Twitter Quip

    Attention Craigslist Shoppers: Don’t Call Me

    So think I killed someone recently. It was not my intent to kill them (that would be first degree murder), but rather a course of circumstances that I was involved in lead to their probable death (second degree manslaughter–a far lighter sentence). But we’ll get to that in a moment.

    Recently I attempted to sell a mobile phone I was no longer using. A year ago it was top of the line, but I didn’t care much for it and hardly used it (I’m old school: I need a keyboard). I posted the phone on craigslist for $200 because they were selling for about $250 on eBay and I saw nothing cheaper than $240 on craigslist.

    Ahh craigslist…it’s a great place to buy and sell goods. Unfortunately, you have to deal with craigslist people. I don’t think highly of craigslist people: you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy outside of craigslist. Sure, craigslist is great when you’re trading with a decent person. But in my experience, 95 percent of craiglisters are illiterate, stupid, cheap, rude, dishonest, or just downright annoying.

    Part of it is my doing. I sell things cheap so I’m dealing with . . . . .

     

    Craigslist bullies: technology edition

    I’m trying to get rid of my unnecessary crap, so I’m selling ’em on Craigslist. I posted a computer monitor for $50 and a PC for $25 (the PC is a real piece of junk). Each has their own separate listing, yet I get a call like this one.

    “I’m calling about the computer and monitor.”

    “Yes, I still have it.”

    “Your ad said I can have both for $50.” Not true. In fact, the monitor ad made no mention of a PC, and the PC made no mention of a monitor.

    “No, it does not. I want 50 for the monitor and 25 for the computer.”

    “But your ad says I can get both for $50.”

    I expected a barter from Craigslist people because Craigslist people are the lowest scum of the earth (yes, even below Mexicans–but that’s because Craigslist people are Mexicans looking for a deal). I’ve been lowballed multiple times on Craigslist–which usually elicits the same response from me (f@$% you). But this was a new approach. Now this scumbag was telling me what my ad said.

    “It does not say both for $50. I should know: I wrote the ad.”

    Nevertheless, he was insistent. The ad . . . . .

     

    The Craigslist Deadbeat After-Hours Sales Spectacular

    Sunday night around ten o’clock, I received a call from a guy who is interested in buying our used Ford. He wanted to come see it that night –an idea I wasn’t too enthusiastic about. I had class early the following morning and was hoping to be in bed before midnight.

    “I’ll be free to show it anytime tomorrow after two,” I told him. Despite my offer, he wanted to see the car immediately. Ten o’clock at night meant nothing to him because he worked nights and would much rather see the car now than in the daytime.

    I contemplated my options. The first rule in buying a used car is to never look at it at night–it’s a no-brainer in my book. When the sun’s down it’s a lot harder to see and you might miss something that would otherwise be obvious during the daytime. If this guy wanted to look at the car three hours after sunset, that’s his business. If anything, he would make life easier for me because I wouldn’t hafta wash it.

    “I can be there 20 minutes,” he assured me.

    Against my better judgment, I relented. I knew I shouldn’t be picky because . . . . .

     

    Bargain huntin’ in the Craigslist bin

    Now that our car quest is over and The Wife has a suitable vehicle, I am in the process of trying to unload her car on some poor, unsuspecting sucker. Not that I’m trying to scam anyone–I’m very clear about the process and have no intention of hiding the blown head gasket (it’s not like you can hide a blown head gasket anyway–the car shakes like a earthquake when you drive it).

    In the past, I’ve always used Autotrader to buy and sell cars. But about a dozen years ago something called the internet got invented (by Al Gore) and launched all sorts of wonderful free services–most notably, Craigslist. Craigslist has been in the news an awful lot lately. For those unfamiliar with the service, Craigslist offers more than overweight strippers and dirt cheap hookers–you can also buy and sell goods. So instead of plopping down 50 bucks on Autotrader, I opted to try posting a free ad on Craigslist.

    They say in life you get what you pay for. Perhaps that’s the attitude of Craigslist shoppers: they figure since the ad is free, the product should also be available at a significant discount. I can’t believe the riffraff I’ve . . . . .