I've had very good success with Craigs List except for one purchase. I've sold several things too....well now's my time for a problem with SELLING. I 've had listed for quite a while, 2 large boxes and 3 large bags full of yardage and scraps. One box had misc. beads, trim etc. I was asking $25. A man answered the ad, came here and looked through several of the bags, seemed nice and gave me the money.

I get a rude e-mail telling me he wants his money back tomorrow because he should have looked through it better and it's garbage that he can't make anything out of. I specified it was yardage and scraps and he looked at it here.... I told him I'd refund his money IF I was home tomorrow but I'm not waiting around for him.

Now I'm worried he'll vandalize my house or whatever. It really is a very good idea to meet people so they don't know where you live. :< And now I have to deal with all this over $25. So not worth it!

I always meet somewhere neutral...

I would too, if not for the fact that 30% of people flake out and are no-shows. So, if you meet them in a parking lot, you'll be sitting in a lot waiting for no one! I guess CL has it pluses and minuses.

When I purchase anything from Craigslist, I ask to meet in a public place...it is so much safer for both the buyer and seller...Naomi

Is he for real? I suspect if he brings it back, it will be picked through with choice bits missing. What a creep! When I sell stuff on craigslist, I meet them at a local fast food place. I am here alone most of the time and do not risk my safety for a few bucks.

It might be worth it to make a police report so something is on file about it. Just to CYA.

I was planning on donating it locally if it didn't sell(way too costly to ship here). So, I told him I'd leave him his cash hidden and I will trust him to leave the stuff. If it's picked through or missing, he'll have to live with himself and karma. I'll turn around and give it away to someone else.

Sheeeeeeesh. I didn't know I had a returns policy like Walmart!!

I posted my 1st Craig's list ad last evening. Within 20 minutes I got a response from someone who indicated she also lives in Holland, PA. My posted location was Holland, PA. Turns out, she lives around the corner from me. I was not going to have people coming to my house, but how can you say no to a neighbor. And then I had to give her my phone number so that she would call before coming over tomorrow.

I have bought four sewing machines on Kijiji (Canadian version of Craig's List) and I was worried about the same things. My son who buys and sells there all the time told me not to worry as the only people I would meet selling sewing machines were other sew crazy women or distraught family members trying to sell their deceased mother's sewing **** and that the bad guys don't deal in sewing machines. So far, I've met two of each group he described and no bad guys.

I'm so glad that you aren't actually meeting up with him again! Who knows what he is capable of!! I'm praying that everything works out for you with this situation.

I would send the man back an email copying the ad and tell him that he had a chance to look through the stuff before he purchased it. You identified what he was getting and the fact that he took time to go through it he wouldn't have a leg to stand on in a court room. Sounds like one of those people that are not happy unless they are complaining or trying to take things from honest people. I wouldn't allow him to come back to the house, if he does tell him you will call the police.

That was going to be my comment. I bet your yardage is gone and your other pretties.

You take care. There are so many good people and then their are freaky, crazy people. I am sorry it happened to you.

I was not going to have people coming to my house, but how can you say no to a neighbor. And then I had to give her my phone number so that she would call before coming over tomorrow.
-------------------------------------------------
Have someone with you, even if you have to call a friend to come visit.
On the other hand, you may make a new friend. She might even be a quilter!! And remember, you know where SHE lives also.

This is what I've learned from posting a couple items on CL for sale.

Get a new email address specifically for CL. I'm getting all kinds of crazy emails inquiring about my items. If I answer back, they now have my real email address and I get tons of spam!

The following is an email I got after I told him my item was still available:
"Thanks for your reply concerning my inquiry. I am quite comfortable
with the price and condition, I will also add $50 to your asking price
that is for you to hold it for me, Please provide your full name,
Address and your Phone number so that I can send your payment.
I will be paying you by Check. The payment will be mail
as priority express mail which you will receive next day,As for delivery,I will
make arrangements for the pick-up after you have received the payment. If this
meets your approval,kindly get back to me as soon as possible,with your name,
phone # and mailing address where payment will be sent to, so that I
can have my
assistant get the Check and mail it to you.
Note: As soon as you have your money in hand, we can talk about the
picking up of the item. I would like you to take the posting off
craigslist today.
Best Regards.
Mitchell Graye"


I smell SCAM

Yep, that's a scam. Any time they want to mail you a check, you can pretty well count on it being a scam, especially when they want to pay you more than your asking price.

Deal face-to-face, cash only, and in a public area. Even so, it's still a good idea to take a friend with you so that you're not alone, and a cell phone as well. When I give out a phone number, it's my husband's cell phone (not my own). Very, very few people are allowed to come to my house, and when they do, my husband is home, and they're only allowed in the living room. All valuables are out of sight. (As if I have any valuables! LOL! :lol: )

Using an alternate e-mail is a great idea, too. :thumbup: Also, never click any links or open any attachments people may send you unless it's something you're expecting.

What a LOSER!! How could he like it one day and not the next???

That's very good advice about using a different e-mail addy for CL. I do have a yahoo one I never use...though this doesn't help when they know your address. And honestly, the one time I was scammed through CL was the time I met a person in a Lowes parking lot! I couldn't 'test' drive the machine so bought it on the promise it worked....it didn't.

I'll post if the all the items are there...I suspect they will be since they're "garbage". But, I don't really care at this point. Time for a vodka mixed drink and some boob tube!! :>

Actually, it was 3 hours later. LOL:>

CAndace, you like fine quality fabric. That guy is a bigger loser than I stated before :D

Hehe:> Well, truth is, the fabric was my rejects but I told him so! He asked what I "did" and I told him I quilted and that none of the fabrics or scraps were useable to me. The were a mix of polys, rayons, corderoys and home dec fabric. I went through 2 bags with him holding up fabric and he seemed very pleased and told me his sister was a seamstress and was teaching him. I *think* he brought it home to his sister and she schooled him about what 'garbage' he'd bought.

That's good to know about using a different email address. I haven't sold yet on CL but my DIL buys and sells on it all the time and hasn't had any problems so far (fingers crossed).

I've been thinking about selling my nearly new Janome 6600 on CL but I'm not sure what kind of price I could get or how you go about it. I'll have to have my DIL advise me.

But then I'll probably dither around and end up keeping it anyway. I seem to have a sewing machine fetish. I think I have 11 machines!

He did go thru some of what he bought. Making clothing/home decor vs quilts are two different things.
If it had been me, would have said all sales FINAL, no refund.
Have to wonder what his sister told him if he did take it over to her.
Does she know how much fabric really costs?

Keep us posted on the outcome.

SCAM 100% - Don't even respond to it but send a copy of his email to Craigslist. Been there and ignored the email response. Someone locally didn't ignore it and got taken for a bundle. Ann in TN

Have had good luck so far buying from CL, but with the law of averages... LOL

Run backwards! This is a scam!

I offered 3 computers on Freecycle. I put in the "ad" that they were for a tinkerer, not working. The guy came with his 3 boys to take them. I added a phone, a bunch of wiring, diskettes & storage for them. Then he complained on Freecycle that they were not working.

No telling what people will do - I haven't offered anything since then.

Buyer Beware!!! I wouldn't even consider giving him his money back!

How scary! ALWAYS meet in a public place. I don't even like to wait near my car at the shopping center because it's easy to find or follow. Wonder if he took out what he wanted to keep already? If he comes to your house make sure you're not alone if at all possible and get the tag number off his car and a description of it.

It's a shame that people are not all Good people. But to protect yourself, you should meet in a public place. Then if you find out you have a nieghbor or someone that you want to be friends with, you can go from there.

Doesn't the rules on CL warn about things like this?

Wow!!

Maybe it's the same guy! LOL!

yes yes yes. never let them in your house EVER. meet at a store not real close to you home. I am sorry you are going through this, but he had his chance to look through it. just be careful. make a meeting time and PLEASE have someone with you. OK?

How scary! Guess it's too late to remind you to ALWAYS meet in a public place. I don't even like to wait near my car at the shopping center because it's easy to find or follow. I wonder if he took out what he wanted to keep already? If you are going to give him his money back I'd make him wait while you go through the whole box to check it...outside where you can be seen by neigbors. DO NOT let him in your home under any circumstances!! I'd also get the tag number off his car and a description of it in case something does happen to your house. I'm may be sounding a bit paranoid but I used to volunteer for the local sheriff's dept and know we all have to be careful.

that reply sounds like something out of a mystery book from the library. I certainly would not reply, much less give all that info to letters on a computer screen!!!!! Creepy....he has an assistant????? Did you google his name?

I'll either meet people in a public place, or they have to come when my husband is home (if it's a large item). So far I've not had any issues, but I am always nervous, because that's my nature. Sorry you're dealing with a creep!

I listed a Brother on CL for sale a while back listed the price that was very reasonable...I got a similar e mail from someone in far away state......I never replied......felt scam ! (Still haven't sold the machine !)

Always meet at a public place and please get a CL specific email address. We have something like this in our military communities in Germany and for the Ramstein area everyone meets at the Burger King parking lot to exchange goods and money. It is indeed a sight to witness on a Saturday morning. OMG! I hope you have someone with you when you meet this person again.

So sorry for your problems.
I use a separate email exclusivly for all business deals.
I also suggest having a friend or relative with you tomorrow. It wouldn't hurt to be prepared to take a picture of his car and license plate in case of legal problems. Document document and again document. Name, time, place, activity. Make sure you have a signed receipt from him for the money exchange with his signature.