Buying on Craigs list?

[2CRUZ]

Hi Fellas
I'm in need of a good heavy duty bench vice. I would like a good quality one like a Wilton, Columbiam, or a Parker. I've look on Ebay and some of the prices that thay are asking are way out of my reach. I have been checking Craig's list and they seem to be a little bit more reasonable but there is no protection when it comes to buying on CL. I am leary of sending my money half way across the country just on someone elses word. What do you guys think about using CL for a larger purchess.

Thanks
Mike

 

[dipper]

craigslist is for local purchases. No way I would ever use craigslist for anything outside my local area. You contact the seller, go look at the item and pay cash for it if you want to buy it. NO money orders, checks etc etc. First come First served.

 

[paulrey27]

craigslist is for local purchases. No way I would ever use craigslist for anything outside my local area. You contact the seller, go look at the item and pay cash for it if you want to buy it. NO money orders, checks etc etc. First come First served.

echo

 

[Craptain]

When buying on CL stay local. Meet the seller at his/her home or place of business, see the product and exchange cash for product right there. That is the only way to be (fairly) safe with CL. I often do quite well on there following these rules.

 

[hypnotoad]

craigslist is for local purchases. No way I would ever use craigslist for anything outside my local area. You contact the seller, go look at the item and pay cash for it if you want to buy it. NO money orders, checks etc etc. First come First served.

Damn straight.

 

[campbell990]

I only deal locally on Craigslist. There are so many scammers that if I can't put my hands on it now and give them the cash (so they can't claim they didn't get it) i don't do it. Craigslist is definitely a waiting game, but usually there are some good deals to be had.

 

[porschedude996TT]

I waited for a Wilton 500S or 600S for the longest time and when one came up on my local graigslist, the guy wanted $600 and it needed a bunch of work. It was a 600S Bullet Vice by Wilton, maybe 20-30-40 years old, but there is no way I am paying 50% of new. I would have thought of maybe $250-$300, but not $600. I ended up buying a new 8 inch Wilton/Columbian vice for $249. Probably made in China…

 

[kentenn]

Also watch CL for places you are going to be in the near future. (i.e. I live in Nashville but watch other locations that I travel to. If you see a vise, schedule a trip to visit whoever you normally go there to see and check out the vise. A little difficult to time, but it can be done - especially if there is someone there that can go and quickly check it out for you. If it's legit, I will sometimes send them a deposit. (But not sight unseen...)

 

[2CRUZ]

Thanks guys
I think you all are right. I need to stay local. I kind of new that little voice inside my head kept telling me this is not a good idea.

 

[ajchien]

craigslist is for local purchases. No way I would ever use craigslist for anything outside my local area. You contact the seller, go look at the item and pay cash for it if you want to buy it. NO money orders, checks etc etc. First come First served.

echo

 

[nolimits76]

Definitely keep it local. Go look and touch before money is spent. Too many flakes on there if we are being honest.

I also like to look at estate sales, garage sales and auctions. Usually you find lots of **** before you find anything worth having, but every once in awhile it pays off.

 

[Falcon67]

I just bought a 351C 4 bolt block off Clist. Went 550 miles round trip to Austin for the part. The purchase included a few email exchanges plus a couple of phone conversations. Feeling was good, agreed on a time and date (July 4) and the wife and I took a road trip. Part looked good, got a good deal, paid cash and we had a nice dinner in Georgetown. Hauled it home in the trunk of the new Dart. 250ish miles one way in Texas is fairly local, really.

I hung some decorations on it for fun:

 

[crewchief888]

if i'm checking CL, i keep it extremely local, within 15-20 miles.

only once i expanded my search looking for some specific parts.
i got what i weanted, and more than i expected, cheap enough to warrant the 3 hr round trip drive.

 

[where2]

Also watch CL for places you are going to be in the near future. (i.e. I live in Nashville but watch other locations that I travel to.

Exactly! My longest drive for an item on CL (so far) was a stop in Philadelphia, PA on my way to Maine from South Florida. Item was as described, seller was paid in cash, purchaser was on his way.

 

[Letsgobowhunting]

2CRUZ, edit your profile to include you location and maybe someone on here close to your area will feel for you and off to sell you one of multiple vises. I bought a couple of tools in the classified section from a guy yesterday bexause he lived withib a 25 minute drive.

 

[LutzTD]

keep searching they pop up. search vise and vice, try not to get sidetracked on the vice search

 

[dumper]

it may help if you post your location under your name. Never know who or what may be near your location.

 

[2CRUZ]

Great idea fellas. I live in Southern Illinois. If any one has a good solid 4in. or
5in. Wilton or Parker or Columbian vise would you let me know?

Thanks Guys

 

[06 DIESEL]

I have a Rock Island 577 that I might be willing to let go of. I will be coming to Effingham, IL and Pickneyville, IL between Aug 9th and 19th. If you are interested here is the thread on the resto of it. PM me for more specifics.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=188541