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blueshoefarm at gmail dot com.... and that would be how to reach me

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Giving something away on Craigslist or How To Weed Out Your Responses Responsibly

In prep for my new garage doors, I bypassed the $300 dismantle and dispose fee and listed the old ones on craigslist.  This is how I weed the emails out. 
I posted the ad with a picture of the doors.  I only use the craigslist response email, I do not give any personal info, no phone, no email, no address in the body of the ad. Here is the ad.
"Three garage doors, two mahogany, one I don't know. Four paneled doors, all with glass panels, approx 8 x 7.  Ca. 1970's. They are being replaced with metal garage doors.   Use them for gardening? Building a chicken coop? Your own creative object d'art? Sometimes I am looking for weird stuff on craigslist that I know people are getting rid of, so I thought I would see if anyone is looking for these! "
  The key thing is I am going to have them work (they had to dismantle and take the doors) so I want to make sure they know there is a reason I am giving them away.  That they have all the information they need.  I do not hide problems with the item and hope they don't notice when they get here... that wastes my time and theirs.  The only big problem with this ad is I did not give dimensions.   Here is how I navigate responses. I edited and changed the following emails and names to protect the innocent. Ha.



1. This guy totally legit, since he is emailing from work (bad employee!) and gives his full name.  Since I wanted to get rid of the whole thing, I passed him by for other folks who wanted all three.

From: Dean F <deanf@autoparts.net>
To:
-3077420896@sale.craigslist.org
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 9:24 AM
Subject: GARAGE DOORS


** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams



I need 2 to 3 wood panels, and no glass. Are your new doors up. I can pick the panels up at noon if they are.

Dean 

2. The following three I never respond to other than to tell them they are gone.  Many people just surf the free section and don't even really need the item, they just look at it as a resale.  This first guys problem is lack of intelligence, and I prefer not to have strangers over that miss such key information. Such as it is an item priced as free and listed in the free section.
Sent from my iPad

CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

How much?


Cecil


3.  These are what the free surfer dudes look like. I guarantee when you call him he will have no idea what you are calling about and you have to remind him because he responds to anything he can resell.  I have found these fellows to be inconsistent (not always showing up) and uncareful in removal(since it is not for their own use).
Sent from my iPhone
Very interested please call me . Aaron 360-611-


4. Do NOT EVER ask this. Just don't. Say you are interested, you can pick it up soon, that you have a way to transport it, why you want it.... but never this.
Sent from my iPhone
Do you still have the doors?


5. This is who I ended up giving it to. He wanted it for a fixer upper he just got from the bank. He had a large truck, was so courteous and careful, and regaled me with stories of Hollywood and the house he just bought. He was a fellow ole house lover! He also was persistent (two emails) had a real email and name (not hotmama69@yahoo.com or spacyfrieddude@msn.com)
and used capitals in his sentence. I know that the youngsters probably would not blink if someone didn't use capitals, but it is just one more sign they have a semblance of wherewithall to know if you are sending an email out into the ether because you want something for free, and someone is going to trust you to come to their home... well you can throw a little punctuation and capitals in that sentence.




From: Phil D 
To: 3077420896@sale.craigslist.org
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 2:57 PM
Subject: garage doors
** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams


I emailed you earlier, wondering if they are still available and that I can come and get them as soon as I here from you..I can sure use them..Thank You..Phil at 425-
From: Andrea blueshoefarm@gmail.com
;
Subject: Re: garage doors
To: "Phil" <phil.@.com>
Date: Friday, June 15, 2012, 3:18 AM

Hi Phil,
You understand I am replacing them... so they are definitely not perfect? Andrea
Yes thats fine.Where in poulsbo,and what time tomorrow would work best for you?thank you,Phil


To finish it all off be courteous and let the responders know your item has been given away, and take the ad down from craigslist when it is gone.



xyz@bye.com
Re: Garage doors

Hi, They all got picked up today. Thanks for your interest.
Andrea

2 comments:

Karen Anne said...

I've never had a problem with someone scary showing up, but numerous times I've waited around at the agreed upon time and someone has not shown up and not called to say they wouldn't be there. Now I post the email address of people like that, so they don't waste others' time.

I rather enjoyed (bad Karen Anne!) the fact that that infuriated one woman.

The most interesting person to show up was a woman rebuilding her home, who picked up one of the excess wheelbarrows I found when organizing the garage (why did my folks have three wheelbarrows?)

Andrea said...

Karen Anne,
What is it with wheelbarrows?? I have never thought of that... posting their email! Genius!
I have gotten so many questions about craigslist, mostly people that freak out about it, thinking they are all dangerous criminals trolling for innocents to rob. I have met some of the nicest, creative folk from craigslist! I love to hear what people are going to do with my excess house stuff...

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