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Craigslist Woes; Glider Chair
Topic Started: Feb 26 2009, 10:57 PM (257 Views)
jgoo
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So Kassandre has been looking for, among other things, a glider chair for the baby's nursery. We can't really afford one brand new right now, so she's been looking at Craigslist. After several days of unsuccessful searching (either someone had just sold it, it was too expensive, or just plain out ugly), she finally was able to contact a guy who had a very nice one for only $60. She called him and set up a pickup time and everything. So we were supposed to go and get it tonight. I left work early to meet Kassandre at her job and we were going to head from there. She called the guy to let him know that we had the cash and were on our way when he said "oh, I already sold it to someone else." Understandably, we were both very PO'd about it.

Upon getting home, I sent the following email to the guy:

"Thanks for getting my pregnant wife's hopes up for this piece of furniture for our baby's nursery, scheduling a time and everything for pickup, and then selling it to someone else. Don't do that kind of thing if you can't keep your word. A$$hole."

Of course that last word was the actual word, not with the dollar signs.

I can't believe some people. Is this common for Craigslist?
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musicasacra
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HOLY CARP!!!
In my experience, yes. Unless agreed to by both parties (like, I'll hold it for you only until 6pm), it's usually the first to come with the cash gets it. I don't think people usually hold items waiting for someone to pick them up (unless it's -- I'll be there in 10 minutes).

My first couple of times with Craiglist I offered to hold on to something for interested buyers until they could pick it up later . . . and quickly realized that approach doesn't work. Both times the potential buyers didn't come over at all and meanwhile I had more interested buyers contacting me. First with the cash wins. But I let people know about that so there are no misunderstandings.

Sorry you missed your chair -- I hope you find another one soon.
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jgoo
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But why bother making an appointment if you know you may sell it to someone else? Furthermore Kassandre gave him her telephone number in case they needed to communicate and he didn't even bother to call and tell us. If she hadn't called ahead of time to let him know we were on the way, we'd have made a 30 minute drive one way for absolutely no reason at all.
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musicasacra
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HOLY CARP!!!
He should have told you first with the cash, call before you come to make sure I still have it, sure.
But he's also just trying to get his cash for the item, he doesn't care who gives him the money first.

I've made appointments with people as well if they can only come over later in the day or the evening -- just to verify if I'll be home when they're available to come over. I tell them to call first to make sure I still have it -- it's first with the cash gets it.
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
First come first serve. That's how Craigslist works.

When someone is promising to come over, I take their phone number and let them know whether anyone else is interested, and that it goes to the first person there. I am not running a store with inventory.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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jgoo
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Yeah, he also doesn't seem to care about keeping his word, either. Nice guy. He didn't say anything like that. After Kassandre talked to him on the phone Tuesday she told me it was a done deal. We were going to be picking it up for sure tonight. The appointment had been set. She told him we'd be showing up with cash for it and he accepted. Phone numbers were exchanged. This just doesn't seem right to me.
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musicasacra
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HOLY CARP!!!
Well, if she talked to him Tuesday and you're picking it up Thursday . . . I can see him not wanting to hold on to it for two days waiting for a potential buyer. Keep in mind other people are calling him about the item as well, offering cash. He just wants to sell the thing.

I've been blown off by people who told me they were definitely coming over at a certain time. So I don't hold items anymore unless they're in the car on the way over in a few minutes.

Try not to be too bummed about it -- you'll find a nice one yet.
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
So why did it take two days for you to get over there? It seems he wanted to move it more than you wanted to get it. Sorry, jgoo, I'm sure there is another glider chair out there that will be perfect for you.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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jgoo
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ivorythumper
Feb 26 2009, 11:33 PM
So why did it take two days for you to get over there? It seems he wanted to move it more than you wanted to get it. Sorry, jgoo, I'm sure there is another glider chair out there that will be perfect for you.
As I said, it is about 1/2 hour one way. It was also very late Tuesday night (past 11pm) when they talked on the phone. Our schedule vs. his schedule, tonight was the soonest appropriate time for all parties involved. I'm not saying that he shouldn't do the first come first serve if he wants to, I'm just saying that he should say that up front and NOT commit to an appointment if that's the way he's going to do it. And when he had another buyer for it, he should have checked back if we were still interested and coming at appointment time, or AT LEAST called and explained that it was sold already and the appointment is now canceled. It's just the principle. I don't know, maybe I'm just too new to the whole buying stuff from Craigslist thing.
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musicasacra
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HOLY CARP!!!
I agree he shouldn't have given the impression he was willing to hold it for you for two days if he was willing to sell it sooner to someone else. Once he sold it, did he really have to call you at that point? Sellers talk to a lot of people sometimes -- they just want to sell their stuff, not call back people and tell them it's sold. We have no relationships with the strangers that are Craigslist sellers, thus no expectations for them to hold their inventory or call us when they're sold out.

I hope it works better for you next time. Best tip -- don't assume a stranger you have no relationship with will hold items for you. Other people are contacting them as well, wanting to buy their items.
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George K
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Finally
Craigslist is like a biker bar. As everyone has said, "First come..." I've had 4-5 people set up appointments and never show up to purchase it. Lots and lots of emails: "Do you still have....?" I always respond, and I always say, "If someone else comes first, it's gone. Call immediately before you come."
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