Anyone had any luck post a craigslist ad for tools

[cowchaser]

I have tried posting an ad to see if maybe a could pick up some tools at a decent prices. I don't like talking on the phone and about everyone that responded says call me. I very politely email back and tell them I don't want to call to just let me know what they have an price they are looking for. Well, no they can't do that and say it's a waste of time. Well if that is a waste it's going to be a waste for me to call.

Am I being to harsh or should I just call. I honestly just don't like talking on the phone. I answer the phone all day at work and when I get home I am sick of seeing it and hearing it. Maybe I am just strange. Hell tell me what you got and if I think I may be interested I will come see it. No big deal that I see, but maybe I am wrong. What's your thoughts on it?

 

[ramtuff]

I'm the same way. I'm an anti-phonite, and I fail to grasp why people are so connected to their cellphones. Also, when dealing on Craigslist, you never know what kind of crackhead deadbeat loser you're dealing with, so I'd much rather communicate through a junk e-mail address I have specifically for that kind of stuff than give out my phone number.

 

[cowchaser]

Totally agree ram.

 

[hofferwood]

Call me, we'll talk about it.




SORRY
I agree to an extent, E-m details, then Phone.
Chuck

 

[Toolhorder]

Yeah I hate ads that say, "Emails will be ignored, too much spam" Really?!? Are you a complete internet *****?
I post ads on CL every week and I get maybe one per ad and it's REALLY easy to see which ones are fake or scam replies. It's pretty lame.

I'm the same way I prefer emails to keep it private. If I like what I see no problem I'll call you or whatever but until then I'd like to not be on the phone with someone. Half the people I've called in the past are old timers wanting to talk tools for hours on end. I finally have to just cut em off and hang up.

 

[spongerich]

I'm the same way. I'm an anti-phonite, and I fail to grasp why people are so connected to their cellphones. Also, when dealing on Craigslist, you never know what kind of crackhead deadbeat loser you're dealing with, so I'd much rather communicate through a junk e-mail address I have specifically for that kind of stuff than give out my phone number.

You can get a google voice number to give out.

I have one that I use when I don't want to give a "real" phone number. It goes right to voicemail (which is transcribed and emailed to me).

You have the option of forwarding calls to an actual phone and can selectively do so based on caller id etc... good stuff.

 

[Borrego]

I have posted a few wanted ads, but they do not get much traffic. If I am actively looking for something, it is incumbent upon me to be diligent in my searches because I can not depend on something dropping into my lap or someone contacting me.
Just this past Thursday, I was casually browsing CL while waiting for dinner to finish cooking. Saw an ad for a Craftsman 12 drawer bottom tool box for $40. The ad was 90 minutes old and I feared being too late. I called and it was still available. We made arrangements and I picked it up a few hours later when he got home.
No way that box would be in my garage tonight if I had tried to conduct the deal through email. Nothing wrong with using email to handle your dealings with people, but in today's day and age, many prefer the immediacy of phones.

 

[trout]

agree, you're posting on the internet, you should expect internet communication.

 

[Chris Adams]

Sorry, got to disagree, big time.

I have about twenty adds on CL today, slow week.

Those range from a Class A Motorhome to a Rat Rod to tiny items in car and tool sections.
Just in tool sections I've had as many as twenty tool boxes on at one time.

I've also bought over a thousand items off CL.


You don't sell product on e-mails, you just get really bad spam and Trojans.
I have had over a thousand Trojan attempts with e-mails from CL in the last year alone.

If I was a typical computer user, I could not use CL because of the constant attacks from Bots trolling CL.
I closed my computer business down a couple three years ago, but still service 'legacy' clients on a courtesy basis. CL response generated Trojans come in every month, sometimes several a day.

Most CL responses are bogus. I mean most by a large percentage.
Say one in 5 e-mail's are legitimate, at best.

Then what you get is a guy asking 'what's the least you will take for it?'.
He doesn't want it. He gets his rocks off telling his buddy's how cheap he could have bought that (whatever it is).
Or say you agree to take 800 for whatever you were asking 1000 for and the guy actually shows up. About one time in twenty.
Then, since he knows you are only asking 800, he starts over trying to grind you down. And is shocked when you toss him out.
That's happened about ten or so times this year.
Most my buddies who sell car parts and tools won't even do CL because of the flakes.
If the guy phones, you have a 5-20% chance of actually seeing him with cash.
If he just e-mails, under a half a percentage point.

Now, saying that, I still respond with e-mail to adds I'm only sorta interested in. If I really want it, I call.

Oh, and if you are responding, unless you are just being one of the flakes, always, and I mean always, say something about the product or give a specific statement about the product.

If he is selling an item say something about it that shows you aren't cutting and pasting from his add, or sending a generic bot add.
Obvious fakes from today's e-mail;
"I saw your product"
"I saw your add"
"Sounds like just what I want"
etc. etc. etc.

 

[mrholeshot]

I buy and sell a lot of stuff on CL. I put my phone # in the add and ask them to call. I leave the door open to email but when it gets serious I want to hear the persons voice. I can tell alot more about a person using their voice. Also by putting in my phone number many times things sell within a few hours of posting. If you do a lot of selling on CL 90% of the email responce is spam. "Do you still have the item listed" "Is the item as described" "Is this ITEM still available" "I am interested in your item" and the list goes on. I rather skip the **** and just call me. Also cut's down on the really dumb *** low ballers and third graders

 

[eborcim]

You gotta receive and make calls or you won't sell much. If they are serious they will call you. This is especially true for buying, b/c they are not going to give out their physical address over the internet.

 

[eyeboltman]

Thanks for the CList update It good to know...

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I embed my number, Bots can not read it or take it. I also hide my email
it is after al CL and there are flakes

 

[warmpancakes]

I listed some items last night heres the guys response

Hi... I am interested in the parts that you have listed on CL. Are they still available? Can you call me at 231-740-XXXX, it is easier then email. Thanks sXX
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/ta16.html



I called him hes coming down wednesday Night

 

[kc-steve]

Sorry, got to disagree, big time. . . .
You don't sell product on e-mails, you just get really bad spam and Trojans.
I have had over a thousand Trojan attempts with e-mails from CL in the last year alone.

If I was a typical computer user, I could not use CL because of the constant attacks from Bots trolling CL. . . . .

I COMPLETELY AGREE with you Chris. I work in the dot com industry and refuse to use the email system of CL.

1. Many times people never even respond to email if they are actually a legit offer.

2. Good buys are gone in a few minutes or hours, long before anyone usually checks a third-party email hosting service.

And yes, there is the SPAM thing and viruses, not to mention spyware which happens to be real bad these days but most security software doesn't even check for spyware. THAT'S SPYWARE, not adware!

My dot com business RELIES on my computer being secure and safe to use. But if I want to buy something on CL and they don't have a phone number then they don't really want to sell it in my opinion.

Steve

 

[Aberdale]

I almost always provide a phone number in my CL ads. I've found that potential buyers that take the time to pick up the phone are 95% more likely to be a serious buyer than those that reply by email. And those that actually speak on the phone are 95% more serious than those that text.

If a buyer is too timid to respond by phone, how in the world are you actually going to negotiate face to face? I figure most email responders aren't serious, they're just fishin'.
I give phone responders much more attention than those that reply by email.

 

[mrholeshot]

Most of the people who call on the phone are the ones "Can I come get it right now" types.

 

[Eagle Point]

I also had problems with email on CL. Now I only offer the phone # and always hide the email option. If they are serious they call and no more virus issues and very seldom a flake.

 

[Underdog]

Most of the people who call on the phone are the ones "Can I come get it right now" types.

+1. I don't carry a computer or fancy phone on Me at work. I do carry a old cell phone with Me all the time. Call and I will most likely answer. The computer oh well I'll read my emails today or tomorrow maybe.

 

[ramtuff]

Maybe I've just been lucky. I've never bought anything from Craigslist (no good deals to be had around here), but I've sold quite a few high dollar items on there. Always exchange a couple e-mails and then if they're a serious buyer, we either meet up or I'll give them a number to call me at. I rarely get any spam, and I've never received a virus or spyware through there.

 

[mrholeshot]

+1. I don't carry a computer or fancy phone on Me at work. I do carry a old cell phone with Me all the time. Call and I will most likely answer. The computer oh well I'll read my emails today or tomorrow maybe.

I think my cell phone came over on the MayFlower

 

[Chris Adams]

I think my cell phone came over on the MayFlower

And that makes it a good one.
Been carrying the same phones for four years now, and my wife will not even look at new phones. She says 'Texting is for kids, or people who like car accidents'.

 

[r07d24]

I agree that after 2-3 emails, there should be a phone call.
There has been quite a few times that I have been selling something ,and I get into this back and forth emailing thing with somebody (like 15+ emails)... and they end up not showing...total waste of time :-/
You can tell a lot about somebody and their seriousness by a simple 5 minute actual conversation.

 

[woody 73]

Small Rant:

They show a poor quality picture on CL (no brand name,no age,no condition and give as little information as possible). Then they say send me an E-mail,ok I send them one and two days later my home computer tells me it can not deliver the darn thing!

Ok so some people hate phone calls,but IN THE OLD DAYS THAT IS HOW WE DID IT!
If I call at a decent hour I ask in a nice way for more information and I go from there!

I know the op hates to talk on the phone but computers sometimes are not the best way to go!

End of Rant please go back to your regularly scheduled tv programs...

 

[mrholeshot]

My cell phone has only 2 uses. Make calls, Take calls

 

[hifi_hokie]

I have tried posting an ad to see if maybe a could pick up some tools at a decent prices. I don't like talking on the phone and about everyone that responded says call me. I very politely email back and tell them I don't want to call to just let me know what they have an price they are looking for. Well, no they can't do that and say it's a waste of time. Well if that is a waste it's going to be a waste for me to call.

Am I being to harsh or should I just call. I honestly just don't like talking on the phone. I answer the phone all day at work and when I get home I am sick of seeing it and hearing it. Maybe I am just strange. Hell tell me what you got and if I think I may be interested I will come see it. No big deal that I see, but maybe I am wrong. What's your thoughts on it?

Never had any luck posting WTB ads for tools, just purchasing.

Cars, on the other hand, I've had better luck with posting feelers...

 

[thrifty bill]

Sorry, got to disagree, big time.

I have about twenty adds on CL today, slow week.

I've also bought over a thousand items off CL.

You don't sell product on e-mails, you just get really bad spam and Trojans.
I have had over a thousand Trojan attempts with e-mails from CL in the last year alone.

Most CL responses are bogus.

+1 What he said. C/L is the land of no shows. By having a phone conversation, you are MUCH more likely to actually have the buyer show up.

I buy and sell on C/L all the time, although not at the volume above. But I usually have at least a couple of items for sale all the time.

+1 Then you get the email offers. Totally one sided. Imagine I as the seller agree to sell you something for $100. Then you as the buyer never show up. Typical. I tell email offers to come in person, bring cash, see if they even really want it, before talking price.


And if you want to post a wanted to buy ad, do not list it in the wanted section. No one looks there. Instead, put it in the tools for sale section. You will get responses!

If you want to get deals, make the calls.

 

[fordbroncodave]

i have had terrible luck selling tools on craigslist. you would think name brand tools would sell fast, i haven't sold any at all. only a crappy 60 gallon crapsman compressor

 

[fordbroncodave]

when dealing with craigslist, email is the way to go. you get to know who is buying your stuff by the way they write. if its missmatched incorrectly spelled words then you know its someone on a phone who probably doesn't own a computer. if its neat and short, its probably a dude somewhere with a wad of cash. if its a paragraph then you know they are interested and will see you soon.

i don't talk to anyone who leaves their phone number. email me the details and we can set something up. that way i don't forget any clues nor does the buyer

 

[Chris Adams]

when dealing with craigslist, email is the way to go. you get to know who is buying your stuff by the way they write. if its missmatched incorrectly spelled words then you know its someone on a phone who probably doesn't own a computer. if its neat and short, its probably a dude somewhere with a wad of cash. if its a paragraph then you know they are interested and will see you soon.

i don't talk to anyone who leaves their phone number. email me the details and we can set something up. that way i don't forget any clues nor does the buyer

Not to cause offense, but I can't quite get all of what you are saying here.

So I may be addressing it completely wrong, but first I get that you think e-mail is the way to go.
Have to disagree, as I said before. Not one e-mail in 10 sells my stuff. Sorry, but absolutely true.
I'm just talking about legitimate e-mails not the bots, etc.
Next I'm kind of wondering why you are interested in the people you are selling to.
That's from the 'getting to know them'.
I'm sometimes interested in who I'm buying from, but unless it's a house, a firearm (forbidden on CL) or some other dangerous or controlled substance (forbidden on CL) why on earth would I care about them???

I'm selling to them.
I don't care if they are black,white, brown, gay, Socialist, John Bircher's Ballet dancers or Astronauts. I am selling product, not 'facebook friending'.

A semi-articulate Chimpanzee with a wad of cash can have my stuff, if he wants. Hopefully he can help load it...

Some of the brightest people I know spell like *****'s on e-mail. Not computer savvy.
When I had a secretary to do my typing I couldn't type or spell for beans and didn't care a bit.
I try to be careful in forums but then, it's not a sales medium.


On forgetting clues, by which I assume you mean pertinent data or info in the e-mails, sadly, I find that the average comprehension on reading is under 15% on CL.

Which is higher than the national average, still, read a bunch of CL adds and notice how many of us have to 'dumb down' the text to the point that you are saying
"Bright, shinny, thing. Ask what it is"
because if you write more than about fifty words, NOBODY will call. Or read the dang thing.
This may not apply in all places, I'm dealing with Southern California.

The add reads : 'Car with new tires, new brakes, just smogged, ding in front fender, runs great.'
The response by e-mail "How are the tires? Do the brakes work, Can it pass smog? Does it run? Any damage to the body?"
All that from actual e-mails my buddy got on a car a month ago.

Most the rest of the e-mails made those people look like rocket scientists.

Guy who bought it e-mailed and asked "Still got it?" then called and picked it up an hour later.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

sorry hate to say it but your gonna have to make calls ALOT of people are looking for the pone # i've done it both ways no # they just go on to the next one

 

[Underdog]

sorry hate to say it but your gonna have to make calls ALOT of people are looking for the pone # i've done it both ways no # they just go on to the next one

Mostly a buyer on CL. The ads with a phone # usually turn out I buy the item if I'm quick enough. The email only ads don't ever seem to work out, almost like they are phony.

 

[Chris Adams]

On an interesting tangent, NEVER hold anything on CL.
This has worked out for me twice in hundreds of 'Please hold it, I've got the money, I'm on the way, etc.
My wife finally had to agree. She kept holding things for people, not one of which would ever show. Not even once.
She's such a nice person she can't say no, so now she just hands the phone to me.


Oh, and fun fact. I've sold, well, lots and lots. My wife says over a thousand items, she's the 'keeper of the records' so I won't argue.
And I've had Two (2) people come out to my house and NOT buy the items.
Seriously. I think that's either a great tribute to the adds, or I've had the best luck in the world.
A third wanted to buy a car I was selling but swear to god, I lost the keys about one minute before he showed up, and he wanted to come back when I found them. Another guy showed up, and I found the flipping keys, they had came out of my pocket, slid under the hot water heater in the garage. STUPID.
The guy who was there when I found the keys bought the car, the other guy came back and well, everyone was unhappy.

The other two, a stove I was selling, just my old one when wife wanted a new stove, the first guy had screwed up the measurements and it wouldn't fit, next guy grabbed it.

Only really legitimate failed sale was a Matco toolbox, Price and box were right, but the guy didn't like the respray paint job, mentioned and pictured in the add, and just didn't buy. Took another week to sell it, second guy looked at it, then talked me into delivering it that day.

 

[Vicegrip]

phone is the way to go. 5 back and forth emails spanning a day of coming and going from my desk = 28 seconds of phone conversation.

 

[dinuns1]

Ok i typically stay away from debate posts . But... I buy and sell a lot on fourums and cl and ebay , now when on Cl i dont post a phone number but request one from the intrested buying party , Only because i dont want calls at 2 in the morning . But when i am buying and there is not a number posted , i kindly say i am intrested in ...... If still available leave me your phone number or call me at .... Emai is great for late night dibs , but i can get a feel for a person in 30 seconds on the phone , even if theres only 3 emails exchanged that takes 1 minute or 2 and then the time wasted looking for emails . or the spam folder . Or theres the group that want to do all the transaction through email , WTF ... What am i gonna do if im on the way to pick up what your selling and im lost , should i send you an email .. Seriously PEOPLE ,I LOVE COMPUTERS ,hell thats where i make my play money , but phone calls are way more sincere and precise , No bs . Sorry for that rant . but the last 3 ads i responded to were all flakes .

 

[cowchaser]

Thanks everyone and everyone has a valid point. My biggest issue seems to come from someone putting up an ad for selling tools, but fails to tell what brand and price. Just call and we'll discuss. Well I don't want to call if I am not interested or have no need for it. Put a clear ad of what you have and some decent pics and I would be more apt to call.

One thing I have noticed is pricing on used tools. Seems most are still fairly close to new prices. I am slowly getting rid of my woodworking stuff and if you know anything about that type of equipment you usually can only get about 50% of original value. Seems automotive tools don't go down much in prices.

 

[ramtuff]

Thanks everyone and everyone has a valid point. My biggest issue seems to come from someone putting up an ad for selling tools, but fails to tell what brand and price. Just call and we'll discuss. Well I don't want to call if I am not interested or have no need for it. Put a clear ad of what you have and some decent pics and I would be more apt to call.

I see that a lot on my local Craigslist. Their post will be something like "Big Toolbox $400" or "Lot of tools! Call with your needs!." Very generic ads. My feeling is, if you can't take the time to give a decent description of what you're selling, then it's going to be a waste of my time to respond. Most of these ads don't list phone numbers, and if I do decide to waste my time and send an e-mail, I never hear back.

 

[Chris Adams]

Thanks everyone and everyone has a valid point. My biggest issue seems to come from someone putting up an ad for selling tools, but fails to tell what brand and price. Just call and we'll discuss. Well I don't want to call if I am not interested or have no need for it. Put a clear ad of what you have and some decent pics and I would be more apt to call.

One thing I have noticed is pricing on used tools. Seems most are still fairly close to new prices. I am slowly getting rid of my woodworking stuff and if you know anything about that type of equipment you usually can only get about 50% of original value. Seems automotive tools don't go down much in prices.

I see that a lot on my local Craigslist. Their post will be something like "Big Toolbox $400" or "Lot of tools! Call with your needs!." Very generic ads. My feeling is, if you can't take the time to give a decent description of what you're selling, then it's going to be a waste of my time to respond. Most of these ads don't list phone numbers, and if I do decide to waste my time and send an e-mail, I never hear back.

Cowchaser, you have a very valid point on that. I virtually never call on those adds. If he won't tell you at least partially what he has, he doesn't want to sell it.
I sometimes wonder if they are posted by people who are just lonely

In reality, they have no clue, and know down in their heart that they want too much and are hoping to guilt, argue, con you up above what the stuff is worth.
Why bother? I don't.

Ramtuff, yeah, call with your needs? That's not an add, that's an idiot.

 

[mrholeshot]

On an interesting tangent, NEVER hold anything on CL.
This has worked out for me twice in hundreds of 'Please hold it, I've got the money, I'm on the way, etc.
.

I'll do this at times because someone calls and he's 45-60 minutes away. They will ask if they make the drive will it still be there when he arrives. If I don't have anyone coming to see the item I'll keep other callers from coming for about an hour. The person that has to drive for an hour is serious about buying. I don't want a guy to have to make a long drive only to get to my house to find it gone. If he doesn't show within 15 minutes of his arrival time or is steady on the phone as he's trying to get there. I'll sell it

Then there are the ones that want me to hold something until Friday. If they want to leave me a non-refundable 25% deposit or 100 dollars whichever is less to hold til Friday I'll do that.

 

[Chris Adams]

I'll do this at times because someone calls and he's 45-60 minutes away. They will ask if they make the drive will it still be there when he arrives. If I don't have anyone coming to see the item I'll keep other callers from coming for about an hour. The person that has to drive for an hour is serious about buying. I don't want a guy to have to make a long drive only to get to my house to find it gone. If he doesn't show within 15 minutes of his arrival time or is steady on the phone as he's trying to get there. I'll sell it

Then there are the ones that want me to hold something until Friday. If they want to leave me a non-refundable 25% deposit or 100 dollars whichever is less to hold til Friday I'll do that.

Yeah, the long drive one, yes, I will hold those, but I give them a HARD time frame, and it works out.
If it doesn't; well, watch 'Dogs of War' and visualize Jamie's statement "YOUR LATE" before he shoots the new dictator.

Waiting for someone to drive out to pick it up isn't 'holding it', at least not how I define it.