 30 ads on CL.

I've never had a problem, but I play it smart.

I don't put my phone number in the ad or part of the "contact info"
That's mostly because I'm rarely near my landline. I won't ever put my cell phone, because people have this infatuation of trying to contact others via text messaging. I'm an avid text messager, but I won't use my cell phone for CL ads.
I do put an email for the contact info. It's an MSN / hotmail account, which I have set up on my Android phone, so I get notified just as soon as someone emails me, then I will usually answer them back, or call them if they send me there phone number.

I NEVER rely solely on email as the method of arranging a meet-up, whether at my house or a public location. At some point, I expect to talk to the prospective buyer.

RichandLiz wrote:
Think smart. Be smart. If it don't feel right, don't do it. Ain't worth the $ either way.

That sums it up right there.

In some cases, buyers set themselves up for failure...
case in point, a local person (Spokane area) had a cell phone she wanted to sell. It wasn't CL she listed it on, but on a Facebook For Sale group.... which is the new up and coming thing to do. So she arranges to meet up with a buyer, and some ridiculously late hour and road the bus from Cheney to Spokane. THAT would raise a red flag right there. NEVER MEET after dark, let alone that late in the evening!!!

She handed the phone to the guy, he took off running.... and she misses the bus to get back home to Cheney.

Story here: http://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-news/beware-when-buying-on-facebook/31370968

And a number of years ago a guy in Washington state listed a diamond ring for sale on CL. A bunch of thugs showed up (3 or 4 of them).... the seller ends up getting shot in his house.

Google "James Sanders Murder".

basic info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Sanders

Meeting somewhere is nice, but Im not hauling furniture to a public place.

I sell a lot of stuff on CL,you have to know how to read people. First never bring them to your house go to a gas station and stand under the outside camera. Only cash. never post your phone number, ask for the buyers number. Do a search on the number if you have any doubt. Yesterday was a good day to sell $425.00 worth of old fishing stuff.