Okay, had a bit of an interesting sale/no-sale deal from Craigslist today.

In my spare time, I will occasionally pick up a used, good-quaility mountain bike (bicycle) and "restore" it to either give away, or sell to a friend farily cheap. Found such a bike locally today, a mid-90's Specialized in good shape for $50. Nice deal, the fellow selling it was just interested in getting it out of his garage. He did mention there had been several folks interested in it, but nothing specific. He was going to pick up the bike tonight and meet me tomorrow to buy it. The bike is at his parent's house about 30 miles from town.

So he calls me back about 3 hours later - feeling a little sheepish, as he's had an e-mail offer of $80 from soneone who will also go get it themselves. Thinking about it, I said "Fine - sell it to him." I would go to $60, but to also go pick it up would be another $10 in fuel. But overall, it was really pretty lame of him to go and retract this deal with me - I hadn't given him money, but had agreed to buy it outright. That's why I dropped the subject - but how often has anyone else had this happen to them?

I was taught: "If you make a deal - stick with it." If you priced the bike too low, your loss. Guess I could have "highballed" with this other person, but it wasn't an auction, so I just let it drop. Oh well, move on I suppose...

 

It's your money, spend it where you want. If it wasn't worth $80, you didn't lose out. I sure hope the "other person" shows up.

 

I'd tell the guy I'd give him $90 but he'd still have to bring it to me. When he gets there, tell him you've found another one that's only $40, so you'll have to let his pass. The shoe is now on the other foot!

chaikwa.

 

i have had this happen before, i was on my way to pick something up (some stero equipment) it was about a 30 minute drive for me and i was only five or so minutes away, this guy told me that someone else offered him more money and unless i could beat it he wasnt going to sell the stuff to me. i was kinda ticked that i had wasted that much of my time and fuel so i kinda lost my cool and let him knw what i thought about the situation. i agree with you on the fact that it isnt an auction site an the way i was raised a deal is a deal...

 

I have sold on e-bay and craigslist and I explain in my descriptions that until I have money in my hand or in my paypal account, the item is still for sale! If you want to buy it and are headed to meet me to pick it up but have not made a deposit of any kind, its still for sale. Like I said though, I explain this in the description and on the front end! Never had a problem like that.

 

Had a guy crawfish on a deal like that on a motorcycle off of craigslist a year or so ago, thing is I was standing in his yard looking at the bike with cash in hand and another guy called him and made a higher offer, not sure how much but I was in the process of handing him the money and he tells me no, this other guy is offering me more so I'm just gonna sell it to him, at this point I was super angry so rather than counter-offer I just left, I thought it was rather cheesy of him and I hope the other guy didn't show. Thing is when I called him he told me that he was selling it first come first serve and I was the first one there, not cool at all.

 

I suppose the part that's pretty silly to me is the fact that I work second shift, and said this clearly to him on the front end. So I couldn't have left to pay him in advance or go pick up his bike. Oh-well...what can you do?

But if he had called back saying the other guy backed out, I would have still turned him down based on principal.

 

Thats like robbing the pizza delivery guy.. Now he knows were ya live

 

I was taught: "If you make a deal - stick with it." If you priced the bike too low, your loss. Guess I could have "highballed" with this other person, but it wasn't an auction, so I just let it drop. Oh well, move on I suppose...
I'm with you on that 12V; I had a friend pull that over an old Volvo. We'd agreed on a price, then when I went there to pick it up he announced that his garage mech had told him he could get more. Thing was I needed a car and was kinda broke (still in my 2nd marriage, what can I say?). So I told him good luck with it and went away embarrassed and angry. It took quite awhile of telling myself "live-and-let-live" but like you I did finally move on, actually got a little Ford way cheaper. I regard that particular friend in an entirely different light as one might imagine!

 

I think it was rude to not sell to you, but I advertise things with a first come sold deal too. I have had too many people say they want something, and could I hold it to pay day. Then they lose interest, and I've told others it's already sold. First one there with the cash, but I do advertise it that way.

 

Welcome to the world of Craigslist. Scurge of the earth sale there. On two seperate occasions I have made deals to puchase items off Craigslist. One was a Motorcycle and the other a 4BT. Both occasions were 2.5 hour drives. I called both times and said I'm on my way with the money. Each occasion I arrive to find out that the guys had sold it to someone else while I was en-route. I got same lame excuse "oh I didn't think you were really coming, blah blah blah". Meanwhile I'm out $50 bucks in fuel. What can you do. Open a can of whip *** and wind up with bail, fines, a record etc. There's alot of crap like this going on Craigslist. It's getting as bad as Ebay.

 

Welcome to Craigslist . I love/hate that site.



In my ads and when I talk to people I make sure they know that 1) I aint gonna wait around for them. 2) First person with cash in hand gets it. If you can't get there paypal is your friend (although no one has ever paypal'd me but that's an option and makes my point clear).



In my opinion the guy pulled a bs move but really if you wanted the bike you would have been up there that day with cash in hand. I'd take $20 less if I could get it out of my garage without hassle. That's how these deals go, I'd rather throw something away then deal with getting the $80.





Someone needs to create a list of edicate rules for buying/selling on craigslist really. It just gets out of hand sometimes .

 

I have bought 4 items and now sold my 4th item on Craigslist. I have been treated fairly on both ends. I find that people look and are coming the same day if the item is priced a bit below market value. If you are trying to get top dollar, the item will never sell. Put it on fleabay instead.

 

I agree wholly with what rednecktastic stated! I keep my principles when dealing with some of these jokers. if they don't, they can live with it.

Kurt

 

sad- great idea (original ebay) gone to gutter. never knew people without
morals existed until then...

was trying to write some safety items for these fast and furious deals- but nothing is fool proof. I guess getting the word around that you are looking for an item still may be the best bet. sad.

anyone want a left handed smoke shifter?