Selling on craigslist RANT?

[scra99tch]

I have my bike for sale on craigslist.  I have a long and brutally honest description of everything done to it.  Well I get an email that someone is interested but they have a question about why in my first picture I have the older rounded head covers on the bike.  I let them know nicely that no in fact they are the original.  I get a reply back that I must be kidding, and that the potential buyer absolutely knows what he's talking about as he has been a Guzzi mechanic back in the 70's. 

So I take another look at my pictures and notice yes indeed that the craigslist ones are somewhat crappy and could be perceived as the rounded older head covers.  I proceed to direct him to this website and the better quality pictures on here. 

No reply.

So I kindly describe again that yeah the craigslist pics are crappy but to check out this site and to zoom in on the first picture.

No reply.

At this point I'm thinking someone's playing a joke on me but in good faith,  I email the buyer again.  I am beginning to get a little PO'ed, and that I should refrain from typing anything insulting. 

He finally replies that I did not get back to him in time and that he's not interested.

Should I start sending him emails for prescription glasses?

This after a very enthusiastic buyer wanted to take a look but never showed.

[elvisboy77]

I'd let it go.  Guy like that will never be happy, you'd be better off giving away to someone.

[Perazzimx14]

Just walk away.

[Nic in Western NYS]

Cut your losses with that guy and use the time you saved in fighting with him to do something wicked fun.

[sib]

My experience with Craigslist is that potential buyers often show great interest and then simply disappear.  Who knows, maybe  they sober up and change their mind, or the spouse says no, or they find something else that they're more interested in.  A deal requires two consenting adults, so there's nothing you can, or should, do about it.  You'll eventually find another customer.  Good luck.

[steven c]

 Just let it go. I have sold a lot of bikes and boats, cars on Craigslist, lots of people who will waste your time. I was selling a Ducati Paso a few years back and this guy low balls me for $500 and keeps calling me telling me about all the bikes he bought for $500 and I just told him thats great,good for him and hung up. Or my truck I sold a few weeks back, this fellow was coming with cash and a trailer and of course never showed. It's just a part of selling on craigslist.

[Perazzimx14]

Just let it go. I have sold a lot of bikes and boats, cars on Craigslist, lots of people who will waste your time. I was selling a Ducati Paso a few years back and this guy low balls me for $500 and keeps calling me telling me about all the bikes he bought for $500 and I just told him thats great,good for him and hung up. Or my truck I sold a few weeks back, this fellow was coming with cash and a trailer and of course never showed. It's just a part of selling on craigslist.

Call/email blocking is a great tool to combat this.

[charlie b]

Yep, there are a bunch who present themselves as interested but critical.  Then they ask for some sort of favor, like a picture of a certain part or angle.  Then they dive into a flaw somewhere and how they know something you don't.  Then you never hear from them again.

I think some folks like to have themselves perceived as 'important' even for so little amount of time.

And then there are those who see a 'deal', inquire, then decide they can't afford it/don't want it anyway.

Face it.  When selling you are a "used car salesman".  You have to put up with tire kickers, dreamers, nit pickers, etc all using up your time.  Then when you have someone serious they want you to give them your vehicle for 'free" cause it isn't perfect.

[Lannis]

Face it.  When selling you are a "used car salesman".  You have to put up with tire kickers, dreamers, nit pickers, etc all using up your time.  Then when you have someone serious they want you to give them your vehicle for 'free" cause it isn't perfect.

I've never sold a bike on Craigslist.   I've sold other things, like commercial lawn equipment, but for all the reasons described above it is a PAIN in the arse.    Every broke-dick wannabe on the planet calls because they've got nothing better to do.

Every bike I've sold, I've sold or traded to a fellow enthusiast, face to face, at a price we were both happy with.   My last 4 Guzzis and my last sold BSA were, in fact, all sold at rallies ... the $25 extra bucks I might have gotten with Craigslist aren't worth it.

Lannis

[sdcr]

Craigslist is really the Wild, Wild West of the Classifieds. CL can be effective in selling, it's just that you have to put up with a lot of the crud. My theory is, that in the old days, we waited til the newspaper came, then perused the various categories. Then we had to pick up the phone, and actually talk to someone. A commitment, albeit a small commitment.

Now, at any time we like, we click onto craigslist, and can peruse classifieds in any category, and any state, in just a few seconds. If we fancy something, even for a moment, it's click and we e mail them questions. Sometimes questions that have already been described in the sellers ad! Possibly sending dozens of inquiries within a short session. Not much of a personal commitment to the buying process.

Just my opinion.

John
83 Le Mans III

[elvisboy77]

Come to think of it, it could have been some hipster who felt the need to share their "knowledge" on a rare bike.....lol

[nunzio]

Buy a burner phone or I just use my cell phone.

Accept ONLY phone calls.

You will have less problems.

I have sold close to 20 bikes on Craigslist and had only one guy I did not want to deal with.

Having them call seems to weed out a bunch of losers.....Alan

[dl.allen]

second that
call only

[Testarossa]

I got my Funduro because the guy who swore he was going to buy it never showed.  On the other hand, when I sold the Suzuki last spring, the first guy who called came over right away and bought it.

[blackcat]

Accept ONLY phone calls.

I came to the same conclusion. They can text me after the phone call but only to let me know they are soon to arrive or not.

[Red07]

Just let it go.  The guy had no intention of buying.  He just wanted to "try" to bust your balls over something he thought he was right about.  Worlds full of dipsh#%ts like that.  If even slightly interested, he would've kept in contact with you.  Blow it off


Randy

[canuguzzi]

Don't sweat the small stuff. One trick with CL is not be post really long specs or detailed descriptions, instead use generalities.

When detailed specs or descriptions are posted you attract conversationalists, not buyers. When you use generalities, that invites a broader group of prospects and then the golden rule of CL selling comes into play:

Avoid long emails exchanges, any discussion of price and talk about minutia. Get right to the appointment to show. In your ad state that you negotiate final price only in person with a buy now offer, bit a would you take $$ and then still think about it.

You'll weed out those not interested pretty quick, they often won't bother. CL is for local sales even if the rarer bikes are often bought long distance.

Remember, a potential buyer that passes is just your opprunity to sell it at a better price to someone else.

[scra99tch]

It bothered me for a split second and well maybe a little longer as I had to write this post. 

I found it rather amusing to say the least that I had to argue such a moot point to this guy as to the validity of the valve covers.  Now I understand the customer is always right.  But I thought he would have a clue or catch on to my description of listing everything done the good the bad and the ugly as being more than honest.  But maybe I was too honest and that in itself was hiding something more sinister as to a rounded head cover.

For one I should start carrying bear spray with me to these craigslist transactions.

[canuguzzi]

 :embarassed:The idea is to sell the bike, not fret over those who do not. I've had more than one person act all flaky, do the tire kicker thing and disappear only to be the one to come back and buy it.

Its only a motorcycle, to the owner it might be their baby, a coveted family member and cherished jewel of engine and marque. To others its just another bike they might buy.

Who cares, you're selling it. Comes down to what you want more, to like the person buying it, their money or the bike? Its nothing more than business.

[atavar]

No need to buy a burner phone, go get a google number and forward it transparantly to your regular phone.  Handy because you can forward it to your cel and/or your landline and/or your skype ad nauseum..  plus you can receive and forward texts.