Safely Selling on Craigslist (Post: buyer, living, cost)

[gwrober]

Originally Posted by Drzy

Hello msrtxcopp,I want to know the condition of this item.so i will buy it for My Wife and my son in Nigeria so i will offer you this amout $400.00 with the shipping cost to Nigeria via USPS POSTER SERVICE (EMS) and i will pay your money via (Bank to Bank Transfer) please send me your Bank Information so if you have Bank Of America, so that i will make the payment faster i will wating for your reply soonet..........pls when you get your money into your bank account you can made the shipment to my Wife ok.hope to hear from you
Thanks Dr Charles Smith

[eightball]

Always, always, always meet in a public place, Even if the buyer sounds and looks innocent and you have a succesful transaction at your home, they may be staking you out and see what else they can get from you later down the road.

[Dube665]

Wow, this has been very enlighting. Thanks to all who have responded. It kinds blows to have to leave my house to go and meet someone in a public place but safety first, right?

[wCat]

I've sold several things on CL. I usually weed out the high maintenance or evasive people as much as possible. You're selling, so you're in control. I never give out a phone number ....and only the address when they are on their way. (They get the general area from the ad.) Then the item is out front....and I'm WITH others to help with heavy items if necessary. Always ask for cash only. No one really has to exchange full names.....they don't know if it's my home or a neighbor or relatives. If it's not heavy or bulky, meeting in a safe public place is the best choice. No one really cares as long as they are getting a good deal.

[Drzy]

I use an email address with my real first name but a fake last name. (ex. if my real name were Bob McLovin, then I'd use an email account with the name Bob McDermott). They still ask for Bob on the phone and there's no problem with completing the transaction, but unless they come to my house or somehow trace my cell phone number, they never learn who I really am. It's kind of just for fun but also for protection.

[pobre]

I always arrange to meet at Target, etc., uness the item is large (refrigerator, etc. ). Then we at least try to have it in the garage.

I give my husband's cell number, too.

[cheermomof4girls]

Originally Posted by wCat

I've sold several things on CL. I usually weed out the high maintenance or evasive people as much as possible. You're selling, so you're in control. I never give out a phone number ....and only the address when they are on their way. (They get the general area from the ad.) Then the item is out front....and I'm WITH others to help with heavy items if necessary. Always ask for cash only. No one really has to exchange full names.....they don't know if it's my home or a neighbor or relatives. If it's not heavy or bulky, meeting in a safe public place is the best choice. No one really cares as long as they are getting a good deal.

I do pretty much the same thing you do. I prefer for someone to come and pick it up at my house. I never let anyone in. They ring the doorbell, and they can see and hear my dobie and mini doxie at the door. I am pretty sure that will keep them from thinking they can break in here.

[little_thirsty]

We have people come by the house but try and have stuff in the garage. I just this past summer had a "famous" person ring my doorbell to purchase a sandbox! Who would have thought! I have had really good expereinces both buying and selling on Craigslist. Good luck. In this economy people are looking for good deals, I know I am!

[djw]

I have only sold one thing on CL, and we met in a Bill Miller parking lot.
On the other hand, I have bought a few things and every time the women selling gave me address, phone number, times they would be home in, etc. in the first email!

I thought it was odd that they gave out so much to a stranger...but I also took someone with me to the pickup each time, too! One woman brought me all the way thru her house to the back yard. But her hubby and kids were there. Another let her KIDS answer the door and come out onto the porch before she ever even got to the living room.

[txdoodah]

Craig's List can be a great experience, we have sold everything from clothes, baby items, tools, TVs, computer equipment to even a boat! Only thing is there are plenty of people out there looking for something for nothing!! I too have found that children's items brings out the most frugal (CHEAP!) mothers in the world and if you say $5.00 they want to pay 5 cents! Probably my best experience on Craig's List was when we sold our boat to a guy from out of town. The guy emailed me continuously and said he would be coming to town just to buy the boat and to PLEASE call and it just didn't sound believeable so I didn't respond to some of his emails. He was relentless and had a "legit" looking email and then finally sent one about 11pm one night and said I am in town PLEASE call me (he had come to town on a business trip and to buy the boat) and he gave me his name and phone number AGAIN and I looked him up on the internet and found his resume (and picture!). As it turns out he probably was the one who was nervous since he was the one coming with the cash in hand! Turned out to be a perfect transaction but we were both very cautious.

Oh and Drzy your day job must be sending out those Nigerian emails...yours was written perfectly!! ha!