Sellers Beware
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 625
Likes: 172
From: Massillon, Ohio
I've sold a few bikes and cars on Craigslist. But it seems like our friend Twizted, my BS meter is always on high sensitivity. On every single one, I got a text message within minutes of posting. Always the same story, and similar to DaytonaFatBoy's. "Im deployed overseas. I'll gladly pay you (x amount above the listed price) because I REALLY want "The Item." It's exactly whatI've been dreaming of. I'll Pay Pal you the money and I'll have my Brother/Sister/SecondCousin come by tomorrow to pick up"The Item".
So, I always said "Just have your Brother/Sister/SecondCousin bring cash and they can pick it up."
That was always the end of it.
So, I always said "Just have your Brother/Sister/SecondCousin bring cash and they can pick it up."
That was always the end of it.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,453
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
...this is exactly what I do and you never here from them again. What's amazing to me is it seems like on Craigslist almost as soon as you post something the scammers start sending these scam texts. They must have some kind of "alert set-up" or something as soon as an item is posted.
Literally within minutes they do have autobots to search for stuff. I set up junk email accounts whenever I dip a toe to move something then delete them when done, save all kinda issues
Stage III
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Pa
I do a lot of buying and selling on eBay, if you make a free PayPal account which I have had for years you are protected from scams and list merchandise or whatever. I have never had a problem in twelve years. The scammers stick out pretty easy. Craigslist is bad always get nothing but scammers reply
HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 600
From: The 1980's
Just got done dealing with a non paying winning bidder on ebay for a 5th wheel camper I'm selling. Someone who had just joined and had one feedback. She let the auction go to completion and then messaged that she didn't want the item instead of just yanking her bid so that the next bidder could have won. Bitch also tried to give me a negative feedback but I got eBay to remove that. Finally got that straightened out and got my fees refunded and relisted the camper.
Then sure as hell someone else with one feedback bids on the thing. First deadbeat bidder ended their username with _O. Second time around another short time member with a different username but also ended it with _O bid on the camper. I called ebay, explained the situation to them. They agreed it was suspicious and they ended the auction and again waived any fees.
I've since learned that I can go in and remove bids. So it's explained in the auction that I don't want anyone with low feedback rating to bid. Of course I can't stop them, but I can remove the bid. Like TSheff says, my ad clearly states cash or certified check and that the unit will not leave the yard until payment has cleared.
Then sure as hell someone else with one feedback bids on the thing. First deadbeat bidder ended their username with _O. Second time around another short time member with a different username but also ended it with _O bid on the camper. I called ebay, explained the situation to them. They agreed it was suspicious and they ended the auction and again waived any fees.
I've since learned that I can go in and remove bids. So it's explained in the auction that I don't want anyone with low feedback rating to bid. Of course I can't stop them, but I can remove the bid. Like TSheff says, my ad clearly states cash or certified check and that the unit will not leave the yard until payment has cleared.
Last edited by 2goldens; Jul 27, 2018 at 05:47 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,083
Likes: 19,245
From: The Wasteland
I've sold tons of stuff on Craigslist including cars, bikes and lots of parts. If you follow some simple rules its pretty easy to avoid scammers.
1- Cash only. No checks of any kind what so ever. Put that in the ad.
2- Use the email feature on CL and always make sure to send 4 or 5 emails back and forth before giving out your phone number. This will eliminate 99% of the scammers. They wont spend a lot of time emailing back and forth. If they reply saying something like "I am interested in your item" It's almost a guarantee its a scammer testing the water. A real buyer would say I am interested in your bike or car or whatever it is you're selling.
3- Google the buyers info. If they send you a name or phone number check it out. You can find out a lot about them pretty easy.
4- Meet in person at a public place.
5- Do not give up the item or sign any paperwork until you have cash in hand.
6- No test rides without money in hand or some sort of collateral. A friend of a friend met a guy at a local shopping mall to sell a crotch rocket. The "buyer" was already at the meeting place well before the meet up time waiting for the seller. The buyer asked for a test ride and the seller let him. The buyer rode out of the parking lot and actually pulled a wheelie as he sped off never to be seen again.
A guy asked me to ride my Street Bob before buying so I let him but I made him leave me his truck and keys and I made his girlfriend stay there with me until he got back.
Sticking to these rules will keep you safe almost every time. Most folks around here that use CL are just normal, honest guys that are looking to save a few bucks.
1- Cash only. No checks of any kind what so ever. Put that in the ad.
2- Use the email feature on CL and always make sure to send 4 or 5 emails back and forth before giving out your phone number. This will eliminate 99% of the scammers. They wont spend a lot of time emailing back and forth. If they reply saying something like "I am interested in your item" It's almost a guarantee its a scammer testing the water. A real buyer would say I am interested in your bike or car or whatever it is you're selling.
3- Google the buyers info. If they send you a name or phone number check it out. You can find out a lot about them pretty easy.
4- Meet in person at a public place.
5- Do not give up the item or sign any paperwork until you have cash in hand.
6- No test rides without money in hand or some sort of collateral. A friend of a friend met a guy at a local shopping mall to sell a crotch rocket. The "buyer" was already at the meeting place well before the meet up time waiting for the seller. The buyer asked for a test ride and the seller let him. The buyer rode out of the parking lot and actually pulled a wheelie as he sped off never to be seen again.
A guy asked me to ride my Street Bob before buying so I let him but I made him leave me his truck and keys and I made his girlfriend stay there with me until he got back.
Sticking to these rules will keep you safe almost every time. Most folks around here that use CL are just normal, honest guys that are looking to save a few bucks.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,603
Likes: 6,438
From: Honah Lee
...this is exactly what I do and you never here from them again. What's amazing to me is it seems like on Craigslist almost as soon as you post something the scammers start sending these scam texts. They must have some kind of "alert set-up" or something as soon as an item is posted.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,175
Likes: 2,483
From: Nor Cal
Just got done dealing with a non paying winning bidder on ebay for a 5th wheel camper I'm selling. Someone who had just joined and had one feedback. She let the auction go to completion and then messaged that she didn't want the item instead of just yanking her bid so that the next bidder could have won. Bitch also tried to give me a negative feedback but I got eBay to remove that. Finally got that straightened out and got my fees refunded and relisted the camper...
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,497
Likes: 1,160
From: Long Island
I sold my Ducati about two years ago on fee-bay. Multiple tries on CL only met time wasters, they would call, talk for a half hour, assure me they would come by "tomorrow" then nothing.
On Ebay, I started price below KBB value. plenty of action, sold for exact KBB value. The bike was 15 years old, not a scratch, lovingly maintained. (dead reliable) The buyer was from Tenn. paid full price unseen. After a few days my bank assured me funds were secure. Buyer showed up w his Pick-up truck. I rode the bike with him following me to a vacant supermarket, up the ramp, onto loading dock and put in his p/u. the guy was stressed from driving into the NY region, in his haste, he scratched the quarter fairing w his pocket knife while tying-down, he was pissed. A real gentleman...sent pics w the bike from home. I have to say, I would NEVER purchase this way, unseen. Too many things can go wrong, I like CL, look for local, meet buyer, size him up. Documentation is key.
On Ebay, I started price below KBB value. plenty of action, sold for exact KBB value. The bike was 15 years old, not a scratch, lovingly maintained. (dead reliable) The buyer was from Tenn. paid full price unseen. After a few days my bank assured me funds were secure. Buyer showed up w his Pick-up truck. I rode the bike with him following me to a vacant supermarket, up the ramp, onto loading dock and put in his p/u. the guy was stressed from driving into the NY region, in his haste, he scratched the quarter fairing w his pocket knife while tying-down, he was pissed. A real gentleman...sent pics w the bike from home. I have to say, I would NEVER purchase this way, unseen. Too many things can go wrong, I like CL, look for local, meet buyer, size him up. Documentation is key.
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,453
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Just got done dealing with a non paying winning bidder on ebay for a 5th wheel camper I'm selling. Someone who had just joined and had one feedback. She let the auction go to completion and then messaged that she didn't want the item instead of just yanking her bid so that the next bidder could have won. Bitch also tried to give me a negative feedback but I got eBay to remove that. Finally got that straightened out and got my fees refunded and relisted the camper.
Then sure as hell someone else with one feedback bids on the thing. First deadbeat bidder ended their username with _O. Second time around another short time member with a different username but also ended it with _O bid on the camper. I called ebay, explained the situation to them. They agreed it was suspicious and they ended the auction and again waived any fees.
I've since learned that I can go in and remove bids. So it's explained in the auction that I don't want anyone with low feedback rating to bid. Of course I can't stop them, but I can remove the bid. Like TSheff says, my ad clearly states cash or certified check and that the unit will not leave the yard until payment has cleared.
Then sure as hell someone else with one feedback bids on the thing. First deadbeat bidder ended their username with _O. Second time around another short time member with a different username but also ended it with _O bid on the camper. I called ebay, explained the situation to them. They agreed it was suspicious and they ended the auction and again waived any fees.
I've since learned that I can go in and remove bids. So it's explained in the auction that I don't want anyone with low feedback rating to bid. Of course I can't stop them, but I can remove the bid. Like TSheff says, my ad clearly states cash or certified check and that the unit will not leave the yard until payment has cleared.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 480
Likes: 349
From: Wilmington, NC
I've bought 3 bikes and sold 2 plus car, hot rod, and an AC Cobra, over $200,000 in business and never had anything close to a problem. I never deal with e-mails except for small items. I only work on phone calls with the information followed up by e-mail through e-bay. That way I have a good feel for who I'm dealing with and have a solid record. All transactions through PPal with their escrow service so no title until money in account. I always go to the bank or online and open a new account to use for deposits and the minute it clears I close that account out and transfer $ to my main account. That way the money is there and can't go anywhere. Both PPal and e-bay have a security section and those guys can be helpful in checking out questionable folks on the other side, if you talk to them nice. Craigs can be a real crap shoot. Had a friend of mine (a cop) meet a guy to sell his car, ended up in some carjacking BS and had to kill the guy. Person to person lots of stuff can go wrong, especially if it involves $$. E-Bay is like meeting a girl through e-harmony and Craigs is like meeting them in the drunk tank. I've done it both ways, but highly recommend the first, although sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.