Power Sellers Unite

eBayEXPAT · Joined: 25 Apr 2011 Posts: 96

I've had a few good deals (Selling and Buying) on Craigslist, however it seems like there are a lot of folks out there with no consideration for others time, Just this week I put a lawn mower up for sale (Nice mower, fair price) and had 2 "buyers" with the same experience .... its just what they need, they love it ....set a time, dont show, ....e-mail apologize with excuse.....set another time, dont show up, e-mail again, one never showed, the other e-mailed again, asked an obvious question, and decide that they didnt want it (after I held it for them for a couple days)... other people e-mail lowball offer without even taking a look, other wants it delivered, etc. etc. Once in a while I get a "real" buyer but more often "flakes"
Anybody have a way to sort them out ?
BTW I list ANYTHING "free" and My mailbox gets full up in half hour.....people willing to drive 100 miles for a free item worth maybe $10...I dont get it !@

things4u · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1331

there isn't a fool proof way but I state in the description for them to leave a Phone # and I will call them only once to set up a time and if they don't show I just move on and ignor any further e mails.
there a lot of flakes and time wasters one thing that seems to modivate them is I have 2 others coming to look at this item later this day so it is first money that gets it if you come now you have first choice sad that you have to do that but it helps to modivate the serious buyers and stop the flakes

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17240 Location: Texas

Your time is worth $.

Next time they don't show up, raise the cost of the product and let the "non-buyer" know why.
Otherwise, let the "non-buyer" know they missed a great bargain by NOT showing up on time and the item is already SOLD, to someone who showed up on time, with CASH.

I personally would not put up with these types of people. No show, no sale & no excuses!!

CraigsMan · Joined: 16 Nov 2011 Posts: 4

What frustrates you the most about Craigslist?

otter5555 · Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 73

none of the above

flagging ads is what i hate about craigslist

Feedbacker · Joined: 16 Nov 2011 Posts: 5

You mean your posts being flagged is what frustrates you the most out of those, or none of those frustrate you period but the flagging does?

Feedbacker · Joined: 16 Nov 2011 Posts: 5

I'm currently developing PingPage specifically to deal with these types of problems and to be exact the flakiness problem. Its none functional yet, but will be in a few weeks. Take a look at it and tell me what you think. I want to build based on everyone's feedback instead of my assumptions.

It will be a set of tools to ease the whole classifieds communication hell. As of the now the only thing that works is the ability to accept voice calls from your listing page without displaying your phone number for marketers and spammers like here. So once you create a page any buyer can click the 'Call me button' from your listing on whichever website it might be to ring up your phone without displaying your number.

P.S. Although i would LOVE for you to use it and tell me what you think, you don't have to use it to give feedback. Am not out to get as many users as possible at this stage, am simply out to learn what the real problems are and try different solutions.

2BOYSandTOYS · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 10095 Location: Kansas

I gotta agree - the flagging for me is the biggest pain I have with CL. It is by far the biggest issue with the site - the wanna-be-in-charge other 'sellers' that are overly flag-happy.

What is most interesting - there's just no logic applied to the flagging/removal of ads. I am an anal-retentive person and do not/would not ever list inappropriate things. But yet - flags fly - so ... a self-policing site doesn't work for the long-haul.

I've stopped using CL - for this reason. I can handle the 'flakes', the 'wanna-be-scammers', the silly questions (which are typically in the ad) - all of it.

But to have items removed because others don't like how you wrote it - so junior high... :P :oops: :oops:

Stepping down off my soap box now... 8)

things4u · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1331

What frustrates me the most are the incessant flagging by other sellers and the idiots that post their items for sale under a non related category.and then the over posters that render the search almost useless

2BOYSandTOYS · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 10095 Location: Kansas

First thought....

Don't solicit feedback 'here' - this is specific to CL.

Other thoughts -

Remove the link from your siggie - got a 404 error (as it's not yet ready). Add it back when you are ready for folks to 'see'.

Your landing page clearly targets demographics around your age. While the 'me' generation is most technical (based on research), they are not the ones 'selling'. My point - make sure that your site is functional for 'any age'. You start talking SMS, Text, etc. without simple function and you will drive away older folks who 'don't get that lingo'.

I tend to get a 'feel' for those I'm transacting with my back and forth communication. While it may be a 'waste of time' at times, it does help me weed out the weirdos that I would not want to meet - any where, any time - daylight - at Walmart. My point - by streamlining the exchange, and 'saving' time, what process(es) exist to ensure safety?

Share when you have more - I am super busy this time of year ... but will keep an eye out.

otter5555 · Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 73

my competitors flag my ads 4-5 times per day. i repost them immediately.

i now sell more through backpage than cl

almost every ad on cl has to be phone verified now for most posters

this has moved MANY posters to bp and buyers have followed

bp is user friendly and gaining on cl daily

also, american classifieds allows basically unlimited free ads in multiple cities.

otter

2BOYSandTOYS wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")
I gotta agree - the flagging for me is the biggest pain I have with CL. It is by far the biggest issue with the site - the wanna-be-in-charge other 'sellers' that are overly flag-happy.

What is most interesting - there's just no logic applied to the flagging/removal of ads. I am an anal-retentive person and do not/would not ever list inappropriate things. But yet - flags fly - so ... a self-policing site doesn't work for the long-haul.

I've stopped using CL - for this reason. I can handle the 'flakes', the 'wanna-be-scammers', the silly questions (which are typically in the ad) - all of it.

But to have items removed because others don't like how you wrote it - so junior high... :P :oops: :oops:

Stepping down off my soap box now... 8)

Feedbacker · Joined: 16 Nov 2011 Posts: 5

@2BOYSandTOYS, Thanks for your reply. What's wrong with asking for peoples feedback in making sure a tool that is attempting to solve a problem they're facing about easier to deal with? If i can't ask sellers for thier feedback here, where would you suggest i do? I don't want to come out as spamming or bugging anyone. I simply saw the thread and thought i had what it takes to ease someones pain point. I really appreciate your feedback it was really insightful plus i fixed the sig.

CraigsMan · Joined: 16 Nov 2011 Posts: 4

I feel like the people over at Craigslist just don't give a sh*t and are just patching the sites problems. The concept for having others flag others listings is stupid. Maybe they can solve it by NOT removing the listing but indicate on top of the listing "username X suspects that this listing is spam". Yes actually display the flaggers username and flagging history for people to see whether he/she's just flagging as a competitor or on true grounds.

pie4himm · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 407

I don't like complete strangers coming to my house to close the deal...wish I had a separate business address apart from my home that I do business out of, but don't...also, I hate the vendors who misrepresent their product's price on the page you see the ads.. it will be like a Corvette for 100 bucks on the ad page and then you go to the actual listing it is priced at a "normal" Corvette asking price..that gripes the heck out of me..

CraigsMan · Joined: 16 Nov 2011 Posts: 4

@pie4himm Unless you're selling furniture, can't you meet them at a gas station or a store's parking lot or something?