How do you guys handle Craigslist transactions?

[ddaniels]

I've used Craigslist to purchase video game stuff on two different occassions (I'm kinda new to Craigslist). For both transactions I decided to meet the seller at a neutral location. For example, today I picked up a Sega Saturn and met the seller at a Wendy's parking lot. I figured this is the "safest" route to go for all involved.

 

Do you guys prefer to meet the seller at their house, your house, a neutral location, or just send it through the mail (obviously if distance is a factor)? I'm assuming the majority would agree that a neutral location makes the most sense.

 

Any crazy stories to share in regards to buying or selling on Craigslist? For example, ever agree on a purchase and upon meeting the seller the item was either totally misrepresented or the price all of a sudden is more than agreed on?

[PsychoKittyNet]

Usually I goto a neutral locatio, but a few times I have gone to someones place to pick it up, and once a guy came to me. Never had problems though.

[+Random Terrain]

I've only sold a few things. They came to my house with the cash, I killed them, I got to keep the item and the cash. Everybody wins (I legally changed my first name to 'Everybody').

 

Oops, that happened in a different timeline. What happened here in this timeline is that they came to my house with the cash, I gave them the item and they left. Quick and easy. I did meet a lady in a parking lot one time and sold her a real Flashback 2 because it was easier for both of us to meet there.

[VectorGamer]

I've bought arcade cabinets through CraigsList and the only option there is to go the house.

 

But, I guess the rule of thumb may be that if you can fit it in a car then meet in a public parking lot.

[ddaniels]

I've bought arcade cabinets through CraigsList and the only option there is to go the house.

 

But, I guess the rule of thumb may be that if you can fit it in a car then meet in a public parking lot.

 

Good point. I was thinking of console systems when I made this post. I forgot some of you guys buy arcade cabinets on Craigslist.

[Cebus Capucinis]

Yeah, all my arcade cabs have been CL purchases, and it's always been going to the person's house. Never had a problem, honestly, but then again cabs are the only things I've bought via CL. Thinking of buying a VW Beetle via CL soon, though.

[tz101]

Every CL item I have purchased has been where I went to their house.

 

Creepiest was a haggard looking guy who lived down in the ghetto. I bought a Sega Master System from him, but the house stank and the guy had lots of tattoos and very greasy hair.

 

Other than that, all my CL purchases have been pretty decent looking people.

[ddaniels]

I should mention that the guy I met today sold me a Sega Saturn and 11 games for $30.00. Everything was in awesome condition. While talking for a few minutes he explained that he was also selling his Sega Genesis and 11 games and wanted to know if I was interested. I explained that I really didn't need one as I already had one. He then stunned me by saying that I could have it if I wanted to swing by his house. I thought why not. Turns out it was a first generation Sega Genesis which I don't have. Once again this to was in awesome condition. All the games for both systems were in their original boxes and manuals.

[+wood_jl]

When I was leaving Alaska, I sold several items on CL. People of all different types showed up. I'd say 3/4 were decent folk, 1/8 were somewhat questionable in nature, and 1/8 were scumbags. Especially unnerving were the people who were in a BIG HURRY for the address, then wouldn't show up. Great. Now I've given my address to someone who may choose to use it later. This happened quite a bit. Paranoia? I don't know.

 

Of those who showed up, while they probably were NOT, I kept thinking the scumbags were casing the place, in order to come back later and burglarize the place. One guy kept eyeing everything else (other than what was for sale) and asking questions as to the nature of my move, and my personal movement in general. I gave the impression that there were people going to be around the place all the time, until I moved.

 

The next time I sell something on CL, I'm going to put it in the garage, where they can't see the rest of my stuff. I understand the paranoia of others, now. If you have a nice house, even if you don't let them in, some scumbag is going to see the nice place and FIGURE that there's lots of nice stuff worth stealing, in there.

 

When I'm buying electronics (consoles, etc) and they want to meet me at McDonalds, I'll only do it if it's something cheap and fairly reliable (cartridge-based console, for example). Otherwise, I want to see it work, or no deal.

Edited January 31, 2011 by wood_jl

[The Usotsuki]

I found my current apartment on CL. *runs*

[toptenmaterial]

No more "erotic services" section. That disturbed student messed it up for everyone.

 

Most of my craigslist transaction were normal. The only one that went wacky was when I was giving away free goldfish.

[+Random Terrain]

The only one that went wacky was when I was giving away free goldfish.

"Sir! If you're going to eat the goldfish, please do it somewhere else! Every time you bite into one, you get fish juice on my carpet!"

[toptenmaterial]

The only one that went wacky was when I was giving away free goldfish.

"Sir! If you're going to eat the goldfish, please do it somewhere else! Every time you bite into one, you get fish juice on my carpet!"

That's fuckin funny! Have you ever seen "A Fish Called Wanda"?

[+Random Terrain]

Have you ever seen "A Fish Called Wanda"?

Yep. A long time ago.

[toptenmaterial]

Have you ever seen "A Fish Called Wanda"?

Yep. A long time ago.

my beloved grandfather who wasn't all there took me to see it in the theatre as a boy... i still remember the goldfish eating scene

[Rockin' Kat]

I generally never have people come to my house for things unless I'm giving them away for free. Otherwise I generally arrange to meet people fairly public places for buying or selling.

[+jd_1138]

I meet people at Dunkin Donuts a mile away. Safer, and it's like pulling teeth guiding someone to my house, as I think most people are too dumb to read a map, and most people still don't have GPS's.

[carmel_andrews]

Cebus/Rmaerz...wouldn't it be easier to buy the arcade pcb instead (since most of the classic stuff is JAMMA compatible anyways), then you won't need a big pick up truck to haul a heavy cabinet away with you

 

And when you get bored of one arcade game, just swap out the jamma arcade pcb for the one you just bought (i am guessing that both of you are proficient in constructing a standard Jamma compatible cabinet)

[VectorGamer]

Cebus/Rmaerz...wouldn't it be easier to buy the arcade pcb instead (since most of the classic stuff is JAMMA compatible anyways), then you won't need a big pick up truck to haul a heavy cabinet away with you

 

And when you get bored of one arcade game, just swap out the jamma arcade pcb for the one you just bought (i am guessing that both of you are proficient in constructing a standard Jamma compatible cabinet)

 

I buy for the cabinet, not the boards. The last cabinet I bought was Centipede - it had everything (except the monitor): coin door, monitor glass, control panel, bezel and marquee. I sold the Centipede board set and put a computer in there to run MAME trackball and spinner games.

 

Check out my www site if you haven't already. Would it look better with one cabinet or the way I have it setup now? Out of the nine cabinets I have in there, 5 of them are dedicated original PCBs.

 

The Pole Position cabinet actually came with the original PCBs. But, I threw them in the trash because there were rodent nests in there: one in the PCB cage and the other in the marquee. They were even chewing the wood to create a door through the glass marquee!

 

So, after cleaning up the turds scattered throughout and priming the inside of the cabinet, it's now running Pole Position II in MAME.

[+save2600]

I have no problem meeting people at their homes or having them at mine. Depends on the item in question, how far away people are from each other and the other person's preferences really. I've done the McDonald's, Farm and Fleet, Subway parking lot thing a few times as well.

[the-topdog]

If I am selling the item on Craigslist I prefer to meet in a neutral location. If I am buying, I will either go to their place or meet in a neutral location.

[Tempest]

Depends on several things. Sometimes if the item is small and easily portable we'll meet in a neutral location (Best Buy parking lot or some other highly populated place), but if the item is large I'll go to their house (telling my wife first in case something goes wrong). I've never had any problems, but there are weirdos out there so be careful.

 

Tempest

[Desfeek]

Like most of the replies here, I like to meet at an open, lit, public area. I tell the person a distinct trait about myself (usually carrying something like a big box), and remain in plain view until someone approaches me purposefully. I like to get a nice, firm handshake (you can tell a lot about a person by a simple handshake) and make the transaction as soon as possible. The more the other person diddle-daddles, the more I get nervous they don't actually have my item or my money. I have never had a poor experience with CL (except for the flakes OH THE FLAKES)

 

If, for some odd reason, we must meet at my place, I set everything up in the front room, by the front door. There's no way they can scope enough of the house to get interested. (I guess this depends on the layout of your living area, but I think you get the point). Put the item in a place that is very uninteresting - you aren't initially trying to have this person over again, so there is no point in trying to impress them. If it isn't raining/sleeting/snowing, maybe meet on your front porch, so they don't even have to set foot in your house. It's always better to be safe than sorry on the internet.

[S1500]

I've done half & half. Half I've met in a public place(buy or sell), and half I visited the person's place. All were nice & not Silence of the Lambs-type people.

 

One guy's house I visited had a treasure-trove of classic toys & video game consoles at his house. Never saw a Microvision in person until that time. He also had some obscure arcade console I still can't remember(something pre-crash era). The only risk I ran there was buying more than just the Coleco I intended!

 

Only one questionable transaction where the guy gave his duplex-neighbor's address & had very poor communication skills. Still, managed to complete the transaction after sending numerous emails.

[Hatta]

I let the seller decide. I always offer to pick up, so they get to decide where they want to do it. A surprising number of people just let me in the front door.