Jeep Flakes and Craigslist

[SlowPocono]

I like Craigslist.

I've spent a lot of money on tools and motorcycles that I've found reading Craigslist ads.
Every one of those experiences was a pleasure. Each transaction was executed by mature and respectful individuals, conducting themselves in a businesslike manner.

I've been shopping for a Jeep.
I don't want to waste anyone's' time, including my own.
When I read the ads I look for factors that would stop me from being a buyer.
If a particular Jeep has been modified in a way contrary to my taste, or if the price is more than I want to pay, or if there are other circumstances that I find undesirable, I acknowledge that the particular vehicle is not the one for me and I do not respond to the ad.

If everything in the ad looks okay to me and there is additional information that I'd like, I send an inquiry that's respectfully written in English that's as grammatically correct as I can manage at the time.

Fewer than 50% of the ads that I respond to get any sort of answer.

The majority of the emails that I get back completely ignore some or all of the questions I've asked. Some are downright goofy.

I read an ad with a confusing description and no picture or price. It did include "...email me for pics...". Six hours after the ad was placed I sent an email asking for pictures and a price.
I was surprised and delighted when I got a response a few minutes later.
The content of his message was a little disappointing though.
His entire response: "i only have pics on my phone and that decided to take a swim earlier this week i have a guy coming to look at it this weekend i can take pics then is that okay?"

I'm wondering if there's some secret code that I need to include in my emails so that I can get real information, or all these Jeep sellers simply nuts?

What do you think?

 

[rufus1138]

nuts, as a recent c.l. seller i can tell you its infuriating on the sellers end to be constantly and consistently inundated with emails and text messages from automated scammers. just stating a contributing factor to ppl not playing well from a distance on cl, as a seller i wanna see a face or phone call before i waste much time, ill respond to texts but i put zero faith into the exchange, if its inconvenient for me i tell them to call when they get the chance, they get one opportunity, i will not call back.

 

[SlowPocono]

That makes sense to me rufus, but if the "seller" is advertizing that they want email inquiry's and they do not remove their ads, I wonder what their expectations can possibly be.
How can they possibly find a buyer if they do not respond to inquiries?
Some of these ads are renewed month after month.
I can't know for certain, but I think it's unlikely that my messages can be mistaken for automated scams.
The kinds of questions I ask are pretty straight forward:
Do you have a title?
How much money do you want?
Did you do the work yourself?
Is there any rust?
What size are the tires?
When is it convenient to let me see it?
Can I see a picture?

Are those sorts of questions alarming?

 

[thistle3585]

I relish the flakes because that turns off everyone else. Yes, I have to be patient and do a lot more work but I have found it rewarding. The last couple purchases off craigslist include

two brand new, in the box metal fenders $65
AMC 304 V8, T-18 Transmission , two transfer cases and new clutch $300
AMC20 axle and grill $45
CJ7 rolling chassis, new fiberglass tub, new fiberglass tilt front end $600

 

[Hedgehog]

As to not answering ALL the questions asked. I think it is an internet thing. Even a pleaseant place like here I have found that it isn't a good thing to ask more than 2 maybe 3 questions at one time. Even then it is common to get responces where it's obvious that the responder never actually read a good portion of the previous post. How many times have you seen (sorry for the long post) with a post that only has 2 or 3 lines of text. It seems that todays culture doesn't respond well to long answers.

In your case probabl the best thing to do is to say that your interested and would like to have a phone conversation at the sellers convienience.

I suppose we see things differently. To me the fellow that answered your inquirey did fairly well. He did answer, he had a bad incident with his phone and he had someone interested enough in his Jeep to come over and take a look. Likely a buyer. I'm sure if the guy walked he would have sent pictures.

Then there are the Craigslist guys that never seem to remove their add, then get pissy when you contact them. When the item is sold I usually say, "You should remove the add from Carigs List." Sometimes that is snough to set them off into a rant. I've sold stuff on Craigs List and it's super easy to remove an add. ..... Wel shoot it's gone ..... I just checked, I bought a broken electric guitar on Craigs List. The guy was a college kid, but nice enough and the price was very reasonable. The guitar has been fixed, and over the past month or so it's turned into one of my favorite instruments to play. Until recently the add was still up on Craigs List, well over a month after it was sold. Quite possibly the Jeeps your inquiring about are gone and the seller simply won't answer E-mails about it any more. Doesn't make sence does it.

 

[jpeck71]

Quite possibly the Jeeps your inquiring about are gone and the seller simply won't answer E-mails about it any more. Doesn't make sence does it.

I kind of suspected that was the case as well. I bought my CJ5 off CL. I had been searching my area for the right one, keeping track of adds and trying to make contacts. I eventually decided that if they don't answer my emails or phone calls that had to be the case that I was just too late.

It was just a fluke that I got the one I did because my first couple emails to the guy got trapped by his spam filter. After finally making contact with the guy and having text conversations I snapped it up within 3 days. Lucky I did too, he had two other people lined up for the weekend if I didn't buy it, or at least he said he did.

I also found that they were more likely to respond if they put their phone numbers in the add. Most of the strictly email adds I tried I got very little responses.

 

[Petescj]

I relish the flakes because that turns off everyone else. Yes, I have to be patient and do a lot more work but I have found it rewarding. The last couple purchases off craigslist include

two brand new, in the box metal fenders $65
AMC 304 V8, T-18 Transmission , two transfer cases and new clutch $300
AMC20 axle and grill $45
CJ7 rolling chassis, new fiberglass tub, new fiberglass tilt front end $600

It used to be easier a few years back but Craigslist is always worth checking out. There are deals out there and thats what I look for. Ive met some really great Jeepers through Craigslist. Ive seen it from both sides alot so Im not fazed by the idiots anymore.

 

[SlowPocono]

Thanks again, Mr. Hog for another thoughtful post.

Maybe my emails aren't written any more clearly than my posts here. I do try to be precise though.

I never have asked a laundry list of questions like I listed in my opening post. The list was an example of the types of questions I asked. That said, personally, I would rather answer one email completely instead of exchanging a series of them to find out that the answer to the fifth question was the deal breaker.

My, perhaps old fashioned attitude, is that if someone intends to have me give them thousands of dollars they should at least be cooperative.

Maybe the example I quoted didn't make it clear that 6 hours after the guy posted his ad that said "email me for pics" he told me that he didn't have any pictures at all and hadn't had any since before the ad was placed.

This particular exchange is only an example. My whole point is that MOST of the people selling (or should I say, advertising) old Jeeps respond to me as poorly, or worse.

I would never say that I would like to have a phone conversation at the sellers convenience because that would be an untruth. I would much rather have the seller write down his answers than for me to have to write them down for him while on the phone.

It is ironic that the example I chose to use is, suddenly, continuing.

For your amusement, I'll include every word exchanged between the "seller" and me today.

Him: hey are you still interested?

Me: Yes, I am.

Him: okay good wen do u want to come see it

Me: Okay good.

It was convenient for me to see it last weekend when I was in the area.

Your ad says "...email me for pics..."
(the next few lines I copied from my original message to remind him)
___________________________________________________
For me to look at your Jeep in person will require about three hours of driving so I would like to see some pictures first.

How much money do you want for it?
________________________________________________


Did you forget your response?

Him: yeah sorry i had to get a new computewr so i lost all contact with ewveryone


To me, this whole conversation seems to be intentionally constructed to make no sense.

I have enough life experience to know that if I'm consistently running into the same sort of difficulty when dealing with other people the first place I should look for the problem is with myself. That's what I'm trying to do here by asking for the help of you with more Jeep experience.

 

[rufus1138]

psh, thats just craigslist, he's likely lazy and hasnt done anything he claims, and is genuinely unintelligent enough to believe that you cant tell he's lying and will just assume that he's simply dumb as a complete explanation, either go see it, talk to him at length on the phone or keep getting half assed responses.

also 3hrs? i drove 3 hrs one way on 5 different occasions while shopping for my current sailboat. its just part of the game, budget accordingly and enjoy the trips, collect the funny stories and relish the spoils of shopping second hand. cl has the down side of being constructed as a sellers domain, they're not going to put alot of effort into making a presentation for you, they're unlikely to bring the product to you, think of it as an electronic classified add paper, would you have expected someone to zap you electrical pictures of a jeep you were thinking of buying in 1980? no you would have gone and looked at it and talked to the guy and made a decision after looking at 4-5 other examples.

 

[Petescj]

Illiterate ones like that I just move on from.

 

[mstar]

Yep, I always include my phone number in the ad.never had a problem with it.Sold everything I advertised including jeep parts to east coast that locals just kicked dirt on. I'm w/ Pocono , I HATE dealing with flakes.I am in a waiting game with a local gunsmith.When I get my stuff back that's the end
of it.One time one chance and there done forever. BTW these flakes are easy to find,lots of them to go around.Be careful. mike

 

[SlowPocono]

I relish the flakes because that turns off everyone else. Yes, I have to be patient and do a lot more work but I have found it rewarding. The last couple purchases off craigslist include

two brand new, in the box metal fenders $65
AMC 304 V8, T-18 Transmission , two transfer cases and new clutch $300
AMC20 axle and grill $45
CJ7 rolling chassis, new fiberglass tub, new fiberglass tilt front end $600

This might be good, encouraging advice.

Maybe it's fair game for me to put up with their flakiness and take advantage of it when I can.

 

[rufus1138]

This might be good, encouraging advice.

Maybe it's fair game for me to put up with their flakiness and take advantage of it when I can.

you said it best, take advantage of it when you can, filtering through all the idiots will net you that ridiculous deal. my boat is likely priceless if anyone were to begin caring, its an excellent jewel of engineering of which 12 might have been manufactured that looked the way mine does (Limited edition cabin top that never caught on) i got it for 13.5k one day the world may appreciate ballerina for more than that, i like to think thats more than just possible.

 

[SlowPocono]

psh, thats just craigslist, he's likely lazy and hasnt done anything he claims, and is genuinely unintelligent enough to believe that you cant tell he's lying and will just assume that he's simply dumb as a complete explanation, either go see it, talk to him at length on the phone or keep getting half assed responses.

also 3hrs? i drove 3 hrs one way on 5 different occasions while shopping for my current sailboat. its just part of the game, budget accordingly and enjoy the trips, collect the funny stories and relish the spoils of shopping second hand. cl has the down side of being constructed as a sellers domain, they're not going to put alot of effort into making a presentation for you, they're unlikely to bring the product to you, think of it as an electronic classified add paper, would you have expected someone to zap you electrical pictures of a jeep you were thinking of buying in 1980? no you would have gone and looked at it and talked to the guy and made a decision after looking at 4-5 other examples.

I appreciate hearing about your experiences, rufus.


I do view the shopping expeditions as adventures, but If the advertiser won't answer my messages it's impossible to set up a meeting. Also, I'd feel pretty stupid to drive for a few hours to find out that there's no title or that the owner wants $11,000 for a Jeep that's worth $1,500.

 

[SlowPocono]

you said it best, take advantage of it when you can, filtering through all the idiots will net you that ridiculous deal. my boat is likely priceless if anyone were to begin caring, its an excellent jewel of engineering of which 12 might have been manufactured that looked the way mine does (Limited edition cabin top that never caught on) i got it for 13.5k one day the world may appreciate ballerina for more than that, i like to think thats more than just possible.

Pictures?

 

[SlowPocono]

Illiterate ones like that I just move on from.

The problem is that they are MOSTLY like that example.

 

[Petescj]

The problem is that they are MOSTLY like that example.

You do have to be careful about these as well though. Ive run into it 3 or 4 times where the Guy who has the parts has his kid post it on the web. When that happens and you get through the Bullcrap you end up meeting a down to earth Cj guy. Alot of times the kid will reply like its a text and shoten everything. I know a good portion of the abreviations due to the 3 teenagers here.

 

[Neuner]

I, like you, have purchased/sold quite a few things through craigslist but nothing was as frustrating as finding a CJ. I really get what you are saying.

I only got mine after I had walked away from the whole situation frustrated just saying to forget it. Two days later the tool from the first one I viewed called me out of the blue essentially begging me to buy it. It had been weeks. All of his buyers I guess, 'flaked out' and I was the only one who seemed serious. Even towed it himself to my house. Rust free, great working order with a lot of new things like a RE 4.5" lift . I.got.a.steal...

 

[Petescj]

You do have to be careful about these as well though. Ive run into it 3 or 4 times where the Guy who has the parts has his kid post it on the web. When that happens and you get through the Bullcrap you end up meeting a down to earth Cj guy. Alot of times the kid will reply like its a text and shoten everything. I know a good portion of the abreviations due to the 3 teenagers here.

Notice how I shortened "shorten" in this post.

 

[Hedgehog]

This all reminds me. I sold my Harley-Davidson to finance my Jeep purchase.

The guy called and was all hot on buying my bike for a reasonable selling price. He's +100 miles north of me and will be down on Saturday. Well Saturday it rained HARD. So he called and said "I can't", I said "I don't blame you", he says "tomorrow", I say "Okay" ...... Tomorrow comes and goes ...... Monday I call him, "I'm sorry, I needed to spend the day with my kid" ........ He says "Saturday" and I say "Okay". Sautrday I txt and txt and txt him along with several calls .... He finally txt's, he's delayed ..... after an hour I txt him, "Are you comming down today?" ...... 3 hours, nothing .....at 3.5 hours I get a call from another buyer who is VERY serious and offers more money. This could be considered a moral issue. But I'm done with the other guy and I say "We have a deal". .... So I txt him to say he jerked me around to long and the bike was sold to someone else. Instantly he txt's me back and he's crying loud and long. He pleads and beggs, "Sorry guy you did not follow through even after I gave you pleanty of chances and it's sold." At MIDNIGHT he txt's, "Please tell me I can pick it up tomorrow." I say, "No it's sold."

I feel kinda bad for the guy, but how long did he expect me to play along.