A question about Craigslist

[Jack Lord]

Depends on the person. Go after enough deals and you will encounter the occasional flake.

Nonetheless, I have found some great stuff on CL whether it was audio gear or vintage furniture. And its kind of fun to meet the sellers as they are often moving and thus setting out on a new adventure of sorts.

 

[herbman1975]

Mainly what I wanted to know is if anyone had ever closed what they thought was a good deal, only to be "out bid" by another buyer who was aware of said items value.

I live in the sticks, and I could just imagine flying out the door w/cash in hand, only to arrive in Atlanta 2 hours and 3 traffic induced breakdowns later to find out some cat in the city slid over and paid an extra $20 for the stuff and is presently sitting in his apartment enjoying the item. That could get ugly.

I guess I am just being overly cautious, eBay at least tries to enforce some sort of "rules", while CL seems more like the 'Wild West'.

 

[Jack Lord]

Mainly what I wanted to know is if anyone had ever closed what they thought was a good deal, only to be "out bid" by another buyer who was aware of said items value.

It works both ways. People often proclaim they want the item, set up a time and then totally blow the seller off. I inquired about an early 80s Pioneer cassette deck, nothing special. We agreed on a price but then the guy never returned my email. I assume someone came along and offered more.

What I try to do is make certain the seller knows I am definitly coming. Most agree to sell if to me if I am the first one and serious.

Just explain to them that you absolutely want it and are traveling a great distance. Most people are reasonable.

 

[bakes]

So far I've had great luck on CL - bought three items, two of which I paid the asking price for because I would have been embarassed to offer less (Rega Planar 2, excellent shape, w/ tonearm, $100; JBL 4412s in mint shape, same). In both cases the sellers were very cool people, and as I was the first person in on both honored the verbal agreement to sell despite having other offers while I was aking for more info.

It pays to watch, be the early bird, and be straightforward about an item that you're interested in... basically treat them as you'd want to be treated.

 

[kbott]

I low balled on a TU-919 and got that response. A week later he was crawling back asking me to buy it. I declined. Hey, was that you.

Rob

Nope, Atlanta here. For me there's a difference between wanting to sell something and needing to sell something. But, like I said initially I set what I hope and from research is a reasonable price on things if somebody lowballs it's more of an insult than anything

Hey was that you

 

[Fisher-Dave]

I feel lucky on a few deals here. I guess the best deal,though the most money I've ever spent on CL items were a pair of JBL S-38 and JBL S-312 speakers that were listed for 300 OBO. I offered 200 for the set of four and said I'd be on my way if he decided to take that offer.Well the phone rang soon after and he took my offer. I met him at his storage building to find them brand new unused with paperwork still packed.He said that he had rushed out after making a deal on a house to buy those speakers for his home,,then after the seller backed out on him.He said he thought he'd find another house,but never did find a deal that he could afford so he decided to keep his appartment not having room for the speakers.Time went by and he decided to sell them,and after seeing the price he paid for them,I can say he took a beating on them.Sadly,,folks here just don't value gear for sale unless its BPC,and the BPC that gets listed seems to sell fine. I tried hard to sell vintage here on CL,but after a few relistings,I started getting emails asking me to give it up as nobody cared for that old crap these days.I did however sell a set of Sansui SP 7500X speakers that were mint on CL,but the buyer saw the listing and drove up from Birmingham AL to get them. I seem to be the oddball with vintage interest here lol. There was a set of Bose 601 ll's for sale for 125 OBO on our CL that I offered 60 bucks for,that the seller turned into an auction. I really didn't need more speakers [ still have 14 pair in here ],but thought I could flip them on the bay

 

[EddyR]

I buy and sell on CL Charlotte all the time. I sold my Chevy Blazer in less than a hour. I buy vintage equipment at least once a month. Wornears got a set of JBL-L200's two weeks ago for $100. I take PayPal on big stuff.
Ed

 

[Robisme]

There was a set of Bose 601 ll's for sale for 125 OBO on our CL that I offered 60 bucks for,that the seller turned into an auction. I really didn't need more speakers [ still have 14 pair in here ],but thought I could flip them on the bay

Ther was a pair here in the bay area for free. I missed them.

Rob

 

[usedto]

CL is like a box of chocolates...................................

 

[bigstereo]

I have not been a buyer as of yet, but

I listed a pair of JBL's at $250, after a few responses with no results, a potential buyer made an appointment by phone to come and look at them between 2 and 5 pm one day. Never showed up.

While I was waiting for him I had a few beers and was listening to those JBL's and I thought "Damn they sound good, I really don't want to sell them. Especially if i have to put up with people not keeping their appointments."

So I edited my CL ad and relisted them for $400

The week before, I had a pair of L100's listed at $400, a guy drove down from Canada to get them and handed me the cash as soon as he walked in.


RJ

 

[Pyrrho]

Other than people simply not responding to my inquiries about their items, I have never had a bidding war or other unpleasantness--until now:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ele/259952392.html

Here is the response I got from the person:

John Kirlin wrote:

Gentlemen (and ladies?),

Thank you all very much for your interest in the receiver. It appears that I underestimated its value. I believe it was the picture (not included on a prior listing) that piqued so much interest.

There is a reconditioned Marantz 2230 on eBay with a current bid of $280 (see
http://cgi.ebay.com/Engraved-Gold-M...ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting)
My receiver is similar to that one, with a low serial number of around 2802. It really is a beautiful piece of electronics. My receiver, however, is not reconditioned. In fact, in the spirit of full disclosure, there is static when you adjust the volume control. The static, however, goes away after using the control, so I believe there must be some dirt in the mechanism.

I have no real way to differentiate among all the interested parties, although several of you mentioned a possible interest in the Interface:A speakers which I would also like to sell. (Sorry, I don't have a picture available--I'm new to this digital world--but the speakers were purchased at about the same time as the receiver (early 70s) and are in equally good shape, also with original brochure and packing boxes.)

I am interested in hearing back from anybody still interested in the receiver and/or speakers. I live in Springfield, near the intersection of Rolling Road and the Fairfax County Parkway. The best time to come by to pick something up would be this Saturday, although Thursday evening would also be a possibility.

John

What a piece of crap. Of course he has a way to differentiate; he could operate under the principle of 'first come, first served'. (Probably, if he did that, I would not get it, so my reaction is not simply 'sour grapes'.) It seems pretty obvious he will not honor his original offer. The time for research on price is before one lists, not after. I have missed out on good deals before, but such things don't leave a bad taste in one's mouth the way this does.

 

[analog addict]

Just got one upped yesterday...

Someone had a pair of working Ohm C2's without grills for $25 on the local CL. Guy e-mailed me back and said I got to him first, so I had first dibs. Emailed him a couple of questions, and he e-mailed me back and said they were gone! #@$#@. (Homer, was that you?!?!) Guess I'll have to live with the working and very nice Yamaha CA-810 I picked up for $25 yesterday Win some, lose some. However, the CL experience is WAY better than epray....
Cheers!
A.A.

 

[herbman1975]

Well, I found a set of Cornwalls for $350. Emailed the seller, said I would come down immediately w/cash.

Got a response, here it is -

Sorry I haven't been able to get to ALL the people who responded to my ad. I have been advised by more than one person from craigslist that I should sell them on ebay instead since I still have the original boxes and packing material. The problem is I don't want to do that. I am now looking for someone who has very good feedback on ebay that would do it for 25% commision. I am willing to deliver the speakers to the right person. Just let me know if you want to be considered and your ebay ID so I can verify your feedback score. After doing my research on ebay it should net someone $200+.

So, in my first experience on CL, the EXACT thing I was talking about happening - happened... i.e. I got screwed out of a good deal.

 

[spartanmanor]

Other than people simply not responding to my inquiries about their items, I have never had a bidding war or other unpleasantness--until now:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ele/259952392.html

Here is the response I got from the person:



What a piece of crap. Of course he has a way to differentiate; he could operate under the principle of 'first come, first served'. (Probably, if he did that, I would not get it, so my reaction is not simply 'sour grapes'.) It seems pretty obvious he will not honor his original offer. The time for research on price is before one lists, not after. I have missed out on good deals before, but such things don't leave a bad taste in one's mouth the way this does.

Yeah, I was probably the first to respond to him. 5 min after posting. I got the same email. The one on ebay has been completely reconditioned so there is no comparison. Pisser…..it should have been mine…..lol