Craigslist
I've had the opportunity to deal with/in craigslist lately (craigslist.org for the uninitiated). We bought the youngster's car there last fall, and recently, we sold his old bike there.
It works, but what struck me is the complete lack of consideration. People don't really know you, so they take it upon themselves to treat you like you don't matter.
I'd get e-mails on the youngster's bike, asking when someone could see it. We'd agree on a time and...no show. No show. No call. No e-mail. No nothing. I e-mailed one guy back and asked why. He bought a different bike. Well, OK, but would it be too much trouble to say something, so we aren't sitting around the house waiting on your ass?
If it happened once, I wouldn't whine too much, but this became a pattern. I had a bunch of people tell me they were incredibly interested, and asked when they could see it. The first six people who expressed an interest and set a time to see it never showed. The last guy who was 'very interested' wanted to see it right now...like in a half hour. I said OK, and told the wife. We both kind of smirked and wondered if he'd actually come. He did and he bought it.
Same thing happened when we bought the youngster's car. We set a time to look at one car. We were driving there at about 7:30 in the evening, and the wife called ahead to get more specific directions as we approached the seller's development. He sold the car that afternoon. Again, do you think you could have called us and saved us the trouble of road trippin' to your house to see a car that's no longer there?
So my lesson for the day...craigslist - yes, it works. you can buy and sell stuff there. There are deals to be had if you shop there. Just be prepared to be treated like shit along the way.
It works, but what struck me is the complete lack of consideration. People don't really know you, so they take it upon themselves to treat you like you don't matter.
I'd get e-mails on the youngster's bike, asking when someone could see it. We'd agree on a time and...no show. No show. No call. No e-mail. No nothing. I e-mailed one guy back and asked why. He bought a different bike. Well, OK, but would it be too much trouble to say something, so we aren't sitting around the house waiting on your ass?
If it happened once, I wouldn't whine too much, but this became a pattern. I had a bunch of people tell me they were incredibly interested, and asked when they could see it. The first six people who expressed an interest and set a time to see it never showed. The last guy who was 'very interested' wanted to see it right now...like in a half hour. I said OK, and told the wife. We both kind of smirked and wondered if he'd actually come. He did and he bought it.
Same thing happened when we bought the youngster's car. We set a time to look at one car. We were driving there at about 7:30 in the evening, and the wife called ahead to get more specific directions as we approached the seller's development. He sold the car that afternoon. Again, do you think you could have called us and saved us the trouble of road trippin' to your house to see a car that's no longer there?
So my lesson for the day...craigslist - yes, it works. you can buy and sell stuff there. There are deals to be had if you shop there. Just be prepared to be treated like shit along the way.
Labels: Whining
John put this out here at 8:46 AM
3 Comments:
Craigslist transactions should all be dealt with on a "first cash takes it" basis. No waiting for anyone, no holding it for anyone... when the item is sold, remove the ad.
I had a similar experience selling a car.
I agree. All I'm asking is, is it too much to ask to have a little consideration?
If you sold something, and you know people are coming to look at it later, is it too much to ask to contact them and let them know it's gone? If you told someone you'd be there to see something and you change your mind, or something comes up, could you let them know so they aren't sitting around waiting on your ass?
Just treat people with an ounce of respect, that's all...and you're right, once it sells, take the ad down.
oh this topic is sooo catching. I agree, just comes down to a complete lack of consideration just because we're all "strangers." Time is precious to most, and we need to treat is as such. We all have other things we could be doing....waiting on no-shows or showing up to look at something that's no longer available is unnaceptable.
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