Craigslist crazies...let's hear your stories...I'll start.

[BarrsRestoration]

In '96 I was working for a Nissan dealer. We had a new gold Maxima delivered with very light transportation damage. The hood had a small ding on the front edge, the grille had a scratch and so did the front bumper cover and one head lamp.
The policy was to replace any damaged part with a new one, so off came the parts and the old ones went in the boxes. After sitting in the shop for some time, the manager said I could have them if I wanted them, as we weren't going to be putting them on a customer car and they needed to go.
About 5 years ago I pulled them from my storage rafters, wiped the dust off and posted detailed pics and description on CL. $175 for all of it.
A guy calls from Atlanta (8 hrs. away) and wants them. Says they are the right color and perfect to fix his with. On the phone he tries talking me down and I held firm. I emailed more pics to him to prove the condition to be absolutely sure he wanted to make the drive to get them. He showed up the next afternoon in a rented Dakota pick up. Standing in my yard he tries again to get me down, because he rented a truck and had to buy gas. The whole time I'm thinking he's an idiot for driving here, even though the price was a steal in my mind.
He finally relents and realizes the price is the price. Twenty minutes after he leaves it's dark outside. He calls me from a gas station to tell me he gassed up the rental, and under the station lights he sees a very light scratch on the hood he missed earlier, and wants some of his money back. I told him I was sorry and I want to give him all of his money back, every penny of it. Just come back and unload every damn part you left here with. I was pleading with the clown to return when he hung up on me.
Haven't heard from him again.

 

[kb67mopar]

Barrs, that reminds me of a deal I had come to think of it.
I had a 4.7 out of a dakota that I picked up with a rod knock. Great rebuildable core..I bought it from a guy so i could keep the heads to refurbish for mine (and put in a set of cams). So it was a short block with some extras. I advertised as such and explained everything in my ad...that it was apart, missing some parts etc...5 mexicans show up in a truck flabbergasted that it was all apart and missing the heads. He wanted money off for it being apart and for driving 3 hours to come get it..I didn't budge on price and he still bought it.

I had another 4.7 with a rod knock that came out of a durango. I had tried replacing the bearing and all it did was spin the bearing again so it was trash. (was hoping i could lightly drive it for a while). I disclosed all of this. I got a call from some guy 4 hours away (was not asking much $$) and wanted to know if it would run in his 03. i proceeded to explain that the answer was no unless he put in an 03 crank and cam gears with 03 tone ring during his rebuild. 3 days later he came to pick it up...again trying to bargain on price because of his drive and borrowing a truck etc.. he paid full price and called me a week later pissed. "I put it in the truck and now it won't start"...I called him an idiot politely and hung up.

 

[cdkmbjones]

Prop i got a lot of respect for you not selling that thing to that guy knowing his kid was going to use it. Id done exactly the same thing

I had a few mins during lunch and this thread gave me a good laugh - been there/done that oh so many times. The CL scams where they will send you the money plus a little for shipping ( forged bank check) or the paypal (disputed after the transaction). The guy who low balls you without seeing it, or the wonderful trades you get. Frustrating for sure but nowadays the local paper classifieds are worse - no one reads them anymore and they want 80 bucks for a 2 line ad for a week. So, you list and filter out the bad ones, but the one here with the Ski-Doo reminded me of a very similar situation I had - I was selling my 800cc Arctic Cat and a guy I rode with sent my info to a friend who was "just getting into the sport with his wife"
Same old story - no experience but figured bigger was better and the same was for his wife - a 100lb dainty thing. I told him the sled was hopped up a bit and was way too much for a begginner. He got all pissy and spat off some BS about how he had all this money and didnt need my old pice of **** ( It was 3 years old and worth 7k) so he went out to the local dealer who was all too happy to sell him two brand new top of the line 800cc machines. The first time out he grazed a tree and got stuck in a revine. he used his wifes machine to pull it out by the aluminum back bumper and destroyed it. the next day she went out with him on her new machine and mashed the throttle, it took off right into a tree, sent her over the bars full speed and into the emergency room. This of course after the Vermont taxpayers paid for her to medivaced out via helicopter. She was hurt bad but lived - they sold the machines for a major loss and we haven't seen them since.

 

[barbee6043]

I have to admit 99% of cars for sale and sellers, there on CL, totally NUTS!!!! LOL
but 1 out of probably 100, you might luck up.
I did pick up great 64 dart gt roller few months ago off CL, BUT the seller had a buiding full of high end B B ford and chevy projects, owned a body shop, and is a REAL car guy and a wonderful person to boot.
I bought it at fair price and we were both happy. never say never!!!

 

[cdkmbjones]

same here - a mopar friend gave me a call a couple of weeks ago to tell me he saw a superbee advertised on CL up in the Albany area - I am in the Long Island area - a good 5 hour ride away and normally dont check CL that far away, but I called the guy and he was 100% legit - a car enthusiast that had way too many projects. it was a super rare 440-6 71 bee with a factory air grabber. The number checked out and the price was very fair so home it came and is my next project. The car is 90% rust free with the other 10% minor common truck floor pin holes and pass floor pan pin holes but thats it. The motor of course is long gone but what a solid V code project. So - while I can tell many stories of the CL crazies - don't give up, there are gems out there still!

 

[hammond472]

I listed some stereo equipment on Craigslist and had some sleazy guy show up with two cracked out chicks and offer them to me in exchange for the amps. Disgusted I told them I would only take cash. The guy got pissed off and started threatening me. I told them to leave. Now I will only meet in a public place with plenty of people and cameras and I still pack the insurance policy.