Fishy Craigslist response- ?

[Turin]

I got this response for a bike I'm selling. It seems pretty generic. Personally, I respond to an add with something mor like... can you tell me more about the Honda?-

Thoughts?

 
I saw your ad, Do you still have it? I am available to meet tomorrow at 11:00. Can you meet me tomorrow? My email is <allen.evans175@gmail.com

[cliffrod]

Respond via Craigslist email and see where it goes.  If they’re that special that they’ll only do it their way, they probably won’t be a customer worth knowing in the first place.

I require responders to include a phone number in their reply, stated in the ad along with “I don’t text”. That eliminates 99% of the time wasters and fakers.

[Ncdan]

Personally I will not do business buying or selling without talking to the person on the phone. This allows one to at least get a feel of who they may be dealing with. If someone refuses to allow me to call them or them call me, I don’t trust them, period!

[aproud1]

I agree with Cliffrod. Respond via Craigslist and see where it goes. There are a number of responses along these lines to get an email address for whatever reason or other personal information. There's no reason to contact someone you don't know outside of the Craigslist server response.

In my experience, if some one wants a quick meetup, they will leave a number. If it's some sort of scam they won't.

Good luck with your sale!

[twowheeladdict]

I got this response for a bike I'm selling. It seems pretty generic. Personally, I respond to an add with something mor like... can you tell me more about the Honda?-

Thoughts?

 
I saw your ad, Do you still have it? I am available to meet tomorrow at 11:00. Can you meet me tomorrow? My email is <allen.evans175@gmail.com

There has been a lot of fear created around the use of Craigslist.  As a buyer or a seller the other party wanted to meet at a busy gas station.  I never post my phone number or email, and converse through Craigslist until I'm convinced it is legit, then move to phone conversation. 

[Irn]

Have some faith in humanity, and pick up the phone and call.  I've had great interactions on CL, fly and rides, even sending a cashier's check to a guy in Arkansas for a specific Telecaster I was looking for at a great price.  7 days later the guitar showed up beyond my expectations.  Most people are helpful and honest, social media, etc has made us all overly paranoid and fearful.  Yep, buyer beware is a good motto, but a little bit of conversation goes a long way.

[Moparnut72]

Good advice. I once got a response from a female who didn't seem to know much about bikes. Said she would take the Sportster I was selling and would I hold it until the weekend. I wasn't getting much action anyway so I said sure what's a few more days. She showed up with her hubby, she was buying it as a surprise aniversary gift for him. She had been squirreling away extra household money for a couple of years. He was thrilled, she was happy and I was glad to see it go to a good home. They say Sportsters are girls bikes but that was a new take on the slur.
kk

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Personally I will not do business buying or selling without talking to the person on the phone. This allows one to at least get a feel of who they may be dealing with. If someone refuses to allow me to call them or them call me, I don’t trust them, period!

I totally agree.. Talk With them on the phone first. You can tell a lot by listening!

[willowstreetguzziguy]

I remember about five years ago I went to sell motorcycle and I posted an ad. Five minutes later I get a response from someone I thought wow, they must really be interested. The more I looked into it the more red flags came up and I realized it was most likely a scam, because like you said they don’t want to talk to you on the phone.

I just heard something about spotting a scam… Two things, The first red flag is if they want you to react right away and give them money. The second red flag is If they request your personal information. Either one of those is a scam.

[Moparnut72]

That happens a lot, text message immediately after posting. 99.99% of the time the start of a scam.
kk

[Bulldog9]

Scammers out there, but the good people outweigh the bad. I'd respond via craigslist mail and see where it goes. Other than people being no shows when it came down to the sale, I've only had good experiences buying and selling parts, cars, motorcycles over the years, be it old school classified adds, pennysaver, e-bay, craigslist, etc.

I have seen a ton of scam ads though.

[Swangle]

I wouldn't even respond to that. Any reply from a craigslist ad that seems "fishy" is something I won't deal with. I've rented a couple properties out through CL and I have the same approach there too (granted, a potential renter needs to include some info about themselves, but same applies).

[usedtobefast]

Sometimes I'll reply with a few questions ... like asking them "what town are in your in?  Are you nearby?" or for dirt bikes I'll ask "do you ride at places like Dry Rock Ridge"  (which is a totally made up name), so a normal person would respond with something like "never heard of that, I ride at Hollister and Metcalf" (2 real places).  I found with spammers I never hear back from them.

Seems the newer generation doesn't like making phone calls.      I had always done a "do 1-2 emails/msgs, then get on the phone for more details and setting up a time" kind of approach.

Last 2 used dirt bikes I bought have been without a phone call.  Both guys around 30 years old.  But I was a buyer vs seller, they weren't that far away, and they were selling the exact bike I wanted and they were fairly new, so I did not have a lot of questions.  Oh, and they responded fairly quickly and without any weird stuff.

Your example might be legit.  If I found the exact bike I wanted I might be like that.  All excited, ready to come see it.  But yes, a phone call could keep you from wasting your time. 

Good luck with it. 

[Matt Story]

Don't forget that the younger generation who has grown up with their face glued to screens is particularly phobic of actually speaking on the phone.  There's no telling if this is a factor with the OP's ad respondent.  There's also nothing wrong with taking a friend or 2 along to any potential meet up.  High value transactions should happen in a police station parking lot.

[coast range rider]

Why would someone from the younger generation be responding to a Craigslist motorcycle for sale ad? Sounds suspicious.

[Caffeineo]

I was selling a DR650 and got a text.
Bike still available?
Reply - Yes.
Where can I see it?
This just seemed a bit fishy to me so I gave the address to the local Police Dept.
Then I get this text. OK I am here. Where is the bike?
LOL. I told him I thought it was a scam and then gave him my real address. He came right over. We had a good laugh and he bought the bike for cash.

Yes I am still a bit paranoid about the generic replies but try not to be too suspicious. 

[LongRanger]

Just this past week I posted my Honda Element on CL with one stock photo and an honest description of its condition. Received 4 email responses within the first two hours and communicated with one of the parties solely by text message after that. I gave her my address, she came over with her dad, drove the car for all of about three minutes, and paid me in cash.

If I had insisted on email or telephone only, the deal likely would have never happened. Use your judgement but don’t turn down an opportunity just out of fear, prejudice, or stubbornness.

[s1120]

I tell you I HATE talking on the phone! I am in no way the younger gen, but after spending most of my work life working dealer parts and being on the phone almost non stop for 50 hours a week, Im more then happy to text and email!  That being said between FB market, and Craigs list the last few times ive sold something its been a real PITA. A easy 10-1 red flag replies. I have a lot of stuff I want to sell, but frankly I just dont want to deal with it a lot of the time.

[Bulldog9]

I tell you I HATE talking on the phone! I am in no way the younger gen, but after spending most of my work life working dealer parts and being on the phone almost non stop for 50 hours a week, Im more then happy to text and email!  That being said between FB market, and Craigs list the last few times ive sold something its been a real PITA. A easy 10-1 red flag replies. I have a lot of stuff I want to sell, but frankly I just dont want to deal with it a lot of the time.

Whatcha got man?!? 

[lazlokovacs]

being born in the 80s I think I count as a member of the younger generation, just!

90 per cent of people my age or younger just will not converse on the phone preferring to text or message. It is absolutely frustrating, things that could have been worked out in the course of a 3 minute call require endless texts etc. And then there's the flakiness.

My rule, I don't believe that ANY arrangement made by text is going to happen. Sometimes it does, but I don't believe it til it happens. And any arrangement made by phone or in person has a 90 per cent chance of happening.

When it comes to selling or buying, yes I want to hear their voice before the deal. There are a billion verbal nuances that all form part of communication with someone, whereas all text messages sound the same.

A wildguzzi example, when I bought Mike Tiberio's (RIP) eldo-vert, Although I had read and admired hundreds of his posts over the years, I needed those first 20 seconds of talking to him to know that he was a straight up guy and that the bike would be as promised and there would be no complications.

Rant over!

[Scout63]

Craigslist is pretty handy for buying and selling some stuff.  I just ignore the usual texts.  I do post my cell number.  It’s pretty easy to figure out who is legit. It’s so much better than the want ads of old.

[twowheeladdict]

Scammers out there, but the good people outweigh the bad. I'd respond via craigslist mail and see where it goes. Other than people being no shows when it came down to the sale, I've only had good experiences buying and selling parts, cars, motorcycles over the years, be it old school classified adds, pennysaver, e-bay, craigslist, etc.

I have seen a ton of scam ads though.

A lot of enclosed trailer being sold by widows for $800.  LOL!

[nwguy]

That response is clearly a scam. "Do you still have it?" could apply to anything being sold. Almost all legit response mention the name of the thing you're selling. Ie: Is your Guzzi still for sale? I've had the predictable responses come in moments after posting an ad saying "Is your item still for sale?" Irritating but easy to ignore. I usually say "No responses to 'is it still for sale' inquiries." in my CL postings.

[s1120]

Whatcha got man?!? 

Nothing bike related..  just a lot of old junk.

[Turin]

Facebook marketplace is a mess. Withing 2 minutes of posting over there, I received about 10 messages asking "Do you still have the item?" followed up by "please text me" and "I will pay cash". That crap dried up when I added, land line no text messages.

I've never contacted a seller and asked about "The Item". I wonder if it's a BOT or cut and paste scammers.

[Air-Cooled]

Everyone has different experiences.  I've communicated with Craigslist responders entirely by text after they have established a trustable dialog via Craigslist's anonymous email.  I really don't wanna talk to them, waste of my time. Their asking if it has sold yet is a totally logical question to pose.  I've asked the same when I'm interested in an item.

[frozengoose]

Everyone has different experiences.  I've communicated with Craigslist responders entirely by text after they have established a trustable dialog via Craigslist's anonymous email.  I really don't wanna talk to them, waste of my time. Their asking if it has sold yet is a totally logical question to pose.  I've asked the same when I'm interested in an item.

My experience too, never had any trouble using the Craiglist email, don't give out my phone or email unless the buyer/seller has been verified. Sold and bought lot's o' stuff over the years with no problems, but maybe better lucky than smart?

[twowheeladdict]

Everyone has different experiences.  I've communicated with Craigslist responders entirely by text after they have established a trustable dialog via Craigslist's anonymous email.  I really don't wanna talk to them, waste of my time. Their asking if it has sold yet is a totally logical question to pose.  I've asked the same when I'm interested in an item.

This is why those who know Craigslist say things like, "if ad is up, item still for sale".  Or, "I don't need any help with selling".  And other statements that flush out the scammers.

[ital4me]

I hadn't used Craigslist for a very long time. It had a bad reputation and it all felt a little sleazy. Recently I had a snowplow for sale and the kids convinced me to try it again. I have to say it wasn't the same experience. Much better site with more protections for the seller. The plow sold and all was good. There are scammers and grifters everywhere you look. A foible of mankind. You just have to careful out there.